excerpt from the book..In the former booke was discoursed the troubled state of this landby the manifold and mutinous inuasions of the Danes; who though theysought to ingrosse the rule of euerie part and parcell therof intotheir hands; yet being resisted by the valiantnesse of the gouernorssupported with the aid of their people, they were disappointed oftheir expectation, and receiued manie a dishonorable or ratherreprochfull repulse at their aduersaries hands. Much mischiefedoubtlesse they did, and more had doone, if they had not béene metwithall in like measure of extremitie as they offred, to the offenseand ouerthrow of great multitudes. Their first entrance into this landis controuersed among writers, some saieng that it was in the daies ofking Britricus, other some affirming that it was in the time of kingEgbert, &c: about which point (sith it is a matter of no great moment)we count it labour lost to vse manie woords: onelie this by the waieis notewoorthie, that the Danes had an vnperfect or rather a lame andlimping rule in this land, so long as the gouernors were watchfull,diligent, politike at home, and warlike abroad. But when these kind ofkings discontinued, and that the raines of the regiment fell intothe hands of a pezzant not a puissant prince, a man euill qualified,dissolute, slacke and licentious, not regarding the dignitie of hisowne person, nor fauoring the good estate of the people; the Danes whobefore were coursed from coast to coast, and pursued from place toplace, as more willing to leaue the land, than desirous to tarrie inthe same; tooke occasion of stomach and courage to reenter this Ile, &waxing more bold and confident, more desperate and venturous, sparedno force, omitted no opportunitie, let slip no aduantage that theymight possiblie take, to put in practise and fullie to accomplishtheir long conceiued purpose.