42 ANNALS OP EOGEE BE HOTEDEN. A D. 855· king Ethelstan and earl Elchere, conquered a great army of the pagans at Sandwich, and after sìaying nearly all of them, took nine of their ships. In the year 853, Burrhed, king of the Mercians, supported by the assistance of king Ethelwulph, attacked the Mid-Britons,51 and having conquered them, reduced them to subjection. In the same year, king Ethelwulph sent his son Alfred, who was then five years old, to Home with a great escort of nobles ; on which, Saint Leo, the pope, at the request of his father, ordained and anointed him for king, and, receiving him as his own adopted son, confirmed him, and sent him back with his blessing to his father. In the year 854, "Wulfred, having received the pall, was confirmed in the see of York, Osbert being king of iiorthum-bria; Eardulph also received the bishopric of Lindisfarne. At this period, earl Alchere with the men of Kent, and duke Wada, with the men of Surrey, fought a severe battle in the isle of Tened58 against the pagans, and after routing them at the first onset, at length, after very many had fallen on either side, both the noblemen were slain. This year, Ethelwulph, king of the West Saxons, gave his daughter in marriage to Burrhed, king of the Mercians, at the royal town which is called Cyp-panhame,69 with a great profusion of all kinds of riches. In the year 855, a great army of the pagans passed the whole of the winter in the isle of Sccapeye,60 that is to say, "the island of sheep." In the same year, king Ethelwulph released the tenth part of the whole of his kingdom from all royal service and tribute, and with an everlasting pen61 at the cross of Christ, offered it up to the One and Triune God, for the re-demption of his soul and those of his predecessors. He also proceeded with great pomp to Borne, and taking with him his son Alfred, whom he loved more than his other sons, and whom he had before sent to Home, now for the second time, remained there a whole year, on the completion of which, he returned to his own country, bringing with him Juthina,62 the daughter of Charles, king of the Franks. After his return from Borne he lived two years. Among the other good works that he did, he ordered every 51 The Welsh, on the borders of England. 58 Thanet. 59 Chippenham, in Wiltshire. 00 Sheppey. 61 Graphic " Graphium," was properly the " stylus," or iron pen of the ancient Romans. 61 Her name was really Judith.