Matt love July 2007, re-edited February 2008
THE BATTLE OF MALDON
Athelræd Unræd came to the throne in 978, mistrusted by his nobles, unloved
by his people. From 980, he had also to deal with ever stronger Viking raiding-
parties around the south and east coast, intent on extorting money.
In 991, a large army led by Olaf Tryggvason landed at Folkestone, and spent the
summer raiding around the Kent and Essex coasts. With the Ealdorman of East
Anglia, Æthewine, dying in Ramsay Abbey, his deputy Byrhtnoth, Ealdorman of
Essex, tracked the Vikings’ progress, aided by a network of manned watchtowers
called ‘stypels’. He missed them at Ipswich, but closed with them just south of
Maldon.
The Chronicle claims the Vikings had a fleet of 93 ships, which at 30-60 men
per ship suggests an army of 3000-6000 men. Byrhtnoth collected the local fyrd
and confronted them on the mainland opposite their camp on Northey Island.
Both leaders needed to make a decision. Olaf could sail away and look for easier
pickings elsewhere. But victory in a pitched battle might bring all Essex – or
East Anglia - under his control. It was tempting but risky. Byrhtnoth, for his
part, must have been eager for battle, having finally chased down the raiders.
With the river Blackwater between the armies, however, there could only be
stalemate.
Olaf would have been happy to be paid off – as his herald in the poem makes
clear. But he had to offer battle, or his demands for money would be seen as
empty threats. Thus, he asked for free passage to the mainland.
There is a hint at criticism of Byrhtnoth’s decision to allow
the Vikings across the causeway in the poem itself: the word
‘ofermode’ (over-confidence or pride) is used. But if he
hadn’t offered a pitched battle, he must have feared they
would slip away to continue raiding elsewhere.
In the event, Byrhtnoth himself was killed in the battle, the
English army routed or cut down where it stood.
Subsequently (possibly in 991, or perhaps three years later),
the king struck a deal with Olaf. In return for money,
provisions, and permission to overwinter in Southampton, he
promised to keep the peace, oppose any other sea-raiders,
and to undergo confirmation as a Christian (he had already
been baptised) in Andover.
Above right, the disappointing statue of Byrhtnoth at Maldon
‘Olaf came with ninety-three ships to Folkestone, ravaged outside it, and went from there
to Sandwich, then to Ipswich and overran all that – and so to Maldon. There ealdorman
Byrhtnoth came against them with his troops, and fought. They killed the ealdorman there,
and had the power of the battlefield. After, men made peace with them …. In this year it
was first counselled that tribute be yielded to the Danishmen, because of the horrors they
worked along the coasts. The first payment was ten thousand pounds, at the advice of
archbishop Sigeric.’ (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle)
Some accounts claim that monks took Byrhtnoth’s headless corpse back to Ely
for burial, and that his widow had a tapestry made in his memory. It is certain,
however, that in the following years, ‘Danegeld’ was collected in ever larger
amounts. By 1013, Æthelræd’s hold over his kingdom had grown so weak, that
the Danish king Swein invaded England unopposed, and the king fled to
Normandy. Swein died the following year. Æthelræd returned to eject his son
Cnut, with surprising success, and remained in power until his death in 1016.
His son Edmund ‘Ironsides’ now faced Cnut, who returned to claim his father’s
crown. The English nobility had divided loyalties, but after clashes at London,
Otford (Kent) and Ashingdon, in which Edmund was defeated, the two rivals
divided the kingdom between them, Edmund south of the Thames, Cnut, aged
only 21, the rest. A few weeks later, Edmund died, and Cnut took over all of
England. Cnut died in 1035, and was succeeded by Harthacnut, who ruled until
1042. The throne then passed to Edward, later the Confessor, whose reign
ushered in the flowering of late Anglo-Saxon civilization. When Edward died in
1066, and Harold’s brief adventure as the last Anglo-Saxon king ended in
disaster at Hastings, an era ended, and England was never the same again.
…brocen wurde. ….. was broken.
Hēt þa hyssa hwæne hors forlǽten, He called on the warriors then, horses to release,
feor āfýsan, and forð gangan, far-off to drive them and forth to go,
hicgan tō handum and tō hige gōdum. to concentrate on work-at-hand and thoughts of honour.
Þā þæt Offan mǽg ǽrest onfunde, When Offa’s son first realized
Þæt se eorl nolde yrhðo geþolian, that the earl would allow no faint-heartedness,
hē lēt him þā of handon lēofne flēogan then he let fly from his hand
hafoc wið ðas holtes, and tō þǽre hilde stōp; his beloved hawk to the woods, and to the battle strode.
be þām man mihte oncnāwan þæt se cniht nolde Thereby men might know that the youth would not
wacian æt þām wīge, þā hē tō wǽpnum fēng. weaken in the fight when he took up arms.
