arisen strife among the Northumbrians; as to a folk which hath come into God's displeasure is ever wont to chance. For the Northumbrians of late, as we have said, had driven from the realm their lawful King, Osbert by name; and a certain usurper, by name Ella, not of the seed royal, had they set up over the kingdom. But when the heathen came upon them, this strife, by the counsel of God and the help of the Lords of the land, was somewhat allayed, for the common weal. And Osbert and Ella joined forces, and gathered an army, and drew nigh to the town of York.

$ 31. And at their coming the Heathen took at once to flight, and were fain to defend themselves within the city walls. And when the Christians saw their flight, they started in chase, even to within the ramparts, and would break down the wall; and they did it, too. For hitherto, up to that time, the walls of that city were weak and decayed. But when the Christians, according to their purpose, had broken down the wall, and great part of them had made their way, along with the Heathen, into the city, the Heathen, for very need, charged them with fury, cut them down, put them to flight, crushed them utterly, within the town and without. And there for the most part were all the Northumbrians taken as in a trap. Both the Kings were slain, and many of the Lords; and, in a word, they were annihilated [deleti]. And the rest who escaped plighted peace with the Heathen. In the same year did Ealhstan, Bishop of the church of Sherborne, go the way of all flesh, after ruling his see for 50 years in all honour; and at Sherborne was he buried in peace.

32. In the year of our Lord's Incarnation 868, the 20th of the age of Alfred, the aforesaid worshipful King Alfred, then holding but secondary rank, wooed [expetivit] and wed a wife from Mercia, high of birth, the daughter of Ethelred, Alderman of the Gainas,1 whom men called Muckle. And her mother's name was Eadburgh, of the blood-royal of Mercia; whom I myself ofttimes saw with my own eyes for not a few years before her decease, a venerable lady, in sooth, who, after the loss of her husband, abode for many years a widow, in all chastity, even unto death.

33. In the same year the aforesaid Heathen host left the Northumbrians and wended them to Scnotengaham [Nottingham], which in British is, being interpreted, Tigguocobauc, but in Latin Speluncarum Domus [cave-stead]; and there that year they wintered. Then at their coming did Burghred, King of the Mercians, and all the Lords of that folk, at once send messengers to Ethelred, King of the West Saxons, and Alfred his brother, begging and praying for help, wherethrough they might fight the aforesaid host. And their quest was full soon sped. For the brethren [Ethelred and Alfred] granted thereto; and, while the word was yet in their mouths, gathered from all their land a numberless host, and gat them into Mercia, and were at Nottingham, seeking war with The sept of the Middle English dwelling round Gainsborough. c., the Great.

one accord. Yet did the Heathen, in their stronghold on the citadel, refuse battle; neither could the Christians break through the wall thereof. Thus peace was made between the Mercians and the Heathen. and those two brethren with their troops turned them home again.

$ 34. In the next year (869) was there a mighty famine, and death among men, and plague among beasts. And the aforesaid Heathen host rode back to the Northumbrians and came to the city of York, and there abode one whole year. And in the next year (870) they made their way through Mercia to East Anglia, and in a place called Theodford [Thetford] they wintered. In this same year Edmund, King of the East Angles, fought against that same host a desperate fight. But, alas, the Heathen won all too gloriously; and there was he slain, and the most of his men with him; and they held the death-stead, and brought beneath their sway all that land.

And in the same year did Archbishop Ceolnoth, the Bishop of Dorobernia [Canterbury], go the way of all flesh, and in that city was he buried in peace.

§ 35. But in the year of our Lord's Incarnation 871, and the 22nd of the age of King Alfred, did that Heathen host, hateful to tell, leave the East Angles, and hied them to the realm of the West Saxons, and came unto a town royal, called Rædig [Reading], which lieth on the bank of Thames-stream River [Tamesis flumensis fluminis] to the south, in that part which is called Bearrocscire. And on the third day of their coming thither, then rode forth their chiefs, and many with them, to harry the land; and the rest were after making them a dyke between the two rivers, Thames and Cynetan [Kennet], on the right hand1 of that town royal.

