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by these successes , and by the superiority, which c h a p.they had acquired in arms, they now ventured, II.under the command of Elinguar and Idnbba,to leave the sea-coast , and penetrating intoJ\lercia,'they took up their winter-quarters atNottingham , where they threatened the kingdomwith a final subjection. The Mercians, in thisextremity, applied to Ethered for succour; andthat prince, with his brother, Alfred, conduct-ing a great army to Nottingham , obliged theenemy to dislodge and to retreat into Northum-berland. Their restless disposition, and their S70 'avidity for plunder, allowed them not toremain long in those quarters: They broke intoEast-Anglia , defeated and took prisoner, Edmund,the king of that country , whom they afterwardsmurdered in cool blood; and committing the mostbarbarous ravages on the people, particularlyon the monasteries, they gave the East-Anglesgreat cause to regret the temporary relief,which they had obtained, by assisting thecommon enemy. '

The next station of the Danes was at Reading; g?[whence they infested the neighbouring countryby their incursions. The Mercians, desirous ofshaking off their dependence on Ethered , refusedto join him with their forces; and that prince,attended by Alfred, was obliged to marchagainst the enemy, with the WestSaxons alone,his hereditary subjects. The Danes,being defeatedin an action , shut themselves up in their garrison;but quickly making thence an irruption , they

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