AEthelred and his witan bought them off again, with the immense tribute of sixteen thousand pounds.

The host accepted the terms, but settled down for the winter at Southampton--a sufficient indication of their intentions--within easy reach of Winchester itself; and there "they fed from all the West Saxons' land." AEthelred was alarmed, and sent to Olaf, who consented to meet him at Andover.

There the king received him "with great worship," and gifted him with kinglike gifts, and sent him away with a promise never again to attack England.

Olaf kept his word, and returned no more.

But still Swegen remained, and went on pillaging Devonshire and Cornwall, wending into Tamar mouth as far as Lidford, where his men "burnt and slew all that they found." Thence they betook themselves to the Frome, and so up into Dorset, and again to Wight.