. . . . . .

The voluminous pages of Father Cuthbert’s diary for the years of bitter woe and misery which followed cannot be fully transcribed; they would fill a volume themselves, and we must content ourselves with a few extracts, which will probably interest our readers, and carry on the thread of the history to the place where our narrative will again flow free and uninterrupted.

Ascension Tide, 1007.—­

Edmund, assisted by Alfgar, has begun his task of disciplining and training all our able-bodied men.  He says, and rightly, that he is sure we shall very soon have the Danes back for more money, and that there will be no peace till we can defend ourselves properly.  It is amusing to see with what zeal young Hermann takes lessons in arms from Alfgar; that boy is born to be a soldier.

September 1007.—­

We hear of an appointment which causes us much apprehension.  The king Ethelred has appointed Edric Streorn ealdorman of Mercia; we are in his district, and fear it may bode evil to us all.  Edmund is beside himself with rage; he vows that if Edric appears in these woods he will slay him as he would a wolf.

May 1008.—­

Every three hundred and ten hides of land has been charged with the cost of a ship, and every eight hides with the cost of breastplate and helmet; we do trust to recover our supremacy at sea, and then the Danes cannot return.

March 1009.—­

Alas, we are grievously disappointed of our hope.  The fleet is miserably destroyed; Brihtric, Edric’s brother, a man like-minded to himself; accused Wulfnoth, the ealdorman of Sussex, of high treason; the ealdorman, knowing that he had no chance of justice, seduced the crews of twenty ships, and became a pirate, like unto the Danes themselves.  Brihtric pursued him with eighty ships, but being a bad sailor, got aground in a storm, and Wulfnoth came and burned all which the storm spared.  The commanders and crews have forsaken the rest of the fleet in disgust.

Whitsuntide, 1009.—­

Poor Alfgar came to me in great trouble.  He and Ethelgiva have been accepted suitors so long that he thought it time to propose marriage.  She referred him, with her own full consent, to her father; and Elfwyn says, not unwisely, that he cannot consent until the land is at peace; that it is currently reported that Thurkill, a Danish earl, is at hand with an immense fleet, and that to marry might both hamper a warrior’s hands and be the means of bringing up children for the sword.  He fully accepts Alfgar’s suit, but postpones the day till peace seems established, that is “sine die.”  It is very hard to make Alfgar reconciled to this.  I try to do so.

July 1009.—­

Bad news.  Thurkill’s fleet has landed at Sandwich.

August 1009.—­

Worse news.  Another fleet of Danes, under Heming and Eglaf, has joined the former fleet, and both together are ravaging Wessex as far northward as Berkshire; we have sent all the men we can spare to join the army, but the king, persuaded by Edric, will not give the Etheling Edmund any command therein.