II. attack of this magnitude, it seemed a certain cal- C H A P. culation that the single force of Athelstan must Athelstan. be overthrown. England had never been assailed before with a confederacy of so much power, formed with so much skill, and consisting of so many parts. SUCH a combination of hostility could not be completed, and the armaments, necessary for its successful explosion, could not be collected, without Athelstan's knowledge. He prepared to meet the storm with firmness and energy; and, to multiply his own means of defence, he circulated promises of high reward to every warrior who should join his standard. 19 THOROLF and Egil, two of those navigating vikingr whose weapons were ready for any enterprise, heard the tidings as they sailed by Saxony and Flanders. They came in the Autumn with three hundred companions, to proffer their services to Athelstan, who gladly received them. 20 And Rollo assisted him from Normandy. 934. ANLAF 21 commenced the warfare, by entering Anlaf in battle, and in this battle were slain the king of Scotland, and 19 Adalsteinn autem copias sibi contraxit, præbuitque stipendia omnibus, exteris et indigenis, qui hoc pacto rem facere cupiebant. Egilli Skallagrimi Saga, p. 31. 20 Egilli Saga, p. 31, 32. They are called Vikingum in p. 43. On Rollo, see W. Gem. 229. and Dudo. 21 In the Egilli Saga, he is called Olafr. In the Annals of Ulster, Olave, p. 67. In the Brut Jeuan Breckfa, Awlaff, vades. VI. 934 22 BOOK the Humber with a fleet of 615 ships. The Athelstan governors, whom Athelstan had left in Northumbria, are named Alfgeirr, and Gudrekr. Their forces were soon overpowered. Gudrekr fell, and Alfgeirr fled to his sovereign with the tidings. 23 Among the allies of Anlaf, the Northern Saga names Hryngr, and Adalis, as British princes. The latter perhaps may have been Edwal, the son of Anarawd, who was reigning in North Wales at this period; but it is probable, that Hryngr was a Danish leader. 25 THE Northern account states, that the first array collected by the friends of Athelstan, being unequal to a contest, pretended negotiations, and that fictitious offers of money, were made by the Anglo-Saxons, to gain time till all their army p. 485. In Brompton, Aulaf. Other English chronicles call him Anlaf, Anlavus, Analaph, and Onlaf. 22 Mailros, 147. and Sim. Dun. 25. Hoveden, 422. The ship in which Egil afterwards left England, contained one hundred men or more. Egil. Saga. p. 55. If Anlaf's ships were of this size, his army must have been sixty thousand. We may take forty thousand as a safer average. 23 Egilli Saga, 33, 34. 24 Eidwal Foel acceded in 913, on the death of Anarawd. Brut y Tywys, p. 485. He fell against the Saxons in 941. MS. Cleop. 5. 25 There is an Icelandic fragment which expressly states, that Harald Blaatand, or Blue Tooth, sent his son Hryngr with an army to England; but that Hryngr there, dolo circumventus et occisus est. 1 Langb. 149. Now as the old Icelandic Annals (1 Langb. 187.) place the accession of Harald in 907, and as he was reigning at the time of this battle, I think it highly probable, that Hryngr, the son of Harald, was the opponent of Athelstan. Langbeck wants to make this son of Harald, the Eric who will be mentioned in the reign of Edred; but that Eric was unquestionably the son of Harald Harfragre II. could be assembled. 25 When their preparations CHA P. were complete, Athelstan closed the intercourse Athelstan. by a message to Anlaf, that he should have permission to withdraw from England unmolested, if he restored his plunder, and would acknowledge himself the subject of the Saxon king. THE messengers reached Anlaf's camp at night; he arose from his bed and assembled his earls. The tidings were added, that Athelstan had that day marched into the city a powerful host. The Welsh prince exclaimed, that the negotiations had been mere artifice; and proposed, that he and Hryngr should attempt a night attack on the advanced part of Athelstan's army, commanded by Alfgeirr and Thorolf. 28 934. Athelstan's camp. ANLAF, brave and active, resolved to inspect Visits the army before he attempted the surprise, that the blow might be directed to the most important quarter. He put off his regal vestments, and concealing himself under the disguise of a harper, he went singing through the Saxon army, till he reached the royal tent. His music and dancing gratified Athelstan, till the business of the camp demanded his presence. The minstrel was then dismissed with presents, but his pride revolted against accepting a gift from Athelstan. He took it to avoid detection, but he disdained to keep it, and he buried it in the sand as he left the encampment. A SOLDIER in the outer stations observed his Discomovements, and knew him in his disguise. He vered. 26 Egilli Saga, 38, 39. 27 The Saga says, Adils, but the meeting seems to imply Anlaf. 28 Egilli Saga, 40. 42. Athelstan, 934. BOOK did not betray him; but he hastened with the VI. tidings to Athelstan. To a rebuke for not having seized him, he answered, "O king, the oath which I have lately taken to you, I once gave to Anlaf. If I had broken it to him, I might have been faithless to you; but deign to hear a servant's counsel,. and remove your tent to another quarter." Athelstan thought the advice sagacious, and the royal residence was placed in a distant part. The bishop of Sherborne soon after arriving with his soldiers, was lodged in the plain which the king had quitted.29 Night attack. 30 AT night Adils and Hryngr embodied their forces, and marched on the Saxon camp. The bishop was the victim of the surprise. But Thorolf and Alfgeirr, who commanded in the district, roused their warriors, and supported the attack. Adils assaulted the division of Alfgeirr, and Hryngr directed himself to the allied vikingr. VANQUISHED by the impetuosity of his assailant, Alfgeirr fled from the field, and eventually the country. Adils, flushed with his victory, turned on the others. Thorolf directed his colleague, Egils, to meet him; he exhorted his troops to stand close, and if overpowered to retreat to the wood. Egils obeyed, though with a force inferior. THE battle became warm. Thorolf fought with all the fury of valour, which was the pride of the day; he threw his shield behind him, and, grasping his huge weapon with both hands, he pro 29 Malmsb. 48. and 248. 30 Ingulf, 37. Malmsb. 48. 248. 31 The sword wielded with both hands, was used by the ancient natives of the Hebrides. They called it the glaymore, the great sword. See Boswell's Tour, p. 210. 230. It was a weapon of most barbarous nations. II. strated the enemies with an irresistible strength. He c HAP. forced his way at last to the standard of his adver- Athelstan. sary; he reached and killed him. His success animated his followers, and Adils, mourning the death of Hryngr, gave way, and the combat discontinued. 32 934. ATHELSTAN, hearing of this affair, united, and The main arranged all his forces for a decisive engagement. battle Anlaf, did the same. A night of rest preceded the awful conflict. Athelstan formed his Athelstan formed his array of battle. In the front he placed his bravest troops, with Egils at their head. He let Thorolf head his own band, with an addition of Anglo-Saxons, to oppose the irregular Irish, who always flew from point to point; no where steady, yet often injuring the unguarded. 33 The warriors of Mercia and London, who were conducted by the valiant Turketul, the chancellor of the kingdom, he directed to oppose themselves to the national force of Constantine. He chose his own West-Saxons to endure the struggle with Anlaf, his competitor. 34 Anlaf observing He obeyed the his disposition, in part imitated it. 32 Egil's Saga, 44, 45. I do not give the whole detail of the 33 Egil's Saga, 46, 47. |