at Ashdown, the Danes had the better position; but on this occasion, after an obstinate fight, they gained the advantage. However, they carried off no spoils, so we may conclude their success was not very great. They now waited for reinforcements, and after an interval of two months they transferred themselves to Merton, a town in Surrey. Here they were met by the West-Saxon men, bravely led by Ethelred and Alfred, who were destined in this battle to fight together for the last time.

At Merton the Danes fought in two divisions, and had the superiority in point of numbers. But the West-Saxons were victorious throughout the day, although they were obliged at nightfall to abandon the field to the enemy. Many of the brave warriors of the West-Saxons were killed, and it is said that King Ethelred was wounded.

CHAPTER XIII.

LONG LIVE THE KING!

AFTER the battle of Merton, King Ethelred died. We do not know the cause of his death; but, as it occurred so soon after the battle in which he was wounded, it may be supposed that he died of his wounds. He had reigned five years, and according to Asser he had governed his kingdom "bravely, honourably, and with good repute." Ethelred was laid to rest by his brother Alfred in Wimborne

Minster, in Dorsetshire. He should have been buried at Sherborne, where rested most of the West Saxon kings, but it seems probable that that place was in the hands of the Danes.

Alfred, who had previously been of secondary rank, now became king. It will be remembered that, as a boy, he had been anointed by Leo IV., and he had also been chosen by his father to be one of his successors. It is true that the late king had two sons, but the English in those days often elected their king. Certainly the office was not always hereditary as it now is with us; and further, it is to be noted that a king was needed in those troublous days, who could lead his army to battle.

Accordingly, we find that Alfred was chosen king by the acclamations of all the people, who had even desired to make him king in the lifetime of his brother. But Alfred had no wish to supplant Ethelred, and had waited with patience the appointed time for wearing the crown. It is said that Alfred consented to reign almost against his will, for he seemed to despair that he would be able to rid his country of the Danes. Certainly he began his reign at a dark period of the nation's history, and for many years to come he had to pass through a time of trial. But he had a stout heart, and, although fortune seemed at first to frown on him, he never utterly despaired.

Scarcely had he returned from the grave of his brother than the news spread that the Danes had received considerable reinforcements, and that a great army was ready to meet Alfred, who seems to

have been living in the western part of Wessex. Nearly a month passed before he could get together a small army with which to attack the enemy. The Danes were strongly posted on a hill at Wilton, on the left bank of the river Wily. Alfred and his men fought bravely against overwhelming odds, and after a long and fierce engagement the Danes took to hasty flight. They were pursued by the West-Saxons; but, when victory seemed certain fresh companies

came to the assistance of the Danes. They now rallied to the fight, and utterly defeated Alfred and his brave followers. Thus, Alfred's first battle, when he was king, was lost. We need not be surprised, for had he not fought eight fights in this one year? And further, he must have lost many of his best men, and his resources were not unlimited.

So Alfred did what was probably the best thing.

He made peace with the Danes on condition that they should leave his kingdom. It appears that they were glad to accept the terms of Alfred; and so we may infer that they, too, had lost very heavily in this campaign in Wessex in 871. The old chronicles say that the Danes had lost one king, nine dukes, and innumerable troops of soldiers. Both sides were thus glad of the truce, and both sides availed themselves of the opportunity to strengthen themselves for further action.

The Danes crossed the Thames and entered London, which was then the headquarters of Burhred, King of Mercia, and brother-in-law of Alfred, whose sister, Ethelswitha, he had married. Alfred was not able to come to the assistance of his brother-in-law, and Burhred was unable to oppose the invasion of the Danes. He proved himself a feeble king, and foolishly got rid of the Danes for a time by paying them a tribute.

The Danish ships now left the Thames and sailed along the east coast. They landed in Northumbria and replaced Egbert on the throne. After passing the winter there, they appeared the next year in the district of Lindsey, in Lincolnshire. There they seized on a place named Torksey, and only took their departure after receiving a large sum of money. The Danes then plunged into the heart of Mercia, and without meeting any resistance they seized Repton, in Derbyshire.

The unfortunate King Burhred was alarmed, and he beat a hasty retreat. Evidently he despaired of withstanding the cruel foe, and so he fled over the

sea, and wandered as a pilgrim to Rome. Scarcely had he reached this haven of rest, after surmounting all the toils of a long journey, than death overtook him. And there, far from his own country, he was buried in the chapel attached to the English school. His wife Ethelswitha could not travel with him, but she found safety with her brother Alfred. In later times, however, she journeyed to Rome to visit the tomb of her husband.

This must have been a great grief to Alfred, for he saw that Mercia had now entirely fallen into the hands of the Danes, who had placed on its throne a mere puppet, by name Ceolwulf, who only reigned on condition that he would not oppose their will, but be obedient to them in every respect. Ceolwulf was a weak-minded man, and he readily took the oath of allegiance to the Danes, and moreover gave them hostages. So long as he gave them treasure he was allowed to remain in his position; but in the course of a few years the Danes dethroned him, plundered him of all his wealth, and left him to die in poverty.

The great Danish army found it wise to divide itself into two parts. When the spring of 875 arrived, one division under Halfdene turned to the north, and proceeded to plunder the country from the Tyne to the Clyde. The other division, under three leaders, Guthrum, Amund, and Oskytel, turned south, and placed their headquarters at Cambridge, which was then called Grantabridge.

While at this place Guthrum formed plans to bring ruin on his most determined foe, the king of the