Α. 879. After a year from the time of the pagan army leaving Gloucester, they marched to Cirencester, and there wintered. In the course of the same year the sun was eclipsed. A. 880. A year after the eclipse, the aforesaid army struck their tents, and leaving Cirencester went into the country of the East Angles, and pitching their camp, reduced all the inhabitants of those parts to subjection. And it was now fourteen years since the barbarians first wintered in the country aforesaid, and ravaged it. In the same year, when they had reduced the district aforesaid, they went in a vessel to Gaul and took up a position at a place called Ghent : the same men who had formerly measured out their camp at a place called Fulham. A. 881. After a year, they attempt to proceed further; but the armies of the Franks assail them and gain the victory ; the barbarians were put to flight. A. 882. After a year the aforesaid army passed into Hie upper districts of the Maese and measured out their camp at a place called Escelum.* In the same year king Alfred put to sea and fell in with four ships ; which he defeated, and destroyed two, the others surrendered. A. 883. The next year the aforesaid army entered the parishes of the Scald,')' to a place called Cundath;^ and there measured out their camp for the winter. A. 884. After one year had expired, that pestilential army aforesaid removed to the higher districts of the Somme, to a place called Embenum,§ and there wintered. A. 885. After a year they divide themselves into two parts : one to Sofenum,|| the other to Rochester ; and they laid siege to those towns. They also construct other smaller camps. Defeat prevails among the inhabitants until the arrival of king Alfred with an army. The foul plague waf vanquished, and sought reinforcement IT Some of them made for the sea-coasts. The same year they renewed their * Aschloha, or Ascloha, is on the Maese, about fourteen miles from tht Rhine. + The Scheldt. J Condé. § More commonly Ambiani, now Amiens. || Louvain. U I acknowledge my inability to translate this and many other pausagli of this obscure author. The events which here follow for the next half page are referred by the Saxon Chronicle to the year 894.