and Bishop Hunberht with \him/. Ceolnoth, archbishop of Canterbury, died; Æthelred succeeded him.
In the 871^st year the army of pagans came into Wessex as far as Reading; their leaders were two kings, Bagsecg and Hálfdan. Æthelwulf, ealdorman of Berkshire, encountering them at Englefield, slew one earl, Sidroc the Old. After 4 days King Æthelred hastened with his brother Ælfred, and, after battle had been engaged, many fell on each side, where the aforesaid ealdorman Æthelwulf also died. Likewise, after 4 days, Æthelred and his brother Ælfred fought against them at Ashdown. The pagans, moreover, were formed into two troops, one ruled by the aforesaid two kings, the other, indeed, by the earls all together. Then Æthelred, after his army had been divided into two parts, with one part fought against the two kings, and slew one, that is, Bagsecg. Ælfred, furthermore, with the other part fought against the earls and killed 4: Sidroc the younger, Osbearn, Fræna, and Haraldr. Likewise, after a few days they fought at Basing, and the Danes were victorious; where Bishop Ealhmund fell. Likewise they gave battle at Reading. After this King Æthelred died; his brother Ælfred succeeded, by whom his wife Eahlswith begat two sons, Eadweard and Æthelward, and three daughters: Æthelflæd, Æthelgifu, and Ælfryth. After a month had been completed, however, he fought against the pagans at Wilton, but the Danes were victorious because they were many, and the English few; for they had been tormented by many battles, in which one king and nine earls from among the pagans had fallen.
In the 872^nd year Ealhwine, bishop of the Hwicce, died; the most learned man, Wærferth, succeeded him, ordained by Æthelred, archbishop of Canterbury. He, at the command of King Ælfred, translated the blessed Gregory’s book, The Dialogues, from Latin into English. During this period the Northumbrians expelled their king, Ecberht, and Archbishop Wulfhere. The army of pagans went from Reading to London and wintered there, with whom the Mercians agreed a truce.
In the 873^rd year a renowned army of pagans with King Hálfdan wintered in Lindsey, at Torksey. Ecgberht, king of the Northumbrians, died, and Ricsic was made king; and Archbishop Wulfhere was taken back to his see.
In the 874^th year Hálfdan, moving with his army from Lindsey, wintered in Repton, where three other kings joined up with him, namely Guthrum, Oscetel, and Anwend; and they expelled King Burgred from the kingdom of the Mercians—who, proceeding to Rome, died there, and was buried in the church of St Mary in the English school; and the Danes committed the kingdom of the Mercians to Ceolwulf.
In the 875^th year part of the army, with Hálfdan, subjecting Northumbria to their power, remained there. The other part, with three kings, wintered at Cambridge. King Ælfred, engaging in a naval battle against 7 pagan ships, captured one and put the rest to flight. Bishop Eardwulf and Abbot Eadred, carrying the body of St Cuthberht from Lindisfarne, wandered hither and thither for 7 years.
In the 876^th year Ricsige, king of the Northumbrians, died; Ecgberht succeeded him. The army of the three kings came to Wareham and Wessex. King Ælfred agreed a truce with them, and took hostages. But the next night, with the treaty broken, they left and raided Exeter, that is Caerwysc. Rollo the pagan, by race a Dane, invaded Normandy with his men and occupied it. He was later baptized, and was called Robert.
In the 877^th year a naval force of pagans in 120 [ships] perished in the sea. Ívarr and Hálfdan, with 23 ships, sailed to Devon, where they were killed by the thegns of King Ælfred, and 1,220 men with them. Another army went from Exeter to Chippenham with an amazing multitude which had recently come from Denmark. With his own people fleeing, King Ælfred, indeed, was left behind with a few, and hid himself in marshes. But in the end, greatly strengthened by a prophecy through the agency of St Cuthberht, he came against his enemies at a place which