[Sidenote: Swein king of Denmarke.]
of K. Egelreds reigne, Sweine or Swanus, king of Denmarke, with a
mightie nauie of ships came on the coast of Northfolke, and there
[Sidenote: Norwich taken by the Danes.]
landing with his people, made toward Norwich, and comming thither
tooke that citie, and spoiled it. Then went he vnto Thetford, and
[Sidenote: Thetford burnt.]
when he had taken and rifled that towne, he burnt it, notwithstanding
[Sidenote: Vikillus or Wilfeketell gouernour of Norffolke.]
a truce taken by Vikillus or Wilfketell gouernor of those parties
with the same king Swaine after the taking of Norwich. In reuenge
therefore of such breach of truce, the same Vikillus, or Wilfeketell,
with such power as he could raise, assaulted the host of Danes as they
returned to their ships, and slue a great number of them, but was not
able to mainteine the fight, for his enimies ouermatched him in number
of men. And so he was constrained in the end to giue backe: and
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._]
the enimies kept on their waies to their ships.

[Sidenote: 1005. Swaine returned into Denmarke. _Simon Dun._]
In the yeare following king Swaine returned into Denmarke with all
his fléet, partlie constrained so to doo (as some write) by reason of
the great famin & want of necessarie sustenance, which in that
[Sidenote: 1006. _Hen. Hunt._ Swaine returned into England.]
yeare sore oppressed this land. In the yeare of our Lord 1006, king
Swaine returned againe into England with a mightie & huge nauie,
arriuing at Sandwich, and spoiled all the countrie néere vnto the
sea side. King Egelred raised all his power against him, and all the
haruest time laie abroad in the field to resist the Danes, which
according to their woonted maner spared not to exercise their