A class-book history of England ...

Preface

In thof' compilation of tliis Book the author has consulted the best and most recent historical works, and he is particularly indebted to the writings of Freeman, Dean Hook, Hume, Froude, and Macaulay.

The events -of each reign, grouped according to their order and importance, are placed at the beginning of each chapter. The outline thus given is filled up in detail in separate narratives. Minor facts, requiring no detailed account, are briefly mentioned at the close of the reign. A chapter upon the Social Condition of the People is given at the end of each period. Attention is drawn to important persons and events by the use of types of various kinds, and the leading dates stand out distinctly in the margin.

vi PKEFACE.

The numerous woodcuts which illustrate the book are for the most part taken from ^ Lectures on English History' and * Life of Edward III.,' by W. Longman, Esq., who kindly placed the illustrations of those valuable works at the author's disposal.

The utility of the work is further enhanced by four Historical Maps, drawn by E. Weller, Esq., F.R.G.S.

The author gratefully acknowleges the valuable assistance of the Rev. H. S. Maye, B. A., of Liverpool College, in revising the proof sheets.

October 1871.

Contents

PAGE

"ferTHODUCTlON ...«.«•••• *

Eoman Period b « « . 3

Chapter I

Julius Caesar, the commander of the Eoman forces in Gaul (France), resolved to attempt the conquest of Britain, because the inhabitants had given help to some of the Gallic tribes in their wars against him. He sailed across the Straits of Dover with two legions, or 12,000 men, and landed near Deal. The Britons, collected on fL the beach, bravely resisted his forces, but after a severe struggle they were forced to give way to Roman valour and discipline. After a few. days C^sar returned to Gaul, having received promises of submission and a few hostages.

In the following year he returned with 800 ships, containing five legions, or 30,000 foot, and 2,000 p,. horse. The Britons, under the leadership of Cassivelaunus, chief of the tribe of the Trino- ^'^' bantes, were driven across the Thames, and the fortress of Verulamium, where St. Albans now stands, was destroyed. After this event, and the failure of an attack upon the Roman naval camp on the coast, the Britons sued for peace. Csesar fixed the amount of tribute, received hostages, and went back to Gaul with all his forces.

Britain was fi:ee from Roman interference for the next ninety-seven years. During this time, several emperors thought of conquering the island. One, called Caligula, collected an army on the coast of Gaul, but instead of crossing the Channel, he gave there the signal of battle, and told the soldiers to gather shells in remembrance of their victory over the ocean.

4 HISTOEY OF EN&LAND.

At length the Emperor Claudius sent a general, Aulus

-^ Plautius, with an army to invade Britain. He drove the Britons across the Thames, and was then joined by the emperor himself with a new army. Claudius penetrated into Essex, and took Camalodunum (Colchester or Maldon). He then returned to Rome, leaving the government of the conquered part of the island to Plautius and Vespasian. A chief, called Caractacus, headed the Britons for some years. Forced at last to retire into "Wales, he united his forces with the people of the district, who were named Silures, and took up a strong position on a hill in Shropshire, called Caer- Caradoc. Ostorius Scapula, the successor of Plautius, marched against him, defeated his forces, and captured his stronghold. Caractacus fled for refuge to his step-mother, Cartismandua, Queen of the Brigantes, who treacherously gave him up to the Romans. He was taken in chains to Rome, along with his family ; but the Emperor Claudius was so pleased with his spirit and bravery that he set him at liberty.

Another famous leader of the Britons was Soadicea, Queen of the Iceni, a tribe inhabiting Norfolk and Suffolk. On account of insults received from the Roman ofhcers, she called her people to arms, and while the Roman governor, Suetonius Paulinus, was destroying the Druids of Mona (Anglesey), she overthrew Camalodunum, burnt Londi-

^^ nium (London), and killed about 70,000 Romans. Suetonius soon after attacked her, and slew in a great battle about 80,000 of her forces. She herself escaped captivity by taking poison.

Julius Agricola, appointed governor 78 a.d., was the most successful Roman general ever sent to Britain. In the first two years of his government he conquered the whole country as far as the Tweed. In 81 a.d. he extended his conquests to tj^e Friths of Forth and Clyde, and there built a chain of fortresses. He afterwards penetrated to the foot of the G-rampians, where he defeated a Caledo-

g . nian chief named Galgacus, in a battle supposed to have been fought at Ardoch, Perthshire, About the same time the Roman ships, sailing round Britain, discovered it to be an island.

