A.D. 871. BATTLE AT ESCHEDUN. 45 in that place ; on which Burrhed king of Mercia made a treaty •with them. In the year 869, the above-mentioned army of the Danes again advanced to Northumbria, and remained there one year, ravaging and laying waste, slaughtering and destroying a very great number of men and women. In the year 870, many thousands of Danes collected together under the command of Inguar and Hubba, and coming to East Anglia, wintered at Teoford.65 At this time king Edmund was ruler over all the realms of East Anglia, a man holy and just in all things, and in the same year, he, with his people, fought valiantly and manfully against the above-mentioned army, but inasmuch as God had predetermined to crown him with martyrdom, he there met with a glorious death. In the same year Ceolnoth, archbishop of Canterbury, departed this life, and was succeeded by Ethelred. In the year 871, the above-mentioned army of the pagans entered the kingdom of the West Saxons, and came to Beading, on the southern banks of the Thames, which is situate in the district called Bearocscira.66 There, on the third day after their arrival, two of their earls, with a great multitude, rode forth to plunder, while the others, in the meantime, were throwing up a rampart between the two rivers Thames and Kennet, on the right hand side of that royal town.67 Ethelwulph earl of Berkshire with his men, encountered them at a place which in English is called Englefield,68 that is to say, " the field of the Angles," where both sides fought bravely, until, one of the pagan earls being slain, and the greater part of their army destroyed, the rest took to flight, and the Christians gained the victory. Four days after this, king Ethelred and his brother Alfred, having collected an army, came to Beading, killing and slaying even to the very gates of the castle as many of the pagans as they could find beyond. At length, the pagans sallying forth from all the gates, engaged them with all their might, and there both sides fought long and fiercely, till at last the Christians turned their backs, and the pagans gained the day ; there too, the above-named earl Ethelwulph was slain. ÎFour days after this, king Ethelred with his brother Alfred, 65 Thetford in Norfolk. 66 Berkshire. 67 Reading. 6S Englefield about four miles from Windsor.