Vpon knowledge giuen into Denmarke of the cruell murder of the Danes
here in England, truth it is, that the people of the countrie were
greatlie kindled in malice, and set in such a furious rage against
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Simon Dun._ The Danes returne to inuade England.]
the Englishmen, that with all spÈed they made foorth a nauie full
fraught with men of warre, the which in the yeare following came
[Sidenote: Excester taken. 1002.]
swarming about the coasts of England, and landing in the west
countrie, tooke the citie of Excester, and gat there a rich
[Sidenote: Hugh a Norman conspireth with the Danes.]
spoile. One Hugh a Norman borne, whome queene Emma had placed in those
parties as gouernour or shirife there, conspired with the Danes, so
that all the countrie was ouerrun and wasted.
The king hearing that the Danes were thus landed, and spoiled the
west parts of the realme, he sent vnto Edricus to assemble a power to
withstand the enimies. Herevpon the people of Hampshire and Wiltshire
rose and got togither: but when the armies should ioine, earle
[Sidenote: The counterfait sicknesse of duke Edrike.]
Edricus surnamed de Streona feigned himselfe sicke, and so betraied
his people, of whome he had the conduct: for they perceiuing the want
[Sidenote: Wilton spoiled.]
in their leader, were discouraged, and so fled. The Danes followed
them vnto Wilton, which towne they rifled and ouercame. From thence
they went to Salisburie, and so taking their pleasure there, returned
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
to their ships, because (as some write) they were aduertised that
[Sidenote: 1004.]
the king was comming towards them with an huge armie. In the yeare
next insuing, that is to saie 1004, which was about the 24 yeare
[Sidenote: Swein king of Denmarke.]
of K. Egelreds reigne, Sweine or Swanus, king of Denmarke, with a
mightie nauie of ships came on the coast of Northfolke, and there
[Sidenote: Norwich taken by the Danes.]
landing with his people, made toward Norwich, and comming thither
tooke that citie, and spoiled it. Then went he vnto Thetford, and
[Sidenote: Thetford burnt.]
when he had taken and rifled that towne, he burnt it, notwithstanding
[Sidenote: Vikillus or Wilfeketell gouernour of Norffolke.]
a truce taken by Vikillus or Wilfketell gouernor of those parties
with the same king Swaine after the taking of Norwich. In reuenge
therefore of such breach of truce, the same Vikillus, or Wilfeketell,
with such power as he could raise, assaulted the host of Danes as they
returned to their ships, and slue a great number of them, but was not
able to mainteine the fight, for his enimies ouermatched him in number
of men. And so he was constrained in the end to giue backe: and
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._]
the enimies kept on their waies to their ships.
[Sidenote: 1005. Swaine returned into Denmarke. _Simon Dun._]
In the yeare following king Swaine returned into Denmarke with all
his flÈet, partlie constrained so to doo (as some write) by reason of
the great famin & want of necessarie sustenance, which in that
[Sidenote: 1006. _Hen. Hunt._ Swaine returned into England.]
yeare sore oppressed this land. In the yeare of our Lord 1006, king
Swaine returned againe into England with a mightie & huge nauie,
arriuing at Sandwich, and spoiled all the countrie nÈere vnto the
sea side. King Egelred raised all his power against him, and all the
haruest time laie abroad in the field to resist the Danes, which
according to their woonted maner spared not to exercise their
vnmercifull crueltie, in wasting and spoiling the land with fire and
sword, pilfering and taking of preies in euerie part where they came.
Neither could king Egelred remedie the matter, because the enimies
still conueied themselues with their ships into some contrarie
quarter, from the place where they knew him to be, so that his trauell
was in vaine.
[Sidenote: The Danes winter in the Ile of Wight.
They inuade Hampshire, Barkeshire, &c.]
