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and Alfred over the sea, that he might take charge of them. The king went from the fleet at Christmas to the Isle of Wight, and was there for the festival; and after the festival he went over the sea to Richard, and was there with him until the favourable time of SWAN'S death.
1014. SWAN ended his days on Candlemas, February 3rd, and the fleet all chose Cnut as king. All the counselors, clerical and lay, advised that king Aethelred be sent after; they said that no lord was to them than their natural lord, if he would govern them more justly than he had done. The king then sent hither his son Edward, with his messenger commanded that all his nation be greeted, and said that he would be to them a faithful lord, better each of the things they all hated, and that everything should be forgiven which had been done or said against him, on the condition that they all agreed, without treachery, to turn to him; full friendship was fastened with word and pledge on both sides, and they declared every Danish king outlawed from England forever. Then in spring king Aethelred came home to his own people, and he was gladly received by all of them. After SWAN was dead, Cnut sat with his force in Gainsborough until Easter, and arranged with the people in Lindsey that they give them horses; later they all went out together harrying. King Aethelred came there in fall force to Lindsey before they were ready; they ravaged, burnt, and killed all of mankind they could reach. This Cnut went out with his fleet, and so the wretched people were betrayed by him. He went southward until he came to Sandwich, and put ashore the hostages given to his father, with their hands, ears and noses cut off; and even with all this evil the king commanded twenty-one thousand pounds yielded to the force. This year on Michaelmas Eve came the great sea-flood widely through this land, and it ran up farther than it ever had, flooded many towns, and drowned countless human beings.
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