"Well, I will not blame you; but believe me, you will do more for us in going to Eanulf than in spending your life here for nought." Then he saw he had said too much, perhaps, and motioning his man out of the room, so that we were alone, he went on quickly: "I say for nought, because all I can do is to hold back the Danes for a little; you have seen how it is.

We are evenly matched in numbers, or thereabout; but they are trained and hardened warriors, and our poor men are all unused to war.

Moreover, Heregar, these Danes come to fight, and our men do but fight because they must.

Now I will send one after you to Glastonbury to let you know how this matter goes; but it will be, I fear, no pleasant message." Then would I not ask him for men as I had been minded to do, knowing what a strait he was in, and that his words were only too true.

Those two differences between Dane and Saxon in those days of the first fighting left the victory too plainly on the side of the newcomers.