A.D. 877. EAVAGES OF THE DANES. 49 In the year 875, the army of the pagans, leaving Eeopadun, divided into two bodies, one part of which, with Alfdan, proceeded to the country of the Northumbrians, and reduced the whole kingdom of Northumbria to subjection. Thereupon Erdulph, bishop of Lindisfarne, and abbat Edred carried away the body of Saint Cuthbert from the island of Lindisfarne and wandered about with it for a period of seven years. The other division of the army with Guder,79 Osbitel, and Amund, their three kings, wintered at Grantebrige.80 King Alfred, in a naval engagement with six ships of the pagans, captured one, and the res.t escaped by flight. In the year 876, the pagan king Halden divided Northumbria between himself and his followers. Eeisig, king of the Northumbrians, died, and was succeeded by Egbert the Second. Eolio, the pagan, a Dane by birth, with his followers this year entered Normandy, on the fifteenth day before the calends of December ; he was the first duke of the Normans, and on being baptized thirty years afterwards, was named Robert. The above-mentioned army sallying forth by night from Grantebrige, entered a fortified place which is called \Verham.81 On learning their sudden arrival, the king of the Saxons made a treaty with them, on condition that having first given hostages,82 they should depart from the kingdom. However, after their usual custom, caring nothing for hostages or oaths, they broke the treaty, and one night took the road to Examcester,83 which in the British language is called Caer-wisc.84 In the year 877, the above-mentioned army left Examcester, and marching to Cyppanham,8* a royal town, passed the winter there. King Alfred in these days endured great tribulations, and lived a life of disquietude. In the same year also, Inguar and Haldene came from the country of the Demetse,8" in •which they had wintered, like ravening wolves, after having slaughtered multitudes of Christians there and burned the monasteries, and sailing to Devonshire, were slain there by the 79 The various reading supported by the other chronicles is Guthrum. * Cambridge. 81 Wareham. 82 The Danes, namely. 83 Exeter, " the fortified city on the Ex." • « " The city on the river Wise." 85 Chippenham. " The original has " De Meticâ regione," which is obviously an error for " de Demeticâ regione." The Demetae were the people of the coast of South Wales. VOL. I. E