made peace with the men of Kent, and the men of Kent promised them money for the peace; and during the peace and the promise of money the army stole away by night, and ravaged all Kent to the eastward.

A.D. '866. This year Aethered, Aethelbyrht's brother, succeeded to the kingdom of the West-Saxons: and the same year a great heathen army came to the land of the English nation, and took up their winter quarters among the East-Angles, and there they were horsed; and the East-Angles made peace with them.

A.D. 3867. This year the army went from East-Anglia over the mouth of the Humber to the city of York in North-humbria. And there was much dissension among that people, and they had cast out their king Osbryht, and had taken to themselves a king, Aella, not of royal blood; but late in the year they resolved that they would fight against the army; and therefore they gathered a large force, and sought the army at the city of York, and stormed the town, and some of them got within, and there was an excessive slaughter made on the North-humbrians, some within, some without, and the kings were both slain; and the remainder made peace with the army. And the same year bishop Ealchstan died; and he had the bishopric of Sherborne fifty years, and his body lies in the town.

A.D. '868. This year the same army went into Mercia to Nottingham, and there took up their winter quarters. And Burgraed, king of the Mercians, and his "witan," begged of Ethered, king of the West-Saxons, and of Aelfred his brother, that they would help them, that they might fight against the army. And then they went with the West-Saxon power into Mercia as far as Nottingham, and there met with the army within the fortress; and besieged them therein but there was no great battle; and the Mercians made peace with the army.

:

A.D. '869. This year the army again went to York, and sat there one year.

7

A.D. '870. This year the army rode across Mercia into EastAnglia, and took up their winter quarters at Thetford; and the same winter king Eadmund fought against them, and the Danes got the victory, and slew the king, and subdued all the land, and destroyed all the minsters which they came to. The names of their chiefs who slew the king were Ingwair and Ubba. At that same time they came to Medeshamstede, and burned and beat it down, slew abbat and monks, and all that they found there. And that place, which before was full rich, they reduced to nothing. And the same year died archbishop Ceolnoth. Then went Aethered and Aelfred his brother, and took Aethelred bishop of Wiltshire," and appointed him archbishop of Canterbury, because formerly he had

10 of this Wiltshire see, nothing occurs elsewhere before the beginning of the following century.-P.

been a monk of the same minster of Canterbury. As soon as he came to Canterbury, and was established in his archbishopric, he then thought how he might expel the clerks who (were) there within, whom the archbishop Ceolnoth had before) placed there for such need . . . as we shall relate. The first year that he was made archbishop there was so great a mortality, that of all the monks whom he found there within, no more than five monks survived. Then for the . . . . he (commanded) his chaplains, and also some priests of his vills, that they should help the few monks who there survived to do Christ's service, because he could not so readily find monks who might of themselves do the service; and for this reason he commanded that the priests, the while, until God should give peace in this land, should help the monks. In that same time was this land much distressed by frequent battles, and hence the archbishop could not there effect it, for there was warfare and sorrow all his time over England; and hence the clerks remained with the monks. Nor was there ever a time that monks were not there within, and they ever had lordship over the priests. Again the archbishop Ceolnoth thought, and also said to those who were with him, "As soon as ever God shall give peace in this land, either these priests shall be monks, or from elsewhere I will place within the minster as many monks as may do the service of themselves; for God knows that I . . . .

A.D. 2871. This year the army came to Reading 'in Wessex; and about three days after this, two of their earls rode forth. Then Aethelwulf the ealdorman met them at Englafield, and there fought against them, and got the victory: and there one of them, whose name was Sidroc, was slain. About four days after this, king Aethered and Aelfred his brother led a large force to Reading, and fought against the army, and there was great slaughter made on either hand. And Aethelwulf the ealdorman was slain, and the Danish-men had possession of the place of carnage. And about four days after this, king Aethered and Aelfred his brother fought against the whole army at Aescesdune; and they were in two bodies in the one were Bachsecg and Halfdene, the heathen kings, and in the other were the earls. And then king Aethered fought against the division of the kings, and there king Bagsecg was slain; and Aelfred his brother against the division of the earls, and there earl Sidroc the elder was slain, earl Sidroc the younger, and earl Osbearn, and earl Fraena, and earl Hareld; and both divisions of the army were put to fight, and many thousands slain: and they continued fighting until night. And 'about fourteen days after this, king Aethered and Aelfred his brother fought against the army at Basing, and there the Danes obtained the victory. And about two months after this, king Aethered and Aelfred his brother fought 1 The text of the MS. is here slightly imperfect, and the corresponding Latin text does not enable us satisfactorily to supply the defect.