Éac him wolde Éadric his ealdre gelǽstan, Like him would Eadric serve his liege,
frēan tō gefeohte; ongan þā forþ beran Battle-lord: so began to move forward
gār tō gūþe. Hē hæfde gōd geþanc spear to the fight. He knew full well
ðā hwīle þe hē mid handum healdan mihte that so long as he with hands might hold
bord and brādswurd; bēot hē gelǽste shield and broadsword, oath he’d sworn
þa hē ætforan his frēan feohtan sceolde. that he beside his lord would fight.
Ða ðǽr Byrhtnōð ongean beornas trymian, Then Byrhtnoth there began troops to deploy,
rād and rǽdde, rincum tǽhte riding and advising, teaching warriors
hū hē sceoldon standan and þone stede healdan, how they should stand and keep their post,
And bad þæt hyre randas rihte hēoldon and told (them) how to hold right their round-shields.
Fæste mid folman, and ne forhtedon nā. Firmly by the wrist, and not to be afraid.
Ðā hē hæfte ðæt folc fægere getrymmed, When he had his army properly deployed,
Hē liðe þā mid lēodon þǽr him lēofost wæs He dismounted among the people who were dearest to him
Ðǽr hē his heorðwerod holdost wiste. There he knew his trustiest hearth-companions.
The Army Deploys…
Ða stōd on stǽde , stīðlīce clypode Then stepped to the shore, stridently calling,
wīcinga ār, wordum mǽlde, A Viking messenger, announcing word.
se on bēot ābēad brimlīþendra He declared menacingly the sea-people’s
ǽrænde tō þām eorle, þǽr hē on ōfre stōd: Embassy to the earl, as he stood on the bank:
’Mē sendon tō þē sǽmen snelle, ‘I am sent to you by brave sea-men,
hēton ðē secgan þǽt ðū mōst sendan raðe who have commanded me to say you must send quickly
bēagas wið gebeorge; and ēow betere is Treasure for your protection: it’s better for you
þæt gē þisne gārrǽs mid gafole forgyldon, That these spears be bought off with tribute
þonne wē swā hearde hilde dǽlon. Than that we give you a hard fight.
Ne þurfe wē ūs spillan, gif gē spēdaþ tō þām; Nor need we waste each other if you’re rich enough;
wē willað wið ðām golde grið fæstnian. we will with that gold fix a truce.
gyf ðū þæt gerǽdest, þe hēr ricost eart, If you agree, whoever is in charge here,
þæt þū ðīne lēoda lýsan wille, that you want to save your people,
syllan sǽmannum on hyre sylfra dōm give the sea-men on their own terms
feoh wið frēode and niman frið æt ūs, money for a truce, and have peace with us.
wē willað mid þām sceattum ūs tō scype gangan, We will with the money take ship,
on flot fēran and ēow friðes healdan.’ sail away and keep peace with you.’
The Vikings make an offer…
Byrhtnoth replies…
Byrhtnōð maþelode, bord hafenode, Byrhtnoth spoke, shield up,
wand wācne æsc, wordum mǽlde, shaking his ash-spear, saying these words,
yrre and ānrǽd āgeaf him andsware: fierce and resolute, he gave reply:
‘Gehýrst þū sǽlida, hwæt þis folc segeð? ‘Do you hear, sea-man, what this people says?
Hī willað ēow tō gafole gāras syllan, They’ll give you spears for tribute,
ǽttryne ord and ealde swurd, Poison-tipped, and ancient swords:
þā heregeatu þe ēow æt hilde ne dēah! Such war-tribute shall in battle profit you little!
Brimmanna boda, ābēod eft ongēan, Sea-men’s messenger, go back again and say,
sege þīnum lēodum miccle lāþre spell, Tell your people more unpleasant news,
þæt hēr stynt unforcūð eorl mid his werode That here stands an undaunted earl with his army,
þe wile gealgean ēþel þysne, Who would defend this homeland,
Æðelrēdes eard, ealdres mīnes Athelred’s land, my lord’s
folc and foldan. Feallan sceolon People and country. There shall fall
hǽþene æt hilde! Tō hēanlic mē þinceð Heathens in battle! Too shameful, I think,
þæt gē mid ūrum sceattum tō scype gangon that you take to your ships with our money
unbefohtene, nū gē þus feor hider without a fight! Now that you’ve come so far
on ūrne eard in becōmon; in to our land;
ne sceole g swā sōfte sinc gegangan: you’ll not win wealth so easily
ūs sceal ord and ecg ǽr gesēman, we’ll first try point and blade,
grim gūðplega, ǽr wē gofol syllon! grim battle-play, before we tribute give!
