Scandinavian-Britain

124 SCANDINAVIAN BRITAIN(now in the British Museum) was washed overboard,but recovered. At Whithorn the bishop heard newsof Halfdan's death, and turned homewards by way ofKirkcudbright. Now the fact that the relics of St.Cuthbert found refuge in Cumberland and Gallowayshows that the Danish invasion from which they weresaved took very little hold of these parts. The Vikingsof the Irish Sea were already, if not Christianised, atleast under the influence of Christians, and not hostileto the fugitive monks, while the natives welcomedthem.The date and circumstances of Halfdan's death arenot easily set down. The Libellus above quoted doesnot place him on the list of Northumbrian kings. TheAnnals of Ulster mention under 876, recte 877," Alband," king of the Dubhgaill, killed in a battle onStrangford Lough with the Finngaill. The tenthcenturyHistory of St. Cuthbert, which calls htm andhis brother Scaldingi, Skjoldungs, says that in the endhe became mad and unpopular with his army, whichexpelled him ; Symeon of Durham adds that he fledwith three ships from the Tyne, and shortly perished.These authors then tell the curious story of theelection of Guthred, his successor. Eadred,abbot ofCarlisle, who was with St. Cuthbert's relics at Craikin central Yorkshire on the way home, dreamt thatSt. Cuthbert told him to go to the Danish army onthe Tyne, and to ransom from slavery a boy namedGuthred, son of Hardecnut (John of Wallingford saysthat "the sons of Hardecnut had sold him intoslavery and "), present him to the army as their king.