§ 36. Then did Ethelwulf, Alderman of the land of Berkshire, with his comrades, cross their path at the place called Englefield; and there fought both sides full valiantly, and long did either stand their ground. Of the two Heathen captains the one was slain, and the most part of that host laid low. Then fled away the rest, and the Christians gat them the victory, and held the death-stead. Yet four days more, after this hap, and there came Ethelred, King of the West Saxons, and Alfred his brother, and joined forces, and gathered them a host, and drew nigh unto Reading, cutting down and overthrowing whomsoever of the Heathen they found without the stronghold, and made their way even unto the gates. No less keen in fight were the Heathen. Out they burst from every gate like wolves; and then waxed long the fight, and ever more deadly. But, alas, alas, in the end did the Christians turn their backs, and the Heathen gat them the victory and held the death-stead. And there, amongst the rest, fel! the above-named Alderman, Ethelwulf.

§ 37. Stirred by this woe and shame, the Christians, after yet another four days, went forth to battle against the aforesaid host, at a place called Escesdun [Ashdown] (which in Latin is by interpretation Ash Mount), I.., to the south. Until the sixteenth century the East, not the North, was the top of a map.

with their whole strength, and with a good will. But the Heathen formed in two divisions, of like size, made ready their shield-wall [testudo]. For they had, as at that time, two Kings and many Chieftains; and the one half of their army gave they unto the two Kings, and the rest unto all the Chieftains together. And when the Christians saw this, they too, in like manner, parted their host in twain, and as keenly formed their shield-wall.

§ 38. But Alfred, with his men, as we have heard from truthful eyewitnesses, came the quicker to the field and more readily. Nor wonder was it; for his brother King Ethelred was still in his tent, fixed in prayer, hearing Mass. For ever would he say that never while he lived would he leave his Mass before the Priest had ended it, nor, for any man on earth, turn his back on Divine Service. And even so he did. And much availed with the Lord the faith of that Christian King, as in what followeth will appear most plainly.

$ 39. The Christians, then, had thought best that Ethelred the King, with his force, should take battle against the two Kings of the Heathen; while Alfred his brother, with his band, should be told, as was meet, to chance the fight [belli sumere sortem] against all the Heathen Chieftains. And when thus on either side they were in good order, and the King tarried long in prayer, Alfred, then second in command, could stand the advance of the foe no longer. Needs must he either draw him back from the battle, or charge the enemy ere yet his brother came into the fray. And, at the last, in manly wise, charged he, with the rush of a wild boar, leading his Christian forces against the foemen's hosts, even as had been fore-planned (save only that the King was not yet come), for he trusted in God's counsel and leant upon His aid. So drew he together his shield-wall in good order, and advanced his banner straight against the foe.

§ 40. But here those who know not the place must be told that it was no fair field of battle, for the Heathen had seized the higher ground, and the Christian battle-line was charging uphill. There was also in that same place a lone thorn-tree and a low, which we ourselves have beheld. Around this, then, came the lines together, with a mighty shouting, in warrior wise, the one side bent upon all mischief [perperam agentes], the other to fight for life and land and dear ones. and that swayed the battle for a while, valiant was it and all too deadly, till so God ordered it that the Heathen could stand against the Christian charge no longer. Most part of their force were slain, and with all shame they betook them to flight.

This way

§ 41. And in that place fell there by the sword one of the two Heathen Kings, and of their Chieftains five, and many a thousand of their men beside them. Yea, and, moreover, thousands more, scattered over the whole breadth of the field of Ashdown, were cut to pieces far and wide. And there then fell there Bægsceg their King, and Sidroc the Elder, their Chieftain, and Sidroc the Younger, their Chieftain, and Osbern the Chieftain, and Frena the Chieftain, and Harold the Chieftain. And the

whole Heathen host fled them away all that day and all that night, even unto the next day; till they that escaped got back into their stronghold. And even until nightfall held the Christians the chase, and smote them down on every side.

$42. And after this, again fourteen days, Ethelred the King and Alfred his brother, with their united force, hied them to Basing to fight against the Heathen. There joined they battle, and stood to it long. But the Heathen gained the day and held the field. And when this fray was lost and won, came there from over sea yet another Heathen host and joined the horde. And in the same year, after Easter, Ethelred, the aforesaid King, after ruling his realm well and worshipfully amid many a trouble, went the way of all flesh, and is buried in the monastery at Wimborne, where he awaiteth the Coming of the Lord and the First Resurrection with the just.