2 A.D. 872, C.

3 As far as "victory" not in F.

B. C. D. E. give the remainder of the sentence.

5 Seven, G.; but this number is expuncted in the MS., and "four" placed over it.

6 See at the end of the year, p. 45, note 1.

7 See at the end of the year, p. 45, note 5.

against the army at Meretun; and they were in two bodies, and they put both to flight, and during a great part of the day were victorious; and there was great slaughter on either hand; but the Danes had possession of the place of carnage: and there bishop Heahmund' was slain, and many good men and after this battle2 there came a great army in the summer to Reading. And after this, over Easter [15th April], king Aethered died; and he reigned five years, and his body lies at Winburn-minster.

3 Then Aelfred the son of Aethelwulf, his brother, succeeded to the kingdom of the West-Saxons. And about one month after this, king Aelfred with a small band fought against the whole army at Wilton, 'and put them to flight for a good part of the day; but the Danes had possession of the place of carnage. And this year nine general battles were fought against the army in the kingdom south of the Thames, besides which, Aelfred the king's brother, and single ealdormen, and king's thanes, oftentimes made raids upon them, which were not counted; and within the year nine earls and one king were slain. And that year the West-Saxons made peace with the army.

A.D. 871. And the Danish-men were overcome: and they had two heathen kings, Bægsæc and Healfdene, and many earls; and there was king Bagsec slain, and these earls; Sidroc the elder, and also Sidroc the younger, Osbern, Frena, and Harold; and the army was put to flight."

A.D. '872. This year the army went to London from Reading, and there took up their winter-quarters: and then the Mercians made peace with the army.

A.D. 873. This year the army went into North-humbria, and took up their winter-quarters at Torksey in Lindsey: and then the Mercians made peace with the army.

A.D. 9874. This year the army went from Lindsey to Repton, and there took up their winter-quarters, and drove king Burgraed over sea, about twenty-two years after he had obtained the kingdom; and subdued the whole country: and [Burgraed] went to Rome, and there remained; and his body lies in St. Mary's church, at the English school. 10And that same year they committed the kingdom of the Mercians to the keeping of Ceolwulf, an unwise thane of the king; and he swore oaths to them, and delivered hostages that it should be ready for them on whatever day they would have it, and that he would be ready both in his own person and with all who would follow him, for the behoof of the army.

A.D. "875. This year the army went from Repton: and Healfdene went with some of the army into North-humbria, and took up winter-quarters by the river Tyne. And the army subdued the land, and oft-times spoiled the Picts, and the Strathclyde Britons. And the three kings, Godrum, and Oscytel, and Anwynd,

1 Of Sherborne.

2 Here ends the fragment of MS. G.

3 In MSS. A. B. C. D. a fresh section thus, with a large initial.

4 To the end of the sentence does not occur in F.

5 F. at p. 44, note 6.

7 A.D. 873, C. This year does not occur in F.

This year does not occur in F.

10 F. here ends the year.

As at page 44, note 7.

went with a large army from Repton to Grantabridge, and sat down there one year. And that summer king Aelfred went out to sea with a fleet, and fought against the forces of seven ships, and one of them he took, and put the rest to flight.

2

A.D. '876. This year the army stole away to Wareham, a fortress of the West-Saxons. And afterwards the king made peace with the army; and they delivered to the king hostages from among the most distinguished men of the army; and then they swore oaths to him on the holy ring, which they never before would do to any nation, that they would speedily depart from his kingdom. And notwithstanding this, that part of the army which was horsed, stole away by night from the fortress to Exeter. And that year Healfdene apportioned the lands of North-humbria: and they thenceforth continued ploughing and tilling them. This year Rolla overran Normandy with his army, and he reigned 'fifty years.

A.D. 876. And in this same year the army of the Danes in England swore oaths to king Aelfred upon the holy ring, which before they would not do to any nation; and they delivered to the king hostages from among the most distinguished men of the army, that they would speedily depart from his kingdom; and that by night they broke."

