In the meane time came Hasting with 80 ships into the Thames, and [Sidenote:  Simon Dun. At Milton.  Hasting the capteine of the Danes besieged.  He receiueth an oth.] builded a castle at Middleton, but he was constreined by siege which king Alfred planted about him, to receiue an oth that he should not in any wise annoie the dominion of king Alfred, who vpon his promise to depart, gaue great gifts as well to him as to his wife and children.  One of his sonnes also king Alfred held at the fontstone, and to the other duke Aldred was god father.  For (as it were to win credit, and to auoid present danger) Hasting sent vnto Alfred these his two sonnes, signifieng that if it stood with his pleasure, he could be content that they should be baptised.  But neuerthelesse this Hasting was euer most vntrue of word and deed, he builded a castle at Beamfield.  And as he was going foorth to spoile and wast the kings [Sidenote:  Beanfield saith M.  West.] countries, Alfred tooke that castle, with his wife, children, ships [Sidenote:  This enterprise was atchiued by Etheldred duke of Mercia in the absence of the king, as Matth.  West. hath noted] and goods, which he got togither of such spoiles as he had abroad:  but he restored vnto Hasting his wife and children, bicause he was their godfather.

Shortlie after, newes came that a great number of other ships of [Sidenote:  Excester besieged.] Danes were come out of Northumberland, and had besieged Excester.  Whilest king Alfred went then against them, the other armie which lay at Appledore inuaded Essex, and built a castell in that countrie, and after went into the borders of Wales, and builded another castell [Sidenote:  Seuerne.] neere vnto the riuer of Seuerne:  but being driuen out of that countrie, they returned againe into Essex.  Those that had besieged Excester, vpon knowledge had of king Alfreds comming, fled to their ships, and so remaining on the sea, roaued abroad, seeking preies. [Sidenote:  Chester taken by Danes.] Besides this, other armies there were sent foorth, which comming out of Northumberland tooke the citie of Chester, but there they [Sidenote:  Great famine] were so beset about with their enimies, that they were constreined to eate their horsses.  At length, in the 24 yeere of king Alfred, they left that citie, and fetcht a compas about Northwales, and so [Sidenote:  Hen.  Hunt.] meaning to saile round about the coast to come into Northumberland, they arriued in Essex, and in the winter following drew their ships by [Sidenote:  The water of Luie, now Lee.] the Thames into the water of Luie.  That armie of Danes which had besieged Excester, tooke preies about Chichester, and was met with, so that they lost manie of their men, and also diuerse of their ships.