. England, from earliest times to the Great Charter . he enemy was varied bydeath as the result of famine so severe that no man everbefore recollected one so grim. Two years later a little peacewas purchased by a large payment of tribute (36,000 potmdsof silver)—^peace which lasted but two years, during whichan attempt was made to re-create the fleet. With those threeexceptions, every year has its tale of slaughter. Even thesudden effort at naval defence was rendered nugatory by thedispute between Brihtric, Eadric the ealdormans brother,known as Streona or the Rapacious, and Wulfnoth Child (Ea
. England, from earliest times to the Great Charter . he enemy was varied bydeath as the result of famine so severe that no man everbefore recollected one so grim. Two years later a little peacewas purchased by a large payment of tribute (36,000 potmdsof silver)—^peace which lasted but two years, during whichan attempt was made to re-create the fleet. With those threeexceptions, every year has its tale of slaughter. Even thesudden effort at naval defence was rendered nugatory by thedispute between Brihtric, Eadric the ealdormans brother,known as Streona or the Rapacious, and Wulfnoth Child (EarlGodwins father), a dispute which resulted in a naval battlebetween the contending parties and which caused the loss The amount was about ^425,000 = in purchasing power to-day;£8,5oo,ooo. Granted then a population of 2,000,000, the burden is equivalentto about ;^2oo,ooo,ooo to-day. The figures 2,000,000 for the population ofBugland are based upon the results arrived at by McCulloch and ThoroldRogers. The present figures we take at 46,000, THE TENTH CENTURY of eighty ships. It is curious, indeed, how throughout thisunhappy reign the sinister name of Eadric appears in con-nexion with every disaster. Either by unwise counsel ortreachery or cowardice he seems throughout the years tohave thwarted every attempt made by the English to with-stand the Danes. It would be tedious and is unnecessary to recount all theplaces sacked and ravaged by the vikings. From Ipswich toWales, from Taunton to Bamburgh, there is hardly a placewhich was not harried. Two events, however, stand outwhich must be mentioned in more detail: the massacre of1002 and the martyrdom of St Alphege. The Massacre on St Bricks Day In 1002 Ethelred, in a momentary burst of wisdom, hadendeavoured to strengthen his position by an alliance withNormandy. The result was his marriage with Emma, daughterof Duke Richard, a lady whom in later years he gravely ill-used, but who was able to give him during the years whe
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