Landowners who lost the services of sons or freemen working for them should pay the same assessment only as before, but those who did not contribute men to the levy should pay an additional assessment.

Edmund said he would pay the men composing the band the same wages they would earn in the field, and would undertake all their expenses.

"So long as the king continues the struggle," he said, "it is our duty to aid him, nor can we escape from the dangers and perils of invasion.

Should the Danes come near us all must perforce fight, but so long as they continue at a distance things can go on here as if we had peace in the land." The proposal was, after some discussion, agreed to, and the news caused gladness and contentment throughout the earldom.

The younger men who had been included in the levy were quite satisfied with the arrangement.