perseveringly against all the army of the pagans, whom, with the divine help, he defeated with great slaughter, and pursued them flying to

their fortification. Immediately he slew all the men, and carried off all the booty that he could find without the fortress, which he immediately laid siege to with all his army, and when he had been there fourteen days, the pagans, driven by famine, cold, fear, and last of all by despair, asked for peace, on the condition that they should give the king as many hostages as he pleased, but should receive none of him in return, in which form they had never before made a treaty with any

one.

The king, hearing their prayer, took pity upon them, and received such hostages as he chose; after which the pagans swore moreover, that they would immediately leave the kingdom; and their king, Guthrum, promised to embrace Christianity, and receive baptism at king Alfred's hands. All of which articles he and his men fulfilled as they had promised.

For after seven weeks Guthrum, king of the pagans, with thirty men chosen from the army, came to Alfred at a place called Aalr, near Athelney, and there king Alfred, receiving him as his son by adoption, raised him up from the holy laver of baptism and gave him the name of Ethelstan, and the loosening of his chrysm was made on the 8th day at a royal vill named Weadmor. After his baptism he remained twelve nights with the king, who, with all his nobles, gave him many fine houses.

879.

The aforesaid army of pagans leaving Chippenham, as they had promised, went to Ciren

cester, which is Essays

Huntingdon

And there he fought against the army and routed them and followed them to their fortress, and remained there 14 days.

Simeon

and found equally immense bodies of the pagans ready with an immense multitude for battle. When the sun's bright ra began to shine, the king and al the pride of his people clad themselves in their warlike ornaments, namely the threefold breastplate of faith, of hope, and of the charity of God. Rising from the ground, they boldly challenged to the battle, securely trusting in the clemency of their Creator, and protected by the ramparts of their king who was standing by them, whose look shone, as that of a shining angel. The two nations fought through a great part of the day, and their voices, and the clatter of their arms were heard a long way off.

The great Beholder of all things, perceiving the inmost wish of his earthly king, granted to him the suffrage of the angelic power. He at length laid low his enemies and gained the victory, returning thanks to his heavenly Saviour with joy of heart.

And whilst the king was smiling with his bands, the foemen, who remained, mourned with loud cries for the severity of their hunger and of the cold, and for fear of so great a king ; they ask for the mercies of peace-they who had always been the enemies of peace.

The king, hearing all this, moved by his in-born clemency, grants all they request. But their king, named Gutthrum, bore witness that he wished to become a Christian, and was royally received under the hand of the most pious king in the purification of baptism. The same Gutthrum was tinged with the baptism of Salvation, with 30 other elect men, and the king of the Saxons received him for his son of adoption. After he was baptized, he remained with him 12 nights in great glory; to whom his spiritual father gave many and unspeakable gifts, and to all who received the faith of Christianity.

In the year of our Lord's Incarnation 879, the 31st from the birth of king Elfred, the aforesaid army of the pagans leaving Chippenham, as they

A year after the eclipse, the aforesaid army struck their tents, and leaving Cirencester went into the country of the East Angles.

And pitching their camp, reduced all the inhabitants of

those parts to subjection. And it was now fourteen years since the barbarians first wintered in the country

aforesaid, and ravaged it. In the same year, when they had reduced the district afore said, they went in a vessel to Gaul and took up a position

at a place called Ghent. They were the same men who had formerly measured out their camp at a place called Fulham.

After a year, they attempt to proceed further; but the armies of the Franks assail them and gain the victory;

They wintered at Fulham near the river Thames. In the same year an eclipse

of the sun took place, between

Huntingdon

In the same year the foreigners, that is the Wicingi, collected a new army, and remained at Fulenham [FULHAM], on the Thames.

but nearer to three o'clock. Dunbert bishop of Winchester died, and was succeeded by Deneulf. This man, if we believe the story, for great part of his life was not only devoid of learning, but was also a cowherd. King Alfred when yielding to the fury of his enemies, and fleeing into the wood, lighted upon this man by chance, as he was feeding his swine. Perceiving his talents he sent him to be taught letters, and afterwards, when he was better instructed, he made him bishop of Winchester: a thing worthy of great wonder.

880.

The above named army of pagans left Cirencester, and went among the East Angles, where they divided out the country and

began to settle.

The same year the army of pagans, which had wintered at Fulham, left the island of Britain, and sailed over the sea to the eastern part of France, where they remained a year at a place called Gendi, i. e. Ghent.

eclipsed.

* See Asser's account of this in page 66.

In the following year the aforesaid king Godrum left Cirencester, and went into East-Anglia, and obtained that land and divided it.

In the same year, the army that was at Fulham crossed the sea, and remained at

Ghent one year.

CHARTERS IN 880. 1. ETHELRED duke of Mercia, subscribed also by "Elfred rex,' "Ego Ethelflæd conjunx [i. e. wife of duke Ethelred]," and others. II, 107. 2. ETHELWOLF. II, 106.

Simeon

had promised, went to Cirenceastre, which is called in British speaking CAIRCERI, and there they remained the space of one year.

In that same year an immense army of pagans came from countries beyond the sea to the river Thames: and joining the aforesaid band, became their accomplices, as is the way with the wicked.

An eclipse took place that same year between the 9th hour [3 O'CLOCK] and the evening [6 O'CLOCK].

In the year of our Lord's incarnation 880, the 32nd from the birth of the glorious king Elfred, the often-mentioned army of the pagans left Cirencestre and went to the EastAngles, and dividing that country began to inhabit it.

The pagans, who wintered in Fulanhame, left the island of Britain, and went on a visit to take villainous knowledge of France; there they stayed one year.

881.

The aforesaid army

In the following year they fought with the French and defeated them.

In the year of our Lord's incarnation 881, the 33rd from the birth of king Elfred, the aforesaid army, mounting on

Saron Chronicle

then was the army there horsed after the battle.

flight.