THE KOMAN PEEIOD. 5

Agricola attempted to win tlie good-will of the Britons by establishing good laws and ruling them with justice. He taught them to build temples and houses, and encouraged the study of all peaceful arts ; and thus very many were persuaded to learn the Eoman language, and adopt the manners, customs, and dress of their conquerors.

After the recall of Suetonius, nothing of interest happened until the time of the Emperor Hadrian, who visited the island 120 a.d. He drove back the Caledonians, and built a strong rampart between the Kiver Tyne and the Solway Frith, called the Wall of Hadrian, the ruins of which are known as the Picts' Wall. LoUius TJrbicus, the governor under the Emperor Antoninus ^^q Pius, drove the Caledonians beyond the Friths of Clyde and Forth, and repaired the forts built by Agricola, to which he gave the name of the Wall of Antoninus, now known as Graham's Dyke.

In the year 208 a.d. the aged Emperor Severus came to the island. In order to punish the Caledonians for their attacks upon the Eoman province, he penetrated through the thick forests to the northern districts, and defeated the mountaineers in many a battle, but with a loss to -^ _ himself of 50,000 men. On his return, he caused

• . AD

the Wall of Hadrian to be repaired and strengthened with new forts; and soon after he died at Eboracum (York).

For some years after this Britain was free from the attacks of the Caledonians. But now a new enemy appeared, in the shape of Saxon pirates, who, coming from the German coast, committed many ravages on the eastern part of the island. An officer was specially appointed by the Eomans to ward oiF their attacks, and for this reason he was called the Count of the Saxon Shore. The first one appointed to this duty, named Carausius, ^.^^ was accused of receiving bribes from the pirates ; and, fearing punishment, he made himself Emperor of Britain, and ruled the country well, until he was slain by his minister AUectus, 293 a.d. Allectus was killed in battle by the Emperor Constantius, who restored Britain to the Eoman sway, 296 a.d. This emperor married

Q-.^ a British lady, named Helena ; he died at York, and was succeeded in the empire by his son Constantine, afterwards called the Great.

After the death of Constantius, the northern part of Britain was again troubled by the people of Caledonia, who were now called Picts and Scots. The Picts were the descendants of the Caledonians, and the Scots were people who passed over from the north of Ireland. These savage tribes penetrated once as far as London, but they were ultimately driven back to their own boundaries,

A Roman general named Maximus, who had fought bravely against the Picts and Scots, made himself Emperor of Britain, and invaded Gaul with a large army of Britons, in the hope of becoming master of the western half of the

rtQQ Roman Empire. He was defeated and put to death. Many of the Britons who had followed his standard settled in a, part of Gaul called

Armorica (Brittany). The Picts and Scots, taking ad-

vantage of the absence of the troops under

Maximus, renewed their attacks ; but Stilicho, a

AD .

Roman general sent by the Emperor Honorius, repelled them, and gave peace to the island.

About this time the Goths and barbarians from the central parts of Europe were making great inroads upon the Roman Empire, so that it became necessary to withdraw the legions from Britain in order to defend Italy. On this account Honorius released the Britons from their .^^ allegiance, and recalled his soldiers to fight against Alaric, Kino; of the Goths. The Britons, thus left

AT)

defenceless, were attacked again by their old enemies the Picts and Scots, and were, consequently, compelled to petition Rome for assistance. A legion returned in 418 A.D., drove back the enemy, repaired the northern

426 walls, drilled the people in the use of arms, and

A.D. then took their final departure.

THE KOMAN PEEJOD.

CHAPTEI^ II.

GOVEENMENT, KELIGION, ETC.

GOVERNMENT.

The Eomans divided Britain into six provinces, viz. :

1. BRITANNIA PRIMA, the country south of the. Thames and

the Bristol Channel.

2. BRITANNIA SECUNDA, Wales and the border couDties

west of the Severn and Dee.

3. FLA VIA C^SARIENSIS, the country from the Thames to

the Humber and Mersey.

4. MAXIMA CiESARIENSIS, from the Humber to the Wall of

Hadrian, on the Tyne. 6. VALENTIA, from the Tyne to Antonine's Wall. 6. VESPASIANA, north of Antonine's Wall.

The last-named province was never conquered by the Romans. Each province had its own governor ; over all was an officer, called a Vicarius, or vicar, who was responsible to the Prefect of Gaul. There were usually kept in the island about 20,000 soldiers, who were under the command of three chief officers, called respectively the Count of Britain, the Duke of Britain, and the Count of the Saxon Shore.