A.D. 877. This year the army came to Exeter from Wareham; and the fleet sailed round westwards: and then a great storm overtook them at sea, and there one hundred and twenty ships were wrecked at Swanawic. And king Aelfred with his forces rode after the army which was mounted, as far as Exeter; and they were unable to overtake them before they were within the fortress, where they could not be come at. 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.D. '878. This year, during midwinter, after twelfth night [6th Jan.] the army stole away to Chippenham, and overran the land of the West-Saxons, and sat down there; and many of the people they drove beyond sea, and of the remainder the greater part they subdued and forced to obey them, except king Aelfred: and he, with a small band, with difficulty retreated to the woods and to the fastnesses of the moors. And the same winter, the brother of Inwaer and of Healfdene came with 10 twenty-three ships to Devonshire in Wessex; and he was there slain, and with him eight hundred and forty" men of his army: and there was taken the

1 A.D. 877, C.

12

2 In illustration of this passage, Petrie gives an extract from Arngrim Jonas, and a reference to Bartholinus De Armillis, by which it appears that it was customary among the early Scandinavian nations to give additional sanctity to an oath by taking it upon a ring, or bracelet, smeared with the blood of the sacrifice offered upon the occasion.

3 To the end of the year from F.

4 The Latin text of E. states that he reigned fifty-three years.

5 F. in continuation after 3, above.

7 This clause is not in B.C.

8 The conclusion of this sentence is not in B. C.
10 The number of the ships is not given in D. E.
12 The remainder of the sentence is from B. C. D. E.

6 A.D. 878, C.

9

A.D. 879, C. 11 Sixty, B. C.

war-flag, which they called the Raven. After this, at Easter [23d March], king Aelfred, with a small band constructed a fortress at Athelney;' and from this fortress, with that part of the men of Somerset which was nearest to it, from time to time they fought against the army. Then in the seventh week after Easter he rode to Ecgbryhts-stane, on the east side of Selwood; and there came to meet him all the men of Somerset, and the men of Wiltshire, and that portion of the men of Hampshire which was on this side of the sea; and they were joyful [at his presence]. On the following day he went from that station to Iglea, and on the day after this to Ethandun,' and there fought against the whole army, put them to flight, and pursued them as far as their fortress: and there he sat down fourteen days. And then the army delivered to him hostages, with many oaths, that they would leave his kingdom, and also promised him that their king should receive baptism: and this they accordingly fulfilled. And about three weeks after this king Godrum came to him, with twenty-nine others, who were of the most distinguished in the army, at Alre, which is near Athelney: and the king was his godfather at baptism; and his chrism-loosing" was at Wedmore: and he was twelve days with the king; and he greatly honoured him and his companions with gifts.

A.D. 879. This year the army went to Cirencester from Chippenham, and sat there one year. And that year a body of pirates drew together, and sat down at Fulham on the Thames. And that same year the sun was eclipsed during one hour of the day.

A.D. 880. This year the army went from Cirencester to EastAnglia, and settled in the land, and apportioned it. And that same year the army, which previously had sat down at Fulham, went over sea to Ghent in France, and sat there one year.

A.D. 7881. This year the army went further into France, and the French fought against them: and then was the army there horsed after the battle.

A.D. $882. This year the army went up along [the banks of] the Maese far into France, and there sat one year. And that same year king Aelfred went out to sea with ships, and fought against the forces of four ships of Danish men, and took two of the ships, and the men were slain that were in them; and the forces of two ships surrendered to him, and they were sorely distressed and wounded before they surrendered to him. A.D. 9883. This year the army went up

the Scheldt to

1 See Camd. Brit. col. 74. Here it was that he lost that remarkable jewel, now in the Ashmole Museum at Oxford, figured in the Philosophical Transactions, No. 260, and in Hickes's Thesaur. p. 142.

2 Edingdon, in Wiltshire, Camd. Brit. col. 108.

3 Apparently the removal of the fillet which, covering the chrism on the forehead, was bound round the head at confirmation.-P. The passages collected by Martene, de Antiq. Ecclesiæ Ritibus, I. cap. ii. art. III. § xiv. ed. 1700, establish the accuracy of this conjecture. A.D. 880, C.

4

The eclipse happened on the 14th March, 880.-P.

6 A.D. 879, G.; 881, C.

8 A.D. 883, C.

7

A.D. 882, C.

9 A.D. 884, C.