The Poem

The poem is incomplete as it stands. Casley's transcript is a seemingly an accurate record of the state of the manuscript shortly before 1726 and the reference to a 'fragmentum' in the 1621 catalogue of the manuscript may indicate that it had long since lost its beginning and ending. Nevertheless what we have is still a stirring account.

The poem begins with Byrhtnoth organising his troops and preparing them for battle on the mainland - the Vikings are waiting on the island opposite. Before a blow is struck, however, a Viking messenger offers a truce if the English pay them tribute. Byrhtnoth replies that the only payment they will receive is in sword and spear.

The battle then commences. To begin with the English do well as they hold the causeway between the mainland and the island and the Vikings can make no progress, and have to resort to archery fire. Eventually they ask for passage across so that the battle may be resolved, which Byrhtnoth permits. Why he does so is a matter of major debate and is something you will have to consider.

The Vikings do come across and the two armies engage each other. Byrhtnoth is in the thick of the battle, but is eventually wounded and dies. The death of their leader causes panic in some of the English and they flee the battlefield to the safety of some nearby woods. With their numbers depleted the English are doomed but the poem ends with a series of monologues by various warriors in which they declare their intentions to stay and fight on.


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