[Sidenote:  Danes land at Sandwich. 1009.] After this, in the haruest time a new armie of Danes, vnder the conduct of three 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 formicae.] 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.