Every season of the year was dangerous, and the absence of the enemy was no reason why any man could esteem himself a moment in safety.
These incursions had now become almost annual; when the Danes, encouraged by their successes against France as well as England, (for both kingdoms were alike exposed to this dreadful calamity,) invaded the last in so numerous a body as seemed to threaten it with universal subjection.

But the English, more military than the Britons, whom a few centuries before they had treated with like violence, roused themselves with a vigor proportioned to the exigency.

Ceorle, governor of Devonshire, fought a battle with one body of the Danes at Wiganburgh,[*] and put them to rout with great slaughter.
[* H.Hunting, lib.v.Ethelwerd, lib.iii.cap 3.
Sim.Dunelm.p.

120.] King Athelstan attacked another at sea, near Sandwich, sunk nine of their ships, and put the rest to flight.[*] [* Chron.Sax.p.74.Asser.

p.