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Camden*:"-" When the Danes, under Inguar and Hubba, landed, A.D. 867, in Dunsby Bay, two miles east [west] of this place [Whitby], and encamped on an eminence still called from their standard Ravenshill, they destroyed the monastery, &c." That and another hill of the same name are also thus noticed in Hinderwell's "History of Scarborough:"-" Hungar and Hubba, two celebrated Danish chieftains, having collected a great many adventurers, set sail for England with a numerous fleet in the spring of the year 876 †, and landed in two divisions. The first division, commanded by Hubba, debarked in Dunsby Bay, about two miles to the westward of Streanshalh (Whitby), where they erected their standard, a raven, on an eminence of rising ground, which is supposed to have been known ever since by the name of Raven Hill; while the other division, under Hungar, made their landing good at Peak, about seven miles to the eastward of Streanshalh, and ten to the north-west of Scarborough, where, on the top of a very high cliff or hill, they erected another standard or flag, with a raven pourtrayed thereon, which might be seen all the country round; which hill is to this day also known by the name of Raven Hill." It may be observed that there was a person named Alfric II., Earl of Leicester, who was slain by this Hubba at Skrekingham, in Lincolnshire, during Alfred's time.

It is said in some of the histories, that Odun, Earl of Devonshire, in a battle which took place in that county with Hubba, in the year 879, defeated the Danes and captured their famous magical standard, which was called Reafan, from its having the figure of a raven § embroidered upon it by the three sisters of Hubba .

* Vol. iii., p. 324, second edition, 1806.

See Gough's" Camden," Vol. ii., p. 334, second edition, 1806.

§ It may be observed here that children to the present day commonly call any large tame bird they may have by the pet name of Raff, Rafe, or Ralph. In Hone's "Table Book," pp. 826, 827, he gives an account of a tame raven which was called Rafe.

See Sydney's " History of England," &c. The above-mentioned was a most important event, as it drew Alfred from his retreat to further victories, and ultimate triumph.

In Gibson's "Camden*" it is stated, that there was upon the coast of Devonshire, a castle called Kenuith [or Kenwith], "and so situated, that there was no approaching it on any side but the east, where, in the year 879, Hubba, the Dane who had harrassed the English, cutting off great numbers of them, was himself cut off, and the place was from thenceforward called Hubbestow by our historians. At the same time, the Danish standard, called Reafan, was taken by the English, which I the rather observe, because, from a little story in Asser Menevensis,' who has recorded these matters, it may be gathered that the Danes had a crow in their standard, which is said to have been wrought in needlework by the daughters of Lodbroc the Dane; and, as they conceived, it made them invincible."

The following similar story, taken from Thierry's "History of the Norman Conquest" (p. 70), is told of the three sisters of Sweyn:-" 1004 to 1006. At their disembarkation on the English coast, the Danes, formed into battallions, unfurled a mysterious standard, which they denominated the raven. It was

a banner of white silk, in the centre of which was embroidered a raven, with open beak and extended wings: three of King Sweyn's sisters had embroidered it in a night, accompanying their labour with magic incantations and gesticulations. This banner, which, agreeably to the superstitious notions of the Scandinavians, was a sure pledge of victory, increased the ardour and the confidence of the fresh invaders," &c.

Dr. Thomas, in his " Survey and account of Worcester Cathedral," &c., published in 1737, mentions a place called Ravenshill, or Ræfneshill, situated two miles east of Worcester, and says, that in the year 876, Coenwlf, King of the Mercians, gave

Vol. i., p. 167, fourth edition, 1772.

+ Also see Gough's "Camden" thereon, Vol. i., p. 30, first edition, 1789, where it is called a raven.

It lies about three miles from the city, in the midst of Danish relics. Vide the accounts of Warndon and Crowle. Also see "Codex Dip." No. 209, and 209 App., Vol. iii., as to this Hræfneshyl; and No. 289, and 289 App., Vol. iii., as to Hrefnespyt, near Honeybourne, in this county.

Ræfneshill to the Bishop of Worcester, &c.; and that Brighteagus, Bishop of Worcester in the reign of Canute, gave Ravenshill to his kinsman Brihtwine f.

Dr. Nash, in his account of Tibberton, says, 66 on the north side of the parish, situate on a hill, is Ravenhull. Britteagus, the 22nd Bishop of Worcester, A.D. 1033, gave it to a certain kinsman of his, called Swythynes, after whose death the sheriff Urso invaded it," &c.

There is a piece of land called the Raven's Dole, in the Berrow; Raven's Hay, in Pendock; Raven Hill, in the parish of Upton-on-Severn; and Raven's Bank, in Beoley.

In Welland there are pieces of land called Dane Moor Copse, and Dane Moor Hill; the Danes, in the Borough of Kidderminster; Danes Field, in Belbroughton; Danes Close, in Claines; Danes Meadow, in Doderhill; Danes Close, in Kempsey; Dane Piece, in Lower Milton, in the parish of Kidderminster; and Dane Wood, east of Pirton,-all in Worcestershire. Likewise, Dane Hopyard, in Cradley, Herefordshire.

