Part 5

This year King Æthelbald died, and his body lieth at Sherborn, and his brother Æthelbryht succeeded to all his kingdom, and he held it in goodly concord and great peacefulness. And in his days a large army landed and stormed Winchester, and the Alderman Osric with the men of Hampshire, and the Alderman Æthelwulf with the Berkshire men, fought with them and put them to flight, and kept possession of the field of battle. And this Æthelbryht reigned 5 years, and his body lieth at Sherborn.

861.

This year the Bishop St. Swithin died.

865.

This year the heathen army remained in Thanet, and made a treaty with the Kentishmen, who promised them money for peace. And under this treaty and promise of money, they stole out by night and plundered all the eastern parts of Kent.

866.

This year Æthered the brother of Æthelbyrht succeeded to the kingdom of Wessex. And the same year a great army of heathens came to England, and took up their winter quarters among the East Angles, and there they were supplied with horses, and the people made peace with them.

867.

This year the invading army went from East Anglia across the mouth of the Humber to York in Northumberland; and there was much discord amongst the people themselves there, for they had cast off their King Osbryht, and had taken Ælla, an alien, for their King. But late in the year the two parties joined, and both fought against the army; and they gathered together a great force, and came upon the invaders at York, and some of them broke into the town, and then there was a very great slaughter of the Northumbrians, some being slain within the town and some without, and both the Kings were killed, and those who survived made peace with the army. The same year died Bishop Ealchstan, he held the bishoprick of Sherborn 50 years, and his body lieth in that town.

868.

This year the same army came into Mercia as far as Nottingham, and took up their winter quarters there, and Burhred King of Mercia and his Witan begged Æthered King of Wessex and his brother Alfred to assist them, that they might fight against this army. And then they came with the West Saxon troops into Mercia and to Nottingham, and they found them within the fortress, and besieged them, and there was no battle of moment, and the Mercians made peace with the army.

869.

This year the army went again to York, and remained there one year.

870.

This year the heathen army rode over Mercia into East Anglia, and took up their winter quarters at Thetford. And in the winter the King St. Edmund fought with them, and the Danes gained the victory, and slew the King, and they subjected all that land, and destroyed all the monasteries to which they came. The names of their chiefs who slew the King were Higwais and Ubba. At the same time they came to Medeshamstede, which they burned and pulled down. They slew the Abbot and the monks and all whom they found there; and that place which before was very rich, they brought to possess nothing. And the same year Archbishop Ceolnoth died, and Æthered Bishop of Wiltshire was translated to the see of Canterbury.

871.

This year the army came to Reading, in Wessex, and in about three days, two of their Earls rode forth, and the Alderman Æthelwulf met them at Englefield, and fought with them and won the victory, and one of them whose name was Sidrac was slain. Then in about four days King Æthered and his brother Alfred led a great force to Reading, and fought with the army, and there was much slaughter on both sides, and the Alderman Æthelwulf was killed, and the Danes remained masters of the field. And about four days from that time King Æthered and his brother Alfred fought with all the army at Æcesdun,[W] and the Danes were overcome; they had two heathen Kings Bagsæc and Healfden, and many Earls, and they were in two divisions, the Kings Bagsæc and Healfden commanded the one, and the Earls headed the other. King Æthered fought with the division under the Kings and Bagsæc was slain, and his brother Alfred with that of the Earls, and Earl Sidroc[X] the elder, and Earl Sidroc the younger, and Earl Osbearn, and Earl Fræna, and Earl Hareld were killed; and then both divisions fled, and many thousands were slain, and they continued fighting until night. And in about a fortnight King Æthered and his brother Alfred fought with the army at Basing, and there the Danes gained the victory. And about two months afterwards King Æthered and his brother Alfred fought at Mere-tun,[Y] with this army which was in two divisions, and they had the advantage over both during great part of the day, but there was much slaughter on either side, and the Danes remained masters of the field, and Bishop Heahmund and many good men were slain there. And after this fight a great summer[Z] pestilence came upon Reading. And King Æthered died after Easter; he reigned five years, and his body lieth at Winborn Minster. His brother Alfred the son of Æthelwulf succeeded to the kingdom of Wessex, and in about a month, he and a small number of men fought with all the army at Wilton, and had the advantage great part of the day, but the Danes kept possession of the field of battle. And this year nine battles were fought in that kingdom, south of the Thames; and, besides these, the King’s brother Alfred, and the Aldermen and the King’s Thanes rode forth separately against the Danes, times out of number. And this year nine Earls and a King were slain: and the same year the men of Wessex made peace with the army.

872.

This year the army went from Reading to London, and there took up their winter quarters, and the Mercians made peace with them.

873.

This year the army went into Northumberland, and they took up their winter quarters at Torksey, in Lindsey: then the Mercians again made peace with them.

874.

