The Saxons all took the posts previously assigned to them on the walls.

Edmund strengthened the force on the side where the gate was by posting there in addition the whole of his band.

Altogether there were nearly 350 fighting men within the walls, of whom the greater part had fought against the Danes in the battles of the previous year.

The attack commenced simultaneously on all sides by a discharge of arrows by the archers of both parties.

The Saxons, sheltered behind the parapet on the walls, suffered but slightly; but their missiles did considerable execution among the masses of the Danes.