A.D. 943. BIRTH OF EDGAR. 65 as their king. The elder Richard became duke of the Normans, and continued so for fifty-two years. In the first year of the reign of king Edmund, king Anlaf first came to York, and then marching to the south, laid siege to Hamtune ;44 but not succeeding there, he turned the steps of his army towards Tameworde," and having laid waste all the places in the neighbourhood, while he was returning to Lega-cestre,46 king Edmund met him with an army ; but he had not a severe struggle for the mastery,47 since the two archbishops Odo and "Wulstan, having allayed the anger of both of the kings, put an end to the fight.- And thus peace being made, the Watlingastrete48 was made the boundary of both kingdoms ; Edmund having the sway on the southern side, and Anlaf on the northern. Anlaf having pillaged the church of Saint Balther and burnt Tinningham, shortly after perished. After this, the people of York laid waste the island of Lindisfarne, and slew great numbers. The son of Sithric, whose name was Anlaf, then reigned over the Northumbrians. In the year 942, Edmund, the mighty king of the English, entirely wrested five cities, namely, Lincoln, Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, and Stamford from the hands of the Danes, and reduced the whole of Mercia under his own power. He was a friend49 of Dunstan, the servant of God, and by following his counsels became renowned. Being loaded by him with various honors the latter was appointed to the abbacy of Glastonbury, in place he had been educated. In the year 943, when his queen, Saint Elgiva, had borne to Edmund, the mighty king, a son named Edgar, Saint Dunstan heard voices, as though on high, singing and repeating, " Peace to the church of England in the times of the child that is now born, and of our Dunstan." In this year, the same xing raised king Anlaf, of whom we have previously made mention, from the font of holy regeneration, and gave him royal presents, and shortly afterwards held Reginald, king of the " Southampton. 45 Tamworth. *> Leicester. 41 On the contrary, Roger of Wendover says that the loss on either side was excessive. 48 The road which passed from the south of England, through London, into the north. 49 There is little doubt that the word " summus " here, is an error for " amicus." VOL. Ι. Γ