Chronicles : The Historie of England | Page 8

find recorded. Whereas it is shewed that the Danes
compelled the husbandmen to til the ground & doo all maner of labour
and toile to be doone about husbandrie: the Danes liued vpon the fruit
and gaines that came thereof, and kept the husbandmens wiues, their
daughters, maids and seruants, vsing and abusing them at their
pleasures. And when the husbandmen came home, then could they
scarse haue such sustenance of meats and drinkes as fell for seruants to
haue: so that the Danes had all their commandements, eating and
drinking of the best, where the sillie man that was the owner, could
hardlie come to his fill of the worst. Besides this, the common people
were so oppressed by the Danes, that for feare and dread they called
[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._] them in euerie such house where anie of

them soiourned, Lord Dane. And if an Englishman and a Dane chanced
to méet at anie bridge or streight passage, the Englishman must staie till
the Lord Dane were passed. But in processe of time, after the Danes
were voided the land, this word Lord Dane was in derision and
despight of the Danes turned [Sidenote: Lordane whereof the word
came.] by Englishmen into a name of reproch, as Lordane, which till
these our daies is not forgotten. For when the people in manie parts of
this realme will note and signifie anie great idle lubber that will not
labour nor take paine for his liuing, they will call him Lordane. Thus
did the Danes vse the Englishmen in most vile manner, and kept them
in such seruile thraldome as cannot be sufficientlie vttered.
* * * * *

_A fresh power of Danes inuade England to reuenge the slaughter of
their countrimen that inhabited this Ile, the west parts betraied into their
hands by the conspiracie of a Norman that was in gouernement, earle
Edrike feined himselfe sicke when king Egelred sent vnto him to leuie
a power against the Danes, and betraieth his people to the enimies;
Sweine king of Denmarke arriueth on the coast of Northfolke, and
maketh pitifull spoile by fire and sword; the truce taken betweene him
and Vikillus is violated, and what reuengement followeth; king Sweine
forced by famine returneth into his owne countrie, he arriueth againe at
Sandwich, why king Egelred was vnable to preuaile against him, the
Danes ouerrun all places where they come and make cruell waste, king
Egelred paieth him great summes of monie for peace; the mischiefes
that light vpon a land by placing a traitorous stranger in gouernement,
how manie acres a hide of land conteineth, Egelreds order taken for
ships and armour, why his great fleet did him little pleasure; a fresh
host of Danes vnder three capteines arriue at Sandwich, the citizens of
Canturburie for monie purchase safetie, the faithlesse deeling of Edrike
against king Egelred for the enimies aduantage, what places the Danes
ouerran and wasted_.
THE FOURTH CHAPTER.

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 spéed 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