[17] See Asser, A.D. 871.
[18] This is Robert of Gloster’s account of the Battle:—
“The Kyng and Alfred ys brother nome men ynowe,
Mette hem, and a batayle smyte up Assesdowne—
Ther was mony moder chyld, that sone lay ther doune—
The batayle ylaste vorte-nygt, and ther were aslawe
Vyf dukes of Dene-march, ar hii wolde wyth drawe,
And mony thousende of other men, and tho’ gonne hii to fle;
Ac hii adde alle ybe assend, gyf the nyght n’adde y bee.
Robert of Gloster, p. 263, apud Thomas Hearne. Ed. 1724.”