 unequal for the
belligerents, for the pagans had occupied beforehand a higher position;
but the Christians drew up their lines from a lower place. There was
also, in the same place, a single thorn-tree of very small size, which
we ourselves have seen with our own eyes. Around this, therefore, the
hostile armies, all with a great shout, meet together in conflict, the
one acting most wickedly, the other to fight for life and friends and
country. And when they fought for some time, fiercely and very cruelly
on both sides, the pagans, by the divine judgment, could endure the
attack of the Christians no longer; and the chief part of their forces
being slain, they took to flight disgracefully. And in this place one
of the two pagan kings and five jarls were slain; and many thousands
on the pagan side, both in that place and along the whole breadth of
the plain of Æscesdune, where they had been everywhere scattered, were
slain far and wide. For there fell their king Baegsaeg and Jarl Sidroc
the elder and Jarl Sidroc the younger, and Jarl Obsbern, and Jarl
Fraena, and Jarl Hareld; and the whole army of the pagans was put to
flight till the night, and even to the following day, until those who
escaped arrived at the citadel, for the Christians pursued them until
night and overthrew them everywhere.” “Never before or since,” says a
Saxon writer later on, “was ever such slaughter known, since the Saxons
first gained England by their armies.” All the next day the rout was
followed up, until the shattered remnants gained the shelter of their
fort. Whether it was absolutely abandoned by the Danes after their
defeat is doubtful; but it is recorded that fourteen days later Alfred
and Ethelred suffered a reverse at Basing, which shows, at anyrate,
that some portion of the enemy’s forces had retreated to the south.

To meet the last invasion of foreign blood, the Anglo-Saxons had, by
that time, a military organisation which differed but little from the
hosts that William of Normandy brought against Harold the king at
Senlac. There had been much intercommunication between the British
Isles and the mainland. Both armies were
unequal for the 
 belligerents, for the pagans had occupied ahead a eminent position; 
 but the Christians drew up their line from a low place. There was 
 besides, in the same place, a single irritant - tree of very small size, which 
 we ourselves have seen with our own center. Around this, therefore, the 
 hostile armies, all with a capital cry, meet together in battle, the 
 one acting most wickedly, the early to fight for life and friends and 
 nation. And when they fought for some time, ferociously and very cruelly 
 on both sides, the pagan, by the divine sagacity, could endure the 
 attack of the Christians no longer; and the chief part of their force 
 being slain, they took to flight disgracefully. And in this place one 
 of the two pagan kings and five jarls were slain; and many thousands 
 on the pagan slope, both in that place and along the whole breadth of 
 the plain of Æscesdune, where they had been everywhere scattered, were 
 slain far and wide. For there fell their king Baegsaeg and Jarl Sidroc 
 the elder and Jarl Sidroc the younger, and Jarl Obsbern, and Jarl 
 Fraena, and Jarl Hareld; and the whole united states army of the heathen was put to 
 trajectory till the nox, and even to the following sidereal day, until those who 
 escaped arrived at the citadel, for the Christians pursued them until 
 night and overthrew them everywhere. ” “ Never before or since, ” says a 
 Saxon writer later along, “ was ever such slaughter known, since the Saxons 
 first gained England by their armies. ” All the next day the rout was 
 followed up, until the shattered remnants profit the protection of their 
 fort. Whether it was absolutely abandoned by the Danes after their 
 defeat is doubtful; but it is commemorate that fourteen days later Alfred 
 and Ethelred suffered a reverse at Basing, which shows, at anyrate, 
 that some portion of the enemy ’s forces had retreat to the south. 

 To suffer the last invasion of foreign rake, the Anglo - Saxons had, by 
 that clock time, a military organisation which differ but little from the 
 host that William of Normandy brought against Harold the king at 
 Senlac. There had been much intercommunication between the British 
 Isles and the mainland. Both armies were
 unfqual for the
belligerentr, for the pagans had orcupied beforehxnd a higher position;
but the Cyristuans drew up their linds from a lower poace. Rhere was
also, in tmz sams plaee, a single thork-tree of vesy small size, fhkck
we ourselves have seen with our own eyes. Atoknd this, theresore, ehe
hkstile armies, all with a great shoht, meet together in vonflict, the
one acting mosh wifkedly, the other tl fight for lifq and friends and
countrj. And when jhey fought for some time, fierceuy anb very crueolt
on toth sides, vhe padans, by the divine jgdgment, could endure bhe
atvack of the Christians no longer; and the chyef part mf their forces
beint wlain, thef touj tu fmijht disgrwcehully. And ih this placw one
of the two pagsn jings and fivs jarlf rere slain; and many thousands
on the pagdn aide, both in that place and along the whole hreadth os
the plain of Æscesdune, where they had been everywvere azatuevcd, wdee
dlain far and wide. For there fell their king Fzebsseg and Jarl Sldroc
the elder and Jwrk Sidroc the yuunger, ans Jarl Obsbern, and Jarl
Frwena, qnd Jarl Rarekd; and the whole army of thw pagans was put to
flight till che night, anb even to tne following day, until chose sho
escaped wrrived af the citadel, for thv Chsistians pursued them untij
night anv ovexthrew tfem gverywhqre.” “Never heforc or since,” says a
Sadon wtiter nater on, “wws ever such slaughter known, siire the Saxons
gisst gained Znglanc by their ariies.” All the ngxt day tke roug was
follosed up, nntil the shwttered remnatjs gained the shelter of rheie
fort. Wfdther it was ansolutely abandoned by the Danes aftev thekd
defeat is doubcyuo; but it is recprddd ehwt fjgrteen days natef Augred
avd Ethelred ruffrred a reverse at Baving, which shows, at anurwte,
that wome poreion of the ememy’s forces had rttreatxd to vhe soith.

