human
Faith, answered the Saxon, with a grim smile,
gpt
I cannot tell when the war began, for that was when the first Danes came to the English shores. But if you mean the trouble that is on hand now, it is easily told. Ten years has this host been in England--coming first with Ingvar and Halfden and Hubba, the three sons of Lodbrok. Ingvar has gone away, and Guthrum takes his place. Halfden is in Northumbria, Hubba is in Wales, and Guthrum is king over East Anglia and overlord of Mercia. It is Guthrum against whom we are fighting.
human
He is minded to be overlord of all England,
gpt
That is to be seen if a Dane shall be so, the Saxon answered, flushing.
human
We beat them at first, as I have said, and have had peace till last year. Then they came to Wareham from East Anglia. There they were forced to make peace, and they swore on the holy ring {v} to depart from Wessex; and we, on our part, swore peace on the relics of the holy saints. Whereon, before the king, Alfred, was ware of their treachery, they fell on our camp, slew all our horsemen, and marched here. Then we gathered the levies again--ay, I know why you look so impatiently, King Ranald--and came here after them. As for the rest, you have taken your part. Now we have them all inside these walls, and I think we have done.
gpt
But I cannot tell. What can one do with oath breakers of this sort?
human
Surely you do not look for the men of one chief to be bound by what another promises?
gpt
How should it be that the oath of their king should not bind the people?
human
Why, said I,
gpt
What mean you? I say that Guthrum and his chiefs swore by the greatest oath they knew to return to Mercia.
human
If they swore by the holy ring, there is no doubt that they who swore would keep the oath. But that does not bind those who were against the peace making. So I suppose that they who held not with the peace made by the rest fell on you, when your levies went home after their wont. One might have known they would do so.