A. 1032. In this year appeared the wild fire, such as do man before remembered; and moreover on all sides it did harm, in many places. And in the same year died Elfsy,[1] bishop at Winchester; and Alwyn, the king's priest, succeeded thereto.
A. 1033. This year died bishop Leofsy, and his body rests at Worcester: and Brihtege raised to his see.[2] In this year died Herewith bishop of Somerset;[3] and he is buried at Glastonbury.
A. 1034. This year died bishop Etheric,[4] and he lies at Ramsey. This same year died Malcolm [II.], king in Scotland.
A. 1035. This year died king Canute; and Harold, his son, succeeded to the kingdom. He departed at Shaftesbury, on the 2d before the Ides of November; and they bore him thence to Winchester, and there they buried him. And Elfgive, Emma, the lady, then sat there within: and Harold, who said that he was son of Canute and of the other Elfgive, though it was not true; he sent thither, and caused to be taken from her all the best treasures, which she could not withhold, that king Canute had possessed; and nevertheless she still sat there within, as long as she could.
A. 1036. This year Alfred the innocent etheling, son of king Ethelred, came in hither, and would go to his mother, who sat at Winchester; but that neither Godwin the earl, nor the other men who had much power, would allow him because the cry was then greatly in favour of Harold, though that was unjust.
But Godwin him then let,
and him in bonds set;
and his companions he dispersed
and some divers ways slew;
some they for money sold,
some cruelly slaughtered,
some did they bind,
some did they blind,
some did they mutilate,
some did they scalp:
nor was a bloodier deed
done in this land
since the Danes came,
and here accepted peace.
Now is our trust in
the beloved God,
that they are in bliss,
blithely with Christ,
who were without guilt
so miserably slain.
The etheling still lived,
every ill they him vowed,
until it was decreed
that he should be led
