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of pagans went into France; and the French fought against them; and after the battle the pagans obtained horses and became an army of cavalry.

882. The above-named army steered their ships up into France by a river called the Mese [MEUSE] and there wintered one year.

In the same year Alfred fought

a battle by sea against the pagan fleet, of which he captured two ships, having slain all who were on board; and the two commanders of two other ships, with all their crews, distressed by the battle and the wounds which they had received, laid down their arms and submitted to the king.

CHARTERS IN 882. None.

Simeon

horses, came into the borders of the French, which may appear wonderful, that the enemies dared shew themselves against so brave and warlike a people.

Then the French, with unconquerable bravery, sallying manfully from the castles, and towns, cities and towers, were kindled with rage like lions, seeing the nefarious powers of the wicked men come forth, seeing the bad exult with joy and gladness, the good lie sunk in fear, the innocent mourn, the guilty to rejoice. Having taken wise counsel, the bold Frenchmen began a most severe battle with the pagans. At the end of which they pagans, having gained horses, gallopped this way and that. In those days many monasteries among the same nation were shaken and desolated. For the brethren, also, of the convent of the most blessed Benedict, taking with them his relics from the tomb where they had been placed in the greatest beauty, they travelled this way and that.

returned in triumph: the

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In the year of our Lord's in-
carnation 882, the 34th from
the birth of the glorious king
Elfred, the army of pagans
drew their ships up the river
called the Mese into the
the Frankish
country of
nation, and there wintered
one year.

In the same year, lastly,
Elfred the brave king of the
Saxons sustained by the
naval battle of his leaders,
engaged against the pagan
ships by sea. Of which, he,
on an equal footing, defeated
2 ships by his powerful
valour, and slew all who were
in them. When he had de-
feated them, this prince of
princes gave due thanks to

the Author of his safety. What then took place I will now relate. After this he severely wounded the princes of the two ships with all their arms, with all their companions, who, helplessly laying down their arms, with bent thighs and suppliant prayers, gave themselves as long as the spark of vital heart should keep alive in them.

up to the great king,

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Saron Chronicle

(7) A. 885.

8 Here the afore-mentioned army divided itself into two; the one part went eastward, the other part to Rochester, and besieged the city, and wrought another fortress

round themselves.

9 And, notwithstanding this, the townsmen defended the city till king Ælfred came

out with his forces.

10 Then went the army to their ships, and abandoned their fortress; and they were there deprived of their horses, and soon after, in that same summer, departed over sea.

11 And that same year king Elfred sent a fleet from Kent to East-Anglia, and as soon as they came to the mouth of the Stour, there met them sixteen ships of pirates; and they fought against them, and captured all the ships and killed the

men.

12 As they afterwards returned home with the booty, a large fleet of pirates met them, and then fought against them that same day, and the Danish-men had the victory.

13 The same year, before midwinter, Carl king of the French died; he was killed

Asser

2 The aforesaid army divided

into two parts.

3 One body of them went into East France, and the other coming to Britain entered Kent, where they besieged a city called in Saxon Rochester, and situated on the eastern bank of the river Medway. Before the gate of the town the pagans suddenly erected a strong fortress, but yet they were unable to take the city, because the citizens defended themselves bravely, until king Alfred came up to help them with a large army; Then the pagans abandoned their fortress, and all their horses which they had brought with them out of France, and leaving behind them in the fortress the greater part of their prisoners, on the arrival of the king, fled immediately to their ships, and the Saxons immediately seized on the prisoners and horses left by the pagans; and so the pagans, compelled by stern necessity, returned the same summer to France. In the same year Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons led his fleet, full of fighting men, out of Kent to the country of the East Angles, for the sake of plunder; and, when they had arrived at the mouth of the river Stour, immediately thirteen ships of the pagans met them, prepared for battle; a fierce fight ensued, and all the pagans, after a brave resistance, were slain; all the ships, with all their

money, were taken.

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9 The rest of the pirate-crew met them; they ply their oars, their armour shines over the constrained waters, the barbarians obtain the victory.

10 The same year died Charles the magnificent king of the Franks, cut off by death

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The aforesaid army divided into two parts. One body of them went into East France, and the other coming to Britain entered Kent, where they besieged a city called in Saxon Hrofceastre and situated on the eastern bank of the river Medway. Before the gate of the town the pagans suddenly erected a strong fortress, but yet they were unable to take the city, because the citizens defended themselves bravely, until king Alfred came up to help them with a large army, Then the pagans abandoned their fortress, and all their horses which they had brought with them out of France, and leaving behind them in the fortress the greater part of their prisoners, on the arrival of the king, fled immediately to their ships, and the Saxons immediately seized on the prisoners and horses left by the pagans; and so the pagans, compelled by stern necessity, returned the same summer to France. In the same year Alfred,

Huntingdon

1 In the 14th year of king Alfred, part of the army which was in Gaul, came to Rochester: and besieging the city, began to make there another fortress: but at the king's approach, they fled to their ships and crossed the

sea.

CHARTERS IN 885. ALFRED king of Wessex, II, 112. It is withyear between 880 and 885.

out a date, and is referred to some

armament from Kent to East-Anglia:

3 Who, when they had come to Stour-mouth, meeting 16 ships of the Wickings, defeated them in battle.

king of the Anglo-Saxons, led 2 But king Alfred sent a naval his fleet, full of fighting men, out of Kent to the country of the East Angles, for the sake of plunder; and when they had arrived at the mouth of the river Stour, immediately sixteen ships of the pagans met them prepared for battle; a fierce fight ensued, and all the pagans, after a brave resistance, were slain; and all the ships, with all their

money, were taken. After this while the royal fleet was returning, the pagans, who lived in the eastern part of England, assembled their ships, met the same royal fleet at sea in the mouth of the same river, and after a naval battle, the pagans gained the victory.

4 But, as they returned victorious and laden with spoils, they met a great host of the Wickings, and engaging in battle with them were defeated.

Carloman, king of the West- 5 The same year a boar slew ern Franks, whilst hunting Charles king of France, son Essays

11

Simeon

2 That unworthy army divided itself into two bodies. One of them went into EastFrance, the other coming into Britain went into Kent [to a city] which is called Rofecester.

3 Before its gate the pagans made a castle, and yet could not reduce the city; for its citizens defended themselves manfully, until king Elfred the defender of all the kingdom came up with a great army. On the arrival of the king, the Danes at once flee to their ships smitten with fear, leaving their fortress and the horses which they had brought with them from France, and the captives which they had taken from France of the same nation.

4 At the same time and in the same year, that same armipotent king directed his fleet full of warriors from Kent to the East-Angles. And when he was come to the mouth of the river Sture, immediately 13 ships of the pagans, prepared for battle, met them, and fighting bravely on both sides, all the pagans were slain, and all the ships and money taken.

5 But those of the Danes who were able to flee, collected their ships from all sides into one, and having joined in a sea-fight with the English, whilst they were sleeping in a lazy slumber, they [i. e. THE ENGLISH] were slain, an unarmed multitude: to whom may well be applied that which we read: 66 Many shut their eyes, when they ought to be seeing."

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