Right: the waters flow together. Northey
Island from the mainland, as the tide
covers the causeway.
Stalemate…
Hēt þā bord beran, beornas gangan He called then for shields to be raised, warriors to move
þæt hī on þām ēasteðe ealle stōdon. ‘till they all stood along the water’s edge.
ne mihte þǽr for wætere werod tō þām ōðrum Then might neither army for the water get to the other
þǽr cōm flōwende flōd æfter ebban; as the tide came flowing in after ebb;
lucon lagustrēamas; tō lang he him þūhte the sea-currents joined together; too long they thought
hwænne hī tōgædere gāras bēron. ‘til they might clash spears together.
Hī þǽr Pantan strēam mid prasse bestōdon, They stood by as the Panta showed its powerful currents:
Ēastseaxena ord and se æschere; The men of Essex and the Ash-men;
ne mihte hyre ǽnig ōþrum derian Neither one could hurt the other
būton hwā þurh flānes flyht fyl genāme. Except he who through the arrow’s flight met his end.
se flōd ūt gewāt – þa flotan stōdon gearowe, The tide receded, the sea-men stood ready
Wīcinga fela, wīges georne. A Viking host, battle-eager.
Hēt þā haleða hlēo healdan þā bricge Then the hero-master ordered the bridge to be held
wigan wīgheardne sē was hātan Wulfstān, by the battle-hardened warrior called Wulfstan:
cāfne mid his cynne, þæt wæs Cēolan sunu brave like all his kin, he was Ceola’s son;
þe ðone forman man mid his francan ofscēat who with his throwing-spear brought down the first man
þe ðǽr baldlīcost on þā bricge stōp. who so boldly stepped up to the bridge.
Þǽr stōdon mid Wulfstāne wigan unforhte, There stood with Wulfstan warriors fearless:
Ælfere and Maccus, mōdige twēgen, Alfhere and Maccus, proud pair,
þā noldon æt þām forda flēam gewyrcan, Who would not at that ford give way
ac hī fæstlīce wið ðā fýnd weredon But stoutly with the enemy fought
þā hwīle þe hī wǽpna wealdan mōston. While they might still wield weapons.
Þā hī þæt ongēaton and georne gesāwon When they understood and fully saw
þæt hī þǽr bricgweardas bitere fundon, That the bridgeguards had been found so fierce,
ongunnon lytegian þā lāðe gystas, Then guile was resorted to by the hateful foreigners,
bǽdon þæt hī upgangan āgan mōston, They asked if they might have passage across,
ofer þone ford faran, fēþan lǽdan. To come over the ford, foot-warriors leading.
Ðā se eorl ongan for his ofermōde Thus the earl began through over-confidence
ālýfan landes tō fela lāþere ðēode; to allow too much land to those hateful people:
ongan ceallian þā ofer cald wæter Byrhtelm’s son began to call out*
Byrhtelmes bearn; beornas gehlyston: over the cold waters: the warriors listened*.
‘Nū ēow is gerýmed, gāð ricene tō ūs, ‘Now the way is open to you, come to us fast!
guman tō gūþe! Gōd āna wāt Warriors to war! God alone knows
hwā þǽre wælstōwe wealdan mōte.’ Who shall win the battlefield.’
*word order in these two lines changed
Right: the causeway from the mainland, with Northey Island in the distance, top right. Byrhtnoth
needed to retire some distance (200-300 yards) for the battle to be fought on solid ground. The
present sea-wall (from which the photo was taken) prevents the marshes from extending further
inland.
Battle is joined…
Wōdon þa wælwulfas, for wætere ne murnon, The death-wolves came on, for water cared not,
wīcinga werod west ofer Pantan The Viking army west over the Pant (Blackwater)
ofer scīr wæter scyldas wēgon; Over the sparkling waters they carried their shields:
lidmen tō lande linde bǽron. Sea-men bearing linden-shields to land.
Þǽr ongēan gramum gearowe stōdon There opposite the fierce ones, ready stood
Byrhtnōð mid beornum: hē mid bordum hēt Byrhtnoth with his warriors. With shields he bade them
wyrcan þone wīhagan and þæt werod healdan Form a battle-wall and the army to hold
fæste wið fēondum. Þā wæs feohte nēh, Fast against the foe. Then battle was nigh –
tīr æt getohte; wæs sēo tīd cumen Glory in the fight; the hour had come
þæt þǽr fǽge men feallan sceoldon. For men so doomed to fall.
