The rounded top of Ashingdon hill seemed to tower higher than its wont, and close at hand, beyond the swampy meadows to our left, and I wondered that Cnut had not chosen that for his camping ground, though maybe it would have been less well placed for reaching the ships, owing to some shoaling of water that did not suit them.

The tide was nearly high now, and all the wide stretch of the Crouch river was alive with the ships that brought over men from the Burnham shore, and one could see the very wake and the ripple at the bows as they came.
And when one looked at the Danes, the chiefs who ordered the host were plain to be seen, and the gay colours of banners and cloaks and shields were wonderful in the brightness, though at first we were nearly half a mile from them as we waited.

I thought that we were about equal to them in numbers, and I knew that did we but fight as at Sherston the day would surely be ours.

For when a force that is hard pressed knows that safety is close behind them there is an ever-present reason for giving way.
"We can drive this host to the ships, lord earl," I said to Ulfkytel.
"Aye, surely," he answered.

"They know that the ships wait for them, and so will give back." Now came Eadmund, and behind him our men marched steadily, and at his side was Edric Streone.