Chronicles : The Historie of England | Page 5

kings ships taken: for Alfrike like a traitor turned to the Danes side. ? Matt. West, maketh other report of this matter, declaring that Alfrike in d��ed being one of the chiefe capteins of the fl��et, aduertised them by forewarning of the danger that was toward them, and that when they should come to ioining, the same Alfrike like a traitor fled to the Danes, and after vpon necessitie being put to flight escaped away with them: but the other capteins of the kings fl��et, as Theodred, Elstan, and Escwen, pursued the Danes, tooke one of their ships, and slue all those that were found therein. The Londoners also (as the same Matt. West, saith) met with the nauie of the Danish rouers as they fled away, and slue a great number, and also tooke the ship of the traitor Alfrike with his souldiers & armor, but he himselfe escaped, though with much paine, hauing plaied the like traitorous part once [Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ The son punished for his fathers offense. 993.] before, and yet was reconciled to the kings fauor againe. Vpon this mischiefe wrought by the father, the king now tooke his sonne Algar, and caused his eies to be put out.
About the same time was Bambrough destroied by the Danes, which arriued after in Humber, and wasted the countrie of Lindsey and Yorkeshire, on either side that riuer. And when the Englishmen were assembled to giue them battell, before they ioined, the capteines [Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ Polydor. _Matth. West._] of the English armie, Frena, Godwin, and Fredegist, that were Danes by their fathers side began to flie away, and escaped, so giuing the occasion of the ouerthrow that lighted on their people. But by some writers it should app��ere, that after the Danes had destroied all the north parts, as they spred abroad without order and good arraie, the [Sidenote: Aulafe king of Norway, & Swein king of Denmarke were capteins of this fleet, as saith _Simon Dun._ 994] people of the countrie fell vpon them, and slue some of them, and chased the residue. Other of the Danes with a nauie of 94 ships entered the Thames, and besieged London about our ladie daie in September. They gaue a verie sore assault to the citie, and assaied to set it on fire: but the citizens so valiantlie defended themselues, that the Danes were beaten backe and repelled, greatlie to their losse, so that they were constreined to depart thence with dishonor. Then they fell to and wasted the countries of Essex, Kent, Sussex, and Hamshire, and ceassed not till they had inforced the king to compound [Sidenote: _Hen Hunt._ _Wil. Malm._ The king compounded with the Danes for monie. _Matt. West. Simon Dun._ Aufale king of Norwey baptised. His promise.] with them for 16 thousand pounds, which he was glad to pay to haue peace with them.
Moreouer, whereas they wintered that y��ere at Southampton, the king procured Aulafe king of the Norwegians to come vnto Andeuer (where at that time he lay) vpon pledges receiued of the king for his safe returne. Elphegus bishop of Winchester, and duke Ethelwold were appointed by king Egelred to bring Aulafe vnto him in most honorable maner. The same time was Aulafe baptised, king Egelred receiuing him at the fontstone, and so he promised neuer after to make anie war within this land. And receiuing great gifts of the king, he returned into his countrie, and kept his promise faithfullie: but the euils tooke not so an end, for other of the Danes sprang vp, as they had b��ene the heads of the serpent Hydra, some of them euer being readie to trouble the quiet state of the English nation. [Sidenote: Iohn Leland. _Simon Dun._ 995.]
About this season, that is to say, in the y��ere of our Lord 995, bishop Aldaine which was fled from Chester in the str��et (otherwise [Sidenote: The church of Durham builded.] called Cunecester) with the bodie of saint Cuthbert for feare of the inuasion of Danes, vnto Rippon, brought the same bodie now vnto Durham, and there began the foundation of a church; so that the s��e of that bishoprike was from thencefoorth there established, and the woods [Sidenote: Earle Vthred] were there cut downe, which before that time couered and ouergrew that place, wherevpon it began first to be inhabited. Earle Vthred, who gouerned that countrie, greatlie furthered the bishop in this [Sidenote: Durham town and minster builded.] worke, so that all the people inhabiting betweene the riuers of Coquid and Theis, came togither to rid the woods, and to helpe forwards the building of the church and towne there.
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_The Danes inuading the west parts of this land make great hauocke by fire and sword, they arriue at Rochester, and