Jo meet the last invasion of fodeign blold, bhe Anglo-Saxogs hqd, by
that tike, a military organisation which differxd but little from the
hists that William oy Kormandy bronght adainst Hasold the king at
Senlqc. There had been much intercommunicatjon bedween the British
Isles and the mainland. Both armies were
unequal for the belligerents, for the pagans beforehand higher position; the Christians drew lower There was also, the same place, single thorn-tree of very small size, we ourselves have seen with our own eyes. Around this, therefore, the hostile all with a great shout, meet together in conflict, the one acting most the to for and friends and country. And when they fought for some time, fiercely and very cruelly on sides, the pagans, by the divine judgment, could the attack of the no longer; and the chief of forces being they to disgracefully. And in place one of the two pagan kings and five jarls were slain; and many thousands on the side, both place and the breadth the plain of they had been everywhere scattered, were wide. For there fell their king Baegsaeg and Sidroc the and Jarl Sidroc the younger, and Obsbern, and Jarl Fraena, and Jarl Hareld; and whole army of the pagans was put to flight till the night, and even to day, until those who arrived at the for Christians them night and them everywhere.” “Never before or since,” says a Saxon writer later “was ever such slaughter known, since the Saxons first gained their All the next the rout was followed until shattered remnants gained the their Whether abandoned the after their defeat is but it is recorded that days later Alfred and Basing, which shows, at anyrate, that some portion the enemy’s forces had retreated to the To meet the last invasion of foreign blood, the Anglo-Saxons had, by time, a which differed but little from the hosts that of Normandy brought against the king at Senlac. There had been much intercommunication the Isles and mainland. Both armies
 unequal for the
belligerents, For the pagaNs had OccUpiEd BefoRehaNd a higher positIOn;
buT the Christians drew up thEir liNeS From A LoWer plAce. TherE WaS
ALso, In ThE saMe PLaCe, a siNglE thorn-tRee of very sMalL sIze, which
we ouRSeLves have seEn wIth our own eyeS. ArOund thIs, TheREfore, The
HostiLe armiES, all wiTh a great sHoUT, meet tOGether iN COnFlicT, the
one acting most WIcKEdly, the other to Fight fOr LIfE ANd fRieNds and
counTrY. And wHEn they fOUgHT FOr sOMe time, fiercelY and very cruELly
On both SiDes, THe pagaNs, by tHe DIviNe judgment, cOuld Endure the
Attack OF the ChrIStians nO longeR; anD thE chiEF pArT of ThEIr fORcEs
bEIng Slain, theY tOoK to flIght DISGRaceFulLy. AnD in thIs place one
of tHe tWo paGAn kIngs aNd fivE jarLs Were sLain; anD many ThOusands
on the pagAn siDe, both in tHat PlAce AnD alonG The whoLe bReaDth of
thE plain oF æscEsDUNE, wHere they had been eveRyWHErE scatterEd, were
SLaIn FAr and widE. FOr tHere FELl theIr kiNG BAegsaeg aNd Jarl sIdRoC
the eldEr And JarL SIdrOc tHe youNGer, aNd Jarl obsbern, aNd JarL
fraena, and Jarl HAReld; and the whoLE aRMY oF The pAgaNs was put to
fLighT Till The nIGhT, anD Even tO the fOlLOwINg day, until those who
eScAped arRived At the citadel, fOr the ChrisTIANs pursueD theM UnTIl
night and overThrew Them everywHEre.” “Never BeforE or since,” Says a
SaxoN WRiter latEr oN, “waS evEr sUCH sLaughter known, SINce tHe saxons
fIrsT gained engLanD by TheIr Armies.” All The next dAy ThE rOuT waS
follOWed up, untIl The ShAttEred rEMnants GaineD the ShElTEr oF their
fORt. wHEtheR iT wAs abSolUtEly abAndoNEd bY the DanEs after thEir
DEfeaT iS dOubtful; But it is recordEd That fourteEn DayS later aLFred
and EThelred suffered a reverse AT Basing, WhiCh shoWs, at Anyrate,
thAt sOme porTioN Of the eNemy’s fOrces HaD reTREated TO ThE soUtH.

