The treaty, Hrothweard declared, would usher in an era of lasting peace between the kingdoms. Swords, he declared grandly, would be beaten into plowshares. Svart spat when that was translated. To bring that peace, the archbishop continued, it was necessary for Sigtryggr to acknowledge Edward as his overlord, to swear loyalty to him, and, in reparation for the damages done by Northumbrian outlaws who had preyed on honest Christian folk in Mercia, silver weighing three thousand pounds was to be paid into King Edward’s treasury at Wintanceaster before the Feast of Pentecost. There was an intake of breath at that vast sum, but Hrothweard was not finished. He spoke gently, knowing how his words must gall Sigtryggr, but the demands were anything but gentle. Sigtryggr must swear he would do all in his power to prevent cattle raids and, if any such raids took place, the King of Northumbria undertook to pay the full value of the stolen livestock to King Edward’s treasury and as much again to the folk whose cattle were stolen. Northumbrian merchants trading in Wessex, Mercia, or East Anglia were to pay a new tax, but no such levy was to be imposed on subjects of King Edward who traded in Northumbria. King Edward’s troops could march through Northumbria without impedance. King Sigtryggr must agree to protect the lives and property of all Christian folk living in Northumbria. When he read that last demand Hrothweard had the decency to lower the document and smile at Sigtryggr, “As I know you already do, lord King.”

There was a sharp gasp of surprise from the Witan at those last words and one or two men looked ready to protest, but Hrothweard held up a hand to quell the unrest. “Further,” he read, “you are to allow Christian missionaries free passage and protection within the borders of your realm.”

I was tempted to ask whether Wessex would allow men and women to travel its roads preaching the worship of Thor and Odin, but I had the sense to keep quiet. Sigtryggr was likewise silent, even though the terms being imposed on him were brutal, humiliating, and not negotiable.

“And finally,” Hrothweard frowned slightly as he came to the end of the document, “we cannot rely upon the word of a pagan king, for it is well known in this kingdom and in all Christian kingdoms that pagans treat solemn promises with disdain, swearing their oaths on false gods and breaking such oaths with impunity.” I doubted Hrothweard had written the words, but Athelm of Contwaraburg was looking mightily pleased with himself. Edward just looked bored. “To make certain that Sigtryggr of Northumbria keeps to the terms of this treaty,” Hrothweard continued, “it is required that he undergo baptism this day and accept our Christian God in full faith as the one God, the only God, and the true God, and must understand that by that acceptance he places his soul in jeopardy of hell’s eternal torments if he break so much as one sentence of this treaty. He agrees moreover that he will extirpate the worship of false gods and of foul idols from all his lands.”