The towns built by the Eomans were originally fortified stations for the soldiers, to which the name castra, or camp was given. Traces of this word remain in the names of towns ending in Chester, cester, or caster, as Manchester, Leicester, Doncaster. Many of these towns were adorned with temples, theatres, baths, circuses, monuments, and large mansions. Their inhabitants were chiefly Eoman, though we must understand by this term people collected from all parts of the empire.

The trade of the coimtry was considerable ; there were native manufactures of pottery and glass, and corn was grown and exported to a large extent. Excellent roads

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

were made and paved with stone, to which the name strata was given — the origin of our street. The following were the four chief roads : 1. Watling Street, extending from the coast of Kent, through London and Chester, to Carnarvon. 2, Ryknield Street, from the mouth of the Tyne to St. David's. 3. Irmin or Hermin Street, from St. David's to Southampton. 4. Foss "Way, between Cornwall and Lincoln.

Christianity is said to have been introduced into the island early in the second century. Though we know not how or by whom it was first preached here, yet we are certain its progress was rapid and extensive.* British bishops attended the Coimcil of Aries, in France, 314 a.d. ; and some are supposed to have been present at the Council of Nice, 326 a.d. The profession of Christianity was attended with the same dangers in Britain as elsewhere. In 303 A.D., during the persecution under the Emperor Diocletian, St. Alban, the first British martyr, suffered death at Yerulamium, since called in his honour St. Albans.

LEADING DATES OF THE PERIOD.

First Landing of Julius Csesar Second ditto

Roman Invasion under Claudius Caractacus taken prisoner .

Boadicea

Julius Agricola sent to Britain

Agricola's Wall, from Tyne to Solway Frith

Battle with Galgacus .

Hadrian's Wall built

Antonine's Wall

Severus dies at York

Usurpation of Carausius

St. Alban' s Martyrdom .

Constantius dies at York

Honorius frees Britain from its Allegiance

A Roman Legion returns to assist the Britons

Romans finally leave Britain

51 „

■^ Some think that converted Eoman soldiers were the first preachers of Christianity in this island; while others say that this honour belongs to St. Paul or St. Peter.

THE SAXON PEKIOD.

THE SAXON PERIOD.

CHAPTER I.

THE SAXON HEPTAECHY.

On the final departure of tlie Romans, the chief towns in Britain became the centres of petty kingdoms under the rule of military chiefs. Instead of uniting together against their old enemies — the people of Caledonia — they made war against each other, and thus offered themselves an easy prey to those rude and warlike invaders. On one occasion they had the good sense to put aside their animosities and unite together in defence of their homes. Under the leadership of Germanus, a Gallic bishop, who happened tc be in the island at that time, the Britons attacked a plundering band of Picts, and, commencing the onslaught with the shout of * Hallelujah ! ' routed them with great slaughter. This war-cry gave to the battle the name of the Hallelujah Victory. The peace that followed this victory was only of short duration. Rivalry sprang up again, disunion crept in, quarrels arose; and so the weakness that consequently followed invited fresh attacks from the wily northern foe. About this time, the southern Britons were divided into two factions. One of these, representing the Roman interest and headed by Ambrosius, consisted of the Roman citizens left in the island ; the other, headed by Vortigern, was called the British party, and was composed chiefly of Britons. The common danger of the dreaded Pict compelled both factions to send to Gaul for help. A letter, entitled ' The

10 HISTOEY or ENaLAND.

Groans of the Britons,' was sent to ^tius, Prefect of Gaul, in which it was said : — -^ The barbarians chase us into the

sea ; the sea throws us back upon the barbarians ;

and we have only the hard choice left us of

A.D,

perishing by the sword or by the waves.' This last appeal for Roman help was made in vain, and the Britons had to look elsewhere for assistance.

