[King Olaf’s Kinsman by Charles Whistler]@TWC D-Link bookKing Olaf’s Kinsman CHAPTER 14: The Last Great Battle 12/29
Yet the Danes turned on us when the ships were reached, and we lost many men in the river, for they scattered in their eagerness to plunder the ships that they thought were already won, and so, without order or leaders, were driven to their death in the swift water. Then Wessex disbanded, and all the work of gathering our forces must be done over again; and at once the Danes closed in round London when Eadmund had gone back to Salisbury. Surely it would have broken the heart of any man but Eadmund the Ironside that thus it must be, but he would say: "England is waking; we shall win yet." Then Cnut recalled the ships and host from London, and they raised the siege, and went into the Orwell, and once again began to march across the heart of our land. This fourth levy that Eadmund the king had made was the best that he had had.
And word must have come thereof to the Danes, for they went back to their fleet; and so waited for a little while, thinking doubtless that this levy would melt away in idleness as ever.
For they came back into the Medway with the booty they had, and there we fell on them and drove them headlong to their ships, and I surely thought that we had done with Cnut for good and all. Then fell the shadow of ill on us.
Edric Streone and his men met us at Aylesford, and he came in to the king and made most humble submission to him. And that was what Olaf had told Eadmund would happen when once again he had the victory.
Therefore when I saw the earl come into the camp to speak with Eadmund I said: "Mind you what Olaf said.
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