of the old writers styles him, as “a man of brilliant valour."

King Ethelred and his brother Alfred, on receiving the call to arms, did not delay for an instant. They summoned a large army from all parts of the kingdom, and with it they rapidly marched to join the Mercian troops. Bishops, abbots, and clergy all joined the English army, so that a decisive blow might be struck at the Danish stronghold.

When the united army appeared before Nottingham, with the earnest desire to engage in a pitched battle, the Danes kept close within the city. They were too good soldiers to be drawn into the open, so they fell back on their usual plan of fighting behind earthworks. The defences of the fortress were so strong that the English were not prepared to attack it, consequently only a few slight skirmishes took place. Winter was also approaching, and, as the troops would soon want to return home, an agreement was entered into between the English and the Danes, by which the latter agreed to retire to York.

But if Ethelred and Alfred failed to crush the Danes, they succeeded in saving Mercia for a time, and in warding off the blow that was to descend on Mercia. We should like to know more about this first campaign of Alfred, but we must rest content with the scanty notices in the old chronicles, where there are some hints as to his rapidity of action and his valour in battle.

We should also like to know what making peace with the Danes really means. Here, it probably

means that the Danes withdrew

on receiving

presents, only to return to the struggle after a short rest, for soon after they swooped down with relentless fury on East Anglia.

CHAPTER IX.

FIRE AND SWORD IN EAST ANGLIA.

THE Danes did not remain long at York, for, after a few months, a great host sailing up the Humber landed in the north of Lincolnshire. The first place they attacked was Bardeney, which then boasted of a rich and beautiful abbey. This they utterly destroyed and slew all the monks, and then employed the summer in laying waste the surrounding country. They crossed the Witham, and in a similar manner they ravaged the south of Lincolnshire. The king of that district does not seem to have opposed them; but Algar, the brave ealdorman, instantly gathered together the valiant inhabitants of the marsh lands. Even the monks from the abbeys joined the English army, and one of the bravest of them all was named Toly.

The courageous Algar and his brave followers attacked the Danes on the feast of St. Maurice, and with such success that they slew three of the foreign kings and many of their nobles. They chased the heathens right up to their camp, and only ended the fight with the advance of night. Success was not

to remain long with the English, for very rapidly there came assistance to the Danes, and we find several kings, as Guthrum, Bagseg, Oskytel, Halfdene, and Amund, and the jarls Frene, Ingnar, Hubba, and the two Sidrocs, coming with an immense host to overwhelm the English.

The arrival of this multitude of Danes spread dismay among the English, and we are not surprised to find that many deserted during the night. But the brave Algar gathered together all the remnant and they prepared to perish for their country and their faith. Toly the monk with Morcar had the position of greatest danger on the right of the English army, while Osgot and Harding led the left wing. Algar himself, with some trusty followers, chose the centre to help either wing as occasion required.

The Danes, eager to avenge the death of their three kings, rushed with fury upon the English, who, however, resisted their onslaught and remained as firm as a rock during the day. Evening was fast approaching, and the Danes, seeing that it was impossible to break through the ranks of the English, feigned a retreat. Not regarding the orders of their leaders, the English rushed after the retreating foe; when, suddenly, the Danes rallied and fell upon the English, surrounding them and cutting them in pieces. The six English leaders now saw that all hope of victory had gone, so mounting a hill they fought with the greatest courage until they were left dead with their slaughtered followers. Of all the English army, only a few

youths escaped to tell the sad story of the monks in Croyland.

The Abbot of Croyland and the inmates of the abbey were performing matins when the sad news was brought. They at once prepared for the worst, knowing that the cruel pagans would soon be upon them. With great haste all the treasures of the place were gathered together, and either thrown into the water or carried away to a place of safety. Only the aged and the very young remained, hoping that the Danes might show mercy to them. But they were mistaken, for soon the hordes of the Danes rushed in and killed the abbot and the priests at the altar. The aged and the young were seized and tortured and massacred; one child only, of ten years of age, whose beautiful countenance pleased the younger Sidroc was allowed to live. The abbey was plundered and then burnt by the cruel Danes, who soon after marched on to Peterborough.

Peterborough was then named Medeshampstead, and was famous for its glorious monastery and rich library, which it had taken years to form. The same fate that had befallen Croyland was to fall on Peterborough. The monks and their abbot were slain; nearly all the people were killed; the abbey was plundered of all its treasures and then committed to the flames. Huntingdon was next attacked in a similar manner, and then the Northmen marched straight into Cambridgeshire. Ely, the capital of the surrounding Fen country, was the seat of the first Christian church and monastery. This building was destroyed by the ruthless enemy, and nothing