We have news here that a great Danish army which landed at Abbeville is marching hitherward, and we are met to discuss whether the town should resist to the last or should open its gates at their approach.

This news you bring of the arrival of a fresh army of these sea robbers at Havre renders our case desperate.

So fierce is their attack that we could hardly hope successfully to resist the approaching army, but against it and this fleet you tell us of resistance could only bring about our utter destruction.

That, at least, is my opinion, the other members of the council must speak for themselves." The other members, who were the principal merchants and traders of the town, were unanimously of the same opinion.
"Better," they said, "to give up all our worldly goods to the Northmen than to be slaughtered pitilessly with our wives and families." "Such being your decision," Edmund said, "my kinsman and myself will proceed up the river to Paris; hitherto, as we hear, the Northmen have not ventured to attack that city, and should they do so, it will doubtless resist to the last." Accordingly the two Saxons returned at once to the Dragon, and as soon as the tide turned unmoored and proceeded up the river.

Three days after leaving Rouen they arrived in sight of Paris.