8 SCANDO-GOTHIC ART IN WESSEX. 



further, knowing as we do the passion of Christians to make 

 converts, that all through these wars in Wessex many of 

 those Northmen who surrendered as hostages, as well as 

 those who were taken prisoners, would receive priestly 

 attention, and would be glad enough, in some cases, to enter 

 the safe service of a monastery. 



Asser tells us that " in the year 876 a pagan army under 

 " Guthrum, Oskytel, and Anwynd, entered a castle called 

 " Wareham, where there is a monastery of holy virgins, 

 " between two rivers Fraun [Frome] and Trent in the Saxon 

 " district Thomsaeta [doubtless Dornsaete, the people of 

 " Dorset] placed in a most secure situation except that it 

 " was exposed to danger on the western side, owing to the 

 " nature of the ground." [Fl. Wig. calls the rivers Fraw 

 and Terente.] 



With this army King Alfred made a solemn treaty that 

 they should depart out of his Kingdom. And they gave 

 hostages and swore an oath over Christian relics. * But at 

 night these pagans sallied forth and slew all the King's 

 horsemen, and went to Exaenceaster. And thereafter, as 

 Lappenberg remarks, Exeter and Wareham became the chief 

 centres of attraction for the Danes. | 



In the year 877 J a great storm drove the Danish fleet 

 [perhaps on its way to Wareham] into Swanewic, or Swanage, 

 and the crew^s landed. And King Alfred, endeavouring to 

 attack them, rode after them as far as Exeter, where he 



* The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle says " they swore on the holy ring," 

 on }?am halgan beage ; and Prof. Stevens is doubtless right in taking 

 this to mean " the holy ring of Thor." (Thunor the Thunderer, p. 40.) 

 Such a ring of silver, which must weigh not less than two ounces, 

 lay on any altar that was dedicated to that god, and was used by the 

 priest in administering an oath. That this ring, through which 

 the attestor passed his hand, was really a torque or bracelet is 

 shown in the Eyrbyggja Saga, where it is called motlauss, meetless, 

 joinless. 



t Vol. II., 50. J A. S. Chron. 



