Page images
PDF
EPUB

Saxon Chronicle

3 And the same year came three hundred and fifty ships to Thames-mouth, and the crews landed and broke into Canterbury and London, and put to flight Beorhtwulf king of the Mercians with his

army.

§ Canterbury was called DORUBERNIA, i. e. DOVER, in the earlier part

of the Saxon History.

Asser

The same year also a great army of the pagans came with three hundred and fifty ships to the mouth of the river Thames, and sacked Dorubernia, § which is the city of the Cantuarians, [and also the city of London, *] which lies on the north bank of the river Thames, on the confines of Essex and Middlesex; but yet that city belongs in truth to Essex; and they put to flight Beorhtulf, king of Mercia, with all the army, which he had led out to oppose them.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

been written before the terrible battles which Alfred afterwards fought against the Danes at Ash

down, and Eddington.

After these things, the same
army of pagans went into

Surrey, which is
a district situated on the
south bank of the river
Thames, and to the west of
Kent. And Ethelwulf, king
of the Saxons, and his son
Ethelbald, with all their
army, fought a long time
against them at a place called
Ac-lea, i. e. the Oak-plain,
and there, after a lengthened

4 After the battle they returned beyond the river Thames towards the south, through the province of Surrey, and there king Athulf with the Western Angles met them: an immense number was slain on both sides, nor have we ever heard of a more severe battle before that day: these things happened near Aclea Wood.

the Seine.

This must, apparently, have battle, which was fought with much bravery on both sides, the greater part of the pagan multitude was destroyed and ANNALS. 851. The Normans enter cut to pieces, so that we never heard of their being so slaughtered, either before or since, in any country, in one day; and the Christians gained an honourable victory, and were triumphant over the place of death.

CHARTERS IN 851. 1. BERTWOLF

king of Mercia, Friday, March 27. II,

36. 2. Another of BERTWOLF, II,

45.

INGULF states that there was a severe disease in 851, prevalent over all England, which withered the limbs of men, women, and children, and was similar to the palsy.

The Annals have " Athelstan son of King Adhelwif." He was king of the eastern subject kingdom of Kent, Essex, and Sussex. Some call him

brother of Ethelwolf.

1 And the same year king

Ethelstan and alderman

Ealchere fought on shipboard, and cut off a large army at Sandwich in Kent, and took nine ships, and put the others to flight.

In the same year king Æthelstan and earl Ealhere slew a large army of the pagans in Kent, at a place called Sandwich, and took nine ships of their fleet; the others escaped by flight.

king Ethelstan and duke 1 Also in the same year army of the above-mentioned Ealhere fought against the nation in the province of Kent, near the town of Sandwich, where they slew many of them, put their troops to flight, and took nine ships,

[blocks in formation]

After these things, the same army of pagans went into

Surrey, which is

a district situated on the south bank of the river Thames, and to the west of Kent. And Etheluulf, king of the West-Saxons, and his son Æthelbald, with all their army, fought a long time against them at a place called Ac-lea, i. e. the Oak-plain, and there, after a fierce battle, which was fought with much bravery on both sides, the greater part of the pagan multitude was destroyed and cut to pieces, so that we never heard of their being so slaughtered, either before or since, in any country, in one day; and the Christians gained an honourable victory, and were triumphant over the place of death.

In the same year king Æthelstan and earl Ealhere slew a large army of the pagans in Kent, at a place called Sandwich, and took nine ships of

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

fought in England. You might then have seen warrior

men fall on both sides like a crop of corn, and streams of blood roll with them the heads and limbs of the slain. But would it not be too great and wearying prolixity to describe each particular? God gave the fortune of the battle to those who believed in him, and unutterable anguish to those who despised him. King Adelwlf then was the glorious victor.

Simeon

In the same year a great army of pagans came with 350 ships into the mouth of the river Thames. Who laid waste Doroberbia,i.e. the city of the Kentish men, and put to flight Berhtulf king of the Mercians with all his army, who had come to do battle against them.

