In the year of our Lords incarnation the eight hundred and seventyeighth, andthe thirtieth from King Alfreds birth, the oftmentioned army left Exeter andcame to Chippenham, a royal vill located in the north of Wiltshire on theeastern bank of the river called Avon in Welsh, and there wintered. Andthrough force of arms and want, as well as through fear, they drove many of thepeople there to go beyond sea, and brough most of the inhabitants of thedistrict under their rule.At the same time the said King Alfred, with a few of his nobles and someknights and men of his household, was in great distress leading an unquiet lifein the woods and marshes of Somerset. For he had no means of support exceptwhat he took in frequent raids by stealth or openly from the pagans, or indeedfrom Christians who had submitted to pagan rule.

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