place in Staffordshire called Hownhill, & others in other places, but
whersoeuer it began, the dooers repented it after.

[Sidenote: The miserable state of this realme vnder the thraldome of
the Danes.]
But now yer we procéed anie further, we will shew what rule the
Danes kept here in this realme before they were thus murthered, as
in some bookes we find recorded. Whereas it is shewed that the Danes
compelled the husbandmen to til the ground & doo all maner of labour
and toile to be doone about husbandrie: the Danes liued vpon the fruit
and gaines that came thereof, and kept the husbandmens wiues, their
daughters, maids and seruants, vsing and abusing them at their
pleasures. And when the husbandmen came home, then could they scarse
haue such sustenance of meats and drinkes as fell for seruants to
haue: so that the Danes had all their commandements, eating and
drinking of the best, where the sillie man that was the owner, could
hardlie come to his fill of the worst. Besides this, the common people
were so oppressed by the Danes, that for feare and dread they called
[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._]
them in euerie such house where anie of them soiourned, Lord Dane.
And if an Englishman and a Dane chanced to méet at anie bridge or
streight passage, the Englishman must staie till the Lord Dane were
passed. But in processe of time, after the Danes were voided the land,
this word Lord Dane was in derision and despight of the Danes turned
[Sidenote: Lordane whereof the word came.]
by Englishmen into a name of reproch, as Lordane, which till these
our daies is not forgotten. For when the people in manie parts of this
realme will note and signifie anie great idle lubber that will not
labour nor take paine for his liuing, they will call him Lordane. Thus
did the Danes vse the Englishmen in most vile manner, and kept them in