After this the Danes became

more bold, and all their army was drawn together in Surrey. Which the warlike Ethelwlf king of the Saxons hearing, both he and his son Ethelbald with him collected a large called Aclea, that is, in the army in a place which is field of the oak. And glish when the pride of the En

nation shone with glancing arms, the English fought a very long time with the Danes; bravely striving against them, because they saw that their king fought fiercely, therefore they became braver than their enemies in war. And when they had manfully striven for sides a very long time, and both much fought with sharpness and spirit, the greatest part of the Pagan throng was thoroughly cut off and slain, so that never in any land, in one day, before or after, did so many fall. The Christians however on that same day honourably INCARNATIONIS 852 to this para gained the victory and were

* Simeon prefixes ANNO DOMINICE

graph, but the other chroniclers are against him.

[blocks in formation]

masters of the field of death, giving thanks to the Lord in hymns and confessions.

* King Ethelstan and earl Alchere found a great army of the pagans in Kent in a place which is called At Sandwich; † whom † AT SANDWICH: a customary

Saxon idiom.

Saron Chronicle

Asser

Ethelwerd 851

A. 852. Here at this time

Ceolred abbat of Medesham

*This local notice of MEDESHAMSTEAD, i. e. PETERBOROUGH, occurs in only one MS. of the Saxon Chroa monk of that abbey.

stede and the monks let to Wulfred the land of Sempingaham, on this condition, that after his decease the land should return to the minster, and that Wulfred should give nicle, which was probably written by the land of Sliowaford [SLEAFORD] to Medeshamstede, and each year should deliver into the minster sixty fother of wood, and twelve fother of coal, and six fother of faggots, and two tuns full of pure ale, and two beasts fit for slaughter, and six hundred loaves, and ten measures of Welsh ale, and each year a horse, and thirty shillings, and one day's entertainment. At this agreement were present king Burhred, and archbishop Ceolred, and bishop Tunberht, and bishop Cenred and bishop Alhhun, and bishop Berhtred, and abbat Wihtred, and abbat Werhtherd, and alderman Æthelheard and alderman Hunberht, and many others.

A. 853. Here Burhred king
of the Mercians and his
'witan
begged of king
Æthelwulf that he would
assist him so that he might
make the North-Welsh obe-
dient to him.

He then did so; and went with an army across Mercia among the North-Welsh, and made them all obedient to him.

3 And upon this after Easter
Ethelwulf king of the West-
Saxons gave his daughter to
Burgred king of Mercia.

* Her name was Ethelswith.

In the year of our Lord's
incarnation 853, which was
the fifth of king Alfred,
Burgred, king of the Mer-
cians, sent messengers, and
prayed Ethelwulf king of
the West-Saxons, to come
and help him in reducing the
midland Britons, who dwell
between Mercia and the
western sea, and who strug-
gled against him most im-
moderately.

So without
delay, king Ethelwulf, hav-
ing received the embassy,
moved his army, and ad-
vanced with king Burghred
against Britain, and immedi-
diately on entering that
country, he began to ravage
it; and having reduced it
under subjection to king
Burghred, he returned home.

4 In the same year also, after
Easter, Ethelwulf, king of
the West-Saxons, gave his
daughter to Burgred, king of
the Mercians, to be queen,
and the marriage was cele-
brated royally at the royal
vill of Chippenham.

CHARTERS IN 852. 1. CEOLRED abbat of Peterborough, subscribed by BURGRED king of Mercia &c. II, 46. This Charter is partly the same as the extract from the Saxon Chronicle under this year. 2. BERTWOLF king of Mercia, II, 47.

[blocks in formation]

having collected his army, He granted it, and passed through the Mercian kingdom to go against the Britons whom he subdued and made tributary.

3 The same year also after
Easter king Athulf
daughter in marriage to king
gave his
Burhrede.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

took nine of their ships; but they almost cut off in the same the others fled.

6 This year, therefore, was fortunate for the English people.

2 To whom [BERT WOLF] SUCceeded Burrhed on the throne of Mercia.

place, God granting them help, and seized nine of their ships the rest struck with terror escaped by flight.

853.

