This is a feature of late Old English, and we know that Maldon was written after 991 (the date of the battle itself). Other examples which illustrate this in the poem are 'leodon' (l. 23), 'Denon' (l. 129), 'hwilon' (l. 270), and 'wordon' (l. 306). Note also the unusual forms of the subjunctive as witnessed in 'heoldon' (l. 20) and elsewhere. For a good listing of these features see Scragg's discussion of the language of the poem (Scragg, 1981, pp. 23-28)].