Þǽr wearð hrēam āhafen, hremmas wundon, A yell went up, as ravens circled,
earn ǽses georn – wæs on eorþan cyrm! And food-hungry eagles – on earth it was turmoil!
Hī lēton þā of folman fēolhearde speru They let fly from fists the file-hard spears,
grimme gegrundene gāras flēogan. Cruelly sharpened shafts.
Bogen wǽron bysige; bord ord onfeng; Bows were busy; shield took spearpoint;
Biter wæs se beadurǽs. Beornas fēollon, Fierce was the charge. Fighters fell,
On gehwæðere hand hyssas lāgon. On either hand warriors collapsed.
Wund wearð Wulfmǽr, wælræste gecēas; Wulfmar was wounded, and death’s rest took;
Byrhtnōðes mǽg, hē mid billum wearð, (He was) Byrhtnoth’s kin, his sister’s son,
his swustersunu, swīðe forhēawen. (and) by blades was heavily hewn down.*
Þǽr wærð wīcingum wiþerlēan āgyfen: The Vikings were paid back in kind;
gehýrde ic þat Ēadweard ānne slōge I heard that Eadward struck one
swīðe mid his swurde – swenges ne wyrnde – So heavily with his sword – holding back no stroke –
þæt him æt fōtum fēoll fǽge cempa. That the doomed warrior fell at his feet.
Þæs him his ðēoden þanc gesǽde For that his lord gave him thanks,
þām būrþēne þā hē byre hæfde. that chamberlain, when he had the chance.
Swā stemnetton stīðhicgende So stood firm those of stout heart,
hysas æt hilde hogodon georne The warriors in battle vied keenly
hwā þǽr mid orde ǽrost mihte for who among them might first with blade
on fǽgean men feorh gewinnan, draw the life of some doomed man…
wigan mid wǽpnum. Wæl fēol on eorðan; some warrior and weapon. The dying fell to the ground;
stōdon stædefæste, stihte hī Byrhtnōð, the rest stood firm. Byrhtnoth cheered them on,
bæd þæt hyssa gehwylc hogode tō wīge bade each fighter contend in the struggle
þe on Denon wolde dōm gefeohtan. who would deal out judgement over the Danes
*word-order in these two lines changed
right: looking west from the
sea-wall just to the south of
where the causeway joins the
mainland, this is the probable
site of the battle, Vikings
nearest, the English beyond
them. The millennium
reconstruction in 1991 took
place in the field to the right
of the trees.
Byrhtnoth wounded
Wōd þā wīges heard, wǽpen up āhōf, Then came a tough fighter, weapon raised,
bord tō gebeorge, and wið ðæs beornes stōp; Shield up, and against that warrior strode;*
ēode swā ānrǽd eorl tō þām ceorle, The earl went just as resolutely to the man,
ǽgþer hyra ōðrum yfeles hogode. Each intending harm to the other
Sende ðā se sǽrinc sūþerne gār Then the seaman sent a south-spear**
þæt gewundod wearð se wigenda hlāford: That wounded the battle-lord:
hē scēaf þā mid ðām scylde, þæt se scēaft tōbærst He thrust out his shield to break the shaft
and þæt spere sprengde þæt hit sprang ongēan. And twisted the spear ‘til it came loose.***
Gegremod wearð se gūðrinc: hē mid gāre stang Angry grew the fighting-man: with spear he stabbed
wlance wīcing þe him þā wunde forgeaf. The bold Viking who’d given him the wound.
Frōd wæs se fyrdrinc: hē lēt his francan wadan Skilled was the general; he made the spear go
þurh ðæs hysses hals – hand wīsode Through the young warrior’s neck – steady-handed –
þæt hē on þām fǽrsceaðan feorh gerǽhte. Thus he took the audacious warrior’s life.
Ðā hē ōðerne ofstlīce scēat Then another he straightway brought down –
þæt sēo byrne tōbærst: hē wæs brēostum wund Split the armour: wounded him in the chest
þurh ðā hringlocan: him æt heortan stōd Through the ring-mail: in his heart lodged
ǽtterne ord. Se eorl wæs þē blīþra: The deadly spear-point. The earl was the gladder:
hlōh þā mōdi man, sǽde Metode þanc Laughing, the proud man gave thanks to God
ðæs dægweorces þe him Drihten forgeaf. For the days work the lord had granted him.
