Ella did all that it was possible to do to meet and oppose them, but the spirit of retaliation and rage which his cruelties had evoked was too strong to be resisted.

His country was ravaged, his army was defeated, he was taken prisoner, and the dying terrors and agonies of Ragnar among the serpents were expiated by tenfold worse tortures which they inflicted upon Ella's mutilated body, by a process too horrible to be described.
After thus successfully accomplishing the great object of their expedition, it was to have been hoped that they would leave the island and return to their Danish homes.

But they evinced no disposition to do this.

On the contrary, they commenced a course of ravage and conquest in all parts of England, which continued for several years.
The parts of the country which attempted to oppose them they destroyed by fire and sword.

They seized cities, garrisoned and occupied them, and settled in them as if to make them their permanent homes.