Page:A literal translation of the Saxon Chronicle.djvu/190

178 before Easter. And Prince Edmund went to his father at London. And after Easter King Cnut sailed towards London with all his ships, but King Æthelred was dead before they arrived there. He died on St. George's day, after a life of much trouble and sorrow. After his death all of the Witan who were in London and the citizens chose Edmund for their King, and he valiantly defended his kingdom during his whole life. Then the ships came to Greenwich in Rogation week, and in a little while they proceeded to London; they dug a great ditch on the south side of the town and drew up their ships west of the bridge, and they beset the town so that none could go in or out. And they attacked the city several times, but the inhabitants withstood them resolutely.

And before this, King Edmund had gone forth, and he marched into Wessex, and all the people submitted to him, and soon after that, he fought with the Army at Pen, near Gillingham. And he fought another battle after Midsummer, at Sceorstan, and there many fell on either side, and the armies separated of their own accord.—The Alderman Eadric, and Ælmær the Beloved,