E T Ii E L R E D.

189

os duke Alfric , who was intrusted with the com-c h a vmand , and who , feigning sickness , refused to in.lead the army against the Danes, till it wasdispirited , and at last dissipated , by his fatalmisconduct. Alfric soon after died ; and Edric,a greater traitor than he , who had married theking’s daughter, and had acquired a total ascend-ant over him , succeeded Alfric in the governmentof Mercia , and in the command of the Englissiarmies. A great famine, proceeding partly fromthe bad seasons , partly from the decay of agri-culture , added to all the other miseries of theinhabitants. The country, wasted by the Danes,harassed by the fruitless expeditions of its ownforces , was reduced to the utmost desolation ;and at last submitted to the infamy of purchasing 10&7.a precarious peace from the enemy , by thepayment of 30,000 pounds.

The Englissi endeavoured to employ this in-terval in making preparations against the returnof the Danes , which they had reason soon toexpect. A law was made, ordering the proprietorsof eight hides of land to provide each a horsemanand a complete suit of armour ; and those of310 hides to equip a ssiip for the defence of thecoast. When this navy was assembled , whichmust have consisted of near eight hundred vesselsall hopes of its success were disappointed by the

17 There were 243, 600 hides in England. Conse-quently the ships equipped must be y8A- The cavalry was30, 450 men.