Introduction
When King Ethelred ‘the Unready’ (i.e. lack-counsel) died in 1016, his son Edmund inherited not only the English crown, but the threat of losing it to the warlike Cnut, King of Denmark. That legacy Edmund might have coped with, for he deserved the nickname ‘Ironside’ for his courage in battle. Unfortunately, he had also inherited his father’s advisers.
OF the wars of King Edmund and his great prowess, the following account is given in ancient histories which celebrate his praise. Edmund’s first battle with the Danish army was at Pen, near Gillingham, where fortune inclined to the side of Edmund; his second battle was fought with Cnut* at Sherston,* and was severely contested. In this battle Edric, the ealdorman,* and Almer the beloved took part against King Edmund, and there was great slaughter on both sides, and the armies separated of themselves.
In the third, he marched to London with a chosen band of troops, and, driving the besieging army to their ships, raised the siege and entered the city with the triumph he had won. The fourth battle was fought against the same army two days afterwards on their retreat to Brentford.* Here many of his soldiers, in their too-great haste to cross the river, were drowned, but notwithstanding he obtained the victory. Upon this, King Cnut became alarmed, and drew together a number of troops to increase his force.
* Throughout his translation, Thomas Forester used the name Canute for the Danish king, a popular Anglicised form of Cnut which many people would still use when retelling to famous tale of how he rebuked his nobles for overestimating a King’s powers: see Turning the Tide. However, most historians prefer Cnut and Forester’s translation has been emended accordingly. The contemporary Anglo-Saxon Chronicle called him Cnut.
* Sherston is a town in Wiltshire, near the rising of the River Avon.
* Edric ‘Streona’ (?-1017) was one of King Ethelred the Unready’s advisers, but despite having that on his curriculum vitae (‘unrede’ is an Old English word meaning ‘lacking [good] counsel’) remained a senior adviser to Ethelred’s son. In the war with Cnut, Edric changed sides at least twice, and exercised powerful influence over Edmund’s nobles. His nickname ‘streona’ means ‘acquisitor’, and suggests a man who profited from his position in a less than honest fashion.
* An ealdorman (or ‘senior man’, the same word as alderman) was a high-ranking noblemen of Anglo-Saxon royal courts. From Cnut’s time, ealdormen were commonly referred to as earls, encouraged by the Old English word ‘eorl’ and the Scandinavian ‘jarl’.
* Now a town in West London. Named after the River Brent, which joins the Thames here, in ancient times Brentford was the lowest spot on the tidal reaches of the River Thames where those on foot could cross with ease. It is widely supposed that this was where Julius Caesar crossed the Thames in 54 BC.
Précis
In 1016, King Edmund inherited from his father Ethelred the defence of England against Cnut’s invading Danes. After halting the eastward march of one Danish army in Somerset, Edmund was able to raise another’s siege of London; but two of his most trusted nobles fought for Cnut, and the Danish king simply regrouped ready for a further assault. (58 / 60 words)
In 1016, King Edmund inherited from his father Ethelred the defence of England against Cnut’s invading Danes. After halting the eastward march of one Danish army in Somerset, Edmund was able to raise another’s siege of London; but two of his most trusted nobles fought for Cnut, and the Danish king simply regrouped ready for a further assault.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: despite, if, just, may, or, since, until, whether.
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