Just then, three long keels, filled with Saxon freebooters, wore cruising off the southern coasts, under the command of two brothers, called Hengist and Horsa. These pirates were men of large size, with blue eyes and long yellow hair, and armed with long swords, spears, battle-axes, and hammers. Their religious belief made them fearless and terrible in war, for they thought that death on the battle-field admitted them to Valhalla, or the Hall of Woden, the god of war, where they should drink wine out of the skulls of their enemies. Their homes lay on the German coast, between Denmark and the river Rhine. Such were the people to whom Vortigern turned for help against the ravages of the Picts and Scots, and the opposition of the faction under Ambrosius. They landed at Ebbsfleet, on

.-Q the coast of Kent, successfully repelled the enemies of Yortio-ern, and for this service re-

A.D.

ceived as a reward the Isle of Thanet. The story of tlie first Saxon settlement in this island rests on uncertain tradition. It is said that Yortigern fell in love M^th Howena, the daughter of Hengist, and promised to give Qp Kent on condition of receiving her in marriage. Another story says that Hengist and Horsa, attracted by the beauty of the country, turned their arms against the Britons, and seized upon Kent. For a century after this, fresh bands from the German coast poured into the country, and established settlements on the eastern and southern coasts and river basins. These settlers were of three tribes, Jutes, Angles, and Saxons, but in the course of time they received the common name of Anglo-Saxons. During the century and a half following the first arrival of tlie Saxons, the following seven kingdoms, commonly called the Saxon Heptarchy, stand out in marked prominence from among the mass of smaller states : —

KINGDOM EXTENT FOUNDER DATE

1. KENT Modern Kent .... Hengist 457 a.d.

2. SUSSEX (S. Saxony) . Sussex and Surrey . . . EUa . . 490 „ 8. WESSEX (W. Saxony) Counties west of Sussex

and south of the Thames,

excepting Cornwall . . Cerdic . 519 „

4. ESSEX (East Saxony) Essex, Middlesex, and

part of Herts .... Ercenwin 527 „

5. NORTHUMBRIA . North of the Humber to

the Forth Ida . . 547 „

6. EAST ANGLIA. .' Norfolk, Suffolk, and

Cambridge ■ . ... TJffa . . 575 „ ' 7. MERCIA .... Central Counties . . . Cridda . 582 „

The Britons fought hard for their hearths and homes; those who refused to yield to the Saxon invaders were driven to the west of the island ; and in modern Wales — the kingdom of Strathclyde, stretching from Dumbarton to Chester — and in Cornwall, Devon, and part of Somerset, they found a refuge, and maintained their independence.

It was in the struggle against Cerdic that the British King Arthur acquired his fame. At Camelot, in Somersetshire, his capital, he gathered round him the bravest of his followers, who were known as the Knights of the Round Table; and for twenty-four years he fought ^.^ bravely for his kingdom, and conquered the Saxons in twelve battles. He is said to have been mortally wounded in a war with his rebellious nephew, Modred, and buried at Glastonbury.

We have seen that at the close of the sixth century there were seven prominent Saxon kingdoms established in Britain, These, however, did not long maintain their independence. Wars arose between them ; the kingdoms were gradually reduced in number, till, in the beginning of the ninth century, they were united under one head. During these struggles for supremacy, the king who acquired dominion over the others was called by the title of Bretwalda, a word meaning ' supreme ruler.' There were, in all, eight of these rulers. Of these, the first was Ella of Kent ; the second, Ceawlin of Wessex ; the third, Ethelbert of Kent. East

12 HISTORY 0"F ENG-LAND.

Anglia supplied the fourtli ; Northumbria, the next three ; and Wessex, the eighth and last.

During the rule of the third Bretwalda, Ethelbert of Kent, Christianity was introduced into his kingdom. The Saxon tribes, hating the Christian faith of the conquered Britons, continued their idolatrous worship long after their settlement in the island. In the year 597 A.D., Augustine, with forty monks, was sent by Pope Gregory of Rome to convert the English. They first came to the kingdom of Kent, and there received a favourable reception, chiefly through the influence of Ethelbert's wife, Bertha, daughter of the King of Paris, who was a Christian. Kent thus became the first Christian kingdom, and Canterbury, its capital, the first Christian city, which has since remained the spiritual metropolis of England. Sebert, King of Essex, was the next royal convert. He destroyed the temple of Apollo at Westminster, and dedicated in its place a church to St. Peter, where Westminster Abbey now stands. A temple of Diana Avas also destroyed, and a church built in honour of St. Paul, on the site of St. Paul's Cathedral. Christianity spread to the north in the time of the Bretwalda Edwin of Northumbria, who built a city on the south of the Forth, and called it after his own name, Edwin's burgh. York, his capital, still remains the ecclesiastical metropolis of the north of England.

