CHAPTER XXX

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ETHELRED THE UNREADY.

Elfrida still opposed by Dunstan--Ethelred crowned by the archbishop of Canterbury--His malediction at the coronation --Dislike of the Saxons to Ethelred--Dunstan's power on the wane--Insurrection of the Danes--The Danish pirates again ravage England--Courageous reply of the Saxon governor of Essex --Single combat between the Saxon governor, and one of the sea-kings--Cowardly conduct of Ethelred--He pays tribute, and makes peace with the Danes--Alfric the Mercian governor, turns traitor, and joins the Danes with his Saxon ships--The Saxon army again commanded by the Danes, and defeated--Olaf, the Norwegian, and Swein, king of Denmark, invade and take formal possession of England--Ethelred again exhausts his exchequer, to purchase peace--Swein's second invasion of England--Cruel massacre of the Danes by the Saxons--Murder of Gunhilda, the sister of Swein, king of Denmark--Swein prepares to revenge the death of his countrymen--Description of his soldiers --Splendour of his ships--His magical banner described-- His landing in England--Alfric again betrays the Saxons-- Destruction of Norwich--Ethelred once more purchases peace of the Danes---Ælfeg, archbishop of Canterbury, made prisoner by the sea-kings--He refuses to pay a ransom--Is summoned to appear before the sea-kings while they are feasting, and beaten to death by the bones of the oxen the pirates had feasted upon--Ethelred lays an oppressive tax upon the land--He raises a large fleet --Is again betrayed by his commanders--Sixteen counties are given up to the Danes--Ethelred deserted by his subjects-- Escapes to the Isle of Wight, and from thence to Normandy-- Swein, king of Denmark, becomes the monarch of England--Death of Swein--His son Canute claims the crown--Is opposed by Edmund Ironside--Canute's cruelty to the Saxon hostages-- Miserable state of England at this period, as described by a Saxon bishop p. 249

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