[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ A nauie set forth.]
The king yet caused a nauie to be set foorth at London, whereof
he appointed earle Alfrike (whome before he had banished) to be high
admerall, ioining with him earle Turold. This nauie did set forward
from London toward the enimies, who hauing warning giuen them from
Alfrike, escaped away without hurt. Shortly after a greater nauie of
the Danes came, and incountered with the kings fléet, so that a great
[Sidenote: Alfrike a traitour to his countrie. _Matth. West._]
number of the Londoners were slaine, and all the kings ships
taken: for Alfrike like a traitor turned to the Danes side. ¶ Matt.
West, maketh other report of this matter, declaring that Alfrike in
déed being one of the chiefe capteins of the fléet, aduertised them
by forewarning of the danger that was toward them, and that when they
should come to ioining, the same Alfrike like a traitor fled to the
Danes, and after vpon necessitie being put to flight escaped away with
them: but the other capteins of the kings fléet, as Theodred, Elstan,
and Escwen, pursued the Danes, tooke one of their ships, and slue all
those that were found therein. The Londoners also (as the same Matt.
West, saith) met with the nauie of the Danish rouers as they fled
away, and slue a great number, and also tooke the ship of the traitor
Alfrike with his souldiers & armor, but he himselfe escaped, though
with much paine, hauing plaied the like traitorous part once
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ The son punished for his fathers offense. 993.]
before, and yet was reconciled to the kings fauor againe. Vpon this
mischiefe wrought by the father, the king now tooke his sonne Algar,
and caused his eies to be put out.

About the same time was Bambrough destroied by the Danes, which
arriued after in Humber, and wasted the countrie of Lindsey and
Yorkeshire, on either side that riuer. And when the Englishmen were