320 THE BATTLE OF ASHDOWN, THE BATTLE OF ASHDOWN, a.d. 871.* One of the most memorable conflicts which occurred in the severe struggle between the Saxons and the Danes, towards the latter jiart of the ninth centur}^, was the engagement on Ashdown. The Saxon Chronicle has pre- served the following account of this battle. "A.D. 871. — This 3'ear came the army (namely the Danes) to Reading, in Wessex ; and in the course of three nights, rode two earls up, who were met by Alderman Ethelwulf, at Englefield ; where he fought with them, and obtained the victor}^ There one of them was slain, whose name was Sidrac. About four nights after this, King Ethered and Alfred, his brother, led their main army to Reading, where they fought with the enemy ; and there was much slaughter on either hand. Alderman Ethelwulf being among the slain ; but the Danes kept possession of the field. And about four nights after this. King Ethered and Alfred, his brother, fought with all the army on Ashdown (on JEcesdune, Sax.) and the Danes were overcome. They had two heathen kings, Bagsac and Healfdeu, and many earls ; and they were in two divisions, in one of which were Bagsac and Healfden, the heathen kings, and in the other were the earls. King Ethered, therefore, fought with the troops of the kings, and there was King Bagsac slain ; and Alfred, his brother, fought with the troops of the earls, and there were slain Earl Sidrac the elder. Earl Sidrac the younger, Earl Osbern, Earl Frene, and Earl Harold. They put both the troops to flight ; there were many thousands of the slain, and they continued fighting till night." ^ Various places have been fixed upon by difierent writers, as the site of this battle, but two only possess any claims, and in favour of one of these the preponderance of evidence
- The author of these cursory re- rather as hints for a discussion than a
marks desires to have it mentioned, that finished article ; and as he did not expect they were written 25 years ago, when he that any one but himself would peruse was engaged in compiling materials for a them, he hopes that any crudity of style history of Berkshire, and were noted down or argument will be excused, just as the thoughts occurred to himself, W. N. C. ' Saxon Chron., translated by the Rev. J. Ingram, p. 100.
