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〃Ethelbald received Wessex； the principal part of the
kingdom； and Ethelwulf took Kent； which he had already
ruled over in the time of his father Egbert。 Ethelwulf died a
few months afterwards； leaving Kent to Ethelbert； his second
surviving son。 The following year； to the horror and
indignation of the people of the country； Ethelbald married his
stepmother Judith； but two years afterwards died； and
Ethelbert； King of Kent； again united Wessex to his own
dominions； which consisted of Kent； Surrey； and Sussex。
Ethelbert reigned but a short time； and at his death Ethelred；
his next brother； ascended the throne。 Last year Alfred； the
youngest brother； married Elswitha； the daughter of Ethelred
Mucil； Earl of the Gaini； in Lincolnshire； whose mother was
one of the royal family of Mercia。
〃It was but a short time after the marriage that the Danes
poured into Mercia from the north。 Messengers were sent to
ask the assistance of the West Saxons。 These at once obeyed
the summons； and； joining the Mercians； marched against
the Danes； who shut themselves up in the strong city of
Nottingham； and were there for some time besieged。 The
place was strong； the winter at hand； and the time of the
soldiers' service nearly expired。 A treaty was accordingly
made by which the Danes were allowed to depart unharmed
to the north side of the Humber； and the West Saxons returned
to their kingdom。
〃Such is the situation at present； but we may be sure
that the Danes will not long remain quiet； but will soon gather
for another invasion； ere long； too； we may expect another of
their great fleets to arrive somewhere off these coasts； and
every Saxon who can bear arms had need take the field to
fight for our country and faith against these heathen invaders。
Hitherto； Edmund； as you know； I have deeply mourned
the death of your mother； and of your sisters who died in
infancy； but now I feel that it is for the best； for a terrible
time is before us。 We men can take refuge in swamp and
forest； but it would have been hard for delicate women； and
those men are best off who stand alone and are able to give
every thought and energy to the defence of their country。
'Tis well that you are now approaching an age when the Saxon
youth are wont to take their place in the ranks of battle。
I have spared no pains with your training in arms； and though
assuredly you lack strength yet to cope in hand…to…hand conflict
with these fierce Danes； you may yet take your part in
battle； with me on one side of you and Egbert on the other。
I have thought over many things of late； and it seems to me
that we Saxons have done harm in holding the people of this
country as serfs。〃
〃Why； father；〃 Edmund exclaimed in astonishment；
〃surely you would not have all men free and equal。〃
〃The idea seems strange to you； no doubt； Edmund； and
it appears only natural that some men should be born to rule
and others to labour； but this might be so even without serfdom；
since； as you know； the poorer freemen labour just as
do the serfs； only they receive a somewhat larger guerdon
for their toil； but had the two races mixed more closely
together； had serfdom been abolished and all men been free
and capable of bearing arms； we should have been able to
show a far better front to the Danes； seeing that the serfs are
as three to one to the freemen。〃
〃But the serfs are cowardly and spiritless；〃 Edmund said；
〃they are not of a fighting race； and fell almost without
resistance before our ancestors when they landed here。〃
〃Their race is no doubt inferior to our own； Edmund；〃
his father said； 〃seeing that they are neither so tall nor so
strong as we Saxons； but of old they were not deficient in
bravery； for they fought as stoutly against the Romans as did
our own hardy ancestors。 After having been for hundreds of
years subject to the Roman yoke； and having no occasion to
use arms； they lost their manly virtues； and when the Romans
left them were an easy prey for the first comer。 Our
fathers could not foresee that the time would come when
they too in turn would be invaded。 Had they done so；
methinks they would not have set up so broad a line of
separation between themselves and the Britons； but would have
admitted the latter to the rights of citizenship； in which case
intermarriage would have taken place freely； and the whole
people would have become amalgamated。 The Britons； accustomed
to our free institutions； and taking part in the wars
between the various Saxon kingdoms； would have recovered
their warlike virtues； and it would be as one people that we
should resist the Danes。 As it is； the serfs； who form by far
the largest part of the population； are apathetic and cowardly；
they view the struggle with indifference； for what signifies
to them whether Dane or Saxon conquer； they have no
interest in the struggle； nothing to lose or to gain；
it is but a change of masters。〃
Edmund was silent； The very possibility of a state of
things in which there should be no serfs； and when all men
should be free and equal； had never occurred to him； but he
had a deep respect for his father； who bore indeed the
reputation of being one of the wisest and most clear…headed of
the nobles of East Anglia； and it seemed to him that this
strange and novel doctrine contained much truth in it。 Still
the idea was as strange to him as it would have been to the
son of a southern planter in America half a century ago。 The
existence of slaves seemed as much a matter of course as that
of horses or dogs； and although he had been accustomed to
see from time to time freedom bestowed upon some favourite
serf as a special reward for services； the thought of a general
liberation of the slaves was strange and almost bewildering；
and he lay awake puzzling over the problem long after his
father and kinsman had fallen asleep。
CHAPTER II： THE BATTLE OF KESTEVEN
The following morning early the little party started。
The great chest was dug up from its place of concealment；
and they resumed their ordinary dresses。 The ealdorman
attired himself in a white tunic with a broad purple
band round the lower edge； with a short cloak of green cloth。
This was fastened with a gold brooch at the neck； a necklet
of the same metal and several gold bracelets completed his
costume； except that he wore a flat cap and sandals。 Edmund
had a green tunic and cloak of deep red colour； while Egbert
was dressed in yellow with a green cloakthe Saxons being
extremely fond of bright colours。
All wore daggers； whose sheaths were incrusted in silver；
in their belts； and the ealdorman and his kinsman carried
short broad…bladed swords； while Edmund had his boar…spear。
Eldred placed in the pouch which hung at his side a
bag containing a number of silver cubes cut from a long bar
and roughly stamped。 The chest was then buried again in its
place of concealment among the bushes near the hut；
Edmund placed his bows and arrows in the boatnot that in
which Edmund had fished； but the much larger and heavier
craft which Eldred and Egbert had usedand then the party；
with the hound； took their places in it。 The ealdorman and
Egbert were provided wi