Herevpon they fell in consultation, euerie one alledging and bringing foorth his opinion as seemed to him best:  but it appeared they had the woolfe by the eare, for they wist not which way to turne them.  If they should giue battell, it was to be doubted least through treason among themselues, the armie should be betraied into the enimies hands, the which would not faile to execute all kind of crueltie in the slaughter of the whole nation.  And if they stood not valiantlie to shew themselues readie to defend their countrie, there was no shift but yeeld themselues.  Which though it were a thing reprochfull and dishonorable, yet should it be lesse euill, as they tooke the matter, for thereby might manie be preserued from death, and in time to come, be able to recouer the libertie of their countrie, when occasion should be offered.  This point was allowed of them all, and so in the end they rested vpon that resolution.

[Sidenote:  King Egelred determineth to give place vnto Swaine.] King Egelred therefore determined to commit himselfe into the hands of his brother in law Richard duke of Normandie, whose sister (as ye haue heard) he had maried.  But bicause he would not doo [Sidenote:  He sendeth his wife and sonnes ouer into Normandie.] this vnaduisedlie, first he sent ouer his wife queene Emma, with his sonnes which he had begotten of hir, Alfred and Edward, that by their [Sidenote:  Richard duke of Normandie.] interteinment he might vnderstand how he should be welcome.  Duke Richard receiued his sister and his nephues verie ioifullie, and promised to aid his brother king Egelred in defense of his kingdome.  But in this meane while had Swaine conquered the more part of all England, and brought (by little and little) that which remained vnder his subiection.  The people through feare submitting themselues [Sidenote:  Simon Dun. Hen.  Hunt. Turkill. 1014.] on each hand, king Egelred in this meane time (for the Londoners had submitted themselues to Swaine) was first withdrawne vnto Greenwich, and there remained for a time with the nauie of the Danes, which was vnder the gouernement of earle Turkill, and from thence sailed into the Ile of Wight, and there remained a great part of the winter, [Sidenote:  King Egelred passeth into Normandie.] and finallie after Christmas himselfe sailed into Normandie, and was of his brother in law ioifullie receiued & greatlie comforted in that his time of necessitie.

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Swaine king of Denmarke is reputed king of this land, he oppresseth the English people cruellie, and spoileth religious houses, the strange and miraculous slaughter of Swaine vaunting of his victories; the Danish chronicles write parciallie of him and his end, Cnute succeedeth his father Swaine in regiment, the Englishmen send king Egelred woord of Swaines death, Edward king Egelreds eldest sonne commeth ouer into England to know the state of the countrie and people