Whereupon I could no longer hold together any force, and whither the men are scattered I know not.
Scarcely could I save the holy women and the monks, for even as they fled under guard into the Quantock woods, and so to go beyond the hills, the houses of Bridgwater next the Danes were burning.
"Now am I with two hundred men on Brent, and wait either for the Danes to depart, or for orders from yourself or the Ealdorman Eanulf, to whom I pray you let this letter be sent in haste after that you have read it." So it ended with salutations, and when he had read it, the bishop folded it slowly and looked at the thane, who shrugged his broad shoulders and said: "True words, Lord Bishop, and all told." "It is what I expected," said Ealhstan, "these two thanes told me it was like to be thus." "Surely," answered the thane.

"What else ?" The bishop looked at him and asked him his name.
"Wislac, the Thane of Gatehampton by the Thames, am I," he said.

"A stranger here, having come on my own affairs to Bridgwater, and so joining in the fight.

Also, Osric's thanes having trouble enough on hand, I rode with this letter." "Thanks therefor," said the bishop.

"I see that you fought also in a place where blows were thick." "Aye, in the first fight," said Wislac.