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foward and complete the rout。 This plan was carried out。 The
Danes advanced with their usual impetuosity； and for hours
tried to break through the lines of the Saxon spears。 Both
sides fought valiantly； the Danes inspired by their pride in
their personal prowess and their contempt for the Saxons；
the Saxons by their hatred for their oppressors； and their
determination to die rather than again submit to their bondage。
At length； after the battle had raged some hours； and
both parties were becoming wearied from their exertions；
the king gave Edmund the order。
Hitherto his men had fought in line with the rest； but at
the sound of his bugle they quitted their places； and； ere the
Danes could understand the meaning of this sudden movement；
had formed themselves into their wedge； raised a mighty
shout； and advanced against the enemy。 The onslaught was
irresistible。 The great wedge； with its thick fringe of spears；
burst its way straight through the Danish centre carrying all
before it。 Then at another note of Edmund's bugle it broke
up into two bodies； which moved solidly to the right and left；
crumpling up the Danish lines。
Alfred now gave the order for a general advance； and
the Saxon ranks； with a shout of triumph； flung themselves
upon the disordered Danes。 Their success was instant and
complete。 Confounded at the sudden break up of their line；
bewildered by these new and formidable tactics； attacked in
front and in flank； the Danes broke and fled。 The Saxons
pursued them hotly； Edmund keeping his men well together
in case the Danes should rally。 Their rout； however； was too
complete； vast numbers were slain； and the remnant of their
army did not pause until they found themselves within the
shelter of their camp at Chippenham。
No quarter was given by the Saxons to those who fell
into their hands； and pressing upon the heels of the flying
Danes the victorious army of King Alfred sat down before
Chippenham。 Every hour brought fresh reinforcements to
the king's standard。 Many were already on their way when
the battle was fought； and as the news of the victory spread
rapidly every man of the West Saxons capable of bearing arms
made for Chippenham； feeling that now or never must a complete
victory over the Danes be obtained。
No assault was made upon the Danish camp。 Confident in his
now vastly superior numbers； and in the enthusiasm which
reigned in his army； Alfred was unwilling to waste
a single life in an attack upon the entrenchments； which must
ere long surrender from famine。 There was no risk of
reinforcements arriving to relieve the Danes。 Guthorn had led
to the battle the whole fighting force of the Danes in Wessex
and East Anglia。 This was far smaller than it would have
been a year earlier； but the Northmen； having once completed
their work of pillage； soon turned to fresh fields of
adventure。 Those whose disposition led them to prefer a
quiet life had settled upon the land from which they had
dispossessed the Saxons； but the principal bands of rovers；
finding that England was exhausted and that no more plunder
could be had； had either gone back to enjoy at home the
booty they had gained； or had sailed to harry the shores of
France； Spain； and Italy。
Thus the position of the Danes in Chippenham was
desperate； and at the end of fourteen days； by which time
they were reduced to an extremity by hunger； they sent
messengers into the royal camp offering their submission。 They
promised if spared to quit the kingdom with all speed； and
to observe this contract more faithfully than those which they
had hitherto made and broken。 They offered the king as
many hostages as he might wish to take for the fulfilment of
their promises。 The haggard and emaciated condition of
those who came out to treat moved Alfred to pity。
So weakened were they by famine that they could scarce
drag themselves along。 It would have been easy for the Saxons
to have slain them to the last man； and the majority of
the Saxons； smarting under the memory of the cruel oppression
which they had suffered； the destruction of home and
property； and the slaughter of friends and relations； would
fain have exterminated their foes。 King Alfred； however；
thought otherwise。
Guthorn and the Danes had effected a firm settlement
in East Anglia； and lived at amity with the Saxons there。 They
had； it is true； wrested from them the greatest portion of
their lands。 Still peace and order were now established。 The
Saxons were allowed liberty and equal rights。 Intermarriages
were taking place； and the two peoples were becoming welded
into one。 Alfred then considered that it would be well to
have the king of this country as an ally； he and his settled
people would soon be as hostile to further incursions of the
Northmen as were the Saxons themselves； and their interests
and those of Wessex would be identical。
Did he； on the other hand； carry out a general massacre
of the Danes now in his power he might have brought upon
England a fresh invasion of Northmen； who； next to plunder；
loved revenge； and who might come over in great hosts
to avenge the slaughter of their countrymen。 Moved； then；
by motives of policy as well as by compassion； he granted the
terms they asked； and hostages having been sent in from the
camp he ordered provisions to be supplied to the Danes。
The same night a messenger of rank came in from
Guthorn saying that he intended to embrace Christianity。
The news filled Alfred and the Saxons with joy。 The king； a
sincere and devoted Christian； had fought as much for his
religion as for his kingdom； and his joy at the prospect of
Guthorn's conversion； which would as a matter of course be
followed by that of his subjects； was deep and sincere。
To the Saxons generally the temporal consequence of
the conversion had no doubt greater weight than the spiritual。
The conversion of Guthorn and the Danes would be a
pledge far more binding than any oaths of alliance between
the two kingdoms。 Guthorn and his followers would be
viewed with hostility by their countrymen； whose hatred of
Christianity was intense； and East Anglia would； therefore；
naturally seek the close alliance and assistance of its
Christian neighbour。
Great were the rejoicings in the Saxon camp that night。
Seldom； indeed； has a victory had so great and decisive an
effect upon the future of a nation as that of Ethandune。 Had
the Saxons been crushed； the domination of the Danes in
England would have been finally settled。 Christianity would
have been stamped out； and with it civilization； and the
island would have made a backward step into paganism and
barbarism which might have delayed her progress for centuries。
The victory established the freedom of Wessex； converted
East Anglia into a settled and Christian country； and
enabled King Alfred to frame the wise laws and statutes and
to establish on a firm basis the institutions which raised Saxon
England vastly in the scale of civilization； and have in no
small degree affected the whole course of life of the English
people。
CHAPTER XII： FOUR YEARS OF PEACE
Seven weeks afterwards Guthorn； accompanied by thirty
of h