LJ>. 851—855.] ALFRED CONSECRATED KING. they gained the victory, having defeated the Danish army. Also in the same year king Athelstan and duke Elchere fought against the army of the above-mentioned nation in the province of Kent, near the town of Sandwich, where they slew many of them, put their troops to flight, and took nine ships. A. 851. After seven years Ceorl duke of Devon fought a battle against the pagans atWembury,* where they slew many of the Danes and gained the victory. In the course of the same year, the barbarians wintered first in the isle of Thanet, which lies not far from Britain, and has fruitful but not large corn fields. That year was not yetfinished, when a large fleet of pagans arrived, 350 ships, at the mouth of the river Thames, commonly called Thames-mouth, and destroyed the city of Canterbury and the city of London, and put to flight Berthwulf king of Mercia, having defeated his army. After the battle they returned beyond the river Thames towards the south through the province of Surrey, and there king Ethelwulf with the Western Angles met them : an immense number was slain on. both sides, nor have we ever heard of a more severe battle before that day : these things happened near Ockley Wood. A. 854. After three years king Burhred asked assistance from king Ethelwulf to subdue the Northern Britons : he granted it, and having collected his army, passed through the Mercian kingdom to go against the Britons : whom he subdued and made tributary. In the same year king Ethelwulf sent his son Alfred to Rome, in the days of our lord pope Leo,f who consecrated him king and named him his son in baptism, when we are accustomed to name little children, when we receive them from the bishop's hand. In the same year where fought battles in the isle of Thanet against the pagans ; and there was a great slaughter made on both sides, and many were drowned in the sea. The same year also after Easter king Ethelwulf gave his daughter in marriage to king Burhred. A. 855. After a year the pagans wintered in Sheppey. In the same year king Ethelwulf gave the tenth of all his poeseesiosn to be the Lord's portion, and so appointed it to • Near Plymouth. t Leo the Fourth.