Ethelwold lays claim to the throne of Wessex--Is backed by the Danes, and crowned at York--Battle of Axeholme and defeat of Ethelwold--Edward ravages Northumbria--The Danes attack Mercia--They enter the Severn--Battle of Wodensfield, and defeat of the Danes--Edward strengthens his frontier with fortresses--Their situation described--Bravery of his sister Ethelfleda--The Danes enter North Wales--Edward again victorious--Submission of the Welsh princes and the Danes of Northumbria--Death of Edward the Elder p. 202 CHAPTER XXV. THE REIGN OF ATHELSTAN. Athelstan, the favourite grandchild of Alfred the Great--While but a boy his grandfather invests him with the honours of knighthood--He is educated by Alfred's daughter, Ethelfleda-- Athelstan's sister married Sigtryg, a descendant of the famous sea-kings--The Dane repudiates his wife, and renounces his new religion--Athelstan invades his dominions--Death of Sigtryg, and flight of his sons--Preparation for the invasion of England --The force arrayed against Athelstan--Measures adopted by the Saxon king--Preparations for battle--Picturesque description of the battle of Brunanburg--Anglo-Saxon song on Athelstan's victory--High position attained by Athelstan--Otho the Great marries Athelstan's sister--The Saxon monarch forms an alliance with the emperor of Germany and the king of Norway--Harold of Norway suppresses piracy--Sends his son Haco to be educated at the Saxon court--Presents a beautiful ship to Athelstan-- Death of Harold, king of Norway--List of the kings who were established on their thrones by Athelstan--His presents to the monasteries--His charity and laws for the relief of the poor-- Cruelty to his brother Edwin--Death of Athelstan p. 212 CHAPTER XXVI. THE REIGNS OF EDMUND AND EDRED. Accession of Edmund the Elder--Anlaf, the Dane, invades Mercia, and defeats the Saxons--Edmund treats with Anlaf, and divides England with the Danes--Perilous state of the Saxon succession prevented by the death of Anlaf--Change in Edmund's character --His brilliant victories--Cruelty to the British princes-- Edmund assassinated while celebrating the feast of St. Augustin, by Leof, the robber--Mystery that surrounds the murder of Edmund the Elder--Edred ascends the Saxon throne--Eric, the sea-king--His daring deeds on the ocean--Description of his wild life--Edred invades Northumbria--Eric attacks his own subjects--Edred's victory over the Danes--Scandinavian war-song on the death of Eric--Death of Edred p. 218 CHAPTER XXVII. EDWIN AND ELGIVA.