[Sidenote: 1011.]
through. Wherevpon, in the yeere of our Lord 1011, about the feast of
S. Matthew in September, they laid siege to the citie of Canturburie,
which of the citizens was valiantlie defended by the space of twentie
daies. In the end of which terme it was taken by the enimies,
[Sidenote: Canturburie wonne by Danes.]
through the treason of a deacon named Almaricus, whome the archbishop
Elphegus had before that time preserued from death. The Danes
exercised passing great crueltie in the winning of that citie (as by
sundrie authors it dooth and maie appéere.) For they slue of men,
[Sidenote: _Fabian ex Antonino_.]
women, and children, aboue the number of eight thousand. They tooke
[Sidenote: The archbishop Elphegus taken. _Hen. Hunt._]
the archbishop Elphegus with an other bishop named Godwine; also
abbat Lefwin and Alseword the kings bailife there. They spared no
degrée, in somuch that they slue and tooke 900 priests, and other men
of religion. And when they had taken their pleasure of the citie, they
[Sidenote: _Antoninus. Vincentius_. _Wil. Lamb. ex Asserio Meneuensi,
& alijs_.]
set it on fire, and so returned to their ships. There be some which
write that they tithed the people after an inuerted order, slaieng all
by nines through the whole multitude, and reserued the tenth: so that
of all the moonks there were but foure saued, and of the laie people
4800, whereby it followeth that there died 43200 persons. Whereby is
gathered that the citie of Canturburie, and the countrie thereabouts
(the people whereof belike fled thither for succor) was at that time
verie well inhabited, so as there haue not wanted (saith maister
Lambert) which affirme that it had then more people than London it
selfe.