ANNO 1002.—In this year the king decreed, and his witan, that tribute should be paid to the fleet, and peace made with them, on condition that they should cease from their evil-doings. Then sent the king to the fleet Leofsy the ealdorman; and he then settled a truce with them by the king’s word, and his witan’s, and that they should receive food and tribute. And that they then accepted: and then were they paid twenty-four thousand pounds. Then during this, Leofsy the ealdorman slew Eafy the king’s high steward; and the king then banished him the land.... And in that year the king ordered all the Danish men who were in England to be slain. This was done on St. Brice’s mass day; because it was made known to the king that they would treacherously bereave him of his life, and afterwards all his witan; and after that have his kingdom without any gainsaying. THE BATTLE OF MALDON (991). =Source.=—_Anglo-Saxon Poem_, lines 481-637. Translated by E. A. Freeman. [Note that the lines are to be read across the page.] Leofsuna spake out, and his linden heaved, his board to guard him; he to the warrior quoth, “I this promise thence that I nill flee a footstep, but will further go, to wreak in the fight my lord and comrade. Nor by Stourmere any steadfast hero with words need twit me that I lordless homeward should go, and wend from the fight; but me shall weapons meet point and iron.” Full of ire he waded, fought he steadfastly, on flight he thought not. Dunnere then quoth, his dart he made quake, the valiant churl, over all he cleped; he bade that warriors each Brihtnoth should wreak; “Nought may he fear who to wreak thinketh his lord among the folk, nor for his life mourn.” Then they forth went, for life they recked not. Began then the house-men hardly to fight, fiercely spears bearing, and to God they prayed that they might wreak their lord and comrade, and on their foes a fall might work. Then there a hostage gan gladly to help; he was in Northumberland of a hard kin, Ecglaf’s bairn, Æscferth was his name. Nought then feared he in the war-play, and he poured forth arrows enough; one while he on board shot, one while a warrior teased, ever and anon he sold some wounds, the while he weapons still might wield. Then yet in rank stood Eadward the Long, ready and yearnful; bold words spake he that he would not flee a footstep of land, overback to bow, while his better lay.