Page images
PDF
EPUB

Saron Chronicle

because one of them was his godson, and the other Ethered's the alderman's. They had become their godfathers before Hæsten came to Beamfleet, and at that

Annals

time Hæsten had delivered to him hostages and taken
oaths and the king had also given him many gifts; and
so likewise when he gave up the youths and the woman.
But as soon as they came to Beamfleet, and the fortress
was constructed, then plundered he that very part of the
king's realm which was in the keeping of Ethered his
compater; and again, this
second time, he had gone out
to plunder that very same
district when his fortress was
stormed.

Now the king with his forces had turned westward towards Exeter, as I said before, and the army had beset the burgh: but when he arrived there, then went they to their ships.

While the king was thus busied with the army there, in the west, and both the other armies had drawn to

gether at Shoebury in Essex,
and there had constructed a
fortress, then both together
went up along the Thames,
and a great addition came to
them, as well from the East-
Anglians as from the North-
humbrians.

They then went up along the
Thames till they reached the
Severn; then up along the
Severn.

Then Ethered the alderman,
and Ethelm the alderman,
and Ethelnoth the alder-
man, and the king's-thanes
who where then at home in
the fortified places, gathered
forces from every town east
of the Parret, and as well west
as east of Selwood, and also
north of the Thames, and
west of the Severn, and also

some

part of the North-
Welsh people.

When they had all drawn to-
gether, then they came up
with the army at Buttington

[blocks in formation]

And moreover a great multi

tude came to him from the

East Angles and Northum-
brians; who hastening up-
wards beyond the river
Thames, went plundering to
the bank of the river Severn,
and there at Buttington
built a strong tower. But soon
Adhered earl of the Mercians,
with the earls Eathelm and
Eathelmnoth, and also with
the other faithful servants of
the king, laid siege to the
town on all sides, until food
failed the pagans, so that
they ate the flesh of their
horses, and, at last, compelled
by hunger, they go out to
battle against those who were
on the eastern side of the

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

part of the country. When two years were completed, from the time that an immense fleet came from Boulogne to Limnæ a town of the Angles, duke Ethel

noth set out from the western parts of the Angles, and goes from the city of York against the enemy, who devastate no small tracts of land in the kingdom of the Mercians, on the west of Stanford; I. E. between the courses of the river Weolod and a thick wood called Ceoftefne.

on the bank of the Severn, and there beset them about, on either side, in a fastness. When they had now sat there many weeks on both sides of the river, and the king was in the west in Devon, against the fleet, then were the enemy distressed for want of food; and having eaten a great part of their horses, the others being starved with

894 Florence

large sum of money.

Huntingdon

Simeon

This year died king Guthred.

Meanwhile the pagan army from Beanflot, as we have said, being routed by the Christians, went to a city in Essex called Sceobyrig, and built there for themselves a

strong fortress.

Many of the pagans from East-Anglia and Northumberland having joined them, they plundered first the banks of the Thames, and then of the Severn. Resenting their attacks, those noble leaders, Æthered Æthelm Æthelnoth and other servants of the king, whom he had left for garrisons in the fortresses, towns and cities, not only on the eastern side of the Perrot, but also on the western side of Selwood, and not only on the southern but also on the northern bank of the river Thames, collect a numerous army against the enemy, to which also was added an auxiliary force of Welshmen who lived on the western

bank of the Severn.

Whilst, therefore, the king
is going thither, the army,
that was at Awldre, invaded
Essex, and made a camp at
Scobrih.

And issuing thence, they
went as far as Budingtune
near the Severn, and there

made a camp.

From which, however, they
were driven out by force,
and fled to their camp in
Essex.

But those who had besieged
Exeter, hearing of the king's
coming, fled to their ships,
and stopped out at sea, plun-
dering.

When these were assembled into one body, they pursued the enemy, and overtaking them at Buttington on the bank of the river Severn, laid siege, on both sides of the river, to the fortress in which they had taken refuge. Several weeks passed over; some of the pagans died of hunger, some of them, when they had eaten their horses, burst from the fortress and gave battle to those who were on the eastern side of the river, but when many thousands of the pagans had been slain,and all the others were put to flight, the Christians obtained the victory. In this battle the noble Ordeah, and many of the king's servants were slain. And when the pagans who fled, returning to East-Saxony, had come to their fortress and their ships, winter now coming on, they again gather a large army out of East-Anglia and Northumberland, and having placed their wives; their money and ships in East-Anglia, and left their fortresses, they march without

A fourth army came that same year from Northumberland as far as Leicester; but were there besieged, and afflicted by so sore a famine, that they ate even their horses.

Saxon Chronicle

Annals

Ethelwerd 894 hunger, then went they out against the men who were encamped on the east bank of the river, and fought against them: and the Christians had the victory.

And Ordheh a king's-thane was there slain, and also many other king's-thanes were slain; and of the Danish-men there was very great slaughter made; and that part which got away thence was saved by flight.

