175
farther than was ever known before, and overwhelmed many towns and an immense number of persons.
1015.
This year there was a great meeting (of the Witan) at Oxford, and the Alderman Eadric betrayed Sigeferth and Morcær the chief Thanes of the seven towns,[1] for he enticed them to his lodging, and there they were basely murdered. And the King seized all their possessions, and commanded that the widow of Sigeferth should be taken and carried to Malmesbury. And a short time afterwards Prince Edmund went thither and took her for his wife without the King's consent. Then before the feast of the nativity of St. Mary the Prince went northward to the five towns, and he forthwith attacked the Heritage of Sigeferth and Morcær, and all the people submitted to him. And at the same time Cnut came to Sandwich, and he immediately sailed round Kent and along the coast of Wessex till he came to the mouth of the Frome, and he plundered in Dorset, Wiltshire and Somersetshire. At that time King Æthelred lay sick at Cosham. And the Alderman Edric assembled an army and Prince Edmund also raised troops in
- ↑ Comprehending the "Five towns," with York and Chester.