Forlēt þā drenga sum daroð of handa Then some pirate loosed a javelin from his hand -
flēogan of folman þæt se tō forð gewāt Let fly from wrist so that it went too true
þurh ðone æþelan Æþelredes þegen. To Athelred’s noble thane (ie Byrhtnoth).
Him be healfe stōd hyse unwæxen, Beside him stood a half-grown warrior,
cniht on gecampa: se ful cāflice A boy in the battle: full boldly he
brǽd of ðæm beorne blōdigne gār. Drew from the warrior the bloody spear.
Wulfstānes bearn, Wulfmǽr se geonga, Wulfstan’s son, Wulfmar the younger,****
forlēt forheardne faran eft ongēan; Sent its hard point flying back again;
ord in gewōd þæt se on eorþan læg The spear went in so that he who had struck
þe his þēoden ǽr þearle gerǽhte. The earl fell to the ground.*****
Left: re-enactors at Battle, Sussex, October 2007
* there’s some doubt as to whether Byrhtnoth is the fighter or the warrior.
** ie a Frankish throwing-spear
*** If B. blocked the spear with his shield, it would make sense that he then broke the shaft,
and twisted it loose: but not if the spear actually wounded him – unless the spear pierced
both shield and body…
**** Wulfmar and the ‘half-grown’ warrior are probably the same person.
***** word-order in these two lines changed
Ēode þā gesyrwed secg tō þām eorle Then an armoured man came at the earl
hē wolde þæs beornes bēagas gefecgan, To capture the warrior’s jewels,
rēaf and hringas and gerēnod swurd. Gear and rings and ornate sword.
Þa Byrhtnōð brǽd bill of scēðe, Byrhtnoth drew blade from scabbard,
brād and brūneccg and on þā byrnan slōh. Broad and bright-edged, and struck at the mail.
Tō raþe hine gelette lidmanna sum Too swiftly a seaman blocked him,
þā hē þæs eorles earm āmyrde. Then wounded the earl in the arm
Fēoll þā tō foldan fealohilte swurd, Thus fell to earth the gold-hilted sword,
ne mihte hē gehealdan heardne mēce, He could not hold the hardened blade,
wǽpnes wealdan. Þā gýt þæt word gecwæð Wield the weapon. But yet some words he spoke,
hār hilderinc: hyssas bylde, Greyhaired war-lord: urged on the young warriors
bæd gangan forð gōde gefēran. Bade them push on, stout companions.
Ne mihte þā on fōtum leng fæste gestandan. He could then no longer stand firm on his feet.
Hē tō heofenum wlāt, (hæleð gemælde):* He looked to heaven, (the hero spoke):
‘ic geþancie Þē, ðēoda Waldend, ‘I thank you, Almighty,
ealra þǽra wynna þe ic on worulde gebād. for all the joys I’ve had on earth.
Nū ic āh, milde Metod, mǽste þearfe Now I have, kindly Maker great need
þæt Þū mīnum gāste gōdes geunne That you should grant a boon to my spirit,
þæt mīn sāwul tō Đē sīðian mōhte That my soul might speed to thee,
On Þīn geweald, Þēoden engla, To thy kingdom, lord of Angels,
mid friðe ferian.Ic eom frymdi tō Þē Journey in peace. I pray you
þæt hī helsceaðan hýnan ne mōton!’ That hell-demons might not harm it.
Ðā hine hēowon hǽðene scealcas, Then he was hewn down by heathen fighters,
and bēgen þā beornas þe him big stōdon, And both warriors who stood by him,
Ælfnōð and Wulfmǽr, ( þæt hī on wæle) lāgon Alfnoth and Wulfmar, fell among the dead,
ðā onemn hyra frēan feorh gesealdon. Giving up their lives alongside their lord.
Death of Byrhtnoth
* this half-line is restored
right; the slightly battered plaque screwed to a farm-
gate, indicating the battlefield.
Godric and his brothers flee the battlefield…
Hī bugon þā fram beaduwe þe þǽr bēon noldon! Then from battle fled those who had no wish to be there!
Þǽr wurdon Oddan bearn ǽrest on flēame, It was Odda’s sons, Godric first, to flee
Godrīc fram gūþe, and þone gōdan forlēt The fight, and forsook the good man*
þe him mænigne oft mear gesealde. who had so often given him a good horse.
