Suane, þe Danes kyng, was of so grete strength,
þat he destroied þis lond in brede & in length.
Fyue wynter holy lasted þat werre,
þat neuer Eilred our kyng durst negh him nerre.
Noiþer bi Norþ no bi South com him neuer help.
Wo was alle his comforth, of sorow mot he ȝelp.
þritty þousand pounde vnto Suane he sent,
Pes to haf his lyue, & þei to Danmark went.
NOW is kyng Suane went tille his cuntre,
Eilred sent for Edrik to be his owen priue.
So fals a traytour in erth was non as he,
Of Lincolne he gaf him þat cuntre schire.
þe duke said vnto þe kyng, "Sir, I salle ȝow say,
"For to saue ȝour lond wele, a fulle siker way.
"Do mak þre hundreth schippes opon þe sees koste,
"To kepe þam of Norweie & þe Danes oste.
"& if þe folk þerin be trewe vnto þe,
"Doute þe of non enmys, þat comes vp on þe.
¶ þe sent to seke many a schip wright
To þe toun of Sandwiche, þe nauie forto dight.
Whan Edrik it wist, þat þe schippes wer redy.
He sent to Norweie his lettres priuely,
Unto þe kyng Anlaf, tille Inglond to com.
Anlaf & Sir Thurkille aryued vp in þei nom.
Anlaf & Thurkille aryued vp in Kent,
Alle about þei robbed, & tok þat þei mot hent.
þe folk of þe cuntre to þis conseile þei ches,
To gyf þam four hundreth pounde, forto lyue in pes.
