vnmercifull crueltie, in wasting and spoiling the land with fire and
sword, pilfering and taking of preies in euerie part where they came.
Neither could king Egelred remedie the matter, because the enimies
still conueied themselues with their ships into some contrarie
quarter, from the place where they knew him to be, so that his trauell
was in vaine.

[Sidenote: The Danes winter in the Ile of Wight.
They inuade Hampshire, Barkeshire, &c.]
About the beginning of winter they remained in the Ile of Wight,
& in the time of Christmasse they landed in Hampshire, and passing
through that countrie into Barkeshire, they came to Reading, and from
thence to Wallingford, and so to Coleseie, and then approching to
Essington, came to Achikelmeslawe, and in euerie place wheresoeuer
they came, they made cleane worke. For that which they could not carie
with them, they consumed with fire, burning vp their innes and sleaing
their hoasts. In returning backe, the people of the west countrie gaue
them battell, but preuailed not, so that they did but inrich their
[Sidenote: Winchester.]
enimies with the spoile of their bodies. They came by the gates of
Winchester as it were in maner of triumph, with vittels and spoiles
which they had fetched fiftie miles from the sea side. In the
[Sidenote: 1007.]
meane time king Egelred lay about Shrewsburie sore troubled with the
newes hereof, and in the yeare next insuing, by the aduise of his
councell he gaue to king Swaine for the redeeming of peace 30000
[Sidenote: 36000 pound saith _Si. Dun._]
pounds.

[Sidenote: Edrike de Streona made duke or earle of Mercia.]