Page:A literal translation of the Saxon Chronicle.djvu/129

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117

905.

This year Æthelwald induced the army in East Anglia to break the peace, and they ravaged Mercia as far as Crecca-gelade (Cricklade), and they crossed the Thames there, and took all they could meet with in Brædune (Breden forest, Wiltshire), and in the neighbourhood, and then they returned homeward. Then King Edward pursued after them as soon as he could assemble his army, and he laid waste their land between the Dyke (the Devil's Ditch) and the Ouse, as far northward as the fens. And when he was about to depart thence, he caused it to be proclaimed throughout his army, that all the troops should keep together, but the Kentish men remained behind against his command, though he had sent them seven messages. Then the Danes surrounded them, and they fought, and the Aldermen Siwulf and Sigelm, and the King's Thane Eadwold, and the Abbot Cenwulf, and Sigebryht the son of Siwulf, and Eadwald the son of Acca, were slain there, and many others; though I have named the most noted. And there fell on the side of the Danes, their King Eohric, and Prince Æthelwald who had persuaded them to the war, and Byrhtsige the son of Prince