When they had come into Essex to their fortress and to their ships, then the survivors again gathered a great army from among the East-Angles and the North-humbrians before winter, and committed their wives and their ships and their wealth to the EastAngles, and went at one stretch, day and night, until they arrived at a western city in Wirral, which is called Lega-ceaster.

Then were the forces unable to come up with them before they were within the fortress: nevertheless they beset the fortress about for some two days, and took all the cattle that was there-without, and slew the men whom they were able to overtake without the fortress, and burned all the corn, and with their horses ate it in every evening. And this was about a twelvemonth after they first came hither over sea.

A. 895.

And then soon after that, in

The aforesaid army of pagans
wintered in the island which
is called Mersey.

A. 895.

this year, the army from Wirral went among the North-Welsh, for they were unable to stay there: this was because they had been deprived both of the cattle and of the corn which they had plundered.

When they had turned again out of North-Wales with the booty which they had there taken, then went they over North-humbria-land and East-Anglia, in such wise that the forces could not overtake them before they came to the eastern parts of the land of Essex, to an island that is out on the sea, which is called Mersey. And as the army which had beset Exeter again turned homewards, then spoiled they the South-Saxons near Chichester; and the townsmen put them to flight, and slew many hundreds of them, and took some of their ships. Then that same year, bofore winter, the Danish-men who had sat down in Mersey, towed their ships up the Thames, and thence up the Lea. This was about two years after they had come hither over sea.

[blocks in formation]

In that same year the forementioned army constructed a fortress on the Lea, twenty miles above London, After this, in summer, a great body of the townsmen, and also of other people, went onwards until they arrived at the Danish fortress; and there they were put to flight, and some four king's-thanes were slain. Then after this during harvest, the king encamped near to the town, while the people reaped their corn, so that the Danish-men might not deprive them of the crop. Then on a certain day the king rode up along the river, and observed where the river might be obstructed, so that they would be unable to bring out their ships. And they then did thus: they constructed two fortresses, on the two sides of the river. When they had already begun the work, and had encamped there-beside, then perceived the army that they should not be able to bring out their ships. They then abandoned them, and went across the country till they arrived at Cwatbridge by the Severn; and there they constructed a fortress. Then the forces rode westwards after the army and the men of London took possession of the ships; and all which they could not bring away they broke up and those which there were stalworth' they brought to London: moreover the Danish-men had committed their wives to the keeping of the East-Angles before they went out from their fortress. Then sat they down for the winter at Cwatbridge. This was about three years after they had come hither over sea to Limene-mouth.

A. 897.

6

After this, in the summer of this year, the army broke up,

some for East-Anglia, some for North-humbria, and they who were moneyless procured

IN 897.
Ethelwolf. II, 127.

Hasteng, with the armies that CHARTERS
adhered to him, in the 3rd
year after they came to the
mouth of the river Thames
and to the mouth of the river

Duke

897 Florence

Huntingdon

Simeon

intermission and enter the city of Legions, called in Saxon Legeceastre, at that time deserted, before the army of Alfred and the underking Ethered, who were following, could overtake them. Some of them, however, they took and put to death, re-taking all the sheep and oxen which they had gained by plunder: they then besieged the city two days, and gave some of the standing corn to their horses, burning the rest. All this was done after the revolution of one

year from the time when they had left the coasts of Gaul, and entered the mouth of the Limene.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

it far and wide, carry off with them a very great booty. And, because they did not dare to return through Mercia for fear of the Mercians, they went first through Northumberland, then through the Mediterranean Angles, and having taken their wives and ships in East-Anglia, entered an island called Meresig situated on the sea-coast in the eastern part of East-Saxony. Afterwards, roused by the sufferings of his men aforesaid, he [ALFRED] reached Exeter, & the pagans terrified at his coming, fled to their ships, and so returning to their seats, near the city which is called in English Cissaceastre, in the province of the

But the army that had be-
sieged Exeter, was caught
plundering near Ciceastre,
where they lost many of their
men, and lost some of their
ships.

The aforesaid army which besieged Exancestre, ravaged every thing round Cissacestre. But not long after they were put to the rout by those who were in the city, many of them were slain, and many of their ships were taken.

South-Saxons, they carried off booty. But being routed by the inhabitants of that city, the greater part of them were wounded or slain, and many of their ships taken.

2 896.

1 In the same year they drew their ships up the river Thames, and afterwards up the river Ligea, and began to build for themselves a fortress near the river, 20 miles from London.

In the following year, the army that was on the river Lee,
made a camp near that same river, 20 miles from London.

