Historic%20Yorkshire
Historic%20Yorkshire
Historic%20Yorkshire
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6<br />
ALFRED,KING OF NORTHUMBRIA.<br />
fosse were the domestic offices of the household, the<br />
brewhouse, the maltkin, stables, and wolf-hound kennels.<br />
The wholeof these buildings,with the castle,were in an<br />
enclosure of about six acres in area, which was surrounded<br />
with a wall and ditch, and with four towers<br />
(after themanner ofBarbican towers) opposite to the four<br />
sides of the castle. Here the King andhis nobles feasted,<br />
and here he entertained the distinguished and learned<br />
foreigners and others. Through the massive gateway he<br />
rode forward with his retinue and attendants, to hunt,<br />
hawk, or fish.<br />
As we have said,for nineteen years Alfred reigned over<br />
his dominions with vigour and wisdom; a friend to<br />
learning,a goodhusband, a kind father, a Christian king.<br />
But his reign was brought to an abrupt termination in<br />
705. In the summer of 704 a maraudingfleet of Danish<br />
and Norwegian vessels sailed down the north-eastern<br />
coast, burning,after plundering, the towns and villages<br />
on the path. At Filey they stopped and landed a<br />
powerful army, whichmarched inward. Alfred, who was<br />
then at his castle at Deirafeld, immediately despatched a<br />
messenger to York for the portion of his army stationed<br />
there to proceed to his assistance. With the force he<br />
had with him in the castle, some two or three hundred<br />
men,he marched towardsMalton, where he met the York<br />
contingent. Alfred then at once pursued the invaders,<br />
overtakingthem at Ebberston,where afierce engagement<br />
took place,the Danes beingas littledisposed to turn their<br />
back upon the fruitful land of the Northumbrians as the<br />
Saxons were to welcomethem. During the wholeof the<br />
afternoon both sides fought with the most determined<br />
braveryuntil, darkness coming on, theconflict wasstayed<br />
without victory being established for either side. The<br />
King,who took commandin person of the Saxon host,<br />
his general, Ethelweard, being in the north for the<br />
repression of an expected invasion of the Picts, was<br />
continuallyin front of the battle,and towards night he<br />
fell, pierced by an arrow. Before his attendants could