Hē gehlēop þone eoh þe āhte his hlāford, He leapt onto the horse belonging to his lord,
on þām gerǽdum þe hit riht ne wæs, The saddle he had no right to use,
and his brōðru mid him bēgen ærndon, And his brothers with him both made off,
Godwine and Godwīg gūþe ne gýmdon, Godwin and Godwig cared not for war,
ac wendon fram þām wīge and þone wudu sōhton, But turned from battle and sought the woods
flugon on þæt fæsten and hyre fēore burgon, Fleeing to safety to keep their lives,
and manna mā þonne hit ǽnig mǽð wǽre, And many more men with them than was fitting,
gyf hī þā geearnunga ealle gemundon If they had recalled all the favours
þe hē him tō duguþe gedōn hæfde. He had done for their good.**
Swā him Offa on dæg ǽr āsǽde That same day Offa had said to him
on þām meþelsteade þā hē gemōt hæfde, At the place where they’d held the war-council
þæt þǽr mōdelīce manega sprǽcon That many men spoke proudly there
þe eft æt þearfe þolian noldon. Who would not hold fast in the hour of need.
*word order (Godric) changed in these two lines
** uncertain translation
It’s puzzling that Godric and his brothers were able to flee on horseback so easily, when all the horses
had apparently been sent ‘far away’ before the start of the battle. Although the Anglo-Saxons used
horses in war, it was for movement off the battlefield only. Byrhtnoth was following tradition when he
dismounted to fight with his companions. One wonders how many were delegated to act as horse-
holders, and quite how far away from the battle they were stationed. A commander fighting on foot
could have no tactical control over the direction of a battle, nor did he perhaps deem it necessary. His
role was to fight valiantly and set an example to those around him. His death in battle, however, had
an instant and devastating impact on the morale of his army.
The view from Northey Island to the mainland
Ælfwin rallies the brave…
Þā wearð āfeallen þæs folces ealdor, Thus the senior commander was fallen,
Æþelredes eorl; ealle gesāwon Athelred’s deputy; all saw,
heorðgenēatas þæt hyra heorra læg. Hearth-companions, that their leader lay (dead).
Þā ðǽr wendon forð wlance þegenas, Then, brave thanes pushed forward,
Unearge men, efston georne: Unflinching men, they hastened keenly on:
Hī woldon þā ealle ōðer twēga, They all wished one of two things –
Līf forlǽtan oððe lēofne gewrecan. To sacrifice their lives, or avenge their beloved (leader).
Swā hī bylde forð bearn Ælfrīces, So Alfric’s son urged them forward,
Wiga wintrum geong, wordum mǽlde; Warrior in winters young, he made a speech:
Ælfwine þā cwæð, hē on ellen spræc: Alfwin thus spoke, addressed them courageously:
‘Gemunað þāra mǽla þe wē oft meodo sprǽcon ‘Remember the times we talked over the mead
þonne wē on bence bēot āhōfon, there on the benches we vowed an oath,
hæleð on healle, ymbe heard gewinn. we hall-heroes, about hard fighting.
Nū mæg cunnian hwā cēne sý! Now we shall know who are brave!
Ic wylle mīne æþelo eallum gecýþan, I will tell you all of my ancestors:
þæt ic wæs on Myrcon miccles cynnes ; That I am from a great Mercian family;
wæs mīn ealda fæder Ealhelm hāten, My grand-father was called Ealhelm,
wīs ealdorman, woruld gesǽlig. Wise alderman, world-wealthy.
Ne sceolon mē on þǽre þēode þegenas ætwītan The captains of my men shall not say of me
þæt ic of ðisse fyrde fēran wille, That I abandoned the army,
eard gesēcan nū mīn ealdor ligeð to run for home, now that my leader lies
forhēawen æt hilde. Mē is þæt hearma mǽst – cut down in battle. My grief is greatest –
hē was ǽgðer mīn mǽg and mīn hlāford.’ he was both my kinsman and my lord.’
Þā hē forð ēode; fǽhðe gemunde Then he pushed forward; aware of his cause
þæt hē mid orde ānne gerǽhte So that with his spear he wounded
flotan on þām folce þæt se on foldan læg One of the seafarers’ army, who fell,
forwegen mid his wǽpne. Ongan þā wines manian Brought low by his weapon. Then he began rallying friends
frýnd and gefēran þæt hī forð ēodon. Comrades and companions, so that they pressed forward.
Offa speaks…
Offa gemǽlde, æscholt āscēoc; Offa spoke, shaking ash-spear;
‘Hwæt, þū, Ælfwine, hafast ealle gemanode Well-spoken! Alfwine, you’ve inspired us all,
þegenas tō þearfe. Nū ūre þēoden līð, in the hour of need. Now our leader lies (dead)
eorl on earðan, ūs is eallum þearf the fallen earl, we all need
þæt ūre ǽghwylc ōþerne bylde, each other’s support.
wigan tō wīge, þā hwīle þe hē wǽpen mæge Fighters to the fight, whoever still has
habban and healdan, heardne mēce a weapon to hold, a hard blade,
gār and gōd swurd. Ūs Godrīc hæfð, spear and sword. Godric, cowardly Odda’s son,
earh Oddan bearn, ealle beswicene. has betrayed us all.