About the beginning of winter they remained in the Ile of Wight,
& in the time of Christmasse they landed in Hampshire, and passing
through that countrie into Barkeshire, they came to Reading, and from
thence to Wallingford, and so to Coleseie, and then approching to
Essington, came to Achikelmeslawe, and in euerie place wheresoeuer
they came, they made cleane worke. For that which they could not carie
with them, they consumed with fire, burning vp their innes and sleaing
their hoasts. In returning backe, the people of the west countrie gaue
them battell, but preuailed not, so that they did but inrich their
[Sidenote: Winchester.]
enimies with the spoile of their bodies. They came by the gates of
Winchester as it were in maner of triumph, with vittels and spoiles
which they had fetched fiftie miles from the sea side. In the
[Sidenote: 1007.]
meane time king Egelred lay about Shrewsburie sore troubled with the
newes hereof, and in the yeare next insuing, by the aduise of his
councell he gaue to king Swaine for the redeeming of peace 30000
[Sidenote: 36000 pound saith _Si. Dun._]
pounds.
[Sidenote: Edrike de Streona made duke or earle of Mercia.]
In the same yeare K. Egelred created the traitor Edrike earle of
Mercia, who although he had maried Edgiua the kings daughter, was yet
noted to be one of those which disclosed the secrets of the realme,
and the determinations of the councell vnto the enimies. But he
was such a craftie dissembler, so greatlie prouided of sleight to
dissemble and cloake his falshood, that the king being too much abused
by him, had him in singular fauour, whereas he vpon a malicious
purpose studied dailie how to bring the realme into vtter destruction,
aduertising the enimies from time to time how the state of things
stood, whereby they came to knowlege when they should giue place,
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
and when they might safelie come forward. Moreouer, being sent vnto
them oftentimes as a commissioner to treat for peace, he persuaded
them to warre. But such was the pleasure of God, to haue him and such
other of like sort aduanced to honor in this season, when by his
diuine prouidence he meant to punish the people of this realme for
their wickednesse and sinnes, whereby they had iustlie prouoked his
wrath and high displeasure.
[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._ _Simon Dun._
An hundred acres is an hide of land.]
In the 30 yeare of king Egelreds reigne, which fell in the yeare
of our Lord 1008, he tooke order that of euerie thrÈe hundred and ten
hides of land within this realme, there should one ship be builded,
and of euerie eight hides a complet armor furnished. In the yeare
[Sidenote: 1008]
following, the kings whole flÈet was brought togither at Sandwich,
and such souldiers came thither as were appointed to go to sea in the
same fleet. There had not bÈene seene the like number of ships
[Sidenote: Provision for ships and armour]
so trimlie rigged and furnished in all points, in anie kings daies
before. But no great profitable peece of seruice was wrought by them:
for the king had about that time banished a noble yoong man of
[Sidenote: _Matt. West._]
Sussex called Wilnot, who getting togither twentie sailes, laie vpon
the coasts taking prices where he could get them. Brithrike the
brother of earle Edrike, being desirous to win honor, tooke forth
foure score of the said ships, and promised to bring in the enimie
dead or aliue. But as he was sailing forward on the seas, a sore
tempest with an outragious wind rose with such violence, that his
ships were cast vpon the shore: and Wilnot comming vpon them, set them
on fire, and so burned them euerie one. The residue of the ships, when
newes came to them of this mishap, returned backe to London; and
then was the armie dispersed, and so all the cost and trauell of the
Englishmen proued in vaine.
[Sidenote: Danes land at Sandwich. 1009.]
After this, in the haruest time a new armie of Danes, vnder the
conduct of thrÈe capteines, Turkill, Henning, and Aulafe landed at
Sandwich, and from thence passed forth to Canturburie, and had taken
the citie but that the citizens gaue them a 1000 pounds to depart from
[Sidenote: 3000 pound saith _Sim. Dun._]
thence, and to leaue the countrie in peace. Then went the Danes to
[Sidenote: Sussex and Hampshire spoiled.]
the Ile of Wight, and afterwards landed and spoiled the countrie
of Sussex and Hampshire. King Egelred assembled the whole power of all
his subiects, and comming to giue them battell, had made an end of
their cruell harieng the countrie with the slaughter of them all, if
earle Edrike with forged tales (deuised onelie to put him in feare)
had not dissuaded him from giuing battell. The Danes by that
[Sidenote: The Danes returne into Kent.]
meanes returning in safetie, immediatlie after the feast of saint
Martine, returned into Kent, and lodged with their nauie in the winter
following in the Thames, and oftentimes assaulting the citie of
London, were still beaten backe to their losse.
