Source Problems in English History
up-stream along the river Scheldt to a convent of nuns known as Condé, and there remained one year.
In the year of our Lord’s incarnation the eight hundred and eighty-fourth,[1] and the thirty-sixth 5from King Alfred’s birth, the said army divided into two troops. One went to East Francia, and the other came to Kent in Britain and besieged the city which is called Rochester in Saxon, and which is located on the east bank of the Medway. Before its gate 10the pagans quickly built themselves a strong tower; but they were not able to take the city, because the citizens defended themselves vigorously until King Alfred came to its aid with a large army. And then the pagans, on the unexpected arrival of the king, left 15their tower and all the horses which they had brought with them from Francia, and also most of their captives, and fled in haste to their boats, while the Saxons seized the captives and the horses. And so the pagans were forced by extreme necessity to 20sail again into Francia that same summer.
In the same year Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, transferred his fleet, filled with warriors, from Kent to the East Angles for the sake of plunder. And when they had come to the mouth of the river Stour, 25suddenly thirteen boats of the pagans, ready for battle, met them; and a naval battle was begun
- ↑ “Asser accidentally omits the annal 884, which is a very brief one in the Chronicle. Consequently, he mechanically puts the events of 885 under 884.” Plummer Life and Times of Alfred, p. 50.
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