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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

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