A literal translation of the Saxon chronicle

by Unknown

This year King Edward went to Malden, and repaired and fortified the town before he departed thence. And this year Earl Thurcytel and his adherents went over sea into France, with the permission and aid of King Edward. Early in this year Æthelflæd got possession of Leicester without fighting, and the greater part of the troops of that town became subject to her. Those at York had also engaged to be under her command, some having given pledges to her, and others having taken oaths. And immediately after she had effected this, she died at Tamworth, twelve days before Midsummer, in the eighth year of her governing Mercia with rightful dominion; and her body lieth at Gloucester, in the eastern aisle of St. Peter’s Church. This year also the daughter of Æthered Lord of Mercia was wholly deprived of the government of Mercia, and carried into Wessex, three weeks before Christmas; her name was Hælfwin.

921.

This year, before Easter, King Edward ordered his people to go to Tofeceaster (Towcester), and to build a fortress there. And again this year, in Rogation week, he caused a fortress to be built at Wigingamere (Wigmore). And between Lammas and Midsummer, the troops of Northampton, and of Leicester, and of the country north of these places, broke the peace, and marched to Towcester, and fought all day against the town, and they thought that they should have taken it by storm, but the men who were within defended it until more aid arrived; and then these gave up the attack and departed. Again, very soon afterwards, they went forth by night on a secret expedition, and came unawares, and seized many prisoners and much cattle between Burnewuda (Bernwood forest) and Ægles-byrig (Ailesbury). And at the same time the army of Huntingdon and of East Anglia came, and built the fortress at Temesford (Tempsford), where they fixed themselves, and strengthened the place, deserting their other post of Huntingdon; and they intended to make their excursions from this station, and thought that thus they should again get the greater part of this land into their power. And they went forth until they came to Bedford, but the garrison marched out against them, and fought with them, and put them to flight, and slew a great part of them. Yet after this a great army again assembled from East Anglia and Mercia and proceeded to Wigmore, and they surrounded the place, and fought against it till late in the day, and they seized the cattle in the neighbourhood; nevertheless the garrison defended the town and they gave up the assault and departed. After this, the same summer, a large body of King Edward’s subjects was collected from the towns[AL] nearest Tempsford, and they marched thither and besieged that town, and they fought against it until they took it. And they slew the King and Earl Toglos, and his son Earl Manna, and his brother and all those who would have resisted, and they took captive the remainder, and the town they plundered. And immediately after this, in harvest, a great force was collected out of Kent, out of Surrey, and out of Essex, and out of the towns around on all sides, and they marched to Colchester, and they besieged the town and fought against it until they subdued it, and they seized all that was therein, and they slew all the inhabitants excepting those who escaped over the wall. And during the same autumn a great army was gathered together out of East Anglia, consisting of the land forces, and also of such Vikingar as the others had persuaded to join them; and they thought to satisfy their desire of vengeance. They went to Malden and besieged that town, and they fought there until aid came to the Burghers from without, and then the army left the town and departed. And the townsmen, and those who had arrived to succour them, sallied forth after them, and put them to flight, and slew many hundreds both pirates and others. Immediately after this, during the same autumn, King Edward went to Passenham with the troops of Wessex, and he abode there while his men inclosed Towcester with a stone wall. And Earl Thurferth and the Holds, and all the army at Northampton, and those, of the country northward as far as Weolud (the Welland), came over to him, and acknowledged him as their Lord and protector. And when at the regular time the troops he had with him returned to their homes, others took the field, and these proceeded to Huntingdon, and they repaired the town by King Edward’s orders, and rebuilt that part of it which had been pulled down. And all who remained of the inhabitants of that country gave themselves up to King Edward, and sought his favour and protection. And again the same year, before Martinmas, King Edward went to Colchester with the Wessex troops, and he repaired the town and restored that which had been demolished. And a large body of people in East Anglia and in Essex, who had before been under the Danish dominion, came over to him. And all the army of East Anglia swore to be as one with him; that they would will all that he should will, and that they would keep peace both by sea and land with all whom he should befriend. And the army at Grantanbrycge (Cambridge) separately acknowledged him for their Lord and patron, and confirmed this with oaths even as he had desired. This year King Sihtric slew his brother Niel.

922.

This year, between Rogation week and Midsummer, King Edward went with an army to Stamford, and caused fortifications to be made on the southern side of the river, and the inhabitants of the town on the northern bank submitted to him, and acknowledged him as their Lord.—And whilst he remained at this place, his sister Æthelflæd died at Tamworth, twelve days before Midsummer. And then he rode to the town of Tamworth, and all the people, who had been under the government of Æthelflæd became his subjects: and the Kings of North Wales, Howel and Cledauc and Jeothwel, and all that nation, acknowledged him as their Lord. Thence he went to Nottingham, and he took that town, and caused it to be repaired, and he peopled it with English and Danes. And all the inhabitants of Mercia, both Danes and English, came over to him.

923.

This year, after harvest, King Edward went with an army to Thælwæl (Thelwall), and caused that town to be built and fortified and garrisoned. And whilst he abode there, he commanded another army, raised in Mercia, to go to Manchester, in Northumberland, to repair and garrison that town. This year Archbishop Plegemund died; and King Regnold conquered York.

924.

This year, before Midsummer, King Edward went with an army to Nottingham, and caused a town to be built on the south side of the river, over against the other, with a bridge across the Trent between the two. And thence he went to Badecanwylla (Bakewell), in Peakland, and caused a town to be built and garrisoned in the neighbourhood. And the King of the Scots and all the Scottish nation chose him for their Father and Lord, and thus did Regwnald and the sons of Eadulf, and all the inhabitants of Northumberland, both English and Danes, Northmen and others; also the King of the Strathclyde Britons and all that people.

925.