Burhred, king of the Mer

come

cians, by messengers, prayed Etheluulf king of the West-Saxons, to and help him in reducing the midland Britons, who dwell between Mercia and the

[blocks in formation]

CHARTERS IN 853. ETHELWOLF

western sea, and who strug- king of Wessex, subscribed by gled against him most im

moderately.

So without

delay, king Ætheluulf, having received the embassy, moved his army, and advanced with king Burhred against Britain, and immediately on entering that country, he began to ravage it; and having reduced it under subjection to king Burhred, he returned home.

Dei

ETHELBERTUS rex, CIALNOTHUS gratia archiepiscopus, and others, among whom we find "Ego ELFRED fili regis consensi et subscripsi." II, 48.

MATTHEW OF WESTMINSTER

relates, under this year, a legend concerning the terrible death and

damnation of a witch; also the fate of Charles Martel.

In the year of our Lord's incarnation 853, of the birth of Alfred 5, Burhred king of the Mercians sent messengers, and begged Ethelwlf king of the West Saxons to bring him help in order that he might be able to subdue under his dominion the midland Britons who dwell between Mercia and the Western Sea, who often

strove against him. But King Ethelwlf, having received his embassy, moved an army, distributed pay, and bravely went forth with

king Burhred to war. Presently when he had begun to lay waste that nation, he took, slew, and subdued it to king Burhred, who giving thanks sent him away with joy to return to his own land.

3 In the same year also, after And gave him his daughter

Easter, Ætheluulf, king of the West-Saxons, gave his daughter to Burhred, king of the Mercians, and the marriage was celebrated royally at the royal vill of Chippenham.

in marriage.

3 The same year after the feast of Christ's holy resurrection, king Ethelwlf, of glorious power, gave his daughter, with great glory, as it is customary for kings, to Burhred king of the Mercians, at the vill which is called At Chippenham ;

Saron Chronicle

Asser

Ethelwerd 853

1 And the same year king Ethelwulf sent his son Elfred to Rome. Leo was then pope of Rome, and he consecrated him king, and took him for his son at confirmation.

See note in page 18.

2 Then, in the same year, Ealhere, with the men of Kent, and Huda, with the men of Surrey, fought in Thanet against the heathen army; and at first they were victorious; and many there were slain, and drowned on either hand, and both the alderman were killed.

A. 854.

CHARTERS IN 854. 1. ETHELWOLF, king of Wessex, subscribed also by Alstan, "thred fili. reg." and "Elfred fili. reg." II, 50. This is the celebrated grant of tithes it

A. 855. Here the heathen men first sat over winter in

Sheppey.

And the same year king Ethelwulf gave by charter the tenth part of his land throughout his realm for the glory of God and his own

eternal salvation.

1 In the same year, king Æthelwulf sent his son Ælfred, above-named, to Rome, with an honourable escort both of nobles and commoners. Pope Leo [THE FOURTH] at that time presided over the apostolic see, who ordained and anointed for king the aforesaid child Ælfred, and confirmed him, receiving him as his son of

adoption.

2 The same year also, earl Ealhere, with the men of Kent, and Huda with the men of Surrey, fought bravely and resolutely against an army of the pagans, in the island, which is called in the Saxon tongue, Tenet, [THA

NET], but Ruim in British. 3 And at first the Christians had the victory, but when the battle was protracted to a great length, many fell on both sides, and also were drowned in the water; and both the earls were there slain.

is dated April 22. 2. Another copy of the same charter follows, p. 52, in which the names of Ethelred and Alfred do not appear. Both copies bear the subscription of the celebrated Swithun bishop of Winchester, and Alstan bishop of

In the year of our Lord's incarnation 855, which was the seventh after the birth of the aforesaid king, the great army of the pagans passed the whole winter in the afore

said isle of Sheppey. In the same year the aforesaid venerable king Ethelwulf released the tenth part of all his kingdom from all royal service and tribute, and with a pen never to be forgotten, offered it up to God the One and the Three in One, in the cross of Christ, for the redemption of his own soul and of his prede

cessors.

[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »