By meanes whereof my subiectes did me hate, And forrayne foes, to burne my realme were bolde: With warre the _Danes_ did alter strayght the state: First fortune did my common-weale vnfolde, Then pestilence did make my courage colde: And last of al, the dreadful diuelish _Danes_[1238] Did make me pay them tribute for theyr paynes. 9. Euen now the realme of _Englande_ dyd decaye: For when the _Danes_ theyr tribute had consumde, Forthwith they made vs greater summes to paye: From ten to fifteene thousand they presumde Of poundes to make vs pay, so I redeemde With money bagges my careful common-wealth:[1239] The onely meanes reserued for my health. 10. When thus the wante of courage on my parte, Had geuen my foes so sure footing[1240] here, And when disease with her destroying darte, Had wypte away my subiects euery where: Euen then to late my wisemen did appeare, Whom heretofore I alwayes did detest Their counsayle graue, at last they thus exprest: 11. “O _Egelrede_ the fruite of fearfulnesse, Of riote thou the right reward dost reape: But if thou wilt auoyde this wretchednesse, Be wise, and looke about before you leape: Of hateful happes you see a hidiouse heape Before your face, therefore in time geue eare, And wisely way the wordes which thou shalt heare. 12. “That noble duke _Richarde_ of _Normandy_, A sister hath, whom thee we wishe to wed, By meanes whereof from this captiuity We may be brought, and that without bloodshed: For why these _Danes_, these _Normans_, so do dread, That if from thence an ayde we can procure, Thy foes no doubte can neuer long endure. 13. “The mayd she may a prince’s fancye please, Her brother is a man of greate renowne: This way, O king, may make thy subiectes ease, It may restore the freedome of thy crowne: This onely way will force thy foes to frowne:[1241] If thou thy crowne and common-weale dost loue, Do thou the thing so much for thy behoue.” 14. So by their meanes I maried the mayde, She _Emma_ hight, the floure of _Normandie_,[1242] Of whom I was so glad and wel apayde, That al the world with my prosperitie Could not compare: and in that iollitye I did deuise by traynes of secrete treason, To bring the _Danes_ to death, in a good season. 15.