THE THIRD CHAPTER.
In the ninteenth yere of king Egelreds reigne, the Danes sailed about
[Sidenote: 997. The Danes inuade the west parts of this land.]
Cornewall, and comming into the Seuerne sea, they robbed & tooke
preies in the coasts of Deuonshire & Southwales, and landing
at Wicheport, they burned vp the countrie, and came about vnto
Penwithstreet on the south coast, and so arriuing in the mouth of
Tamer water, came vnto Lidford, and there wasted all afore them with
force of fire. They burned, amongst other places, the monasterie of
[Sidenote: Tauestocke.]
saint Ordulfe at Essingstocke. After this they came into Dorcetshire,
and passed through the countrie with flame and fire, not finding anie
that offered to resist them. The same yeere also they soiourned in the
Ile of Wight, and liued vpon spoiles & preies which they tooke in
[Sidenote: 998.]
Hampshire and Sussex. At length they came into the Thames, and so
[Sidenote: 999. The Danes arriue in the Thames.]
by the riuer of Medwey arriued at Rochester. The Kentishmen assembled
togither and fought with the Danes, but they were ouercome, and so
left the field to the Danes. After this, the same Danes sailed into
Normandie, and king Egelred went into Cumberland, where the Danes
inhabited in great numbers, whome he ouercame with sore warre, and
[Sidenote: 1000.
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