Asser

In the same year, king Alfred fought a battle by sea against six ships of the pagans, and took 1 of them; the rest escaped by flight.

In the year of our Lord's incarnation 876, being the twenty-eighth year of king Alfred's life, the aforesaid army of the pagans, leaving Grantabridge by night, entered a castle called Wareham where there is a monastery of holy virgins between the two rivers Frawn [FROME] and Trent, in the district which is called in British DURNGUEIS but in Saxon THORNSETA, placed in a most secure situation, except that it was exposed to danger on the western side from the

contiguity of the land. With this army Alfred made a solemn treaty, to the effect that they should depart out of the kingdom, and for this they made no hesitation to give as many hostages as he named.

And they swore an oath over all

the relics, which with king Ælfred were next in veneration after the Deity himself, that they would depart speedily from the kingdom. But they again practised their usual treachery, and caring nothing for the hostages or their oaths, they broke the treaty, and sallying forth by night, slew all the horsemen that the king had round him, and turning off into Devon, to another place called in Saxon EXANCEASTER, but in British CAIR-WISC, which means in Latin, the city of Ex, situated on the eastern bank of the river Wisc, they directed their course suddenly towards the south sea, which divides Britain and Gaul, and there

passed the winter.

And they swore an oath over

all the relics, which with king Ælfred were next in veneration after the Deity himself, that they would depart speedily from the kingdom. But they again practised their usual treachery, and caring nothing for the hostages or their oaths, they broke the treaty, and sallying forth by night, slew all the horsemen that the king had round him, and turning off into Devon, to another place called in Saxon

EXANCEASTER, but in Latin, the city of Ex, situated on the eastern bank of the same river, they directed their course suddenly towards the south sea, which divides Britain and Gaul.

The following year, the army of the 3 kings came to Wareham in Wessex.

But king Alfred made a truce with the army and received some of their nobles

hostages.

as

And they made an oath to him, which they had never would speedily leave his made to any other, that they kingdom.

The next night those of the army who had horses, went away secretly, and proceeded to Exanceastre [EXETER].

In the year of our Lord's incarnation 876, the 28th from the birth of king Elfred, the aforesaid army, leaving Cambridge by night, entered the castle which is called Wareham.

Whose sudden coming the king of the West-Saxons foreknowing made a treaty with them receiving hostages on the condition that they should leave his kingdom.

But they in their usual manner, not caring for the hostages and their oaths, broke the treaty one night, and turned off to Exeter which is called in British CAIRWISC, in Latin CIVITAS AQUARUM, [City of Waters.]*

* These notices of the march to Exeter are probably by anticipation: for the Saxon Chron. places it clearly in 877 and Asser, Florence and Huntingdon again notice it, as if under 877.

Asser

In the same year, Halfdene, 2 king of those parts, divided out the whole country of Northumberland between himself and his men, and settled there with his army. In the same year, Rollo, with his followers penetrated into Normandy.

[This same Rollo, duke of the Normans, whilst wintering in Old Britain, or England, at the head of his troops, enjoyed one night a vision revealing to him the future. See more of this Rollo in the Annals.

In the year 877, the pagans, on the approach of autumn, partly settled in Exeter, and partly marched for plunder into Mercia. The number of that disorderly crew increased every day, so that, if thirty thousand of them were slain in one battle, others took their places to double the number.

Then king Alfred commanded boats and galleys, i. e. long ships, to be built throughout the kingdom, in order to offer battle by sea to the enemy as they were coming. On board of these he placed seamen, and appointed them to watch the

seas.

Meanwhile he went himself to Exeter, where the pagans were wintering, and having shut them up within the walls, laid siege to the town. He also gave order to his sailors to prevent them from obtaining any supplies by sea; and his sailors were encountered by a fleet of a hundred and twenty ships full of armed soldiers, who to help their countrymen. As soon as the king's men knew that they were filled with pagan soldiers, they leaped to their arms, and bravely attacked those barbaric tribes: but the pagans, who had now for almost a month been tossed and almost wrecked among the

were come

Healfdene obtained the kingdom of the Northumbrians, all of whom he reduced to subjection.

Lastly their fleets put to sea and spread their sails to the

wind but a lamentable storm came on, and the greatest part of them, namely a hundred of their chief ships, were sunk near the rock which is

called Swanwich.

Saroa Chronicle

And they there delivered to him hostages as many as he would have, and swore many oaths and then they observed the peace well.

And afterwards, during harvest, the army went into Mercia, and some part of it they apportioned, and some they delivered to Ceolwulf.

A. 878.

Asser

waves of the sea, fought vainly against them; their bands were discomfited in a moment, and all were sunk and drowned in the sea, at a

place called Suanewic. In the same year the army of pagans, leaving Wareham, partly on horseback and partly by water, arrived at Suanewic, where one hundred and twenty of their ships were lost; and king Alfred pursued their land-army as far as Exeter; there he made a covenant with them, and took hostages that they would depart.] ↑

The same year, in the month of August, that army went into Mercia, and gave part of that country to one Ceolwulf, a weak-minded man, and one of the king's ministers; the other part they divided among themslves.

In the year of our Lord's incarnation 878, which was the thirtieth of king Alfred's life, the army above-mentioned left Exeter, and went to Chippenham, a royal villa,

this foul mob broke the compact which they had before solemnly made with the Western Angles, and they take up their winter-quarters

at Chippenham.