Before the arrival of Augustine in the south, Christian missionaries from Ireland, headed by Columba, had converted many of the Picts and Scots, and several disagreements on religious matters arose between these and the missionaries from Eome. These differences had reference to the time of celebrating Easter and to the mode of administering baptism ; but there was unity in the doctrines of the Christian bishops and those taught by Augustine. In spite of these differences, however, Christianity gradually and steadily made way, and an united Church was at length formed. Before the end of the seventh century, the last heathen Saxon kingdom, Sussex,

THE SAXON PEEIOD. 13

was admitted into tlie fold of Christ, and the spiritual conquest of the English was thus complete.

At the close of the eighth century, Northumbria, Mercia, and Wessex, were the only three remaining kingdoms. Between the first two there were long and bloody wars, but at last Mercia obtained the supremacy. During these contests the most renowned Mercian king was Offa the Terrible. Excepting Wessex, all the kingdoms were under his sway ; and to resist the inroads of the Welsh he built a deep ditch from the Dee to the mouth of the Wye, long known by the name of Offa's Dyke, traces of which still remain. He caused the King of East Anglia to be murdered, and annexed the kingdom to his dominions. Offa in after years thought to atone for this crime by liberal donations to the Church. He gave a tenth of his goods to the clergy, and made grants of money, called Peter's pence, for the maintenance of an English college at Eome. Ina, one of the early kings of Wessex, is said to have founded a school at Eome, and to have taxed his people for its support at the rate of one penny per house.

After the death of Offa, 796 a.d., the greatness of Mercia continued for a short time under the reign of his son Cenwulf ; but it was soon eclipsed by the greater glory of the only remaining Saxon kingdom of Wessex. Egbert, a prince who had spent many years in France at the Court of Charlemagne, and had learnt from that great hero the arts of war and government, was called to the thi-one of the West Saxons. Under his rule Wessex became the un- g-- disputed head of the English nation. The smaller kingdoms gladly sought his. protection against Mercia, and submitted to his supremacy. Northumbria yielded to his arms without a struggle. Mercia fought hard to retain its power and greatness, but in 827 a.d. it was forced to submit to the West Saxons, and though it retained for another half- century its own line of kings, they were only vassals to the King of Wessex. Thus, all the Saxon kingdoms in England were united under ^^^ the eighth Bretwalda, Egbert, and the period of the Heptarchy came to an end. Just before the ' '

14 HISTORY OF ENQLAND.

submission of Mercia, the long struggle with the Cornish Britons was brought to a close, and the supremacy of Wessex extended to the Land's End. The country now took the name of Angle-land, or England, from the Angles, the most numerous of the Saxon tribes; but Egbert contented himself with the title of King of the West Saxons. The prouder title of ' King of the English ' was first taken by Edward the Elder, son of Alfred the Great.

Of the three tribes that settled in England, the Angles gave their name to the country, the Saxons gave a royal dynasty, and the Jutes, the least numerous, supplied the spiritual capital of the English Church.

EARLY SAXON KINGS.

Chapter II. Eaely Saxon Kings

Prom 827 A.D. to 1017 A.D>— 190 Years. 15 Kings.

NINTH CENTURY.

EGBERT .

ETHELWTTLF ETHELBALD ETHELBEET ETHELRED L ALFRED .

A.D,

827 836 858 860 866 871

TENTH CENTURY.

EDWARD the Elder ATHELSTAN EDMUND I.

EDRED . .

EDWY . .

EDGAR ■. .

EDWARD the Martyr ETHELRED II. the Un ready

ELEVENTH CENTURY.

EDMUND IL (Ironside). 1016 A.D.

