178 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

chap. where the sum of sixteen thousand pounds wasin. paid to them. Olave even made a journey toAndover, where Ethelred resided; and he receivedthe rite of confirmation from the English bishops,as well as many rich presents from the king. Hehere promised , that he would never more infestthe English territories ; and he faithfully fulfilledthe engagement. This prince receives the appel-lation of St. Olave from the church of Rome;and notwithstanding the general presumption,which lies, either against the understanding ormorals of every one, who in those ignorant ageswas dignified with that title, he seems to havebeen a man of merit and of virtue. Sweyn,though less scrupulous than Olave, was constrained,upon the departure of the Norwegian prince, toevacuate also the kingdom with all his followers.S!>7. This composition brought only a short intervalto the miseries of the English. The Danishpirates appeared soon after in the Severne ; andhaving committed spoil in Wales, as well as inCornwall and Devonshire, they sailed round to thesouth coast, and entering the Tarn ar, completedthe devastation of these two counties. Theythen returned to the Lristol channel; and penetrat-ing into the country by the Avon, spread them-selves over all that neighbourhood, and carriedfire and sword even into Dorfetstiire. They95S. next changed the feat of war ; and after ravagingthe Iste of Wight, they entered the Thames andMedway, and laid siege to Rochester, wherethey defeated the Kentish-men in a pitched battle.