992.
This year the blessed Archbishop Oswald departed this life, and entered upon that of heaven; and the Alderman Æthelwine died the same year. Then the King and his Witan determined that all the ships which were fit for service should be assembled at London; and the King put this fleet under the command of the Alderman Ealfric, and of the Earl Thorode, and of the Bishops Ælfstane and Æscwig, and they were ordered to endeavour to surprise and block up the Danes. Then the Alderman Ælfric sent and warned them; and in the night preceding the day on which an engagement would have taken place, he himself left his fleet, to his exceeding dishonour, and the enemy escaped, excepting one ship, which was destroyed. And then they met the ships of East Anglia and of London, and there they made a great slaughter, and they took the ship in which the Alderman sailed, and which was well manned and fitted out.
Upon the death of Archbishop Oswald, Ealdulf Abbot of Peterborough was raised to the Bishoprick of York and Worcester, and Kenulf to the Abbacy of Peterborough.
993.
This, year Anlaf came to Staines with 93 ships, and plundered that part of the country; and he went thence to Sandwich, and so on to Ipswich, and laid all waste, and thus he proceeded to Malden. And then the Alderman Byrhtnoth came against him, and their armies fought, but the Alderman was slain, and Anlaf’s army kept possession of the field of battle, and peace was made with him, and the King afterwards stood godfather at his confirmation, by the advice of Siric Bishop of Canterbury and of Ælfeag of Winchester. This year Bamborough was destroyed, and much plunder was seized there. And after this the Army came to the mouth of the Humber, and did great damage in Lindsey and in Northumberland. Then a great number of troops were gathered together, but when they were about to engage in battle, their leaders first betook themselves to flight. These were Fræna, and Godwin, and Frithegist. The same year the King put out the eyes of Ælfgar the son of the Alderman Ælfric.
994.
This year Archbishop Sigeric died, and Ælfric Bishop of Wiltshire was chosen as his successor by King Æthelred and his Witan, at Ambresbyri (Amesbury), on Easter-day. This year Anlaf and Swegen came to London on the nativity of St. Mary, with 94 ships, and they attacked the city vigorously, and they also attempted to burn it with fire, but they suffered more loss and injury than they could ever have looked for from any townsmen, for the holy Mother of God in her mercy manifested herself to the inhabitants, and delivered them from their enemies. And then these departed, and did as much damage as any army might, burning, plundering, and slaying, along the coasts of Essex, of Kent, of Sussex, and of Hampshire. And at length they took horses and rode far and wide wherever they would, and they did unspeakable mischief. Then the King and his Witan determined to send to them and offer them tribute and a supply of provisions, on condition that they would abstain from plundering. This they accepted, and all the army came to Southampton, and there they took up their winter quarters, and all the kingdom of Wessex provided food for them, and sixteen thousand pounds were paid to them. Then the King sent the Bishop Ælfeach and the Alderman Æthelward for King Anlaf, and hostages were left in the ships, while they brought him with much pomp to the King at Andover; and King Æthelred stood godfather at his confirmation, and gave him royal presents. And Anlaf made him then a promise, which he also fulfilled, that he would never again come with hostile designs against the English nation.
“This year Richard the elder died, and his son Richard succeeded him, and reigned 31 years” (in Normandy).
995.
This year a comet appeared.