This year the army proceeded from Lindsey to Repton, and there they took up their winter quarters. And they drove King Burhred over sea, about twenty-two years from the time that he had begun to reign. And they conquered all that country. And King Burhred went to Rome and abode there unto the end of his life, and his body lieth in St. Mary’s Church, in the school of the English nation. The same year they gave the kingdom of Mercia to Ceolwulf, an unwise Thane of the King, that he should hold it; and he swore oaths to them and gave hostages that the kingdom should be at their command, on whatsoever day they might wish to have it again, and that he himself and all his subjects should be ready to aid the army.

875.

This year the army departed from Repton; and Healfden went with part of the troops into Northumberland, and wintered by the river Tyne; and this division conquered that land, and made many inroads upon the Picts and the Strathclyde Britons. And the three Kings, Godrun, Oscytel, and Anwind, went from Repton to Cambridge with a large army, and abode there one year. And this summer King Alfred went out to sea with a fleet, and fought with seven pirate ships, and took one of them, and put the rest to flight.

876.

This year Rodla (Rollo), with his forces, overran Normandy; he reigned 50 years. And this year the Danes marched secretly into Wareham in Wessex, and afterwards the King made peace with that army, and they gave the noblest amongst them as hostages, and swore oaths to him on the holy bracelet[AA] (which they would never do for any nation before), that they would forthwith depart from his kingdom. Yet under these engagements their horse stole off by night to Exeter. And the same year Healfden parcelled out Northumberland, and they ploughed and tilled it.

877.

This year the army came from Wareham into Exeter, and the fleet sailed round to the west, and a great storm met them at sea, and 120 ships were wrecked at Swanwich. And King Alfred with his troops rode after the Danish horse as far as Exeter, but they could not come up with them before they were in the fortress where none might assail them. And they gave him hostages, as many as he would, and swore solemn oaths, and they kept this peace well. Then in the autumn the army went into Mercia, and they parcelled out part of the land (amongst themselves), and they gave part to Ceolwulf.

878.

This year at mid-winter the army marched secretly to Chippenham after Twelfth night, and they overran Wessex, and they fixed themselves there, and drove many of the inhabitants over sea, and they rode forth against most of those who remained, until all had submitted to them excepting King Alfred, and he with a small party hardly escaped into the woods and the hill fastnesses. The same winter the brother of Inwær and Healfden came with 23 ships to Devonshire in Wessex, and he was slain there, and 840 men with him; and the sacred standard, which they called the raven, was taken. And at Easter King Alfred, with his small band, raised a fortress at Æthelinga-igge (Athelney) and thence he made sallies upon the army, together with the men of Somerset who were nearest to him.--Then in the seventh week after Easter he rode to Ecgbyrhtes-stan (Brixton) east of Selwood, and there all the men of Somerset and Wiltshire and Hampshire, all who were on this side the sea, met him, and were rejoiced to see him. And after one night he went from that village to Iglea (Leigh), and thence again after another night to Æthan-dun (Edindon), and there he fought with the whole army, and he put the Danes to flight, and pursued them as far as their fortress, and he remained there a fortnight. And then the army gave him hostages, with solemn oaths that they would depart from his kingdom, and they promised that their King should receive baptism, which also was performed. And in about three weeks King Godrun, with some thirty men, the noblest in the army, came to him at Aire which is near Athelney, and the King stood godfather at his baptism, and he put off the Chrisom-cloth at Wetmor (Wedmor), and he was twelve days with the King, who honoured him and his companions with great presents.

879.

This year the army went from Chippenham to Cirencester, and remained there one year: and this year a body of pirates was gathered together and settled at Fulham on the Thames. And the same year the sun was eclipsed for one hour in the day. And the army went from Cirencester into East Anglia, and fixed themselves in that land, and divided it. And the same year the army which was before at Fulham went over sea to Ghent in France, and abode there one year.

881.

This year the army went over to France, and the French fought with these invaders, and the army horsed itself after that battle.

882.

This year the army went up along the Maese far into France, and remained there one year. And the same year King Alfred went out to sea, and fought with four Danish pirate ships, and he took two of them, the men therein being slain, and two yielded to him, but many of the men were cut down and wounded before they would surrender themselves.

883.

This year the army proceeded up the Scheldt to Condé, and abode there one year. And the great Pope Marinus sent a piece of our Lord’s cross to King Alfred. And this year Sighelm and Athelstan carried to Rome the alms which King Alfred had vowed to send thither, and also into India, to St. Thomas and to St. Bartholomew. Then troops were posted at London to oppose the army, and, thanks to God, they were very successful after these vows.

884.

This year the army went up the Somme to Amiens, and remained there one year. This year died the good Bishop Athelwold.

885.

