Page:A literal translation of the Saxon Chronicle.djvu/170

158 to give tribute to the fleet, and to negociate a peace with them, on condition that they would cease from doing mischief. Then the King sent the Alderman Leofsig to the fleet, and there he set forth the King's words, and the peace proposed by the Witan, that they should receive provisions and tribute; and they accepted these terms, on which twenty-four thousand pounds were paid to them, At this time the Alderman Leofsig slew the King's High Sheriff Æfic, and the King banished him from the country. And during the same Lent, the Lady the daughter of Richard, came to this land. In the summer of the same year Archbishop Eadulf (Ealdulf) died: and this year also the King gave command that all the Danes in England should be slain on St. Brice's day, because it had been reported to him that they had a design to murder him first, and then all his Witan, and thereupon to possess his kingdom without opposition.

1003.

This year Exeter was taken through the ill conduct of the French churl Hugo, whom the Lady had placed there as her Sheriff; and the Army entirely destroyed the town, and seized much plunder. Then a large number of troops was gathered together from Wiltshire and