Alfred and the Danes
hundred and eightieth, and of King Alfred’s life the thirty-second, the oft-mentioned army of pagans left Cirencester and went to the East Angles; and, dividing this district, they began to settle there.
5In the same year the army of pagans which had wintered at Fulham left the island of Britain, crossed the sea, and came to East Francia. It remained for a year at a place called Ghent.
In the year of our Lord’s incarnation the eight 10 hundred and eighty-first, and the thirty-third from King Alfred’s birth, the said army penetrated farther into Francia. Against it the Franks fought, and when the battle was over the pagans had gotten horses and became a mounted force.
15 In the year of our Lord’s incarnation the eight hundred and eighty-second, and the thirty-fourth from King Alfred’s birth, the said army pushed its boats up the river Meuse much farther into Francia and spent a year there.
20 And in the same year Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, fought a battle at sea against pagan boats; and he took two of them, having killed all who were in them. And the commanders of two other boats, with all their fellows, were so thoroughly beaten and so badly25 wounded that they laid down their arms and on bended knees and with humble prayers surrendered.
In the year of our Lord’s incarnation the eight hundred and eighty-third, and the thirty-fifth from King Alfred’s birth, the said army pushed its boats
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