This year the aforesaid army divided itself into two parts, one division went eastward,[AB] the other proceeded to Rochester, and besieged that town: and they built another fortress over against it, yet the inhabitants defended the place until King Alfred came out with his troops. Then the army went to the ships and deserted the fortress, and the king’s men were supplied with horses; and soon after, in the course of the same summer, the Danes departed again over sea. And the same year King Alfred sent a fleet from Kent to East Anglia. As soon as they came to the mouth of the Stour, they met 16 pirate ships, and they gave them battle immediately, and they took all the ships and slew the men, but as they were returning homeward with the booty, they met a large fleet of pirates, and they fought with them also the same day, and the Danes gained the victory. Charles King of France died this year, he was killed by a wild boar. And his brother also who reigned over the Western Empire had died one year before; and they were both sons of Louis who held the Western Empire, and who died the year in which the sun was eclipsed; he was the son of that Charles whose daughter Æthelwulf King of Wessex had to wife. And the same year a large fleet was gathered together among the Old Saxons,[AC] and there were two great fights, and the Saxons gained the victory, and the Frisians were with them. This year Charles succeeded to the Western Empire, comprehending all the lands, exclusive of Britanny, from the Wendel sea (the Mediterranean) unto this sea, even as his great grandfather had possessed them: this Charles was the son of Louis, the brother of Charles the father of Judith whom Æthelwulf King of Wessex had to wife; these were the sons of Louis, and he was the son of Charles the elder, and Charles was the son of Pepin. And the same year died the good Pope Marinus, who freed the school of the English nation from tribute at the desire of King Alfred, and who sent him great gifts, and holy relics, and a piece of the cross on which Christ suffered. And this year the army in East Anglia broke the peace with King Alfred.

886.

This year the army, which before had bent its course eastward, turned again to the west; and they went up the Seine, and fixed their winter quarters at the city of Paris. The same year King Alfred repaired London, and all the English people who were free from the bondage of the Danes came over to him, and he committed the city to the care of the Alderman Æthered.

887.

This year the army went over the bridge at Paris, and thence along the Seine unto the Marne, and then up the Marne to Caziei (Choisy?) and they fixed themselves there, and in Yonne, spending two winters in these two stations.--And the same year died Charles King of France; his brother’s son Earnulf had deprived him of the kingdom six weeks before his death. Then was that kingdom divided into five parts, and five Kings were consecrated thereto; yet this was done with the consent of Earnulf, and they said that they would hold their kingdoms at his hand, because none of them were claimants on the father’s side, excepting him alone. Then Earnulf dwelt in the country east of the Rhine; and Hrothulf took the middle kingdom; and Oda the western parts; and Beorngar and Witha took Lombardy, and the lands on that side of the mountains, and they reigned there in much enmity, and they frequently laid waste that land, and they fought two pitched battles, and many times did each drive out the other. And the same year that the army went forth over the bridge at Paris, the Alderman Æthelhelm carried to Rome the alms of the West Saxons and of King Alfred.

888.

This year the Alderman Beocca carried the alms of the West Saxons and of King Alfred to Rome. And Queen Æthelswith, who was the sister of King Alfred, died on her way to Rome, and her body lieth at Pavia. And the same year Æthered Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Alderman Æthelwold died in one month.

889.

This year no one journeyed to Rome, excepting two couriers whom King Alfred sent with letters.

890.

This year the Abbot Beornhelm carried the alms of King Alfred and the West Saxons to Rome. And Godrun King of the Northmen died; his baptismal name was Æthelstan, and he was King Alfred’s godson: he dwelt in East Anglia, and first colonized that land.[AD] And the same year the army from the Seine went to St. Lo, which is between Britanny and France, and the Bretons fought with them, and gained the victory, and drove them into a river and drowned many. This year Plegemund was chosen of God and of all his saints to the Archbishoprick of Canterbury.

891.

This year the army went eastward, and King Earnulf with the East French, and the Saxons, and the Bavarians, fought with their horse before the ships arrived, and put them to flight. And three Scots came to King Alfred from Ireland, in a boat without any rowers, and they had stolen away from that country because they would go on a pilgrimage for the love of God, they cared not whither. The boat was made of three hides and a half, and they took with them food for a week, and in about seven days they came to land in Cornwall, and proceeded forthwith to King Alfred: they were thus named, Dubslane, and Macbeth, and Maelinmun. And Swifneh the most learned teacher of the Scots died. And after Easter the same year, about Rogation week or before, a star appeared which is called Cometa in Latin, and some men say that this in English signifies a hairy star, for long rays stream from it, sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other.

893.

This year the great army, of which we have before spoken, returned from the Eastern kingdom westward to Boulogne, and there they took shipping; so that they came over at one passage, horses and all. And they arrived at Limene mutha (New Romney?) with 250 ships. This harbour is on the eastern side of Kent, and at the eastern end of the great wood called Andred; this wood is from east to west 112 miles long or more, and 30 miles broad, and the river of which we have spoken floweth out of the weald. They towed their ships up this river as far as the wood, four miles from the outward mouth. They stormed a fortress in the fens; a few countrymen were in it, and it was half finished. Soon afterwards, Hastings came into the mouth of the Thames with 80 ships, and there he built a fortress at Middel-tun (Milton), and the other army one at Appledore.

“This year died Wulfhere Archbishop of the Northumbrians.”

894.