i 4 o HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

C H A

II.

p - seas; and with some Welsh princes, who wereterrified at the growing power of Athelstan:And all these allies made by concert an irruptionwith a great army into England. Athelstan , col-lecting his forces , met the enemy near Brunstiuryin Northumberland , and defeated them in ageneral engagement. This victory was chieflyascribed to the valour of Turketul, the Englilhchancellor: For in those turbulent ages , no onewas so much occupied in civil employments, aswholly to lay aside the military character

There is a circumstance , not unworthy ofnotice, which historians relate with regard to thetransactions of this war. Anlaf, on the approachof the English army, thought, that he could notVenture too much to ensure a fortunate event;and employing the artifice formerly practised byAlfred against the Danes, he entered the enemy’scamp in the habit of a minstrel. The stratagemwas for the present attended with like success.He gave such satisfaction to the soldiers, whoflocked about him , that they introduced him tothe king’s tent; and Anlaf, having played beforethat prince and his nobles during their repast,was dismissed with a handsome reward. Hisprudence kept him from refusing the present;but his pride determined him , on his departure,to bury it, while he fancied that he was unefpied

111 The office of chancellor among the Anglo-Saxonstefcmbled more that of a secretary of state, than that ofour present chancellor. See Spellman in voce Cancelarius.