king was farthered, for they, in a short time, advanced him so far, that he had a perfect knowledge of all books whatever. A.D . 873. John was elected to the Roman chair, and filled it for ten years and two days. The same year, the army of pagans, which has been so often mentioned, left London, and marched towards Northumberland. And having traversed that district in a hostile manner, they wintered in Lindsey, in a town which is called Torkesey. And, at that time, the nation of Mercia gave them presents, and became reconciled to them. The same year, Egbert, king of Northumberland, died, and Ricsius succeeded him in his kingdom, and reigned three years. In this year, also, Ulf her, archbishop of York, was restored to his see ; the same year, Eldred, bishop of Leicester, was deposed, and succeeded by Ceolred. A.D. 874. The wicked army of the Danes quitted Lindsey, and invaded Mercia, and wintered in a town which is called Rependune. And they expelled Burthred, king of Mercia, from his kingdom, in the twenty-second year of his reign. And he, going to Rome, a few days after, died there, and was buried in royal fashion, near the school of the Angles, in the church of the blessed Mary. After his expulsion, the Danes reduced the kingdom of Mercia under their own dominion. And then they gave it to an incompetent minister, by name Ceolwolf, to be governed by him, on condition of peaceably resigning it to them whenever they required. And he having given hostages for his observance of these conditions, swore fidelity to the pagans. A.D. 875. The army of pagans, detested by God, quitted Rependune,1 and having been lately reinforced, they divided themselves into two armies ; one of which, under king Halden, marched towards the country of Northumberland, and wintered near the river Tyne, and compelled all that province to submit to its dominion ; they also harassed the ricts and Welsh with terrible tyranny. Then Eadulf, bishop of Lindisfarne, and Eadred, the abbot, took up the corpse of the blessed pontiff, Cuthbert, from the island of Lindisfarne, and wandered about with it as exiles for seven years. But the other part of the army, under the Danish kings, Gytro, Oscitel, and Hamund, marched to Cambridge, and wintered there that year ; and, in the summer, king Alfred, having prepared a ship, put to sea, and coming upon seven ships 1 Rependune is Repton in Derbyshire*