was the origin of the tax known
as Danegelt, which in after years became one of the chief financial
resources of the Crown and continued almost uninterruptedly down to the
reign of Henry II. The effect of the bribe was naturally enough to induce
the enemy to make further depredations whenever in want of money; and
accordingly, a Danish fleet threatened London the very next year (992) and
again in 994. On this last occasion, the same wretched expedient was
resorted to, and the Danes were again bought off.

(M27)

Nor was cowardice the only charge of which Ethelred was guilty. To this
must be added treachery and murder. In the year 1002, when he married the
daughter of the Duke of Normandy, hoping thereby to win the Duke's
friendship and to close the harbours on the French coast against Sweyn,
Ethelred issued secret orders for a massacre of all Danes found in
England. In this massacre, which took place on the Festival of St. Brice
(13th Nov.), perished Gunhild, sister of Sweyn. Under these circumstances,
it can scarcely be wondered at, that thenceforth the Danish invasions
became more frequent, more systematic, and more extensive than ever.

For four years they continued their depredations "cruelly marking every
shire in Wessex with burning and with harrying." Then they were again
bought off with a sum of L36,000, and two years' respite (1007-8) was
gained.(41) It was a respite and no more. As soon as they had spent their
money, they came again, and in 1009 made several assaults on London--"They
often fought against the town of London, but to God be praise that it yet
stands sound, and they have ever fared ill."(42) Every year they struck
deeper into the heart of the country, and carried their plundering
expeditions from Wessex into Mercia and East Anglia.

(M28)

In 1011 Canterbury was taken and sacked, Alphage, the Archbishop, being
made prisoner, and carried away by the Danish fleet to Greenwich. Finding
it impossible to extort a ransom, they brutally murdered him (19th May,
1012), in one of their drunken moods, pelting him in their open court or
"husting" with bones and skulls of oxen.(43) The worthy prelate's corpse
was allowed to be removed to London where it was reverently interred in
St. Paul's. A few years later, Cnut caused it to be transferred with due
solemnity to the Archbishop's own metropolitan church of Canterbury.

(M29)

In the following year, Sweyn was so successful in reducing the
Northumbrian