§ 43. In the same year did our Alfred (who until then, while his brothers lived, had been in the second place) take upon him, so soon as ever his brother was dead, the sway of the whole kingdom, by the grant of God, and with all goodwill of the land-folk, one and all. For even while this brother was yet alive might he eftsoon have won it, would he have taken it, and that with the assent of all men : seeing that both in wisdom and eke in all good ways was he better than all his brethren put together —yea, and, in especial, a surpassing warrior, and, in war, had ever almost the best of it. Then began he to reign, as it were unwillingly. For it seemed unto him that never might he, all alone, with but God for aid, endure so grievous a stress and strain of heathendom ; whenas, even along with his brothers, while they lived, full hardly and with great loss might he abide it.

§ 44. So reigned he one full month, and thereafter, on the hill called Wilton, on the southern bank of the river Guilou [Willy] (from which river the whole of that shire is named), fought he, with but few behind him, against the whole Heathen host, a fight all too unequal. Up and down most part of the day raged the fight full stoutly. Then were the eyes of the Heathen opened, and they saw to the full their peril. And therewith bore they up no longer against their unremitting foe, but turned their backs and fled away. But, alas, through the rashness of the pursuit they tricked us. On they came again to battle, and won the victory, and were masters of the death-stead.

45. Nor let this seem strange to any that in this fight the tale of Christians was but small. For the Saxons, as a people populariter], were all but worn out by eight battles in one and the self-same year against the Heathen; wherein one Heathen King and nine of their Chieftains, and of their troops untold numbers, were cut to pieces; to say nothing of the numberless raids, daily and nightly, which our oft-named Alfred and many a Captain of his kin, each with his own men, and many even of the King's Thanes,' would ever keenly and tirelessly make against the Heathen. How many thousands of Heathen were slain in these neverThese were the squires, or landed gentry. See p. 48.

ending raids, over and above those cut down in the eight battles, God alone knoweth.

Also in that same year did the Saxons make peace with the Heathen on this one condition, that they should depart from them. And this they fulfilled.

46. In the year of the Lord's Incarnation 872, the 23rd of Alfred's age, the aforesaid Heathen host wended them to London, and the Mercians made peace with them. And in the next year they left London, and went right into the land of the Northumbrians, and there wintered in a place called Lindesige ;1 and the Mercians once more made peace with them. And the next year again they left Lindesige, and made their way into Mercia, and there at a place called Repton [Hreopdune] did they winter. Burghred, moreover, the King of the Mercians, drave they to leave his kingdom and go over seas into exile, and hie him to Rome, in the 22nd year of his reign. And full loth was he so to do; and after he got to Rome he lived not there long, but died, and in the School of the Saxons, in the Church of St. Mary, was he buried worshipfully, and awaiteth the Coming of the Lord and the First Resurrection with the just. And after his driving out, the Heathen got under their sway the whole Mercian kingdom; yet did they grant it in trust to a certain foolish King's Thane (Ceolwulf by name), on these miserable terms, that whensoever they might wish to have it again, he should, at a day's notice, give them quiet and peaceable possession thereof. And in this troth he gave them sureties, and sware, moreover, that never would he cross their will, but be obedient unto them in all things.

§ 47. In the year of the Incarnation 875, the 25th of King Alfred's age, the host so often above spoken of left Repton and parted them into two bands. The one, with Healfdene, went off into the land of the Northumbrians, and there wintered near the river called Tyne. And they brought under their sway all Northumbria; yea, and harried the Picts and the Strathclyde folk. And the other, with Guthrum and Oscytel and Osmund, three Heathen Kings, came unto the place which is called Cambridge [Grantebrycge] ; and there they wintered. And in this same year King Alfred, in a ship fight on the sea, engaged six Heathen ships. And one of them he took, and the rest slipped away and fled.

48. In the year of the Incarnation 876, the 26th of King Alfred's age, the oft-named Heathen host, setting out from Cambridge by night, made their way into a stronghold called Wareham, which is an Abbey of nuns, and lieth between two rivers, the Frome and the Trent, in the land called in British Durngueis, but in Saxon Thornsæta [Dorset]. It is the safest spot on earth, save only towards the west, where it adjoins the land. And with this host did King Alfred plight firm troth, on these terms, that they should leave his land. And the host, without a word of gainsaying, gave up to him chosen sureties, named by himself alone. Yea, and they sware an oath on all the relics wherein the King placed 2 See p. 79.

1 Perhaps Lindisfarne.