In the year 878, the Danes settled themselves in divers parts of England, with whom Alfred fought many battles, with various success; but at length gave them a total overthrow at Eddington, in Somersetshire, and not only obliged their leader Guthrun
, the chiefs of their army, and the main body of their people, to be baptized, but afterwards to retire out of the kingdom.
This illustrious Prince, in 882, rebuilt the city of London, which had been burnt and destroyed by the Danes in 839.
As he was an excellent scholar himself, he founded, or at least greatly augmented, the University of Oxford.
In 893, the Danes, with 300 ships, under one Hastings
, invaded England again, but were defeated by Alfred's army, at Farnham, Surry
[sic]
.
In 897, a plague happened, and raged throughout the land for three years successively.
In the year 900, Alfred died of a contraction of the nerves, after he had lived 51 years, and reigned 29.