He marched to Oxford, which received him; then to the royal city of Winchester, which made no resistance.

At London AEthelred was waiting; and for a time the town held out.

So Swegen marched westward, and took Bath.

There, the thegns of the Welsh-kin counties--Somerset, Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall--bowed to him and gave him hostages.

"When he had thus fared, he went north to his ships, and all the folk held him then as full king." London itself gave way.