Osmund had been in and out once or twice, and Guthrum had received him well enough, and it was thought that there would be no long delay now before the siege was at an end by the submission of the Danes to any terms they might gain, and the more so that an assault on the fortress would surely have been successful, ending in the fall of all its defenders.
But Alfred was most willing to be merciful, and he had bidden Osmund tell Guthrum and his chiefs that if he might name twelve hostages for himself the rest should go free, while Guthrum should hold the East Anglian kingdom for him as under-king.
But this was what Alfred would have me do.
"One other thing there is," he said.

"If there is to be any brotherhood between us, it must be as between Christians.

The ways of persecution must be forgotten and that cannot come to pass until the chiefs at least have accepted the faith." "It is strange to me, my king," I said, "that Guthrum, who has been in England for ten years, is not Christian by this time." "Ay, but his hosts are heathen," the king answered.

"Now I think I can speak to you as if no longer a heathen at least ?" "As a Christian, my king," I answered.
"Well, then," he said, smiling on me, "go and speak to Guthrum and tell him what I have said.

I think that he will listen to you better than if I sent a priest or even Bishop Sigehelm.