32S 



looked at carefully, this mimificence simply means a judicious 

 policy of conciliation, and that the agreement for division of 

 the country was duly carried out. The entertainment over, the 

 Danes left Chippenham in 879, a year after their coming, and 

 ■went to Ciceter.* 



It may be pointed out here how the chroniclers, usually monks 

 or ecclesiastics of some sort, make out the times for these events. 

 They tell us that Guthrum was entertained twelve days, that he 

 wore the chrism for full seven days, that he came for baptism 

 seven weeks, or three weeks after the battle, which itself was 

 fought seven weeks after Easter. Accepting these dates, as Easter 

 in 879 was on the 12th April, the fight would occur about 

 the 31st May, and if Guthrum came for baptism seven weeks, or 

 even three weeks after, he would come at a season when but very 

 little, a temporary shelter only, would be necessary. 



The coming of the year 1878, except that it Avas a year too 

 soon, it seems to me, was well used to celebrate at "Wedmore, in 

 August, the one-thousandth anniversary of this event. The 

 occasion " put it into the heads" of some to suppose, nay to 

 assert, that Alfred had a permanent residence there, the suppo- 

 sition being assisted by the fact, that somewhat extensive 

 foundations of an ancient building were known to exist in the 

 parish. 



There were assembled, to quote the words of an early poem on 

 the subject, 



Two bishops and many learned men, 



Wise Earles and awful Knights. 



There was Earle Alfrich very learned in the law.f 



But Christianity was not strong enough to allow both bishops 

 to attend the thanksgiving ser-sdce, so the one present preached. 

 The sermon begins by mentioning the baptism of Guthrum at 

 Aller, " where it seems Alfred's camp was pitched." Then 



• Asser, Ethelwerd. t Cott. MSS. 



