There were plenty more of us in the same case that year, when we were hunting Frisian heathen rebels to their strongholds in their fens.
"I must lose you in one way or the other, comrade," Ecgbert said.
"Either you will die here, which is the worst that could befall you, or else you must go home to England.

Now there is a fair chance for you, for Carl is sending some messengers with presents to the young King of East Anglia, who has yet to be crowned.

Go with them, and take him greetings from me." But before I could bring myself to agree to parting from him he had to put this before me in many ways, for I could not bear to leave him.

And at last he laid his commands on me that I must go.

He said it was time that he had a friend who knew his hopes in England, watching how matters went for him, and that I could best do it.