ruled over in the time of his father Egbert. Ethelwulf died a
few months afterwards, leaving Kent to Ethelbert, his second
surviving son. The following year, to the horror and
indignation of the people of the country, Ethelbald married his
stepmother Judith, but two years afterwards died, and
Ethelbert, King of Kent, again united Wessex to his own
dominions, which consisted of Kent, Surrey, and Sussex.
Ethelbert reigned but a short time, and at his death Ethelred,
his next brother, ascended the throne. Last year Alfred, the
youngest brother, married Elswitha, the daughter of Ethelred
Mucil, Earl of the Gaini, in Lincolnshire, whose mother was
one of the royal family of Mercia.

"It was but a short time after the marriage that the Danes
poured into Mercia from the north. Messengers were sent to
ask the assistance of the West Saxons. These at once obeyed
the summons, and, joining the Mercians, marched against
the Danes, who shut themselves up in the strong city of
Nottingham, and were there for some time besieged. The
place was strong, the winter at hand, and the time of the
soldiers' service nearly expired. A treaty was accordingly
made by which the Danes were allowed to depart unharmed
to the north side of the Humber, and the West Saxons returned
to their kingdom.

"Such is the situation at present, but we may be sure
that the Danes will not long remain quiet, but will soon gather
for another invasion; ere long, too, we may expect another of
their great fleets to arrive somewhere off these coasts, and
every Saxon who can bear arms had need take the field to