9/19 Only war with a foreign invader could bring it about even in a faint degree: and that was exactly what the Danish invasion did for Wessex. The annual horde of wickings had now become as regular in its recurrence as summer itself; and even the inert West Saxon kings began to feel that permanent measures must be taken against them. They had built ships, and tried to tackle the invaders in the only way in which so partially civilised a race could tackle such tactics as those of the Danes--upon the sea. A host of wickings came round to Sandwich in Kent. The under-king AEthelstan fell upon them with his new navy, and took nine of their ships, putting the rest to flight with great slaughter. |