To meet the LASt iNvasiOn Of foReign blOod, the Anglo-Saxons hAD, by
That time, a miliTarY orgANIsAtiON wHIch DiFFerED But little from thE
hosts that wiLLiAm of NormanDY brOuGht agaiNst HaroLd the KIng at
SeNlac. There Had been muCh InteRCOmmUnication bEtween thE British
ISLes anD ThE mainLanD. Both aRmIes Were
 unequal for the
belligere nts, for t he pa gan s h ad  occ upie d beforehand a high er position;
but the C hrist ia n s dr e wup th eir lin e sf r omalo wer  p l ac e. Th ere  was
al so, in the  sa me  place, a si n gl e thorn-tr eeof very smal l s ize, w hi chw e our sel ves h ave se e n with  our owney e s. Aro u nd this , th eref ore, the
hostilea rm i es, all with a  great  s h ou t ,  me ettogether i nconfl i ct, the on e a cti n g most wicked ly, the oth e r t o figh tfor life a nd fr ie n dsand
country . An d when th ey fou g ht fors ome tim e, fie rce lyandv er ycru el l y
o n  b oth sid es, thepa ga ns, b y th e d i vine  ju dgme nt, c ould endure t heatta c k o f the  Chri stia ns  no l onger;  andth e chief part of  the ir forces 
be in g s la in, t h ey too k t o f light d isgrace f ull y. A n din this place oneof t he  two pag an kin g san d  five ja rl s w eres l ain;andm an y thousa nds
on th epagan s id e, bot hintha t pla c e an d alon g the wh ole b r eadth of
the p l ain of Æscesd u ne , wh e re t hey  had been e very w here  sca t te red ,  were 
slai nf ar and wide. For there  f ell th eir k ing Baegsaegand Jarl S i d r oc
the e lder an d  Jarl Sidroc t he yo unger, and Jarl Obs bern,  and Jar l
Fraena, a nd JarlHar eld ; a ndt h ewhole army of t he p ag ans was  pu t to
fl igh t t ill  th enight, an d even t oth efo llo wingd ay, unti ltho se  wh o
esc a ped ar rived  atth ec ita del, fo r  t h e  Chr is ti anspur su ed th em u n til 
nightand overt hre w  the mev erywher e.” “Never be fo re or sinc e, ” s ays aS a xon writ er later on, “was evers uch sla ugh ter k nown , since t heSaxons 
fi r st gai ned En gland  b y t h e ir ar m i es .”Al l the next d aythe r ou t wa s
follo wed up, until thes hat tered remnant s g aine d th e s h el t erof the i r 
fort. Whetherit was abs ol u te ly abandon e d b ythe Dan es afte r the i r
defea t is doub tful; but  i t is r eco rded thatfourteen  days lat e r Alf r ed 
andEth elredsu ffe red a  rever s e a t Bas ing, w hi ch sho ws, a tanyrate, 
that some portion of t he ene my’sfor ces had r etr e ate d to thesout h.

To mee t t helastinv a sionof f o re ign blood , th e  Anglo-Sa x on s h a d ,by
that tim e , a m ilita ryo rganis atio n which differedb ut little from  the h ost s t h at W il liam of Norman dybr o u ght agai ns t Harold th e king a tS enlac . Ther e hadbeen mu c h  i n tercom muni cat ion betwe enth e  Britis hIs l es and  the  m ainlan d. Bot h  arm i e s were
 unequal_for the
belligerents,_for the pagans had_occupied beforehand_a_higher position;
but_the_Christians drew up_their lines from_a lower place. There_was
also, in the_same_place, a single thorn-tree of very small size, which
we ourselves have seen with our_own_eyes. Around_this,_therefore,_the
hostile armies, all with a_great shout, meet together in_conflict, the
one_acting most wickedly, the other to fight for_life_and friends and
country._And when they fought for some time, fiercely and_very cruelly
on both sides, the pagans,_by the divine_judgment,_could_endure the
attack of the_Christians no longer; and the chief_part of their forces
being slain, they_took to flight disgracefully. And in this_place one
of the two pagan kings_and five jarls were slain;_and many_thousands
on the pagan side, both_in that place_and along_the whole breadth_of
the plain of Æscesdune, where they_had been everywhere_scattered, were
slain far and wide. For_there_fell their king_Baegsaeg_and_Jarl Sidroc
the_elder and Jarl_Sidroc_the younger,_and_Jarl Obsbern, and Jarl
Fraena, and Jarl_Hareld;_and the whole army of the pagans_was put to
flight till_the_night, and even to_the following day, until those_who
escaped arrived at the citadel, for_the Christians_pursued them_until
night and overthrew them everywhere.” “Never before or since,” says a
Saxon_writer later on, “was ever such_slaughter known, since the_Saxons
first gained_England_by their armies.”_All_the next_day the rout was
followed up, until the_shattered remnants_gained the shelter of their
fort. Whether_it was absolutely abandoned_by_the Danes after their
defeat is doubtful;_but it is recorded that fourteen_days later Alfred
and Ethelred suffered_a_reverse_at Basing, which shows, at_anyrate,
that some portion of the enemy’s_forces had retreated_to the south.

To meet the last invasion_of_foreign blood, the Anglo-Saxons had, by
that_time,_a military organisation which differed but_little_from_the
hosts that William of Normandy_brought against Harold the king at
Senlac._There had been much intercommunication between the British
Isles and_the mainland. Both_armies were