Alfred the Great – 10

When David smote the children of Moab, he “measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death and with one full line to keep alive.”

Continuing Alfred the Great’s Reign,
with a selection from Life of Alfred the Great by Thomas Hughes published in 1869. This selection is presented in 10.5 easy 5 minute installments. For works benefiting from the latest research see the “More information” section at the bottom of these pages.

Previously in Alfred the Great’s Reign.

Time: 871-901
Place: Wessex

When David smote the children of Moab, he “measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death and with one full line to keep alive.” When he took Rabbah of the children of Ammon, “he brought forth the people that were therein and put them under saws and under harrows of iron and under axes of iron and made them pass through the brick-kiln.” That was the old Hebrew method, even under King David and in the ninth century Christianity had as yet done little to soften the old heathen custom of “woe to the vanquished.” Charlemagne’s proselytizing campaigns had been as merciless as Mahomet’s. But there is about this English King a divine patience, the rarest of all virtues in those who are set in high places. He accepts Guthrum’s proffered terms at once, rejoicing over the chance of adding these fierce heathen warriors to the church of his Master, by an act of mercy which even they must feel. And so the remnant of the army are allowed to march out of their fortified camp and to re-cross the Avon into Mercia, not quite five months after the day of their winter attack and the seizing of Chippenham. The northern army went away to Cirencester, where they stayed over the winter and then returning into East Anglia settled down there and Alfred and Wessex hear no more of them. Never was triumph more complete or better deserved; and in all history there is no instance of more noble use of victory than this. The West Saxon army was not at once disbanded. Alfred led them back to Athelney, where he had left his wife and children; and while they are there, seven weeks after the surrender, Guthrum and thirty of the bravest of his followers arrive to make good their pledge.

The ceremony of baptism was performed at Wedmore, a royal residence which had probably escaped the fate of Chippenham and still contained a church. Here Guthrum and his thirty nobles were sworn in, the soldiers of a greater King than Woden and the white linen cloth, the sign of their new faith, was bound round their heads. Alfred himself was godfather to the viking, giving him the Christian name of Athelstan; and the chrism-loosing or unbinding of the sacramental cloths, was performed on the eighth day by Ethelnoth, the faithful alderman of Somersetshire. After the religious ceremony there still remained the task of settling the terms upon which the victors and vanquished were hereafter to live together side by side in the same island; for Alfred had the wisdom, even in his enemy’s humiliation, to accept the accomplished fact and to acknowledge East Anglia as a Danish kingdom. The Witenagemot had been summoned to Wedmore and was sitting there and with their advice the treaty was then made, from which, according to some historians, English history begins.

We have still the text of the two documents which together contain Alfred and Guthrum’s peace or the treaty of Wedmore; the first and shorter being probably the articles hastily agreed on before the capitulation of the Danish army at Chippenham; the latter the final terms settled between Alfred and his witan and Guthrum and his thirty nobles, after mature deliberation and conference at Wedmore but not formally executed until some years later.

The shorter one, that made at the capitulation, runs as follows:

ALFRED AND GUTHRUM’S PEACE. — This is the peace that King Alfred and King Guthrum and the witan of all the English nation and all the people that are in East Anglia have all ordained and with oaths confirmed, for themselves and their descendants, as well for born as unborn, who reck of God’s mercy or of ours.

First, concerning our land boundaries. These are upon the Thames and then upon the Lea and along the Lea unto its source, then straight to Bedford, then up the Ouse to Watling Street.

Then there is this: if a man be slain we reckon all equally dear, English and Dane, at eight half marks of pure gold, except the churl who dwells on gavel land and their leisings, they are also equally dear at two hundred shillings. And if a king’s thane be accused of manslaughter, if he desire to clear himself, let him do so before twelve king’s thanes. If any man accuse a man who is of less degree than king’s thane, let him clear himself with eleven of his equals and one king’s thane. And so in every suit which be for more than four mancuses; and if he dare not, let him pay for it threefold, as it may be valued.

Of Warrantors. — And that every man know his warrantor, for men and for horses and for oxen.

And we all ordained, on that day that the oaths were sworn, that neither bondman nor freeman might go to the army without leave, nor any of them to us. But if it happen that any of them from necessity will have traffic with us or we with them, for cattle or goods, that is to be allowed on this wise: that hostages be given in pledge of peace and as evidence whereby it may be known that the party has a clean book.”

Thomas Hughes begins here. John R. Green begins here.

More information here and here, and below.

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