The various ceremonies connected with the baptism were protracted through several days.  They were commenced at a place called Aulre, near Ethelney, where there was a religious establishment and priests to perform the necessary rites.  The new convert was clothed in white garments—­the symbol of purity, then customarily worn by candidates for baptism—­and was covered with a mystic veil.  They gave Guthrum a new name—­a Christian, that is, a Saxon name.  Converted pagans received always a new name, in those days, when baptized; and our common phrase, the Christian name, has arisen from the circumstance.  Guthrum’s Christian name was Ethelstan.  Alfred was his godfather.  After the baptism the whole party proceeded to a town a few miles distant, which Alfred had decided to make a royal residence, and there other ceremonies connected with the new convert’s admission to the Church were performed, the whole ending with a series of great public festivities and rejoicings.

A very full and formal treaty of peace and amity was now concluded between the two sovereigns; for Guthrum was styled in the treaty a king, and was to hold, in the dominions assigned him to the eastward of Alfred’s realm, an independent jurisdiction.  He agreed, however, by this treaty, to confine himself, from that time forward, to the limits thus assigned.  If the reader wishes to see what part of England it was which Guthrum was thus to hold, he can easily identify it by finding upon the map the following counties, which now occupy the same territory, viz., Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex, and part of Herefordshire.  The population of all this region consisted already, in a great measure, of Danes.  It was the part most easily accessible from the German Ocean, by means of the Thames and the Medway, and it had, accordingly, become the chief seat of the Northmen’s power.

Guthrum not only agreed to confine himself to the limits thus marked out, but also to consider himself henceforth as Alfred’s friend and ally in the event of any new bands of adventurers arriving on the coast, and to join Alfred in his endeavors to resist them.  In hoping that he would fulfill this obligation, Alfred did not rely altogether on Guthrum’s oaths or promises, or even on the hostages that he held.  He had made it for his interest to fulfill them.  By giving him peaceable possession of this territory, after having, by his victories, impressed him with a very high idea of his own great military resources and power, he had placed his conquered enemy under very strong inducements to be satisfied with what he now possessed, and to make common cause with Alfred in resisting the encroachments of any new marauders.

Guthrum was therefore honestly resolved on keeping his faith with his new ally; and when all these stipulations were made, and the treaties were signed, and the ceremonies of the baptism all performed, Alfred dismissed his guest, with many presents and high honors.