Small wonder that I had not recognized the holy men in their war gear, so little looked they like the peaceful brethren who had walked in the abbey cloisters.
With them was my collier, keeping step and holding himself with the best of them, and I thought that they would be seven hardy Danes who should overmatch my standard guard.

So I was well content with the bishop's choice for me.
Now of that march to Brent, and the meeting there with the Somerset levy, there is no need to tell.

But by the time we marched from thence against the Danes, there were five hundred men of Dorset, and near nine hundred of Somerset.

Of the Danes some judged that there would be eight hundred or more, but if that was so, they were tried men, and our numbers were none too great.

Moreover, we must separate, so as to drive them down to their ships, for they were spread over the country, burning and destroying on every side.
We lay but one night on Brent, while the leaders held counsel, and even as we sat gathered, we could see plainly the fires the Danes had lit, of burning hamlet and homestead, far and wide across the marshes of Parret.
And the end of that council was that Eanulf should take his Somerset men up Parret valley, and so drive down the Danes, while Ealhstan should fall on them by Bridgwater as they came down, and so scatter them.
Therefore would the Somerset levy march very early, before light; while we should wait till the next night, unless word should come beforehand.
So we went to sleep.