61. New Invasions; Danegeld (992).

With the close of Dunstan's career, a period of decline set in. The
Northmen began to make fresh inroads (S53). The resistance to them
became feeble and faint-hearted. At last a royal tax, called
Danegeld, or Dane money (992), was levied on all landed property in
England in order to buy off the invaders. For a brief period this
cowardly concession answered its purpose. But a time came when the
Danes refused to be bribed to keep away.

62. The Northmen invade France.

The Danish invasion of England was really a part of a great European
movement. The same Northmen who had obtained so large a part of the
island (S56) had, in the tenth century, established themselves in
France.

There they were known as Normans, a softened form of the word
"Northmen," and the district where they settled came to be called from
them Normandy. They founded a line of dukes, or princes, who were
destined, in the course of the next century, to give a new aspect to
the events of English history.

63. Sweyn conquers England; Canute[1] (1017-1035).

Early in the eleventh century Sweyn, the Dane, conquered England
(1013), and "all the people," says the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" (S99),
"held him for full king." He was succeeded by his son Canute (1017).
He could hardly be called a foreigner, since he spoke a language and