Saxon Chronicle Here the same army went into Mercia to Snotengaham [NOTTINGHAM], and there took up their winter settle ment. And Burgræd king of the Mercians, and his witan, Asser In the same year, the abovenamed army of pagans, leaving Northumberland, invaded Mercia and advanced to Nottingham, which is called in the British tongue, "Tiggocobauc," but in Latin, the House of Caves," and they wintered there that same year. Ethelwerd 868 army of the pagans, of whose arrival we have spoken above, measured out their camp in a place called Snotingaham [NOTTINGHAM], and there they passed the winter. Immediately on their ap And Burhred king of the preach, Burhred, king of Mercia, and all the nobles of that nation, sent messengers to Æthered, king of the West-Saxons, and his brother Elfred, suppliantly entreating them to come and aid them in fighting against the aforesaid army. Their request was easily obtained; for the brothers, as soon as promised, assembled an immense army from all parts of their dominions, and entering Mercia, came Nottingham, all eager for battle, and when the pagans, defended by the castle, refused to fight, and the Christians were unable to destroy the wall, peace was made between the Mercians and pagans, and the two brothers Ethelred and Ælfred, returned home with their troops. to Mercians, with his nobles, consented to their remaining there without reproach. Mercia, and all the nobles of that nation, sent messengers to Ethered, king of the West-Saxons, and his brother Elfred, suppliantly entreating them to come and aid them in fighting against the aforesaid army. Their request was easily obtained; for the brothers, as soon as promised, assembled an immense army from all parts of their dominions, and entering Mercia, came to Nottingham, all eager for battle, and when the pagans, defended by the castle, refused to fight, and the Christians were unable to destroy the wall, peace was made between the Mercians and pagans, and the two brothers Ethelred and Ælfred, returned home with their troops. Huntingdon Simeon At that time the aforesaid army of pagans, leaving the Northumbrians, went on an unlucky visit to the city of Snotingham, which is called Tignocebanc in the British tongue, but in a Latin translation means the House of Caves. Here these insidious strangers wintered that same year; and their coming was sufficiently unpleasing to all the people. The warlike king of the Mercians, named Burhred, and all his nobles took council with his earls and fellow-soldiers and all the people under him, how he should vanquish the enemies by valour in battle, and drive them out of the kingdom. He also sent swift messengers to Elfred that man of brilliant valour, and to Ethelred his brother, that they should render him brotherly help whereby they might conquer the enemy with victorious bravery which they, like dauntless lions, did not delay to do. Then Elfred, roused to action, begins with rapid orders to call together his army, recollecting this within his bosom: He who hath a craven mind A man who is fearful, and thinks himself needy or wretched, never fulfils what he longs for, unless he is brave in aiming at what he desires. His brother was kindled with like fury, and they came to Nottingham ready to stand against all temptations. But the pagans covered by the walls of the fortress threaten war, draw up their forces, and shew a numerous army. but they tremble, clearly seeing that the Christian people with a hundred and a thousand times a thousand resisted their enemies, at the exhortation of their sacred 870 Florence Huntingdon Simeon leaders. At length, by the Ruler, check the boisterous wave, And bind it fast in love. Peace was made between the kings and the pagans, and they parted one from the other, like sheep from the goats. When therefore all the forces one year.t In the year of our Lord's Eadmund went to heaven. wretched people. In the year 869, which was the 21st of Elfred's life, the aforesaid army again went to the nation of the Northumbrians, and there remained a year raving and raging, slaying and destroying numbers of men and women. BROMPTON." This year the city of Alclud, once so famous, and lying at the western end of the famous wall, was destroyed by the Danes. In the following year, whilst the rays of the sun were lighting the climes of the world, and the 870th year from our Lord's incarnation was come, then dawned the day, on which king Elfred was in his 21st year. But the enormous multitude of the Danes, and, if I may so speak, their troops of legions, were gathered together, so that they seemed to be many thousands, and as if they had increased from a thousand to 20 myriads. They then went through Mercia to the East-Angles, and boldly wintered in the city of Theodford. But king Eadmund, at that time, reigned over all the kingdoms of the East-Angles; a holy and just man, as the end of his blessed life proved. That same year the aforesaid king fought fiercely and manfully with his men against the army. But, because the merciful God foreknew that he was to arrive at the crown of mar over his body. 6 |