Wēnde þæs formoni man, þā hē on mēare rād, Too many men believed, when he took to horse,
on wlancan þām wicge, þæt wǽre hit ūre hlāford. On that fine steed, that it was our leader,
For þan wearð hēr on felda folc tōtwǽmed, Thus our army, here on the field, was split,
scyldburh tōbrocen – Ábrēoðe his angin The shield-wall broken – may he be ruined,
þæt hē hēr swā manigne man āflýmde!’ He who has led so many men to flight!
Lēofsunu gemǽlde and his linde āhōf, Leofsunu spoke, lifting up his shield
bord tō gebeorge. Hē þām beorne oncwæð: In defence, answering the warrior thus;
‘ic þæt gehāte þæt ic heonon nelle ‘I pledge this, that from here I shall not
flēon flōtes trym, ac wille furðor gān, take one step back, but press forward,
wrecan on gewinne mīnne winedrihten. avenge in battle my lord and friend.
Ne þurfon mē embe Stūrmere stedefæste hælæð Nor shall honest folk in Sturmer
wordum ætwītan, nū mīn wine gecranc, Have any word of blame, now my friend is fallen,
þæt ic hlāfordlēas hām siðie, That I might go home leaderless,
wende fram wīge, ac mē sceal wǽpen niman, Return from war: but arms shall claim me,
ord and īren!’ Hē ful yrre wōd, Spear and iron!’ He advanced in fierce mood,
feaht fæstlīce – flēam hē forhogode! Fought stubbornly, and scorned to flee!
Dunnere þā cwæð, daroð ācwehte, Dunnere then spoke, brandishing javelin,
Unorne ceorl, ofer eall clypode, A simple freeman, he called out to all,
bæd þæt beorna gehwylc Byrhtnōð wrǽce: Bade each warrior should avenge Byrhtnoth;
‘Ne mæg nā wandian se þe wrecan þenceð ‘There can be no hesitation for he who wishes vengeance
frēan on folce, ne for fēore murnan!’ for his lord on the foe, nor any thought of survival!’
Þā hē forð ēoden, fēores hī ne rōhton. Then they went forth, caring not for life.
Leofsunu and Dunnere speak…
The Last Stand: Ashferth the archer and Edward the Tall
Ongunnon þā hīredmen heardlīce feohtan, Then the household warriors bravely set to fighting,
grame gārberend, and god bǽdon Fiercely gripping spears, and praying God
þæt hī mōston gewrecan hyra winedrihten That they might avenge their lord and comrade
and on hyra fēondum fyl gewyrcan. And wreak destruction on their foe.
Him se gýsel ongan geornlīce fylstan: The hostage began to support them eagerly:
hē wæs on Norðhymbron herades cynnes, He was of tough Northumbrian stock,
Ecglāfes bearn. Him wæs Æscferð nama; Eglaf’s son, Ashferth by name;
hē ne wandode nā æt þām wīgplegan He faltered not in the battle-play
ac hē fýsde forð flān genehe: But loosed off arrows aplenty:
Hwīlon hē on bord scēat, hwīlon beorn tǽsde; At times hitting a shield, at others piercing a man;
Ǽfre embe stunde hē sealde sume wunde Again and again inflicting casualties
þā hwīle ðe hē wǽpna wealdan mōste. As long he had weapon to wield.
Þā gýt on orde stōd Ēadweard se langa, Still in the front rank stood Edward the Tall,
Gearo and geornful; gylpwordum spræc Ready and eager, boasting proudly
þæt hē nolde flēogan fōtmǽl landes, That he would not yield one foot of ground,
ofer bæc būgan, þā his betera leg. Move to the rear, now his lord lay dead.
Hē bræc þone bordweall and wið þā beornas feaht He broke the shield-wall,* fought against the warriors,
oð þæt hē his sincgyfan on þām sǽmannum Until he had worthily avenged his treasure-giver**
wurðlīce wrec ǽr hē on wæle lǽge. On the sea-raiders, and lay among the dead.
* broke ranks, or broke the Viking shield-wall?
** treasure-giver = Byrhtnoth his lord
Swā dyde Æþerīc, æþele gefēra, Thus did Athric, noble companion,
fūs and forðgeorn, feaht eornoste, Eagerly pressing forward, fighting grimly,
Sībyrhtes brōðor, and swīðe mænig ōþer. Sihbert’s brother, and very many others (too).
