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not trample out, the Anglo-Saxon settlements in this part of 
England. So complete was the conquest that they changed 
the very laws of the land, and we find in that interesting hook 
— Laing’s Chronicles of the Kings of Norway, “ That for 
three hundred years from about 787 a.d., the laws and customs 
of the Northmen superseded in large districts, such as East 
Anglia, Mercia, and Northumbria, the ancient laws of this 
realm.” In our ignorance we choose to call them all by the 
name of Danes, but in reality these districts were possessed 
by different peoples. Now it was a Dane — then a Norwegian, 
or, it may be, a “ Yiking ” from Sweden, who, sometimes 
acting in alliance and sometimes as foes, occupied and ruled 
in turn these lands. 
It is strange that students of English history have so 
missed this point. Two quotations I will make to prove this 
from the old Chronicles of Norway — “Athelstan sent a 
message to Eric (Hakon’s brother), who went out on an 
expedition plundering all the north part, that he should hold 
North Humber-land as a fief from him, and defend it against 
Danes and other Yikings. Eric resided at York, where it was 
said Lodbrook’s son had formerly been, and Danes and North- 
men had often plundered.” 
Again — “ The Danes had spread themselves so widely over 
England that Ethelred had gone south to Yalland. In the 
autumn King Olaf came to England. Ethelred came back 
to England and sent an invitation to all who would to enter 
into his pay ; amongst others King Olaf, with a great troop of 
Northmen, came.” King Olaf attacks the Danes in London 
at Sudrivich — Southwark. The old Norwegian Saga has as 
follows : — 
“ Brave Olaf will his throne defend, 
King Ethelred has found a friend ; 
In bloody fight 
Maintain his right, 
Win back his land 
With blood-red hand.” 
