CHAPTER VII.

Danish defeat in Devon

§ I.

The Magic Standard Rising of WessexDecisive battle of Ethandune-Surrender of Chippenham-Baptism of Guthrum-Peace of Wedmore-Its results-Alfred's restoration of London.

THE

'HE first gleam of returning sunshine came from the West. Now that King Alfred had neither land nor hope . . . the Lord looked down from heaven upon the remnant of His people.' A pirate fleet of twenty-three ships, which had wintered in South Wales, 'with much slaughter of Christians and burning of monasteries,' crossed the Bristol Channel, and at the vernal equinox poured 'like fierce wolves' into Devonshire. Almost at their landing, however, a sudden rally of the men of Devon cut off the entire force, at Kinwith near Bideford. The Hubba Stone, a huge barrow amongst the sandhills by the estuary (now swept away by the tide), enshrined for eight centuries the name and the bones of the pirate chief here slaughtered.' 'And there was taken their war-flag which they called The Raven'—a magic banner, held in the utmost reverence by the Northmen; 'for they say that the three daughters of Lodbrok [the father of Hubba] wove it, and that in one day. They say, moreover, that in every fight, whensoever that flag went before them, the Raven in the midst thereof, if they were fated to win the day, would seem to flutter as it were alive; but were their doom to be worsted, then would it droop still and lifeless. And oft was this well proven.'

§ 2. And, indeed, with the capture of this banner the spell of the long succession of Danish victories was now at last broken, and English hearts began to take courage. Alfred's sallies from Athelney were no longer mere foraging raids, but incessant attacks upon the flying parties of the Danish host, so

1 Such at least was the tradition. But see Gaimar, 3141.

effectual, and rousing such a spirit of local resistance, that the invaders were forced to concentrate. The country, being thus cleared, rose en masse, and it was the whole folk of Somersetshire and Wiltshire and Hampshire' who, at Whitsuntide, 878, greeted 'with joy and acclaim' the King whom all had thought dead. This was at Egbert's Stone, on the border of Selwood or 'Mucelwood' Forest, which being interpreted is in Latin Silva Magna, but in British Coitmawr.' The exact spot here indicated is matter of dispute.

But the gathering place must

be approximately indicated by Alfred's Tower,' which on the brow of King Settle Hill is so conspicuous a landmark from the West. And to those who know the ground it is hard not to see ‘Iglea,' Alfred's next stage, in the towering summit of Cley Hill, near Warminster, which, crowned with its ancient camp, so strikingly dominates the road by which he must needs have marched to meet the Danes at Edington.

§ 3. And Alfred was not the man to let such a chance slip. That very day, while the enthusiasm roused by his reappearance was at its height, 'at peep of dawn roused he the camp,' and led, no small band this time but a mighty army,' against the foe. Two days more, and he had met them at Ethandune for the decisive battle, on which hung the fate of England. The numbers on either side seem to have been about equal. Doubtless the Danes were the better armed, being professional soldiers, while the English were only a landsturm. But, on the other hand, the former were doubtless as dispirited by the sudden turn of events as the latter were encouraged.

§ 4. Where this Ethandune (or Edington) was is hotly debated. The most recent authority, Mr. Stevenson, in his 'Asser,' inclines to Bp. Clifford's view that it was the Somersetshire Edington, only a few miles from Athelney. But this can hardly be, if, as he allows, the muster-place was near 'Alfred's Tower.' For the first object of the Danes on hearing of Alfred's muster would be to march southwards from Chippenham to crush him as speedily as possible. Alfred, on his side, was as keen to bring matters to an immediate issue,

and marched northwards on Chippenham. This would make the two armies meet about midway, at or about the Wiltshire Edington, near Westbury; where the White Horse, so conspicuous upon the hill side, may possibly be a memorial of the battle. This Edington is some 15 miles from 'Alfred's Tower,' and 12 from Chippenham.

§ 5. The event is thus graphically described by Simeon of Durham:

'With the first bright rays of the rising sun, did the King alike and all the flower of his folk beclothe themselves in their war-gear, with the threefold breastplate, to wit, of Faith, and of Hope, and of the Love of God. Arising thereafter from the ground, boldly did they challenge the combat, trusting full surely in the mercy and loving-kindness of the Creator, and safe-guarded, as with a rampart, by the presence of their King, whose face shone even then with light as it had been the face of an angel.

