[Sidenote: _991_.] In the same yÈere, and in the 13 yeere of, king Egelreds reigne, when the land was on each side sore afflicted, wasted and haried by the Danes, which couered the same as they had bÈene grashoppers: by the aduise of the archbishop of Canturburie Siricius (which was the second of that sÈe after Dunstane) a composition was taken with the [Sidenote: Ten thousand pounds paid to the Danes. Danegilt.] Danes, so that for the sum of ten thousand pounds to be paied to them by the king, they should couenant not to trouble his subjects anie further. This monie was called Danegilt or Dane monie, and was leuied of the people. Although other take that to be Danegilt, which was giuen vnto such Danes as king Egelred afterwards reteined in his seruice, to defend the land from other Danes and enimies that sought to inuade his dominions. But by what name so euer this monie (which the Danes now receiued) was called, true it is that herevpon they [Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ 992.] ceassed from their most cruell inuasions for a time. But shortlie after they had refreshed themselues, and recouered new strength, they began to play their old parts againe, dooing the like mischÈefe by their semblable inuasions, as they had vsed before. By reason hereof such feare came vpon the English people, that they despaired to be able to resist the enimies. [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 flÈet, 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 dÈed being one of the chiefe capteins of the flÈet, 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 flÈet, 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