Now, it is observable here, that as Welland, Upton, Cradley, Alfrick, and Lulsley, are upon or near the line of the Malvern, Old Storage, and Suckley chain of hills; they, therefore, were the most likely parts in the district to be the sites of battles between the Saxons and Danes. It is, however, a question whether Alfred was in Worcestershire, or rather in the region afterwards called Worcestershire during any of these battles. On this point I have not found any positive evidence; yet the following extracts from various works may tend to throw some light upon the subject;-but I must first observe that the most likely time of his being in Worcestershire, if at all, was either about the year 877, when the Danes made themselves masters of Mercia; or in 880 or 883, when he signed two charters of Ethelred, viceroy of Mercia; or when he signed another of such charters (without date), as hereafter mentioned; or in or about

• See App. 25.

+ See App. 63, and Heming's " Cartulary," pp. 267, 307, 337.

The word Hopyard attached to the above name must be comparatively modern, it probably was Dane ground, or some such name, in days of yore.

the year 894, when he drove Hasting, the celebrated Danish pirate, from the Mercian kingdom, of which Worcestershire formed a part.

It is stated in "A Concise History of Worcestershire,” published in 1808, that, "when England was overrun with the depredations of the Danes, we find this place [Worcester] to have suffered in the general wretchedness of the kingdom. It was plundered and burnt to the ground; insomuch that it remained in ruins and uninhabited, until Ethelred, viceroy of the Wiccians, with his lady, Ethelfreda, [Ethelflæd], daughter of Alfred the Great, invited the inhabitants to resort again to their ancient residence. A bishop's see was established here, and, numbers returning, great privileges were granted to them."

In Green's "History of Worcester," Vol. i., p. 18, is the following: The great Alfred, whose paternal throne was that of Wessex, was the first king in England who had all the provinces of the heptarchy under his immediate dominion; yet he thought it expedient to govern the Mercians by a prince of their ancient nobility, Duke Ethelred, to whom he had given his daughter Ethelfleda, a very heroine, in marriage. Several towns in Mercia (Chester, Shrewsbury, Stafford, Warwick, and Bridgenorth) are indebted to this noble pair, at least to Ethelfleda, who surviving the duke seven years, died A.D. 919. Worcester also has obligations to them; for, by a charter of theirs, signed in King Alfred's reign (i. e. before A.D. 906), upon Bishop Wærfred's! desire that the city of Weogernaceastre might be improved and fortified with bulwarks for the security of its inhabitants, they granted to the church, or minster there, one-half of the royal dues or tolls arising either from the market or the street, reserving only the wain shilling and the seam penny § entire to the

Wiccia, a province of the Mercian kingdom, contained Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and part of Warwickshire.

He appears to have been Duke

§ "This was a duty on wares carried out; one penny each horse-load, and

twelve times as much on a loaded wain."

king. But, out of all his land-rents, and the mulets for fighting, theft, fraud, &c., and the other forfeitures that might accrue to the crown, they assigned a moiety to the use of St. Peter's Church and See."

With respect to this important charter, it proves that Alfred was in Mercia when it was granted, for it states that it was given under witness of Alfred the king, and of all the Witan in Mercia. Now, as this charter contributed so largely towards the amelioration of the wretched condition of Worcester, after it was ravaged by the Danes, and entered so minutely into the concerns of the place, it appears very probable that Alfred, and his son-in-law and daughter, and the Witena, sat at Worcester at that time, in order that they might, upon the spot, be enabled to take all the circumstances of the case into their consideration.

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Since writing the above, I am happy to find the following notice of this charter in Kemble's "Saxons in England +:"· ÆDELRED, DUKE OF MERCIA, A.D. 878-899.-At a gemót held between these years, and very likely at Worcester, Ethelred and Æthelflæd commanded a burh or fortification to be built for the people of that city, and the cathedral to be enlarged. The endowments and privileges which are granted by the instrument are extensive and instructive ‡."

In the same page Mr. Kemble notices another charter of Ethelred and Ethelflæd, as follows::

“ÆDELRED, DUKE OF MERCIA, A.D. 888.-This gemót was held at Saltwic in Worcestershire, to consult upon affairs both ecclesiastical and secular. The witan assembled from far and near§."

Now, in the former case it is pretty evident that Alfred, and his son-in-law and daughter, did sit at Worcester; and in the

The reservation is as follows:-" The wain-shilling and load-penny are to go to the king's hand, as they always did, from Saltwic."-See the account of Droitwich, hereafter.

+ Vol. ii., p. 252, chap. Witena Gemót of the Saxons.

See "Codex Dip.," No. 1075. The date is therein set down as between 873 and 899.

§ "Codex Dip.," Nos. 327, 1068.