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Updated: June 19, 2025
But for Edric Streone, the traitor and low-born, what had been Wolnoth, thy grandsire?"
He himself was in the centre with his Wessex men, and Edric Streone and his Mercians were with him. There were some of us who had cried out at that, but the earl had said proudly that he would make amends for former ill, and the council had listened to and believed his words.
"Olaf the king, and Ulfkytel of East Anglia, and Edric Streone, my foster father." Then Olaf looked in the face of Eadmund, as it seemed to me in surprise, and made no answer. "Are we not equal then?" asked the atheling. "I have heard that Edric Streone is on the Danish side," said Olaf. "Cannot Utred of Northumbria be trusted?" "Edric has but sought rest, from need," answered Eadmund.
Wessex is covered with nameless battlefields; but ere long half of Cnut's fleet was sent round to the Severn, and Ethelred, sick and despairing, came back to London with but a few men. It angers me even to think of what befell after that. Eadmund and Streone gathered each a good force, and came together within touch of Cnut.
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.
They smote me badly enough when I tried to be revenged on Streone, and they slew Guthorm; but they only stunned me." "Go hence before Streone catches you," said I. "Not I," said Thrand. "He knows me not, and I shall wait for another chance. The Danes think me a Mercian, and so I bide with you. Can you fly now, master?" I tried to rise, but I was weak and shaken, and sank down again.
"When I left you, master," he said, "I took service with Jarl Thorkel. Then he went to court in London, even as I hoped, for that was all I needed, and presently came Streone with a great train to see Cnut. Now the king is not a great and strong man, as men think who have not seen him, but is tall and overgrown for his years, looking eighteen or twenty, though he is younger.
For his help to me the Earl of Mercia has been well paid. Now, what shall be given to the man who betrayed to death the foster son who believed in him as in himself? "Then I, Thrand the freeman of Colchester, nowise caring what befell me, answered in a loud voice: "'Let him die. He is not fit to live. "'Slay him, therefore, said Cnut. "Thereat Streone cried for mercy once, grovelling.
They were slain in petty quarrels, and it is ever in my mind that it was in judgment on them for treating with Streone the traitor in the days when Cnut had not yet taken the kingship and rule into his own hands. I hold him blameless of that, for what could a boy of thirteen, however wise, do against their word and plans?
I came back to Olaf while he gathered his ships in the Pool below London Bridge, and I found him ill at ease and angry with Ethelred and Eadmund, and when I told him all, most angry with Streone. "Now you must stay with me, cousin, for that man will have you slain if he can. There is no doubt that he works for Cnut.
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