A.D. 1008.] ETHELBED BUILDS SHIPS. 277 of England, double-tongued, crafty, a betrayer of secrets, a practised dissembler, ready in inventing falsehood; he was often sent to the enemy as a mediator of peace, but invariably fanned the flame of discord. But we shall treat of all this in the sequel. The Danes ravage without opposition. A.D. 1004. John sat in the Boman chair five years. In the same year the Danes with unheard-of cruelty, covering the whole of England like locusts, made spoil of everything, and put the inhabitants to the sword ; nor was any one found to make head against them. Famine in England. A.D. 1005. England was afllicted by so grievous a famine that the like was never known. In the same year Henry attained the Roman empire, and reigned twenty-two years. Treacherg at a festival. A.D. 1006. Sirie archbishop of Canterbury died, and was succeeded by Alfege bishop of Winchester, who was succeeded by Elfsy. In the same year the perfidious earl Eadric invited Ethelstan, a noble earl, to a great festival at Shrewsbury ; and on the fourth day, taking him into the woods to hunt, while the rest were intent on the sport, a certain murderer, named Godwin, whom Edric had bought with his gifts, suddenly leaped forth from his concealment, and wickedly slew earl Ethelstan. In revenge for this king Ethelred ordered Edric's two sons to be deprived of their sight. Ethelred purchased a peace. A.D. 1007. Sweyn king of the Danes, a powerful and cruel man, came to England with a great fleet, and rapine, burning, and slaughter, followed in his train. Wherefore there was trembling throughout all England, like unto a bed of reeds agitated by the west wind ; and so great was king Ethelred's consternation, that he purchased with money a temporary peace which his arms could not procure. King Eihelred built ships. A.D. 1008. Ethelred king of England ordered one vessel