1 And afterwards, in the winter, they drew their ships up the
Thames into the river Luye [Lea].
But the Londoners came to that camp, and fighting with
the Danes, slew 4 of their leaders, and Almighty God
at a timely moment gave the victory to his true followers.
When the Danes had fled into their camp, the king
caused the water of the Lea to be divided into three arms,
that they might not be able to convey back their ships on
it. The Danes, perceiving this, left their ships, and went as
far as Quadruge near the Severn, and there made a camp, and
wintered on the spot: having sent their wives for safety into
East-Anglia. The king with his army pursued them.
But the Londoners carried to London some of their ships
which they had left, and burnt the rest.

In the summer-time, a great
part of the citizens of Lon-
don, and many from the
neighbouring places, endea-
vour to destroy the fortress
which the pagans had made
for themselves, but their re-
sistance was so great, that
the Christians are put to
flight and four of king Al-
fred's officers are slain. But the king himself, in the autumn, measured out his camp not far
from the city, in order to prevent the pagans from carrying off the crops of the provincials.
But one day as the king was riding along the river's bank, he considered where he could
find a favorable place for blocking up the river, that the Danes might not be able
to extricate their ships; and without delay, he ordered his men to begin making a
barrier on both sides of the river. When the pagans perceived this, they again committed
their wives to the care of the East-Anglians, and leaving their ships, went on
foot a rapid march to a place called Quatbricg, and having built for themselves a fortress,
they passed the winter there. Meanwhile the Londoners carried some of their ships to
London and broke up the rest.

897.

[blocks in formation]

Limen, crossed the sea with-
out gain and without honour,
but, having lost many of his
companions, he put in at the

mouth of the river Seine.

Ethelwerd 897

themselves ships there, and went southwards over sea to the Seine. Thanks be to God the army had not utterly broken down the English nation; but during the three years was it much more broken down by the mortality which broke out among cattle and among men, and most of all by this, that many of the most eminent king's-thanes in the land died during the three years: some of whom were, Swithulf bishop of Rochester, and Ceolmund alderman of Kent, and Beorhtulf alderman of Essex, and Wulfred alderman of Hamtunshire, and Ealheard bishop of Dorchester, and Eadulf the king's-thane in Sussex, and Beornwulf the 'wic-reeve' at Winchester, and Ecgulf the king's horse-thane, and many also besides these, though I have named the most famous. That same year the armies from among the East-Anglians and from among the North-humbrians harassed the land of the West-Saxons, chiefly on the south coast, by predatory bands; most of all by their æses,' which they had built many years before. Then king Alfred commanded long ships to be built to oppose the æscs; they were full-nigh twice as long as the others; some had sixty oars, and some had more they were both swifter and steadier, and also higher than the others. They were shapen neither like the Frisian nor the Danish, but so as it seemed to him that they would be most efficient. Then some time in the same year, there came six ships to Wight, and there did much harm, as well as in Devon, and elsewhere along the seacoast. Then the king commanded nine of the new ships to go thither, and they obstructed their passage from the port towards the outer sea. Then went they with three of their ships out against them; and three lay in the upper part of the port in the dry; the men were gone from them ashore. Then took they two of the three ships at the outer part of the port, and killed the men, and the other ship escaped; in that also the men were killed except five: they got away because the other ships were aground. They also were aground very disadvantageously: three lay aground on that side of the deep on which the Danish ships were aground, and all the rest upon the other side, so that no one of them could get to the others. But when the water had ebbed many furlongs from the ships, then the Danish-men went from their three ships to the other three which were left by the tide on their side, and then

they there fought against them. There was slain Lucumon the king's reeve,

and Wulfheard the Frisian, and Ebbe the Frisian, and Æthelhere the Frisian, and Æthelferth the king's geneat, and of all the men, Frisians and English, seventy-two; and of the Danish-men one hundred and twenty. Then, however, the flood-tide came to the Danish ships before the Christians could shove theirs off, and they therefore rowed them out nevertheless, they were damaged to such a degree that they could not row round the Sussex land; and there the sea cast two of them on shore, and the men were led to the king at Winchester; and he commanded them to be there hanged and the men who were in the single ship came to East-Anglia, sorely wounded. That same summer no less than twenty ships, with their crews, wholly perished upon the south coast. That same year died Wulfric, the king's horse-thane; he was also 'Wealh-reeve.'

A. 898.

:

[blocks in formation]

An. 898.

Meanwhile, after four years from the time that the abovenamed king died, there was a great discord among the English, because the foul bands of the Danes still remained throughout Northumberland.

The emperor Arnulf died,
and Louis his son was raised
to be king.
In the same year Rollo with
his army besieged the city
of Chartres, but the bishop
of that same city, named
Walthelm, a most religious
man, called Richard duke of Burgundy and Ebal count of
Poictiers to his help, and bearing in his hands the shift
of the blessed Virgin Mary, he drove back duke Rollo by
the divine will, and freed the city.

3.

129. 2. Another of WERFRITH,
without a date, is at II, 131.
A third, of King ALFRED, and sub-

scribed "Signum Edwardi filii regis," at II, 130, has no date, but must belong to some year about this time.

« PreviousContinue »