II. Athelstan. completed, and the armaments, necessary for its CHAP. 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.1 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. The 934. vades. ANLAF21 commenced the warfare, by entering Anlaf inthe Humber with a fleet of 615 ships.2 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 Adils, as British princes. The latter perhaps may have been Edwal, the son of Anarawd, who was reigning in North Wales at 19 Adalsteinn autem copias sibi contraxit, præbuitque stipendia omnibus, exteris et indigenis, 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. In 21 In the Egilli Saga he is called Olafr. In the Annals of Ulster, Olave, p. 67. In the Brut Jeuan Breckfa, Awlaff, p. 485. Bromton, 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. BOOK this period24; but it is probable that Hryngr was a Danish leader. 25 VI. Athelstan. 934. Visits Athelstan's camp. 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 could be assembled. 26 When their preparations were complete, Athelstan closed the intercourse 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 ANLAF, brave and active, resolved to inspect Brut 24 Eeidwal Foel acceded in 913, on the death of Anarawd. y Tywys, p. 435. The MS. Cleop. mentions that he fell against the Saxons, but misdates the year to 941. p. 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. 26 Egilli Saga, 38, 39. 27 The Saga says, Adils, but the meeting seems to imply Anlaf. 28 Egilli Saga, 40. 42. II. 934. the army before he attempted the surprise, that CHAP. the blow might be directed to the most important Athelstan. 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. did not betray him; but he hastened with the 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. attack. Ar night Adils and Hryngr embodied their Night forces, and marched on the Saxon camp. The bishop was the victim of the surprise. 30 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. 30 Ingulf, 37. Malmsb. 48. 248. 29 Malmsb. 48. and 248. VI. 934. BOOK VANQUISHED by the impetuosity of his assailant, Athelstan. 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 main battle THE battle became warm. Thorolf fought against Hryngr with all that 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 prostrated the enemies with an irresistible strength. He forced his way at last to the standard of his adversary; he reached and killed him. His success animated his followers, and Adils, mourning the death of Hryngr, gave way, and the combat discontinued. 32 ATHELSTAN, hearing of this affair, united, and arranged all his forces for a decisive engagement, Anlaf did the same. A night of rest preceded the awful conflict. 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 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. One was sold in London this year, 1827, which had been used in Italy in Bourbon's army about the year 1526. 32 Egil's Saga, 44, 45. I do not give the whole detail of the Saga; I select the circumstances which are most entitled to notice, and which harmonise best with the Saxon descriptions. No two nations describe the same particulars of a battle, although the narration of each is intended to be authentic. A great battle is composed of a multiplicity of incidents. Individuals, in different stations of the field, notice different circumstances. The Saga is minute about the part where Thorolf and Egils fought. The Saxons neglect these warriors, to record their Turketul and Athelstan. This is natural and allowable, perhaps inevitable. 33 CHAP. 934. the irregular Irish, who always flew from point to his disposition, in part imitated it. burh. BRUNANBURH 36 was the scene of action; and at BrunanThorolf began the battle he loved; he rushed forward to the wood, hoping to turn the enemy's flank; his courage was too impetuous and indiscriminate; his eagerness for the fray impelled him beyond his companions. Both were pressing fiercely and blindly onward, when Adils darted from his ambush in the wood, and destroyed Thorolf and his foremost friends. Egils heard the outcries of alarm; he looked to that quarter, and saw the 34 Ingulf, 37. 33 Egil's Saga, 46, 47. 35 Egil's Saga, 47. 36 It is singular that the position of this famous battle is not ascertained. The Saxon song says, it was at Brunanburh; Ethelwerd, a contemporary, names the place Brunandune; Simeon of Durham, Weondune or Ethrunnanwerch, or Brunnan byrge; Malmsbury, Brunsford; Ingulf says, Brunford in Northumbria. These, of course, imply the same place: but where was it? Camden thought it was at Ford, near Bromeridge, in Northumberland. Gibson mentions, that in Cheshire there is a place called Brunburh. I observe that the Villare mentions a Brunton in Northumberland. |