2 The noble chief, named 7 They entered the mouth of a river called the Ionna, not without much damage to the country, and there dwelt one year. 13 Prince Beocca, carried the alms of king Alfred and the West- Beocca carried to Rome the Saxons to Rome. 3 In the same year the king's sister Ethelsuuith, queen of Burhred king of the Mer cians, died and was buried at Ticinum. 4 In which year, also, duke Ethelwold and Ethelred archbishop of Dover died in the same month. (1) 889. CHARTERS IN 889. 1. WER- (6) 890. subscribed also by "Ethelred alms of king Elfred. On that journey died Ethelsuith the king's sister, and she was buried in Pavia. dux," subscribed also by several others, II, 120, and bearing no date is referred to 871-889. 4. ALFRED king: no date. II, 122. 8 Abbat Bornhelm carried to In the 19th year of king In the year 890, abbat Rome the alms of king Alfred and of the West-Saxons. 9 The Northman king Guthrum, whom, as we have said before, king Alfred received from the sacred font and gave him the name of Æthel stan, died this year. 10 This man lived with his followers in East-Anglia, and first inhabited and possessed CHARTERS IN 890. None. This year the army went from 5 To whom succeeced, in the archbishopric, Pleigmund who was excellently instructed in literature. slew many of them. Here Plegmund was elected archbishop by God and all the people. In the following year, the CHARTERS IN 891. King Beornhelm carried to Rome the alms of king Elfred and of the West-Saxons. In the same year died Guthrum king of the Northumbrians. King Elfred, as is read above, raised him from his baptism, and called him Ethelstan. In this year the aforesaid army went from the Seine to Sanlaudan, situated between Bretagne and France: but they were put to flight by the Bretons, and the greater number of them drowned in the nearest river. In the year 891, Heathured undertook the bishopric. Saron Chronicle cause they desired for the love of God to be in a state of pilgrimage, they recked not where. The boat in which they came was made of two hides and a half, and they took with them provisions sufficient for seven days; and then about the seventh day they came on shore in Cornwall, and soon after went to king Ælfred. Thus they were named: Dubslane, and Macbeth, and Maclinmum. And Swifneh, the best teacher among the Scots, died. A. 892. chosen men of Hibernian race, burning with piety, leave their country: they (2) A.892. And that same year, after A. 893. Here in this year the great army, about which we formerly spoke, came again from the eastern kingdom westward to Boulogne, and there was shipped; so that they came over in one passage, horses and all; and they came to land at Limene mouth with 250 ships. This port is in the eastern part of Kent, at the east end of the great wood which we call Andred; the wood is in length from east to west 120 (8) A. 893. 3 And thence with 350 ships to the mouth of the called Apuldran. 30 miles. Also in the same year, after Easter, a comet appeared, which some think to be an omen of foul times, which have already past; but it is the most approved theory of philosophers, that they foretell future things, as has been tried in many ways. One year after the barbarians fought king Arnulf, they go to Boulogne, and there build a fleet, and pass over into England. There they station their fleet in the Limnean port, at a place called Apoldre [APPLEDORE, in KENT,] and destroy an ancient castle, because there was but a small band of rustics within, and there they make their winter camp. miles or longer and 30 miles broad: the river of which we before spoke flows out of the weald. On this river they towed up their ships as far as the weald four miles from the outward harbour, and there stormed a fortress: within the fortress a few churlish men were stationed, and it was in part only constructed. Then soon after that Hasten with eighty ships landed at the mouth of the Thames, and wrought himself a fortress at Middleton, and the other army did the like at Apuldre. A. 894. 6 That same year Hasteng to In the course of this year, a large fleet belonging Hæsten arrives on the banks of the river Thames, and found a citadel on the coasts of Kent, at a place called Middleton [MILTON]: They encamped there the whole winter. And the number of years, from the glorious nativity of our Saviour was 900, all but seven. In this year, that was about a twelve-month after these had wrought the fortress in The naval and equestrian army of the pagans, leaving East Thames went to Bononia and crossing thence with their horses in 250 ships to Kent, came to land at the mouth of the river Limen, which flows out of the great wood named Andred. They drew their vessels up into the wood four miles from the Afterwards that great army returned into England with all their things in 250 ships to the fort of Limene; which port is in the eastern part of Kent near the great wood of Andredeslaige, which