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that no man should move or any should disturb him until
mass was concluded。 Alfred hesitated no longer； he formed
his men into a solid body； and then； raising his battle cry；
rushed upon the Danes。 The battle was a furious one。 The
Danes were upon higher ground； their standard being planted
by the side of a single thorn…tree which grew on the slopes of
the hill。 Towards this Alfred with his men fought their way。
The lesson of the previous battle had not been lost； the
Saxons kept together in a solid body which made its way with
irresistible weight through the ranks of the Danes。 Still the
latter closed in on all sides； and the fight was doubtful until
the king； having finished his devotions； led his division into
the battle。 For a long time a desperate strife continued and
great numbers on both sides were killed； but the Saxons；
animated at once by love of their country and hatred of the
invaders and by humiliation at their previous defeat； fought
with such fury that the Danes began to give way。 Then the
Saxons pressed them still more hotly； and the invaders
presently lost heart and fled in confusion； pursued in all
directions by the exulting Saxons。
The Danish king Bergsecg and five jarls； the two Sidrocs；
Osbearn； Frene； and Hareld； were slain； and many thousands
of their followers。 Great spoil of arms and armour fell into
the hands of the victors。
Edmund had fought bravely in the battle at the head of
his men。 Egbert had kept beside him； and twice； when the
lad had been smitten to his knees by the enemy； covered him
with his shield and beat off the foe。
〃You are over…young for such a fight as this； Edmund；〃
he said when the Danes had taken to flight。 〃You will need
another four or five years over your head before you can stand
in battle against these fierce Northmen。 They break down
your guard by sheer weight； but you bore yourself gallantly；
and I doubt not will yet be as famous a warrior as was your
brave father。〃
Edmund did not join in the pursuit； being too much
bruised and exhausted to do so； but Egbert with the men of
Sherborne followed the flying Danes until nightfall。
〃You have done well； my young ealdorman；〃 Prince
Alfred said to the lad after the battle。 〃I have been wishing
much that you could be with me during the past month； but
I heard that you were building a strong fort and deemed it
better to let you continue your work undisturbed。 When it is
finished I trust that I shall have you often near me； but I fear
that for a time we shall have but little space for peaceful
pursuits； for the Danes are coming； as I hear； in great troops
westward； and we shall have many battles to fight ere we clear
the land of the them。〃
In those days a defeat； however severe； had not the same
decisive effect as it has in modern warfare。 There were no
cannons to lose； no great stores to fall into the hands of the
victors。 The army was simply dispersed； and its component
parts reassembled in the course of a day or two； ready； when
reinforcements arrived； to renew the fight。 Thus； decisive as
was the victory of Ashdown； Prince Alfred saw that many
such victories must be won； and a prolonged and exhausting
struggle carried on before the tide of invasion would be
finally hurled back from Wessex。 The next few days were spent
in making a fair distribution of the spoil and arms among
the conquerors。 Some of the thanes then returned home
with their people； but the remainder； on the king's entreaty；
agreed to march with him against the Danes； who after the
battle had fallen back to Basing； where they had been joined
by others coming from the coast。 The royal army advanced
against them； and fourteen days after the battle of Ashdown
the struggle was renewed。 The fight lasted for many hours；
but towards nightfall the Saxons were compelled to retreat；
moving off the field； however； in good order； so that no spoil
fell into the hands of the Danes。
This check was a great disappointment to the Saxons；
who after their late victory had hoped that they should
speedily clear the kingdom of the Danes。 These； indeed； taught
prudence by the manner in which the West Saxons had fought；
for a while refrained from plundering excursions。 Two
months later the Saxons were again called to arms。 Somerled；
a Danish chieftain； had again advanced to Reading； and had
captured and burned the town。 The king marched against
him； and the two armies met at Merton。 Here another
desperate battle took place。
During the first part of the day the Saxons were victorious
over both the divisions of the Danish army； but in the
afternoon the latter received some reinforcements and
renewed the fight。 The Saxons； believing that the victory had
been won； had fallen into disorder and were finally driven
from the field。 Great numbers were slain on both sides。
Bishop Edmund and many Saxon nobles were killed； and
King Ethelred so severely wounded that he expired a few days
later； April 23d； 871； having reigned for five years。 He was
buried at Wimbourne Minster； and Prince Alfred ascended
the throne。
Ethelred was much regretted by his people； but the accession
of Alfred increased their hopes of battling successfully
against the Danes。 Although wise and brave； King
Ethelred had been scarcely the monarch for a warlike people
in troubled times。 Religious exercises occupied too large a
share of his thoughts。 His rule was kindly rather than strong；
and his authority was but weak over his nobles。 From Prince
Alfred the Saxons hoped better things。 From his boyhood
he had been regarded with special interest and affection by
the people； as his father had led them to regard him as their
future king。
The fact that he had been personally consecrated by
the pope appeared to invest him with a special authority。
His immense superiority in learning over all his people greatly
impressed them。 Though gentle he was firm and resolute；
prompt in action； daring in the field。 Thus； then； although
the people regretted King Ethelred； there was a general feeling
of hope and joy when Alfred took his place on the throne。
He had succeeded to the crown but a month when the Danes
again advanced in great numbers。 The want of success which
had attended them in the last two battles had damped the
spirit of the people； and it was with a very small force only
that Alfred was able to advance against them。
The armies met near Wilton； where the Danes in vastly
superior numbers were posted on a hill。 King Alfred led his
forces forward and fell upon the Danes； and so bravely did
the Saxons fight that for some time the day went favourably
for them。 Gradually the Danes were driven from their post
of vantage； and after some hours' fighting turned to fly； but；
as at Merton and Kesteven； the impetuosity of the Saxons
proved their ruin。 Breaking their compact ranks they scattered
in pursuit of the Danes； and these； seeing how small
was the number of their pursuers； rallied and turned upon
them； and the Saxons were driven from the field which they
had so bravely won。
〃Unless my brave Saxons learn order and discipline；〃
the king said to Edmund and some of his nobles who gathered
round him on t