They would make sallies to attack the smaller parties of the Danes.

They would send agents and emissaries about the kingdom to arouse, and encourage, and assemble such Saxon forces as were yet to be found.

In a word, they would commence a series of measures for recovering the country from the possession of its pestilent enemy, and for restoring the rightful sovereign to the throne.

The development of these projects and plans, and the measures for carrying them into effect, were very much hastened by an event which suddenly occurred in the neighborhood of Ethelney, the account of which, however, must be postponed to the next chapter.
[Footnote 1: The name is spelled variously, Ethelney, AEthelney, Ethelingay, &c.

It was in Somersetshire, between the rivers Thone and Parrot.] [Footnote 2: As this incident has been so famous, it may amuse the reader to peruse the different accounts which are given of it in the most ancient records which now remain.