| Northumbria, Mercia and East Anglia, had all fallen | | | | the swamp, he sought shelter with the family of |
| to the Danish invaders, leaving Wessex as the | | | | a swineherd. The wife of the swineherd not |
| only Saxon kingdom not yet under the thrall of | | | | knowing her guest was a king, asked Alfred to |
| the Danes. Despite being hard pressed by the | | | | keep an eye on the cakes and make sure they |
| invaders, The Saxon King, Ethelred with his | | | | didn't burn. Alfred agreed, but having other things |
| younger brother Alfred (Aelfred) at his side, won | | | | on his mind, allowed the cakes to burn. The wife |
| a stunning victory over the enemy on the 8th of | | | | returned and gave him a piece of her mind and a |
| January 871 at Ashdown. The victory however | | | | clout around the ear too boot. The tale has |
| was short lived; the Saxons were overwhelmed | | | | passed into legend, but whether it is true or not, |
| by the Danes on 22nd of January at Basing. The | | | | no one knows. But what history does show is |
| Saxons rallied, but after a hard fought battle were | | | | that Alfred left the swamp in the spring and |
| again beaten and Ethelred killed at the battle of | | | | defeated Guthrum at Eddlington, then went on to |
| Merton. Alfred became king of Wessex on the | | | | become Alfred the Great, the king of England. |
| death of his brother and was forced to negotiate | | | | The Cakes would not be what we call cakes, but |
| the payment of Danegelt - Literally a payment to | | | | would most likely be oatcakes, part of the |
| get the Danes to leave his Kingdom alone. | | | | family's staple diet and be eaten as an alternative |
| For the next few years a peace of sorts reigned, | | | | to bread. The recipe below is the nearest I can |
| as the Danes consolidated their gains elsewhere. | | | | get to the original. |
| But in 876 Guthrum a new leader of the Danes | | | | Oatcakes. |
| appeared and captured Wareham. A peace was | | | | Ingredients |
| negotiated, and hostages taken by both sides. It | | | | A spoonful of pig fat |
| wasn't long before Guthrum broke faith with their | | | | 4 oz oatmeal (porridge oats) |
| agreement and attacked and captured Exeter. | | | | A pinch of salt |
| The Saxons retaliated and besieged by Alfred's | | | | Some warm water |
| army, Guthrum agreed to another peace. Alfred | | | | Method |
| insisted that this time Guthrum and his men | | | | Melt the fat; add it to the oats and salt. Stir in |
| decamp to Mercia. | | | | warm water until you have softish dough. Powder |
| The uneasy peace held until January 878, when | | | | board with dry oatmeal, turn dough onto it and |
| Guthrum attacked without warning and overran | | | | kneed. Flatten out dough cut into portions Bake |
| the Saxon army at Chippenham, while Alfred's | | | | on a hot griddle for approx five minutes a side, |
| court was still celebrating the twelve days of | | | | should be cooked but not brown. |
| Chistmas. Alfred had no choice but to flee to the | | | | And remember, DON'T BURN THE CAKES. |
| marshlands and tidal swamps surrounding Athelney | | | | Copyright Fred Watson 2007 |
| in the Somerset levels. There he licked his | | | | The above was written by Fred Watson and you |
| wounds and began to rebuild his army. | | | | can find other examples of his writing on his |
| According to legend, when the king - in disguise to | | | | website. |
| avoid detection by Guthrum's Men - first arrived in | | | | |