Harroward's Raid on Peterborough

Harroward may have been trying to protect the Abbey from William and his goons. But if he was saving the Abbey, then why burn down the town? As soon as those fires were lit, this thing began to look a lot more like a raid than anything else. I think it's much more likely that Harroward was all too aware of who Asbjorn was. And that raid on Peterborough was a bit of political fundraising intended to keep his allies here in England by deliberately presenting them with an opportunity for plunder.