Each man carried a short heavy sword to use in case, by any fatality, the wedge should get broken up.
When assured that his band were perfect in their new exercise Edmund marched and joined the king.

He found on his arrival that the summons to arms had been everywhere disregarded.

Many men had indeed come in, but these were in no way sufficient to form a force which would enable him to take the field against the Danes.
Edmund therefore solicited and obtained permission to march with his band to endeavour to check the plundering bands of Danes, who were already committing devastations throughout the country.
"Be not rash, Edmund," the monarch said, "you have but a handful of men, and I should grieve indeed did aught of harm befall you.

If you can fall upon small parties of plunderers and destroy them you will do good service, not only by compelling them to keep together but by raising the spirits of the Saxons; but avoid conflict with parties likely to defeat you." "You shall hear of us soon, I promise you," Edmund replied, "and I trust that the news will be good." The little party set out towards the border, and before long met numbers of fugitives, weeping women carrying children, old men and boys, making their way from the neighbourhood of the Danes.

The men had for the most part driven their herds into the woods, where they were prepared to defend them as best they could against roving parties.