Clufon cellod bord – cēne hī weredon! (They) hacked at the white-shields*, bravely fought!
Bærst bordes lærig and sēo byrne sang Shield-rims split, chain-mail sang
gryrelēoða sum. Þā æt gūðe slōh A fearful tune. Then in battle Offa
Offa þone sǽlidan, þæt hē on eorðan fēoll; Slew a sea-raider, who fell to the ground,
and ðǽr Gaddes mǽg grund gesōhte: Then Gad’s kinsman was brought down:
raðe wearð æt hilde Offa forhēawen; Swiftly was Offa cut down in battle;
hē hæfde ðēah geforþod þæt hē his frēan gehēt Even so he had fulfilled what he’d vowed to his lord
swa hē bēotode ǽr wið his bēahgifan: What he had pledged before to his ring-giver:
þæt hī sceoldon bēgen on burh rīdan, That they should both ride back to town,
hāle tō hāme, oððe on here crincgan, Safely home, or perish in battle,
on wælstōwe wundum sweltan; On the battlefield die of (their) wounds;
hē læg ðegenlīce ðēodne gehende. He fell nobly close to his lord.
The Last Stand: Athric and Offa
* Hamer says ‘round-shields’. Sense unclear, perhaps a nick-name for the Vikings?
The Last Stand: Wistan, Oswold and Edwold
Ðā wearð borda gebræc! Brimmen wōdon, There was crashing of shields! The seamen came on,
gūðe gegremode; gār oft þurhwōd In battle-rage; many a spear pierced
fǽges feorhhūs. Forð ða ēode Wīstān, A doomed body*. Wistan advanced,
Þurstānes suna, wið þās secgas feaht. Son of Thurstan, to fight against those men.
Hē wæs on geþrange hyra þrēora bana In the clash, he sealed the fate of three
ǽr him Wīgelmes bearn on þām wæle lǽge. Before Wigelm’s son was brought down (himself)**.
Þǽr wæs stīð gemōt; stōdon fæste The contest was tough, Warriors stood firm
wigan on gewinne. Wīgend cruncon, In the struggle. Fighters collapsed,
wundum wērige; wæl fēol on eorþan. Exhausted by wounds; the dead fell to the ground.
Ōswold and Ēadwold ealle hwīle Oswold and Edwold, meanwhile,
bēgen þā gebrōþru beornas trymedon; Both brothers, steadied the warriors;
hyra winemāgas wordon bǽdon Told their kinfolk and companions
þæt hī þǽr æt ðearfe þolian sceoldon, That they needed to hold on,
unwāclīce wǽpna nēotan. Use weapons without weakness.
* feorhhus = life-house, a poetic word for body
** Wistan can’t be Thurstan’s son and Wigelm’s son: possibly the text is referring back to Offa – or it
may be error.
The Last Stand: Byrhtwold and Godric
Byrhtwold maþelode, bord hafenode; Byrhtwold spoke out, shield up;
se wæs eald genēat, æsc ācwehte. He was an old retainer, (and) shook his ash-spear.
Hē ful baldlīce beornas lǽrde: With great boldness he advised the warriors:
hige sceal þē heardra, heorte þē cēnre, Minds must be all the harder, hearts bolder,
mōd sceal þē māre þē ūre mægen lýtlað. Courage the greater, as our numbers dwindle.
Hēr līð ūre ealdor eall forhēawen, Here lies our leader all cut to pieces,
gōd on grēote: ā mæg gnornian A good man down; ever may be regret it,
se ðe nū fram þis wīgplegan wendan þenceð! Who thinks now of quitting the battle!
Ic eom frōd fēores; fram ic ne wille, I’ve lived a full life – I’ll not away from (here),
ac ic mē be healfe mīnum hlāforde, But (stay) by my lord’s side,
be swā lēofan men, licgan þence. By so dear a man I plan to lie.
Swā hī Æþelgāres bearn ealle bylde: Thus Athelgar’s son inspired them all:*
Godrīc tō gūþe, oft hē gār forlēt, Godric fought on, hurling many a shaft,
wælspere windan on þā Wīcingas. death-spears loosed upon the Vikings.
Swā hē on þām folce fyrmest ēode, Thus he went forth, leading the army,
hēow and hýnde oð þæt hē on hilde gecranc. Hacking and hewing until he fell in battle.
Næs þæt nā se Godrīc þe ðā gūðe forbēah! This was in no wise the Godric who had fled the battle!
…. …..
* referring back to Byrhtwold, or forward to Godric? (the punctuation is conjectural)
