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52 THE SCANDINAVIANS, AND
BOOK i. made peace with Edward. This peace, however,
was of short duration.
invade ^ In 911 "the army among the Northumbrians
kingdom? are broke the peace " " and overran the land of Mercia," 1
ML but "on their way homewards" were overtaken by
the West Saxons and Mercians, "who slew many
thousands of them "; among others " King Ecwils
(Ulf ) and King Healfden, and Other the Earl " and
"Guthferthhold" and " 2
Agmund hold." Possibly
that Igmond who had gone away from Ireland in
897, and who secretly " prompted the chiefs of the
Lochlans and Danes " to invade Mercia, " take
Chester, and possess themselves of its wealth and
lands." 3
Contemporaneously with this outbreak of part of
the Northumbrian army a new enemy appeared.
Accession of The Northmen who entered France with Eollo
Danes through
settling of had Avrung from Charles the Simple the treaty of
*
Normandy, _
A.D. OLD. St. Clair- sur-Epte, by which Normandy was ceded
to their chief, and he apportioned it among his
followers according to the custom of Scandinavian
conquerors; 4 but there were some unquiet spirits
who disdained to be mere cultivators of the soil
chiefs, for whom war alone had attractions, and new
conquests a charm ;
and these they sought in other
1 Sax. Ckron.. 911. which had been destroyed by the
2 Ibid. 911. Langebek, vol. ii., Danes, was rebuilt by Ethelflocd."
p. 53, thinks the name Harold ; and 4 Hollo submitted to be buptixed.
Ingulph Hist. Croy., p. 21, has it and Dudo (apud Duchesne, p. 82)
" Hamond." [" Hold," a noble- adds, that Charles ratified the
man who was higher than a thane, treaty by giving his daughter Gislo
governor, or captain. Bosworth's in marriage to Rollo ; but the
Anglo-Saxon Dictionary.] statement is doubtful. Vide 1'on-
8 Three Fragm., p. 229; Cara- toppidan Gest. et Vest. Dan.,
doc, p. 45, says that ',' Chester, vol. i., p. 285, et seq.