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