Egbert, after tlie conquest of Mercia, compelled the inhabitants of Wales to acknowledge his supremacy, and thus all the Celtic people south of the Dee, as well as all the Saxon population, became his vassals. His supremacy, however, was soon interrupted by the invasion of the Banes, or the Norsemen. These invaders were of the same race as the Saxons, and resembled them in character, habits, and appearance. Their leaders were called viking's, or sea-kings; their vessels were painted to represent dragons ; their banners bore the figure of a raven ; and their arms chiefly consisted of battle-axe, bow, and war-hammer. As worshippers of Woden and Thor, they felt great hatred towards the Saxons for becoming Christians, so that wherever they landed the people were murdered, the houses burnt, the lands laid waste, and the churches „Q^ destroyed. They first made their, appearance in the island in the time of OiFa. At first, Devon and Cornwall were their favourite landing-places, because the Britons there welcomed them a2:ainst the com- Qrtc mon enemy, the Saxons. Egbert at length defeated them with great slaughter at Hengsdown-Hiil, Cornwall. He died the following year. Ethelwulf succeeded his father Egbert as King of the Qnn West Saxons. By his first wife, Osberga, he had four sons, all of whom came in turn to the throne. He is said to have been educated for a monastic life. In his later days he made a pilgrimage to Eome in company with his youngest son Alfred, and on his return through France he married Judith, the daughter of King Charles the Bald, a princess about twelve years old. About the same time he made a grant of a tenth of the land for religious purposes. His reign was so disturbed by repeated attacks of the Danes that every Wednesday was set apart for invoking Divine help against them. The Danes at first only came with a view to plunder, but about 850 a.d. they spent the winter in the Isle of Sheppey, and thus gave warning of their intention to form permanent settlements on English ground. Ethelwulf died 858 a.d., and was buried at Steyning, in Sussex. Etheibald, son of the last king, ascended the throne of Qto Wessex, allowing his brother Ethelbert to rule the rest of his dominions. He married his step-mother, Judith, but he was eventually persuaded to put her away. By another marriage with Baldwin of Flanders, she became the ancestress of the Conqueror's wife. Etheibald, after a reign devoid of interest, died 860 A.D., and was buried at Sherborne, Dorset.

Ethelbert succeeded his brother. His reign of six years is noted for struggles with the Danes, who descended upon ort/> the Isle of Thanet, wasted Kent with fire and sword, and stormed and burnt his capital, Winchester, He died 866 a.d., and was buried at Sherborne.

EAKLY SAXON KINGS. 17

Ethelred I. ascended his brother's throne. In this reign the Danes began to aim at the conquest ^^^ of the country in earnest. They overran Northumbria, Mercia, and East Anglia, and made themselves masters of these territories in a period of five years. Edmund, the under-king of East Anglia, was taken a prisoner by them, and, because he would not renounce Christianity, he Avas fastened naked to a tree, and slain with arrows. The place of his burial was afterwards called Bury St. Edmunds, and a monastery was erected there in honour of his memory.

The Danes then burst upon Wessex. Ethelred and his brother Alfred met them in battle after battle g„- v/ith varied success, but at Merton, in Surrey, Ethelred was mortallj'' wounded, and was buried at Wimborne.

Alfred became King of Wessex on his brother's death, in the thick of the strife with the Danes. In _„- this year nine pitched battles, besides smaller engagements, were fought on West-Saxon ground against these hardy Norsemen. Peace was made in 872 A.D., and the Danes retired north of the Thames. Wessex was for a time delivered, but the remaining part of the country was entirely under Danish supremacy. In 878 A.D. they renewed their attacks upon Wessex under Guthrum their chief, and captured Chippenham, the residence of Alfred. The king himself, dispirited by his many losses, retired for refuge to the marshes of Somersetshire, where, in the Isle of Athelney, between the rivers Parret and Tone, he found a secure hiding j)lace for some months in the house of a swineherd. One day the peasant's wife, ignorant of the rank of her guest, put him to mind some cakes which were baking on the hearth. But he, wrapt in thought, forgot all about the cakes, and allowed them to burn. For this neglect the poor Avoman soundly rated him, calling him an idle fellow, too lazy to mind what he was ready enough to eat. The hospitable swineherd became in time Bishop of Winchester. Here the king's bravest and most faithful followers gf^thered round him, and it was soon resolved to strike another blow for the independence of their country. Alfred, disguising himself as a minstrel, wandered into the Danish camp, learnt everything he desired to know, and then returned to summon his oiyn men for a sudden attack upon the enemy. At Ethandune, in Wilts, the fight took place ; the

■ * Danes fled to their camp, where they were closely besieged for fourteen days and forced to surrender. By the treaty of peace that followed, the Danes were to leave Wessex and that part of Mercia south-west of Watling Street; their chiefs were to embrace Christianity, and receive the whole land beyond Watling Street as vassals of the West- Saxon King. The district thus given up to the Danes was called the Banelagh. The extent of their occupation is seen in the present day in the names of places ending in by.

In the years of peace that followed, Alfred strengthened his kingdom by establishing a system of militia, and by forming a naval force to meet the sea-kings on their own element. After this, the Danes had little chance of success against him. Once again, towards the close of his reign, 893 a.d., another chief, Hastings, with 330 ships, attempted to gain a footing in the island, and for three years committed many ravages in the south ; but Alfred successfully repulsed him, and finally drove him out of the country. The rest of the reign was peaceful.