"When King Etheldred was dead, his brother, who hitherto, during the life of his brothers, had been of secondary rank, succeeded to the entire sovereignty of Wessex in the year of our Lord 872, and he was the first of all the kings of England who received regal unction, which was administered to him, as it is written, by Pope Leo at Rome. That same year the Danes pursued the new king, and came up with him at Walton in Sussex, where King Alfred, in the midst of the fight, fled from the field of battle, and escaped to the wood. From thence he went into Wessex, where he collected all the people of his kingdom, and in a short time had so large an army, consisting of his Own subjects and others, that the Danes did not dare to meet him in the field. He then went to attack them in London, where they had taken up their residence: but the Danes, not venturing to give him battle, asked peace of him, and offered to let him choose out of them whatever hostages he pleased, on condition that they should leave his dominions, and never again enter them. On that same day, therefore, the hostages were given, and the Huntingdon one could resist them, they took possession of it for themselves. Part, therefore, of the people fled beyond the sea, part followed king Alfred, who hid himself with a few men in the marshes, and part submitted to the enemy. Danes leaving London, marched the whole night, and never rested until they reached Exeter, which they surprised and occupied. When King Alfred heard this, he first hanged the hostages, and then followed the Danes with all his army to Exeter. The Danes, hearing that he was coming, abandoned the city and went as far as Chippenham in Wessex; where they did much damage, plundering the country, and expelling the people from their habitations. But King Alfred came upon them there, and bravely encountered them in a battle, where Hubba the brother of Hinguar, and Bruern Bocard, who had first con ducted them from Denmark, were both slain, besides many others on both sides. At last the Danes prevailed, and Alfred, who had in too great haste marched against them with too small an army, escaped from the battle in the best manner that he could. The Danes, finding the body of Hubba among the slain, buried it amid loud lamentations, and placed over it a mound, which they called Hubbelowe, as it still is called to this very day in the county of Devon, where it is to be seen. "When the barons of the counties of Somerset, Wilts, and Dorset, heard of the calamity that had befallen their king Alfred, they all assembled in great force at the place where he was; for they were rejoiced to see him safe and sound, having believed that he was dead. Wherefore the king and the barons immediately took counsel about pursuing the Danes, and galloping after them with an immense army all that night, the next morning at the ninth hour Simeon But king Elfred in those days suffered many tribulations, and led an unquiet life. they came up with them at Abendun. Alfred and his men immediately assaulted them, and the battle which ensued was more valorously contested than any they had fought before but the Danes resisted the English so bravely, that it is impossible to say on which side the loss of life was greatest. Thus the English, after having slain many of their enemies, were now reduced in numbers and broken down by eight bat tles fought this same year.' In the foregoing narrative the battle of Abendune is probably that of Edandune: and its connection with that of Chippenham is correct, though misplaced by 7 years. This particular gave much annoyance to the holy man St Neot, who was his relation, and often foretold to him, in the spirit of prophecy, that he would suffer great adversity on this account; but Alfred neither attended to the reproof of the man of God, nor listened to his true prediction. Wherefore, seeing that a man's sins must be corrected either in this world or the next, the true and the righteous Judge was willing that his sin should not go unpunished in this world, to the end that he might spare him in the world to come. From this cause, therefore, the aforesaid Ælfred often fell into such great misery, that sometimes none of his subjects knew where he was or what had become of him. And the same winter the brother of Inwær and of Healfdene came with twenty-three ships to Devon shire in Wessex. And he was there slain, and with him eight hundred and forty men of his army: and there was taken the war-flag which they called Raven. In the same year the brother into which many of the king's servants, with their followers, had fled for safety. The pagans, seeing that the castle was altogether unprepared and unfortified, except that it had walls in our own fashion, determined not to assault it, because it was impregnable and secure on all sides, except on the eastern, as we ourselves have seen, but they began to blockade it thinking that those who were inside would soon surrender either from famine or want of water, for the castle had no spring near it. But the result did not fall out as they expected; for the Christians, before they began to suffer from want, inspired by Heaven, judging it much better to gain victory or death, attacked the pagans suddenly in the morning, and from the first cut them down in great numbers, slaying also their king, so that few escaped to their ships. 5 In the same year arrived Healfdene brother of the tyrant Inguuar with thirty galleys, in the western parts of the Angles, and besieged Odda duke of Devon in a certain castle, and war was stirred up on all sides. 