Then, as the Chronicle says, "Brihtric took to him eighty ships, and thought that he should work for himself mickle words [gain much fame], for that he should get Wulfnoth quick or dead.

But as they thitherward were, there came such a wind against them as no man ere minded, and all the ships it beat and thrashed and on land warped ; and came Wulfnoth soon and the ships burned.

When this quoth [told] was to the other ships where the King was, how the other ships had fared, it was as if it all redeless 2 were; and the King got him home and the Aldermen and the high Wise Men, and forlet [forsook] the ships thus lightly.

And the folk that on the ships were brought the ships eft to London, and let all the peoples trouble thus lightly come to naught ; and was the victory no better that all English kin had hoped for.

" Just after this wretched business another great Danish fleet came in August.