ALFRED.

107

habitation on them, rendered himself secure by c h aits fortifications, and still more by the unknown 11.and inaccessible roads which led to it, and bythe forests and morasses, with which it was everyway environed. This place he called Æthelingay,or the ifle of nobles* 7 ; and it now bears thename of Athelney. He thence made frequentand unexpected sallies upon the Danes, whooften felt the vigour of his arm , but knew notfrom what quarter the blow came. He subsistedhimself and his followers by the plunder whichhe acquired; he procured them consolationby revenge ; and from small successes, he openedtheir minds to hope, that, notwithstanding hispresent low condition, more important victoriesmight at length attend his valour.

Alfred lay here concealed, but not unactive,during a twelvemonth ; when the news of aprosperous event reached his ears, and called himto the field. Hubba, the Dane, having spreaddevastation, fire, and slaughter, over Wales,had landed in Devonshire from twenty-three ves-sels, and laid siege to the castle of Kinwith , aplace situated near the mouth of the small riverTau. Oddune, earl of Devonshire, with his fol-lowers , had taken sselter there ; and being illsupplied with provisions, and even with water,he determined, by some vigorous blow, to pre-vent the necessity of submitting to the barbarous

17 Chron. Sax. p. 85. W. Malm. lib. 2. cap. 4. Ethel-wnud, lib. 4. cap. 4. Ingulf, p. 26.

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