36 ANNALS OP ROGER DE HOYEDEN. A o. 817. these observations, it is time to return to the thread of my narrative. In the first year of his reign, Ethelwulph made head against these enemies in one part of his kingdom; and, as multitudes of the pagans increased on every side, he sent earl "Wulfred, with a part of his army, to attack some Danes, who, with thirty-three ships, had effected a landing at Hampton ;42 on there meeting with them, after an immense slaughter of the enemy, gained a glorious victory. King Ethelwulph also sent earl Ethelhelm, with the levies of "Wessex, to attack another army at Port ;43 an engagement taking place, after an obstinate battle the earl was slain, and the Danes were victorious. In the following year, earl Herbert fought against them at Merscware,44 and the Danes being the conquerors, his own men were put to flight, and he was slain. In the same year, an army of the pagans marched through the eastern parts of England, namely, Lindesey, East Anglia, and Kent, and slew an innumerable multitude with the sword. In the next year after this, coming further inland, the army of the Danes slew an immense number of people in the neighbourhood of Canterbury, Eochester, and London. In the fifth year of his reign, Ethelwulph, with a part of his army, fought against the crews of thirty-five ships at Carre,45 and the Danes were victorious. Por, although the 42 Southampton. 43 The isle of Portland. 44 Instead of naming the place, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle says ; "This year Herebert, the ealdorman, was slain by the heathen, and many with him, among the Marshmen." In Ethelwerd's Chronicle the place is caued Merswarum, and Romney Marsh is supposed to be intended under that name. Lambarde has the following quaint note on this passage : " Henry Huntingdon, in the Fifth Book of his History, speaking of the conflicts hail with the Danes under the reign of jEdelwulfe, reports, amongst other things, that Herebert, an earl, fought with them, at a place which he called Marseware, and was slain. Matthew Westminster repeateth the same, and instead of Marseware, setteth down ' apud Marsunarum.' So that both these, and so many others as have followed them, take, the name Mersewar for a place, and not for a number of persons. In which, through ignorance of the Saxon tongue, they have foully erred ; for the Saxon books say that Herebert was slain, ' and with him many of the Mercians, or men of Mercia.' So that the history describeth of what country they were that were slain, but not in what place the slaughter was committed." 45 Charmouth.