hew's Da

ed. We have heard of such things afar off, we had prayed for our brethren in Wessex, exposed to similar calamities, and now they h

ull with all manner of store; women and children had mainly been the reapers, but the Lady Hilda herself had been

lves honour thereby, for true nobility lies not in being idle,

n the evening there was a harvest home; it was of course a strange one without the men, who were afar off, fighting for

ilda, was somewhat uneasy, because Alfgar and Bertric were not yet back, but still not much alarmed

hed the two young theows who had gone out with Alfgar and Bertric, with the startling intelligence that there was a band

stress and fear is yet before my eyes as I write. One woman rose superior to fear--t

e absence of her lord, she was in charge of the safety of all her people, and the mother of all. I had already interrogated the two churls; their story was but too evidently true; and I learned that they had discovered the footmarks of the Northm

he old hall, and so did even the boys; but these accursed pagans are the very spawn of the evil one, a

our circumstances no dishonour in so seeking it. So I

ley, surrounded by such morasses and quagmires that only those who know the paths could safely journey thither. But the valley is fertile

hall, the priory, and the village. In such a way only could they ho

and why they had passed so many flourishing homes to come to poor secluded Aescendune. S

with provisions and all things necessary for immediate use. Old men and children were also mounted, who could not otherwise travel, and we started. It wa

warned, and were awaiting my arrival. I found them prepared for immediate departure. We had a large flat-bottomed boat on the river which washes the monastery garden; they had placed all the sa

sent us. Then, upon the brink of the stream, we stopped and listened. No sound bro

n the devil's work, approaching the priory, and we pushed the boat into the st

ked loudly at the doors, and receiving no answer, raised their fierce battle cry, and looked, happily in vain, for the pallid faces they expected to see at windows or loopholes.

reached a small island, where we waited to see the end, praising t

d it of all that was portable, they had fired it in many places at once; and while we looked, we saw our own once

ould depart with the sacred vessels and treasure to the mother house at Abingdon, while I rema

and Ella, once the light of the neighbourhood! bu

ourse to be pursued, we rowed quiet

rd, crossed the river, where a bridge had once existed, long since swept aw

and thither we journeyed

s with an angry glare. It was yet deep night when we drew near the inn, and we lay awhile on our oars, to

he doors--a proof that they had not observed the redness in

people were feeling in Mercia, that we could not wake the good people for a long time, and we were getting impatient, for they seemed like the

ng, and would not allow us to land until they were driven away by

dow was throw

his time of night?" said a v

n of St. Benedict

thus irreverently he spoke, "do holy m

se of our wanderings; dost thou not even yet see the angry glare

r Aescendune! a

fe, we trus

d the host hurried d

; in short, we had fallen amongst the faithful, and we met great ho

no sooner lay down than we fell asleep, and

that no foe pursued; but, as we afterwards

back with Father Adhelm, to share the misfortunes of my kindred and lay brethren in the woods. So we embraced each other and parted; and we two watched, with loving hearts, until the glades of the forest hid our brethren, dear to

ted to see a fleet of boats sweep towards us, while he kept in the middle, as if dreading an arrow from every bush. At length we reached the immediate neighbourhood, over which the smoke s

pt forward together, till, getting through the

d and blackened ruins, from which the dark smoke cea

for ever. It was a dull day, dull as the gloom which was upon our spirits; the very heavens seemed

, beautiful before God; it was but a huge pile of blackened timber and stone; and even more conspic

d pondered, Wigla

tramp of m

ew nearer. We were on the point of taking to the woods again, when I thought I caught

fifty or sixty horsemen cross the wooden bridge which the Dan

y brother a

them. I rushed up to him, an

afe, are sa

ke from many an

re they? whe

cted by brake and morass; and n

Mercia, riding as rapidly as they could, and I obtained Edric Streorn's leave to pursue th

e safety of Wessex could not be neglected for Aescendune. The Northmen woul

sighed

ungrateful to God. Here are ruins indeed, bu

hbert, n

for I though

t, in God's peace, in the pl

cheeks. My voice grew so hoarse, som

nd by, not now. I could not bear it;"

die?" I stam

St. Ed

e tears I shed. I know I ought to rejoice that he has gai

h the woods, Cuthbert?" asked my bro

stion had oc

had been taken prisoner, as the messe

I, "do you re

d earnes

y about Aescendune, and that the name of Anlaf was

di

rse of St. Br

pon the i

t to God

let us go t

oods, sorrowing for the news we must carry,