At the same time, Canute, king of the Danes, came with a great fleet to the port of Sandwich ; and then, sailing round Kent, entered the mouth of the liver Eromo, and collected great booty in Dorsetshire, Somersetshire, and the province of "Winchester.48 At this period, because king Egelred lay sick at Corsham, the Clito Edmund, his son, acted in his behalf, and, with the duke Edric Streona, who was full of guile and treachery, collected a large army : but, when they had met together, duke Edric in every possible way laid snares for the Clito Edmund, and tried by treachery to cut him off. On Edmund learning this, they soon separated from each other, and left the place to the enemy. Not long after this, the same duke enticed away forty ships of the royal fleet, manned with Danish soldiers, and, going over to Canute, made submission to him. The men of Wesscx did the same, and gave hostages, and afterwards provided horses for his army. In the year 1016, Canute, king of the Danes, and the perfidious duke Edric Streona, with a large retinue,49 crossed the river Thames at a place which is called Cricklade ; and, on the approach of the Epiphany of our Lord, made a hostile irruption into Mercia, and laying waste many towns in the province of Warwick, burned them, and slew all the persons they could find. When the Clito Edmund, surnamed Ironside, heard of this, in all haste he collected an army ; but, after it was brought together, the men of Mercia were unwilling to engage with the men of Wessex and the Danes, unless king Egelred and the citizens of London were with them. In consequence of this, the expedition was given up, and each one returned home. After the festival was concluded, the Clito Edmund again formed a still greater army ; after which, he sent messengers to London, to beg his father to meet him as soon as possible, with all the men he could find. But, after an army had been coUected together, intimation was given to the king, that, if he did not take due precaution, some of his allies were about to betray him. The army was soon broken up in consequence, on which he returned to London; but the CBto proceeded to Northumbria. For which reason some thought that he still intended to form a greater army against Canute ; but in the 48 It ought to he " Wiltonensi," Wiltshire. 19 V. r. "Equitatu," body of cavalry. 96 ANNALS OF BOGEB DE HOVEDEN. A.I>. 1016.