Archaeologia or Miscellaneous Tracts Relating to Antiquity Volume 25 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1834 Excerpt: ... This reign witnessed an event which was chiefly instrumental in provoking the great Danish invasion. The celebrated northern Vikingr Ragnar Lodbrok, c on one of his roving expeditions, was wrecked on the coast of Northumbria, and immediately on landing began to put his favourite plans of plunder into execution. On this, Aella, the then King, marched against him. The native army was victorious, and Ragnar remained in the hands of the conqueror, who, in accordance with the barbarity of the age, tormented his prisoner with a lingering death. Ragnar's sons, burning with revenge, collected an immense host of neighbouring chiefs, and sailed for Northumbria. A storm, however, changed their destination to East Anglia, where they landed. The spring succeeding their arrival, saw them at the gates of York.d The civil discord which, says Asser, "diabolico instinctu orta fuerat, sicut semper populo qui odium incurrerit Dei evenire solet," was still raging in Northumberland, and it was not until the Pagans had gained possession of their capital that the contending parties were appeased. They joined in one cause against their common enemy, and marched "in die Palmarum" against York, near which place they met the Danes, who immediately retreated within the walls of the city. They were closely pursued by the Saxons, who found no difficulty in breaking the c For a detailed history of Ragnar Lodbrok see Mr. Turner's very learned History of the Ang. Sax. vol. i. p. 445. d "An. Dccclxvii. J)ep pop re hepe op Gapt-Gnslum opep Jjumbpe ruirSan co Gopoppic-ceapepe on NojvS-humbpe." Sax. Chron. 867. "Paganorum exercitus de Orientalibus Anglis ad Eboracum civitatem migravil, quae in aquiloni ripa Humbra fluminis sita est." Ftor. Wigorn. "A...