A.D. 1016. PROPOSED DIVISION OF THE KINGDOM. 101 On this, with the greatest alacrity, they obeyed his commands, and having slaughtered all who fell into their hands, and burned a very great number of towns, and laid waste the fields, greatly enriched, they repaired with all haste to their ships. Edmund Ironside, king of the English, pursuing them with an army whieh he had levied from the whole of England, eame up with them, as they were retreating, at a hill which is ealled Assendun,60 that is to say, "the hill of the ass." There, with all expedition, he drew up his troops in three divisions, and then going round eaeh troop, exhorted and entreated them, bearing in mind their ancient valour and victories, to defend him and his kingdom from the avarice of the Danes, and reminded them that they were about to engage with those whom they had conquered already. In the meantime, Canute slowly led his forces to a level spot ; while, on the other hand, king Edmund quickly moved his line in the order in which he had drawn it up, and suddenly giving the signal, fell upon the Danes ; on both sides they fought with the greatest valour, and in every quarter multitudes fell. But that most perfidious and most wicked duke, Edric Streona, seeing the line of the Danes wavering, and the English likely to gain the victory, just as he had previously arranged with Canute, took to flight with the people of Mai-seveth6! and the part of the army which he commanded, and by treachery betrayed bis lord, king Edmund, and the army of the English. There were siain in that battle duke Alfric, duke Godwin, TJlfketel duke of East Anglia, duke Ethelward, son of Ethelwin, the friend of God, duke of East Anglia, and almost the entire mass of the nobility of England, which in no battle ever sustained a greater wound than it did there. Eadnoth, also, the bishop of Lincoln, and the abbat Wulsy, •who had come for the purpose of invoking the Lord on behalf of the soldiers while' waging the battle, were slain. A few days having intervened after this, king Edmund Ironside being still desirous to come up with Canute, while the most iniquitous and treacherous Edric and some others did not wish that to take place, they gave him advice to make peace with Canute and divide the kingdom between them. At length, though with some reluctance, he yielded to their suggestions, and messengers going from one to the other, and 60 Ashendon, in Essex. el Radnorshire*