the dragon and the raven-第51节

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and　Northumbrians　sailed　up　the　Thames；　and　landing；　the
Northmen　marched　across　to　the　Severn；　but　were　defeated
and　destroyed　by　Ethelred　of　Mercia。

Exeter　was　again　invested　by　a　Danish　fleet；　and　again
saved　by　Alfred。　The　Danes；　as　they　retired　along　the　south
coast；　landed　near　Chichester；　where　they　suffered　a　heavy
defeat　from　the　South　Saxons。

In　the　following　year　a　fresh　fleet　sailed　up　the　Thames
and　thence　up　the　Lea；　where　they　constructed　a　fortress
twenty　miles　above　London。

Alfred　caused　two　fortresses　to　be　erected　on　the　Lea
below　them；　with　vast　balks　of　timber　entirely　obstructing
the　river。　The　Danes；　finding　their　retreat　cut　off；　abandoned
their　ships　and　marched　across　England　to　Cwatbridge　on
the　Severn。　Their　fleet　fell　into　the　hands　of　the　Londoners；
who　burned　and　broke　up　all　the　smaller　ships　and　carried
the　rest　down　to　London。　The　Danes　were　so　disconcerted
by　the　many　and　severe　defeats　which　had　befallen　them　that
they　now　abandoned　the　idea　of　again　conquering　England；
and　taking　ship；　sailed　for　France。

Four　years　later；　in　901；　King　Alfred　died；　having　reigned
twenty…nine　years　and　six　months。　During　his　reign　England
had　made　immense　advances　in　civilization；　and　in　spite　of
the　devastation　wrought　by　the　Danish　occupation　of　Wessex
during　the　early　years　of　his　reign；　and　the　efforts　required
afterwards　to　oppose　them；　the　wealth　and　prosperity　of　the
country　vastly　increased　during　his　reign。　Abbeys　and
monasteries　had　multiplied；　public　buildings　been　erected；
towns　rebuilt　and　beautified；　and　learning　had　made　great
advances。　The　laws　of　the　country　had　been　codified　and
regulated；　the　administration　of　justice　placed　on　a　firm
basis。　The　kingly　authority　had　greatly　increased；　and　the
great　ealdormen　were　no　longer　semi…independent　nobles；　but
officers　of　the　crown。　Serfdom；　although　not　entirely
abolished；　had　been　mitigated　and　regulated。　Arts　and
manufactures　had　made　great　progress。

Edmund　and　Freda　survived　King　Alfred　many　years；
and　their　district　continued　to　be　one　of　the　most　prosperous
and　well…ruled　in　the　kingdom。　Their　descendants　continued
to　hold　the　office　of　ealdorman　until　the　invasion　by
William　the　Conqueror；　and　the　holder　of　the　office　at　that
time　fell；　with　numbers　of　his　followers；　at　the　battle　of
Hastings。　For　very　many　years　after　that　event　the　prow　of
the　Dragon　was　kept　in　the　great　hall　of　Sherborne　as　a
memorial　of　the　valiant　deeds　performed　against　the　Danes
by　Ealdorman　Edmund。








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