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Updated: June 28, 2025
Then I saw that for some reason which was beyond me Streone had let me know more than was safe. It was plain that if he spoke truth, he had more dealings with Cnut than were known to the Atheling. Yet the earl might, for Ethelred's sake, watch thus on Cnut, rightly enough, and think it safer to say nought to Eadmund, whose wisdom was not so great as his valour.
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."
But the man is deserted by his new friends. They have gone." Almost had Eadmund quarrelled with Olaf on that saying. "Put him in ward, my king, at least," I urged, and Ulfkytel, who had come with us from London, prayed him also to do so. But Eadmund's fate was on him, and he received his foster father kindly, and forgave him, and thought that all would be well.
Few of us knew then how little able Cnut was to fight the mighty Ironside, but we thought him strong in body as in name. Else had that plan never been thought of. They say that Edric Streone advised Cnut to take the old Danelagh and Northumbria and leave Eadmund the rest of the kingdom, the survivor to succeed to all the land. Maybe he did.
And there was indeed the head of Eadmund, seeming whole and fresh as when I had last seen him; and his looks were very peaceful, for on his face was still that smile with which he had greeted death at Raud's hands. Then, seeing that, the rough Dane was fain to turn away and lean arms and face against a tree trunk, weeping as weeps a child that will not be comforted.
So that when the march to Lindsey was spoken of, Olaf thought well to stay in the Thames with the ships, and when Eadmund asked him to come north with the levies he said: "It seems to me that there are jealousies already among your thanes concerning me, and I will not be the cause of any divisions among your folk. Yet I would help you, and here is what I can do.
Round the fire we sat; some ten of us in all, for Bishop Humbert and his folk went to their lodgings in the town, and there Lodbrok told the king of his voyage. And when he named his sons, Eadmund looked grave, and said: "I have heard of those two chiefs, Ingvar and Hubba. Did they not make a raid into Northumbria two years ago? Maybe they are yet there with the host."
And he held out his hand for the Dane to kiss, after our custom. But Lodbrok grasped and shook it heartily, saying: "Thanks, Lord King, for that remembrance, and maybe also for a little forgetfulness." Nor was Eadmund displeased with the freedom, but at that last saying he laughed outright.
Then we were pressed back along the higher ground, and we were forced into a great ring that the Danes could not break, and ever where sign of weakening was Eadmund rode and shouted and smote, and the Danes gave back before him.
Where Eadmund was I followed, and I know that I saved him once or twice from spear thrusts that would have slain him when he charged among the Danes, where they pressed us most hardly. Wearied was my arm, but sword Foe's Bane bit through helm and harness, and once I was facing Ulf the jarl, and he cried out to me: "Well smitten, Wulfnoth's man!" For he knew me.
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