contains 120 miles in length and 30 in breadth. Landing from their ships, they built a castle at Awldre. river's mouth, and there destroyed a half-built castle inhabited by a few countrymen, and built for themselves another fort at a place called Apultreo. In the year 893 CHARTERS IN 893. None. the eastern district, the North- On this king Ælfred gathered together his forces, Then had they taken much booty, and would at that time go northward over the Thames into Essex towards their ships. Then the king's forces outrode and got before them, and fought against them at Farnham, and put the army to flight, and retook the booty; and they fled over the Thames where there was no ford; then up along the Colne into an island. Then the forces there beset them about so long as they there had any provisions: but at length they had stayed their term of service, and had consumed their provisions; and the king was then on his way thitherwards with the division which warred under him. While he was on his way thither, and the other force was gone homewards, and the Danish-men remained there behind, because their king had been wounded in the battle, so that they could not carry him away, then those who dwelt among the Northhumbrians and among 7 Not long after he made 9 The beginning of the reign knight was Hagano. by God's help escaped. Essex; but many of them perished in the Thames. After the Easter of that year. the army which had come from Gaul leave their camp, and trace the intricacies of a certain immense wood, which is called Andredessuda, and they extended as far as the Western Angles. Slowly as they go, they ravage the adjoining provinces, Hampshire and Berkshire: These things were told to the heir Edward, son of king Alfred, who had been exercising himself in the southern parts of England. And twice in the year they counted the spoil which they had obtained by fraud, in the land which borders on the southern bank of the Thames. then in possession of the The filthy crew which were East Angles, suddenly removed to a place called Bamfleet; and there the allied band divided; some of them remained, and some of them went beyond the sea. After this they reach the Western Angles, who meet them with threatening arms and dense array at Farnham. They exult, freed by the arrival of the prince, like sheep under the protection of the shepherd: the tyrant is wounded, and his troops are driven across the river Thames into the northern countries. Meanwhile, the Danes are held besieged in Thorney isle. Earl Ethered, setting out from the city of London, lent his aid to the prince. The barbarians asked peace and a treaty hostages are given, they promise by oath to leave the kingdom of the aforesaid king; their words and deeds agree together without delay. Lastly, they set out for the country of the East-Angles, formerly governed by the king Saint Edmund. And their ships fly round to them from the Limnean port to Meresige a place in Kent. Northumberland, made a When this was known, king Alfred, taking with him part of his army, and leaving the other part at home, as was his wont, and placing others for garrisons in the castles and cities, marched hastily into Kent, where he laid out a camp, in a place naturally very strong because it was surrounded on all sides by water, high rocks and overhanging woods; so that, if the enemies went out into any of the plains to plunder or fight, he could join battle with them without delay. But they, now on foot, now on horse-back, plundering in bands, frequented those districts, which they saw were not occupied by the king's troops. But, contrary to their expectation, not only some from the royal forces, but also from the cities, attacked them almost every day and night, and so annoyed them, that they all left Kent and went forth together from their quarters to plunder, for they had gone out together to plunder whilst they first began to live in those places. But this time they took a greater and more plentiful booty, and determined to cross the river Thames, and enter Essex, and so, with their booty, to meet the naval band, which they had sent beforehand. But, being overtaken by the king's army, they fought a battle with them at Feornham, and having lost their booty together with the horses which they had brought with them from foreign parts, they were all put to flight, and crossing the Thames where there was no ford, they took refuge in an island situated within the stream of the river Colne, where they were blockaded, until food failed 1 But afterwards he took an Simeon and swore to be true to king Elfred against the aforesaid pagans who had already come back to England. the king's army, and the time for their going home came round, and another army relieved them. This army therefore went home, and king Alfred hastened up with the other half of his army, but the pagans seeing that their king was much wounded, and that they could not carry |