THE BATTLE OF MALDON

(991)

Byrhtnoths monument in Maldon

See more images of the battle site at:

http://www.battleofmaldon.org.uk/site_images.htm

MALDON
He1 bade each of the men leave his horse,
drive it afar; and go forth,
think of his hands and of high purpose.
Then the kinsman of Offa first found out
1

he: Byrhtnoth, Ealdorman (ruler under the king) of Essex; he was famous for his
benevolence to the monks and for previous victories over the Norsemen; he was already an
old man at the time of the battle.

that the Earl would not bear with cowardice.

Then from his hands he let the loved hawk
fly back to the wood, and he stepped to the battle.
By that might a man know that never would the youth
weaken in warfare when he seized his weapons
Then began Byrhtnoth to embolden his men,give them courage and counsel, showed them their places,
bade them hold their shields in the right fashion,
fast with their fingers, and fear nothing.
When he had fairly strengthened his folk
he alighted amid those whom he most loved,
there where he felt his hearth-guard most faithful.
Then there stood on the bank and called out stoutly
the Viking herald, voiced his errand.
He announced boasting a message to the earl
that the Sea-goers sent from their place on the shore:
Seamen proud have sent me to thee,
bade me say that thou send quickly
bracelets for your safety; and better it is for thee
to buy off with tribute 2 this rush of spears
than that we should deal our hard battle to you.
If thou wilt agree, thou who art leader.
that thou wilt redeem thine own people,
give to the Seamen on their own terms
money for peace, and make a truce with us,
we will take the coins and go to our ships,
fare far on the floodway, and hold peace with you".
Byrhtnoth spoke, raised up his shield,
shook his slim spear and tossed back words;
angry, strong-minded, he gave his answer:
"Dost thou hear, Seaman, what this folk says?
They will send you for tribute a shower of spears.
poisoned blades and old sword.
War-weeds in battle will avail you nothing.
Herald of sea-rovers, go back again.
tell thy people a' more hateful tale,
that there stand here fearless an earl and his forces
who will defend this land of theirs,
the land of Aethelred 3, mine overlord.
his place and his people. Swift will they fall
on the heathen in battle. It would be too shameful
that you with coins should go your ships
thus unfought, when already so far
you have come hither into our land.
2

tribute: it was not at all uncommon for the English to purchase peace from the Vikings with
payments of tribute, called Danegeld. After Byrhtnoth's death, king Aethdred the Redeless
bought off the Danes with a tribute of ten thousand pounds.
3
Aethelred: nicknamed "the Unready" or "Redeless", King of England, 979-1016.
He marks the passing of Anglo-Saxon independence with the Danish conquest.

You shall not so softly gather silver;

point and edge shall first unite us;
and grim warplay ere we give tribute.
He bade them bear shields, the brave men to go
till they all stood on the stream-bank;
nor could army meet army over the water,
for there came flowing in flood after ebb-tide,
arid the streams locked. Too long did it seem to them
ere against each other they could bear their spears.
By Panta stream4 they stood in proud ranks,
Flower of the East Saxons, and the wild Army.
Not one of them could harm another.
save when an arrow's flight felled a warrior.
The flood went out, the Fleetmen stood ready,
many a Viking eager for war.
Then the leader of heroes bade hold the ford,
a fight-hardened warrior who was called Wulfstan,
come of a bold race (he was Ceolan's son).
He struck down with his spear the first man
who, boldest of all stepped on the bridgeway.
There stood with Wulfstan fearless fighters
Aelfere and Maccus, two proud ones,
they would not from the ford turn in flight,
but fiercely there stood against the foe
while they could wield their own weapon.
When the foe found out, and saw clearly
that bitter bridgewarders were met with there,
the loathed strangers hid their plans,
asked to be given a way over
across the ford, and lead their footmen.
Then the earl began in his high-heartedness
to allow too much to the loathly foe.
He began to call over the cold water,
he the son of Byrthelm (the men listened):
"Now is room made for you; come swiftly to us,
Soldiers to battle. God alone knows
who will wield power on the place of carnage".
The slaughter-wolves waded over, murmured not for the water.
The Viking war-bands came west over Panta.
carried the shield through the shining -stream,
bore the linden-wood5 again to land.
Against the grim horde there stood ready
Byrhtnoth with his band. With their boards he bade them
work a war-wall, and hold their forces
fast against the foe. Then was fought out
a glorious battle; the time had come
4

Panta: now called the Blackwater. Since the tide was high at the beginning of the battle the
Vikings and the English were unable to fight hand to hand.
5
linden-wood: a kenning for shield.

for fated men to fall there.

Clamour rose high, and ravens wound,
a carrion-greedy eagle. A cry was on earth.
A close hand-to-hand combat followed, in which the bravery and skill and skill of many a
well-known warrior is proudly described. The struggle closed around Byrhtnoth, who slew his
last assailant with a swift spear-stroke, till:
at his heart stood
the poisoned point. The earl was the blither;
the proud man laughed, gave his Maker thanks
for the days work that the Lord had given him.
Then one of the warriors let a 'spear fly
straight from his hands, it went forth
through the noble thane of Aethelred.
By his side stood a youth not yet grown,
young on the battle-field. He full bravely
drew from the man the bloody spear,
the son of Wulfstan, Wulfmaer the younger.
He let the hard shaft fly back again;
the point pierced in, so that he lay on the earth
who had so cruelly cut down his lord.
Then an armed man went up to the Earl;
he would take from him the warrior's bracelets
his rings and armour and sword fair-adorned.
Then Byrhtnoth drew his blade from its sheath,
broad and bright-edged, and struck him on the byrny.
But one of the Seamen swiftly hindered him,
so that he shattered the Earl's arm.
Fell to the ground then the gold-hilted sword,
no more could he hold the hard blade,
wield his weapon. But the hoar warrior
spoke yet again, emboldened his men,
bade his good companions still go forth.
No longer could he stand fast on his feet.
He looked to heaven:
"I thank Thee now, Wielder of nations,
for all the joys I have had in the world.
And now, mild Ruler, I have most need
that Thou shouldst grant good to my spirit,
that my soul may journey forth to Thee,
into Thy power, Prince of Angels,
to go with peace. Thee I entreat
that the hell-fiends may not harm me".
Then the heathen ruffians hewed him down,
and both the warrior who stood by him;
Aelfnoth and Wulfmaer both lay still,
gave up their lives by their lord's side.
Then two warriors,Godrinc and Godwig, fled from the battle, on the very horses that had been
Byrhtlloth's gift to them, as was not right. Others bravely carried out the boasts of loyalty that

they had made over the mead-cups. One by one they gave their lives for their friendly lord,
each encouraging the others as he fell. At last:
Byrhtwold spoke out, raised his shield,
He was an old comrade. He shook his spear
and full boldly bade the men go on:
Thought shall be harder, heart be keener,
mood shall be greater as our might grows less.
Here lies our leader laid all low,
the good man in the dust, he shall mourn forever
who now from this warplay thinks to fly.
I am old in years but I will not yield,
for here beside mine own lord,
by the loved man, I think to lie.
Modernized by Margaret Williams
The last 11 lines of the poem in Anglo-Saxon:
Byrhtwold maelode bord hafenode
(se ws eald geneat), sc acwehte;
he ful baldlice beornas lrde:
"Hige sceal e heardra, heorte e cenre,
mod sceal e mare, e ure mgen lytla.
Her li ure ealdor eall forheawen,
god on greote. A mg gnornian
se e nu fram is wigplegan wendan ence.
Ic eom frod feores; fram ic ne wille,
ac ic me be healfe minum hlaforde,
be swa leofan men, licgan ence."