province of Southampton, in the neighbourhood of the sea-shore, and burned a great number of towns. On this, king Egelred collected an army throughout all England, and stationed it in the provinces adjoining the sea, as a protection against their incursions ; but for all this, the enemy did not cease committing ravages in all quarters, according to the situation of the places. But upon one occasion, when they had made a descent for plunder at a greater distance than usual from the sea, and were returning laden with spoil, the king, attended by many thousands of armed men, got before them, prepared, as was all his army, to conquer or die. But the perfidious duke Edric Streona, his son-in-law, used his endeavours in every way, both by treachery and ambiguous speeches, that they might not engage, but for that time let the enemy escape. To this he persuaded the king, and prevailed, and, like a traitor to his country, rescued the Danes from the hands of the English, and aBowed them to escape ; on which, taking a different direction, with great joy they returned to their ships. After the feast of Saint Martin, they arrived in Kent, and chose their winter quarters on the river Thames, and collected provisions in Essex and other provinces that were adjoining either bank of the river. They also frequently attacked the city of London, and endeavoured to take it, but were repulsed by the citizens, not without some little loss to themselves. In the year 1010, the above-mentioned army of the Danes, in the mouth of January, disembarking from their ships, came through the forest which is caUed Cyltern,29 into Herefordshire, and after laying it waste ravaged it with flames, and on their return coBected booty on both banks of the river Thames. "When they had been informed that an army was coBected against them at London, and was about to engage with them, a part of the army passed over to the southern side of the river, at a place which is called Stane,30 and having united and enriched themselves with abundance of spoil, proceeded through Surrey, and then returned to their ships, which during the season of Lent, while they were staying in Kent, they refitted. After Easter, they came to East Anglia, and having disembarked near Gipeswic,31 marched to a place which is caBed Rigmere, where they had learned that duke Ulfketel was en- s» Chiltern. i0 Staines. »' Ipswich. 88 ANNALS OF EOGEE DE HOVEDEN. A.D. 1010.