'All the long day did the two peoples fight; and far off might you hear the shouting and the crash of arms. And He who in His might beholdeth all things, beheld also the inmost wish of His King on earth, and granted him his heart's desire the prayers and the aid of the powers of heaven. Thus at length laid he low his foes, and gat him the victory, giving thanks to his heavenly Saviour with joy of heart.'

$ 6. From the Chronicle of St. Neot's we learn that the supernatural aid on which Alfred's heart was thus set was that of St. Neot himself, the dear brother and counsellor of whom death had the year before deprived him. We read that ere his departure the saint had promised that as he had been Alfred's spiritual guide in life, so should that spiritual guidance and wardship still abide with him. Thy guide have I been ever; thee and thine will I lead on.' 'I will be thy captain, I will be thy champion; thon shalt be glad and rejoice in me.' 'Lo, I will go before thy banner'; 'thine enemies shall perish at my presence.'1

1 'Chronicle of St. Neot.'

§ 7. And now the King was persuaded that this promise was being fulfilled. With the eye of ardent faith he beheld the blessed spirit of his brother leading on the Christian banners to the onset. 'See ye not?' he exclaimed to his men; see ye not? That is indeed Neotus, Christ's glorious servant, Christ's unconquered soldier, and through him is the victory even now given to our hands.'

$ 8. The Danes, in fact, were utterly worsted, and sent flying back, in headlong rout and with heavy loss, to their entrenched camp at Chippenham. Here they at once found themselves completely invested by the pursuing English, who 'with blow on blow followed hard after them,' and wholly unprovisioned for a siege; for 'every living thing without the stronghold, flocks and herds and horses and all, caught we and took' ere they could be brought in. Neither assault nor sally seems to have been made. Alfred knew that the enemy must shortly surrender unless they cut their way out; and this they were too demoralized by defeat even to attempt. Thus we only read of exultation on the one side, and craven dejection on the other. Then did the King and his hosts stand by, all smiling with joy of heart; but the remnant of the foe, cried ever aloud for sorrow of heart, and for bitter hunger, and for cold, and for mighty dread. "Mercy," do they implore, "mercy," mercy and peace "—they who had ever been enemies unto peace, of direst mood.'1

§ 9. And to peace, after a fortnight, they were admitted; on conditions which show to what a strait they had been brought.

First, they were to give the King as many hostages as he pleased, receiving none in return, in which form they had never before made treaty with anyone.'"

Secondly, they were immediately to depart the kingdom. Thirdly, their leader, Guthrum was to become a Christian and receive baptism without delay.

On these terms the humiliated Danes left Chippenham, and betook themselves to Cirencester, over the Mercian

And his

border. And a few weeks later Guthrum did indeed present himself for baptism at Wedmore, on the Poldon Hills; when Alfred, as his godfather, gave him the Christian name of Athelstane, after the sainted brother (St. Neot) whose warnings and whose promises had alike been so signally fulfilled in Guthrum's attack and Guthrum's defeat. 'And thus did King Alfred receive him for his own son by adoption.' spiritual father gave unto him many a fair gift—yea, and unto all his comrades, as many as were fain to receive the Christian faith.' § 10. This baptismal visit of Guthrum to Alfred was a political epoch of the very first importance. It established between them a tie which the Danish chief, fierce pirate as he was, never forgot. Henceforward, whatever other Danes might do, his influence, the mightiest amongst them, always made for peace with his godfather, and he himself never broke it. Nor only so. Alfred's statecraft took occasion at this interview to establish with the Danes a permanent understanding. By formal treaty he bound them to evacuate not only Wessex, but half Mercia also. Their boundary was to be the river Lea from its mouth to its source, then 'right to Bedford,' and along the Ouse to the old Roman Watling Street, leading straight as a line from London to Chester. Beyond that, northward and eastward, all was to be the 'Danelagh.' In this district Danish law was to prevail, and Guthrum and his chieftains might set up whatever local polities best suited them. But all were to recognise the West Saxon King as lord paramount.

§ 11. And all were to observe strict and equal justice betwixt Englishman and Dane. The wer-gild, or fine payable for manslaughter, was to be the same for each, '8 half-marks of pure gold' (equivalent to about £50 or £60) and upwards, according to the rank of the slain man. And a common procedure was to regulate all matters of dispute between

members of the two nationalities.

§ 12. The effect of this Peace of Wedmore was to do away for good with the whole system of English under-kings.

The