the vikings from denmark came to england, where they affected the history and politics and even the english language. danish raiders attacked england many times with great violence. sometimes the danes would ask that the english pay them to go away. these payments were called "danegeld" (danish gold). the priests and bishops of churches on the east coast of england wrote a famous prayer: "deliver us, o lord, from the wrath of the norsemen!" "norsemen" is another way to say "men from the north," or the danes.