The Danes obteining the vpper hand, for the space of three 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 exceeding 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, degree [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.

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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.

THE FIFT CHAPTER.