About this season, that is to say, in the yeere of our Lord 995, bishop Aldaine which was fled from Chester in the street (otherwise [Sidenote:  The church of Durham builded.] called Cunecester) with the bodie of saint Cuthbert for feare of the inuasion of Danes, vnto Rippon, brought the same bodie now vnto Durham, and there began the foundation of a church; so that the see of that bishoprike was from thencefoorth there established, and the woods [Sidenote:  Earle Vthred] were there cut downe, which before that time couered and ouergrew that place, wherevpon it began first to be inhabited.  Earle Vthred, who gouerned that countrie, greatlie furthered the bishop in this [Sidenote:  Durham town and minster builded.] worke, so that all the people inhabiting betweene the riuers of Coquid and Theis, came togither to rid the woods, and to helpe forwards the building of the church and towne there.

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The Danes inuading the west parts of this land make great hauocke by fire and sword, they arriue at Rochester, and conquer the Kentishmen in field, king Egelred ouercommeth the Danes that inhabited Cumberland and wasteth the countrie, the Summersetshire men are foiled; the miserable state of the realme in those daies; the English bloud mixed with the Danes and Britaines, and what inconueniencies grew thervpon, the disordered gouernement of king Egelred, sicknesses vexing the people, treason in the nobles, the tribute paid to the Danes vnmercifillie inhansed, the realme brought to beggerie; king Egelred by politike persuasion and counsell marrieth Emma the duke of Normandies daughter, vpon what occasion the Normans pretended a title to the crowne of England, they conquer the whole land, what order king Egelred tooke to kill all the Danes within his kingdoms, and what rule they bare in this realme yer they were murdered, the thraldome of the English people under them, whereof the word Lordane sprang.

THE THIRD CHAPTER.

In the ninteenth yere of king Egelreds reigne, the Danes sailed about [Sidenote:  997.  The Danes inuade the west parts of this land.] Cornewall, and comming into the Seuerne sea, they robbed & tooke preies in the coasts of Deuonshire & Southwales, and landing at Wicheport, they burned vp the countrie, and came about vnto Penwithstreet on the south coast, and so arriuing in the mouth of Tamer water, came vnto Lidford, and there wasted all afore them with force of fire.  They burned, amongst other places, the monasterie of [Sidenote:  Tauestocke.] saint Ordulfe at Essingstocke.  After this they came into Dorcetshire, and passed through the countrie with flame and fire, not finding anie that offered to resist them.  The same yeere also they soiourned in the Ile of Wight, and liued vpon spoiles & preies which they tooke in [Sidenote:  998.] Hampshire and Sussex.  At length they came into the Thames, and so [Sidenote:  999.  The Danes arriue in the Thames.] by the riuer of Medwey arriued at