16. The Danes were then in pursuit of him; and, one time, fearing to be taken prisoner, he got some man to let him keep his cows, or pigs, I do not know which; so that, if the Danes happened to see him, they might not guess who he was. 17. I dare say, you have heard the story of this peasant’s wife scolding Alfred one day, for letting some cakes burn, which she had left to bake on the hearth, whilst she was out; but she did not know that he was the king, or, of course, she would not have taken that liberty. 18. At last, Alfred heard there were many chiefs and noblemen, with their vassals, ready to join him again; so he determined to try another battle, but thought it would be prudent first to learn what was the real strength of the enemy. 19. Now the Danes, like the Saxons, were fond of good cheer, and liked to have songs and music to make them merry while they were feasting; and this put it into Alfred’s head to go into their camp disguised as a harper, for he could play the harp and sing very well. 20. So away he went, with his harp at his back, and, when he came there, the Danish chiefs had him called into their tents, and made him sit down and play to them, and gave him plenty to eat and drink. 21. Then he heard them talking about king Alfred, and saying, they supposed he was dead, as he did not come to fight them, so they need think of nothing but enjoying themselves; and thus he discovered they were not prepared for a battle, and were almost sure to be defeated, if taken by surprise. 22. He, therefore, left the camp as soon as he could, and sent a message to his friends to meet him in Selwood Forest, also in Somersetshire, with all the men they could muster; and, when they were all come, he put himself at their head, and, marching suddenly down upon the Danes, fought and won a great battle at Ethandune, a place in Gloucestershire, now called Woeful Danes’ Bottom, from the terrible slaughter of the Danes there. 23. But there were a great many Danes in England who had not been engaged in this battle, and who had possession of almost all the northern part of the country; so the king wisely considered that it would be much better to induce them to settle peaceably in the country as friends, rather than prolong those dreadful wars, which had already caused so much misery. 24. He therefore proposed to the Danish chief that, if he would promise to keep at peace, he should have a wide tract of country, which had been desolated by these wars, all along the east coast, from the river Tweed to the river Thames, for himself and his people, to be called the Dane land; so Guthrun, the Danish chief, accepted the offer, and parcelled the land out amongst his followers, who settled there with their vassals, and lived the same manner as the Saxons.