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laid the matter before them。
〃It is； above all things；〃 he said； 〃necessary that we should
have some place where we can place the women and children
in case of invasion and where we can ourselves retire in
extreme necessity。 Therefore I propose that we shall build a
fort of sufficient size to contain all the inhabitants of the
district； with many flocks and herds。 My cousin Egbert has
ridden far over the country； and recommends that the Roman
fortification at Moorcaster shall be utilized。 It is large
in extent； and has a double circle of earthen banks。 These
differ from those which we are wont to build； since we Saxons
always fill up the ground so as to be flat with the top of
the earthen banks； while the Romans left theirs hollow。
However； the space is so large that it would take a vast labour
to fill it up； therefore I propose that we should merely thicken
the banks； and should； in Saxon custom； build a wall with
turrets upon them。 The sloping banks alone would be but a
small protection against the onslaught of the Danes； but stone
walls are another matter； and could only be carried after a
long siege。 If you fall in with my views you will each of you
send half your serfs to carry out the work； and I will do the
same； and will； moreover； pay fifty freemen who may do the
squaring of the stones and the proper laying of them。〃
The proposal led to a long discussion； as some thought
that there was no occasion as yet to take such a measure； but
the thanes finally agreed to carry out Edmund's proposal。
CHAPTER IV： THE INVASION OF WESSEX
Edmund and Egbert devoted most of their time to
the building of the new fort； living very simply； and
expended the whole of the revenues of the lands on
the payment of the freemen and masons engaged upon the
work。 The Roman fort was a parallelogram； the sides being
about 200 yards long； and the ends half that length。 It was
surrounded by two earthen banks with wide ditches。 These
were deepened considerably； and the slopes were cut down
more sharply。 The inner bank was widened until it was 15
feet across the top。
On this the wall was built。 It was faced on both sides
with square stones； the space between filled up with rubble
and cement； the total thickness being 4 feet。 The height of
the wall was 8 feet； and at intervals of 30 yards apart towers
were raised 10 feet above it； one of these being placed at
either side of the entrance。 Here the bank was cut away； and
solid buttresses of masonry supported the high gates。 The
opening in the outer bank was not opposite to the gate in the
inner； being fifty yards away； so that any who entered by it
would have for that distance to follow the ditch between the
two banks； exposed to the missiles of those on the wall
before arriving at the inner gate。
Five hundred men laboured incessantly at the work。 The stone
for the walls was fortunately found close at hand； but；
notwithstanding this； the work took nearly six months to
execute； deep wells were sunk in the centre of the fort；
and by this means an ample supply of water was secured；
however large might be the number within it。
A very short time after the commencement of the work
the news arrived that King Edmund of East Anglia had
gathered his forces together and had met the Danes in a great
battle near Thetford on Sunday the 20th of November； and
had been totally defeated by them； Edmund himself having
been taken prisoner。 The captive king； after having been for
a long time cruelly tortured by the Danes； was shot to death
with arrows。 It was not long after this that news came that
the whole of East Anglia had fallen into the hands of the
Danes。
Early in the month of February； 871；just as the walls of
his fort had begun to rise； a messenger arrived from the king
bidding Edmund assemble all the men in his earlship and
march at once to join him near Devizes； as the news had
come that a great Danish fleet had sailed up the Thames and
had already captured the royal town of Reading。
Messengers were sent out in all directions； and early the
next morning； 400 men having assembled； Edmund and his
kinsman marched away with them towards Devizes。 Upon
their arrival at that town they found the king and his brother
with 8000 men； and the following day the army moved east
towards Reading。
They had not marched many miles before a messenger
arrived saying that two of the Danish jarls with a great
following had gone out to plunder the country； that they had
been encountered by Aethelwulf； Earl of Berkshire； with his
men at Englefield； and a fierce battle had taken place。 The
Saxons had gained the victory； and great numbers of the
Danes had been slain； Sidroc； one of their jarls； being among
the fallen。
Three days later the royal army arrived in sight of Reading；
being joined on their march by Aethelwulf and his men。
The Danes had thrown up a great rampart between the
Thames and the Kennet； and many were still at work on this
fortification。 These were speedily slain by the Saxons； but
their success was a short one。 The main body of the invaders
swarmed out from the city and a desperate engagement took
place。
The Saxons fought valiantly； led by the king and Prince
Alfred； but being wholly undisciplined and unaccustomed to
war they were unable to withstand the onslaught of the Danes；
who fought in better order； keeping together in ranks： after
four hours' hard fighting the Saxons were compelled to fall
back。
They rallied again a few miles from Reading。 Ethelred
and Alfred went among them bidding them be of good cheer；
for that another time； when they fought in better order； they
would gain the victory； and that their loss had not been greater
than the Danes； only that unhappily the valiant Ealdorman
Aethelwulf had been slain。 Fresh messengers were sent
throughout the country bidding all the men of Wessex to
rally round their king； and on the fourth morning after the
defeat Ethelred found himself at the head of larger forces
than had fought with him in the last battle。
The Danes had moved out from Reading and had taken
post at Ashdown； and as the Saxon army approached they
were seen to be divided into two bodies； one of which was
commanded by their two kings and the other by two jarls。
The Saxons therefore made a similar division of their army；
the king commanding one division and Prince Alfred the
other。
Edmund with the men of Sherborne was in the division
of Alfred。 The Danes advanced to the attack and fell with
fury upon them。 It had been arranged that this division
should not advance to the attack until that commanded by
the king was also put in motion。 For some time Alfred and
his men supported the assaults of the Danes； and then； being
hardly pressed； the prince sent a messenger to his brother
to urge that a movement should be made。 The Saxons were
impatient at standing on the defensive； and Alfred saw that
he must either allow them to charge the enemy or must retreat。
Presently the messenger returned saying that the king
was in his tent hearing mass； and that he had given orders
that no man should move or any should disturb him until
mass was concluded。 Alfre