[Sidenote: 1010. Oxford burnt.]
After the feast of Christmasse they passed through the countrie
and woods of Chilterne vnto Oxford, which towne they burned, and then
returning backe they fell to wasting of the countrie on both sides the
Thames. But hearing that an armie was assembled at London to giue them
battell; that part of their host which kept on the northside of the
[Sidenote: Stanes.]
riuer, passed the same riuer at Stanes, and so ioining with their
fellowes marched foorth through Southerie, and comming backe to their
ships in Kent, fell in hand to repare & amend their ships that were
in anie wise decaied. Then after Easter, the Danes sailing about the
[Sidenote: Gipswich in Suffolke. _Simon Dun._]
coast, arriued at Gipswich in Suffolke, on the Ascension day of
our Lord: and inuading the countrie, gaue battell at a place called
Wigmere or Rigmere, vnto Vikill or Wilfeketell leader of the English
host in those parties, on the fift of Maie. The men of Northfolke and
Suffolke fled at the first onset giuen: but the Cambridgeshire
men sticked to it valiantlie, winning thereby perpetuall fame and
commendation. There was no mindfulnesse amongest them of running
awaie, so that a great number of the nobilitie and other were beaten
[Sidenote: Capat formicÊ.]
downe and slaine, till at length one Turketell Mireneheued, that
had a Dane to his father, first began to take his flight, and deserued
thereby an euerlasting reproch.
The Danes obteining the vpper hand, for the space of thrÈe moneths
togither went vp and downe the countries, & wasted those parties of
the realme, that is to say, Northfolke, and Suffolke, with the borders
of Lincolnshire, Huntingtonshire, and Cambridgeshire where the fens
are, gaining excÈeding riches by the spoile of great and wealthie
[Sidenote: Thetford. Cambridge. _Hen. Hunt._]
abbies and churches which had their situation within the compasse
of the same fens. They also destroied Thetford, and burnt Cambridge,
and from thence passed through the pleasant mountaine-countrie of
Belsham, cruellie murdering the people without respect of age, degrÈe
[Sidenote: The Danes arrive in the Thames. 1011.]
or sex. After this also they entred into Essex. and so came backe
to their ships, which were then arriued in the Thames. But they rested
not anie long time in quiet, as people that minded nothing but the
destruction of this realme. So as soone after, when they had somwhat
refreshed them, they set forward againe into the countrie, passing
through Buckinghamshire, & so into Bedfordshire. And about saint
[Sidenote: Northampton burnt by Danes.]
Andrewes tide they turned towards Northampton, & comming thither set
fire on that towne. Then turning through the west countrie, with fire
& sword they wasted and destroied a great part thereof, & namelie
Wiltshire, with other parties. And finallie about the feast of
Christmas they came againe to their ships. Thus had the Danes
[Sidenote: How manie shires the Danes wasted.]
wasted the most part of 16 or 17 shires within this realme, as
Northfolke, Suffolke, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Middlesex, Hartfordshire,
Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Bedfordshire, with a part of
Huntingtonshire, and also a great portion of Northamptonshire. This
was doone in the countries that lie on the northside of the riuer of
Thames. On the southside of the same riuer, they spoiled and wasted
Kent, Southerie, Sussex, Barkeshire, Hampshire, and (as is before
said) a great part of Wiltshire.
* * * * *
_King Egelred offereth the Danes great summes of moneie to desist
from destroieng his countrie, their unspeakable crueltie,
bloudthirstinesse, and insatiable spoiling of Canturburie betraied
by a churchman; their merciles murthering of Elphegus archbishop of
Canturburie, Turkillus the Dane chiefe lord of Norfolke and Suffolke,
a peace concluded betweene the Danes and the English vpon hard
conditions; Gunthildis a beautifull Danish ladie and hir husband
slaine, hir courage to the death._