Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (6 of 8): The Sixt Booke of the Historie of EnglandHolinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (6 of 8): The Sixt Booke of the Historie of England
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- Anglo-Saxon period, 449-1066
King Alured being with that good lucke the more comforted, builded a
[Sidenote: Athelney.]
fortresse in the Ile of Edlingsey, afterwards called Athelney, and
breaking out oftentimes vpon the enimies, distressed them at sundrie
times with the aid of the Summersetshire men, which were at hand.
About the seuenth wéeke after Easter, in the seuenth yéere of his
reigne, king Alured went to Eglerighston, on the east part of Selwood,
where there came to him the people of Summersetshire, Wiltshire, &
Hamshire, reioising greatlie to sée him abroad. From thence he
[Sidenote: Edantdune. This battell should séeme the same that _Polydor_
speaketh of fought at Abingdon. _Polychron._ _Iohn Pike_.]
went to Edanton, & there fought against the armie of the Danes, and
chased them vnto their strength, where he remained afore them the
space of fouretéene daies. Then the armie of the Danes deliuered him
hostages and couenants to depart out of his dominions, and that their
king should be baptised, which was accomplished: for Gurthrun, whome
[Sidenote: Gurthrun or Gurmund baptised, and named Adelstan is made
king of Eastangle.]
some name Gurmond, a prince or king amongst these Danes, came to
Alured and was baptised, king Alured receiuing him at the fontstone,
named him Adelstan, and gaue to him the countrie of Eastangle, which
he gouerned (or rather spoiled) by the space of twelue yéeres.
Diuerse other of the Danish nobilitie to the number of thirtie (as
Simon Dunelmensis saith) came at the same time in companie of their
king Gurthrun, and were likewise baptised, on whòme king Alured
bestowed manie rich gifts. At the same time (as is to be thought) was
the league concluded betwixt king Alured and the said Gurthrun or
Gurmond, in which the bounds of king Alureds kingdome are set foorth
thus: "First therefore let the bounds or marshes of our dominion
stretch vnto the riuer of Thames, and from thence to the water of Lée,
euen vnto the head of the same water, and so foorth streight vnto
Bedford: and finallie going alongst by the riuer of Ouse, let them end
at Watlingstréet."
This league being made with the aduise of the same sage personages
as well English as those that inhabited within east England, is set
foorth in maister Lamberts booke of the old English lawes, in the end
of those lawes or ordinances which were established by the same king
Alured, as in the same booke ye may sée more at large.
* * * * *
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