•A.D. 94].] BATTLE OF LEICESTER, 251 horse stood still on the very verge of the precipice, and the king, recovering himself, gave God thanks for the resti tution of his life. On reaching home he ordered the blessed Dunstan to be fetched, and no sooner was he come than they mounted their horses and rode together on the road leading straight to Glastonbury. On arriving there, having entered the monastery, the king took Dunstan by the right hand, and kissing it, led him to the cathedral seat, in which, with the consent of the monks he set him, with these words, "B e thou a very faithful abbat of this seat and church ; and if anything be wanting for the holy religious service, I will supply it of my royal bounty." Thus called of God to the office of rule, though sorely against his will, the blessed Dunstan studied to render himself beloved of all, without compromising his religious severity. How king Eadmund and Anlaf king of Norway divided the kingdom. In these days Anlaf, of Norwegian descent, who in the, time of king Ethelstan had been expelled the kingdom ot Northumberland, eame this year to York with a very great fleet; he then made an inroad into the southern parts of England, purposing by a sudden attack to reduce the whole of the kingdom. When king Edmund heard thereof, he came to meet him with a numerous army, and the two kings meeting at Leicester, a battle was fought which lasted nearly the whole day, and the loss on each side was excessive; but the two archbishops, Otho of Canterbury and Wulstan of York, seeing the danger and apprehending the desolation of the kingdom, brought about an accommodation on the following terms, that Anlaf should have the whole of the island of England to the north of the royal street called Watlinge, and that Edmund should peaceably enjoy the entire kingdom to the south of the same road, and that the survivor should have the whole kingdom after the other's death. After this Anlaf took to wife Alditha, daughter of earl Orm, by whose counsel and aid he had gained the victory aforesaid. The same year died Alfred, bishop of Sherborne, and was succeeded by Wulsius. A.D. 941. Anlaf, the newly made king, while wasting the church of the blessed Baiter and burning Tinningeham with fire, was presently smitten by the judgment of God,