ing gathering. Only some of the great thanes who should
have been there were with the king or earl, and it seemed that the
number of guests would be small.

I rode to Thetford, bidding Eadgyth look for me on the morrow in
good time, and saying that the king would surely come also. But
when I came to the town I knew that neither he nor I should be at
Hoxne, for the Danes had scattered the levy, and Ulfkytel the great
earl was slain, and with him many another friend of mine. And the
men said that the Danes were marching swiftly onward, ever nearing
Thetford, and burning and wasting all in their track.

We marched out of the town to meet them, for we had a good force
behind us, and the men were confident of victory with the king
himself to lead them. And he was cheerful also, and said to me, as
I armed him:

"I would not have you leave the wedding; howbeit, if we beat back
the Danes, which is a matter in the hands of the Lord of Hosts,
both you and I will be there in time tomorrow."

Our mounted men met the Danes that evening--the night before
Eadgyth's wedding day--and we slept in our armour on Thetford heath
waiting for them. And in the early morning our outposts were driven
back on us, and the Danes were close on their heels.

Now Eadmund told me that I should not stand by him today, for so
soon as the battle was over I must go to Hoxne, either with news of
victory, or to bid them fly, and he would not keep me.

"I will not leave the place that is mine by right," I said.

"Not so," he answered; "I would bid you stand out of the battle for
sweet Eadgyth's sake, but that I know you would not obey me."

And he smiled at me as he went on the great white horse he always
rode, to draw up the men.

They cheered when he spoke to them, and I thought that they would
fight well. Aye, and so they did, in their fierce untrained way.
Many a long day it was since we of East Anglia stood in battle
array, and the last time was against our own kin, save that now and
again the men of some shoreward places would rise to beat off a
Danish or Norse ship.

Now were the foes in sight, and they ranged up in close order when
they saw we were ready. More than half their force was mounted, for
the Lindsey uplands and marshes had given them horses enough of the
best in England. And this was terrible, that over the host wheeled
erne and raven and kite, as knowing to what feast the flapping of
yon Raven banner called them.

Foremost of