6 The king of the barbarians fell, and eighty decads with him. 7 At last the Danes obtain the victory. *The ANNALS add here: "There they gained a very large booty, and amongst other things the standard called Raven, for they say that the three sisters of Hungar and Habba, flag and got it ready in one day. daughters of Lodebroc, wove that They say, moreover, that in every battle, whenever that flag went before them, if they were to gain the victory a live crow would appear flying on the middle of the flag; but if they were doomed to be defeated it would hang down motionless; and this was often proved to be so." 878 Florence Huntingdon Simeon In the same year the brother of Inguar and Halfdene, with twenty-three ships, after much slaughter of the Christians, came from the country of Demetia [SOUTH-WALES], where he had wintered, and sailed to Devon, where, with twelve hundred others, he met with a miserable death, being slain while committing his misdeeds, by the king's servants before the castle of Cynuit, into which many of the king's servants, with their followers, had fled for safety. The pagans, seeing that the castle was altogether unprepared and unfortified, except that it had walls in our own fashion, determined not to assault it, because it was impregnable and secure on all sides, except on the eastern; but they began to blockade it, thinking that those who were inside would soon surrender either from famine or want of water, for the castle had no spring near it. But the result did not fall out as they expected; for the Christians, before they began to suffer from want, inspired by Heaven, judging it much better to gain victory or death, attacked the pagans suddenly in the morning, and from the first cut them down in great numbers, slaying also their king, so that few escaped to their ships. But now that king Alfred had neither land nor hopes of having any, the Lord looked down upon the remains of his people. For the brother of king Haldene came with 23 ships into Devonshire in Wessex. But the people of king Alfred slew him with 840 men of his army, and there was taken their standard called the RAVEN. 2 That same year, Inguar and Healfdene, with 23 ships, sallied forth like fierce wolves from the country of Demetia [SOUTH WALES], in which they had wintered, after much slaughter of the Christians which they had there perpetrated, and after the burning of monasteries, and sailed to Devonshire, where they were slain with 1200 men by the brave servants of the king before the castle of Cynwith, for many of the king's servants, as has been said, had shut themselves up in that castle as a place of refuge. to meet him all the men of Somerset, and the men of Wiltshire, and that portion of the men of Hampshire which was on this side of the sea; and they were joyful at his presence. And on the following day he went from that station to Iglea, and on the day after this to Ethandun, and there fought against the whole army, and put them to flight, Here he was met by all the neighbouring folk of Somersetshire, and Wiltshire, and Hampshire, who had not, for fear of the pagans, fled beyond the sea; and when they saw the king alive after such great tribulation, they received him, as he deserved, with joy and acclamations, and encamped there for one night. When the following day dawned, the king struck his camp, and went to Æcglea, where he encamped for one night. The next morning he removed to Ethandun, and there fought bravely and fought against the army that was in Chippenham,at a place called Ethandune, and they obtain the victory. Here he was met by all the neighbouring folk of Somersetshire, and Wiltshire, and Hampshire who had not, for fear of the pagans, fled beyond the sea; and when they saw the king alive after such great tribulation, they received him, as he deserved, with joy and acclamations, and encamped there for one night. When the following day dawned, the king struck his camp, and went to Ecglea, where he encamped for one night. The next morning he removed to Ethandun, and there fought bravely and Huntingdon INGULF. Not long after this, the king himself, feigning to be a gleeman, took his harp, and went into the camp of the Danes : where, being admitted into its most private places, he saw all the secrets of his enemies, and, when he had gratified his wishes, he withdrew without being found out and got back safely to Adelyngia. King Alfred, then, comforted by this success, prepared a fortress at Ethelingeie [ATHELNEY], and making this his stronghold, often fought against the army, with the help of the Somersetshire folk who lived near there. In the 7th week after Easter, he went to Ecgbrichstan [BRIXTON], on the eastern side of Seleuude [SELWOOD]. And there he was met by all the men of Somerset and Wilts and those who were left of the Hampshire men, all glad to see him. And the next day he went to Eglea [CLAY HILL]. And from thence the next day to Edendune [EDDINGTON]. Simeon 1 Having been consoled by an open oracle through St Cuthbert, he fought against the Danes, at the time and place which that saint had ordered, and gained the victory, and ever from that time he was terrible and invincible to his enemies, and held saint Cuthbert in especial honour. But how he conquered his enemies may be seen a little farther on. But king Elfred, trusting in the Lord God, and accompanied by a few companies of men, made a fortress in a place called Ethelingaige, in which residing with his fellow-soldiers, he often sallied from the fortress, and unceasingly crushed his foes. At the time of our Lord Jesus Christ's resurrection, he did this. He left the fortress, and gathering his strength, afterwards, when 7 weeks of days and one over had been completed; that is 50 days, he came to Ecgbert's stone, on the eastern side of the forest that is called in English Mucelwood, but in Latin Magna Silva [THE GREAT WOOD], and in British CoIT MAWUR. There all the people of Somerton, Wilton and Hampton met their beloved king; and, when they saw him, they rejoiced with boundless joy of heart, as if they received him back again from the dead. The third day after, he came with an immense army to a place called Edderandun, |