full of interest for the antiquarian or the lover of monastic lore, would possess scant interest for the general reader, and have also little connection with the course of

e compressed, from the Anglo-Saxon Chroni

l. Then he sailed eastward, landed again and ravaged Dorset and Wiltshire. Here the ealdorman Elfric met him with a large English army; but when he saw the foe he fell sick, or feigned to be so; and then the old proverb came true, "Whe

The result was as he might have expected. They took the money, laughing at his simplicity, and three weeks afterwards pillaged Thetford, and burnt it. Then Ulfketyl, who wa

nes forebore to ravage so poor a land; but in 1006, the next year, they

charge of his religious duties, he was equally conspicuous in all warlike sports and exercises and in the chase, while he afforded much help to Elfwyn the thane in the management of the estate

touched by artificial adornment, hung like a shower of gold around her shoulders, while her eyes were of that delicate blue which seemed to reflect the d

him as a boy of twelve. As the heir to the lands of Aescendune, and the only son, he would have been in much danger of being spoiled had he been less gen

, had also afflicted Mercia, but not nearly so severely, and the generosity of t

it, had passed when the events we are about to relate occurred. At this time there was some hope amongst the people that God had at length heard the petition breathed so often in

orest terminated the pastures of Aescendune; the cattle were returning to their stalls; the last load of hay was being transferred from the wain to the rick, and a

s children, accompanied by Alfgar, paused on their homeward road, and when the drowsy tinkling ceased, deep silence seemed to fall over the la

her song, trilling through the air; another enviously took up the strain. Hilda thought the earth had never seemed so much like heaven, and she imagined the tuneful birds sang their vesper song in union with the monks, whose solemn and plaintive chant awoke the echoes of

a fire of some kind, and rose up more and more fiercely each moment. It was but a bonfi

all were returning h

t that light! Is it not singula

re appeared in an opposite direction,

con fire," sai

answered from the hills

ue kind of apprehension. They said no more till they reached home,

," said Hilda

the last load of hay has been carried, and we tarried for th

ire on the hills? It

d it made

o, my

pared, in readiness to fire, on the tops of the hills, and that if the Danes appeared again, they should be fired everywhere, in w

was eighteen

trackway crosses between our county and Oxfordshire, when I last returned form Beranbyrig {

!" said Hilda, w

ome poor fool has set the pile blazing for amusement. I fancied

by Alfgar and Bertric, and several of the serfs, who from the lower en

he highest point, where an old watchtower had once been

three or four counties lying dimly

There three large fires immediately caught the eye, and confirmed the apprehensions. One was on the summit of the range culminating on the spot now known as Edgehill, lying a

taken the alarm

st we do

eriff's orders; the king will communicate to us t

nly a false alar

but I dare no

were with his English friends, from whom he had received more kindness and love than he had ever known elsewhere, ye

ale and reddened the horizon, until a score of those baleful bonfi

n?" was the inquir

flame wit

or poor

neighbours. Wessex scarcely tempts the plunderer now; neither does East Anglia. Northumbria is half Danis

w to av

foe in Wessex. Now we must rest, to ris

t he heard steps approaching from the forest. Soon a solitary figure emerged, and searched anxiously amongst the fallen and blackened walls, uttering one anxious ejaculation, "My son! I seek

isit earth?" he said. "

even as he gazed upon the purpling skies the birds began their matin songs of praise, and the valley awoke

hing that they did on this, as on every day, was to repair to the priory church, where Father Cut

o break their fast, and conversed abo

rtric, who sat near a window, cried out

awbridge, which was down as usual; and, passing beneath

. He bore a sealed missive addressed to the Thane; but

d burning. The forces are all to meet at Dorch

did the

ch, and they are advancing west

merciles

or

hen seeing Alfgar's saddened face, said, "

r; you are a Christian; no

s to the general rendezvous of the forces, which was to take place at Dorchester, the episcopal city of the great Mid

theows and ceorls were collected together, beasts of burden selecte

usbands had to bid the last goodbye--it might be the very last--to their spouses, sons to their aged parents, fathers to their children. And then

s men and Christians, go to the succour of their brethren, the majority would have preferred to remain at home and abide the worst, although they knew full

lord, but was kindly told that it would be inexpedient.

mmend the protection of my home, of the L

erils any better received. He was bidden to remain where he was, and

e, and the little troop, about fifty in number, departed from the ha

nging lingering look behind, and then the woodland hid them from sight; and a dread