Dunley Hundred, Wiltshire, South-West England, British Isles

Economium Emmae Reginae. [25th June 1016] Then Thorkell, seeing that the time had come when he could prove his faithfulness to his lord, said: "I myself will take charge of this battle for my lord with my own men. Shall I allow my king, young and fiery as he is, to be drawn into this fight? For if I am victorious, I shall triumph for my king; but if I fall, or should I turn my back in flight, the English will gain no great glory from it, since the king will still survive, he who will renew the battle and, perhaps as victor, avenge my injuries." Since this seemed the counsel of sound judgment to all, and the king gave his consent, Thorkell disembarked with his men, drawing up his forces against the attack of the English, who had gathered in a place called Scorastan [Sherston, Wiltshire [Map]]. A host of more than forty ships of Danes went ashore; yet even this number was not equal to half that of the enemy. But their leader, trusting more in valour than in numbers, wasted no time: he sounded the trumpets, advanced at the forefront, and ever in his heart implored the help of God, cutting down with his sword's edge all who opposed him. At first the English, being stronger, slaughtered the Danes with terrible carnage, so that they had almost won the victory and were forcing their foes to flee, had not the general's exhortation restrained them, and, reminding them of their courage, made them ashamed to flee. For he reminded them that flight was impossible: the enemy held the land, and their ships lay far from the shore; therefore, if they did not conquer, they must all perish together. At this, their spirits rose; and in the battle they soon showed how dangerous desperation can be. Indeed, having despaired of flight, they raged so furiously against the enemy that one might see not only the bodies of the dead falling, but even the living staggering under blows they could scarcely parry. At length, therefore, they won the longed-for victory, and buried the bodies of their comrades as best they could find them. Then, stripping the spoils from the slain, they returned, and began preparing to invade the surrounding region.

Tunc Turkil tempus intuens instare, quo fidelitatem suam domino suo valebat patefacere: Ego inquit hoc certamen domino meo accurabo cum meis evincere, nec regem meum ad bellandum, utpote iuvenem ferventissimum, huic misceri patiar pugnae? Nam si victor fuero, regi ipsi triumphabo; si autem cecidero sive tergum dedero, non Anglis glorias erit adeo, quia rex supererit, qui et proelium restaurabit et fortasse victor meas iniurias vindicabit. Hoc dictum cum sanae mentis esse videretur omnibus, annuente rege ascendit cum suis e navibus, dirigens aciem contra Anglorum inpetum, qui tunc in loco Scorastan dicto fuerat congregatus. Quadraginta denique navium et eo amplius Danorum exercitus ascenderat, sed adhuc hic numerus medietati hostium minime par fuerat. At dux eorum, magis fisus virtute quam multitudine, omnes rumpens morulas classica insonuit, gradiens in prima fronte, et mente semper Dei auxilium exorans, queque obvia metebat mucronis acie. Angli vero in primis fortiores, dira cede Danos obtruncarunt, in tantum ut paene victoriam adepti adversarios fugere cogerent, si non ducis alloquio retenti memoresque virtutis fugam erubescerent. Namque memorabat ille abesse diffugium, in terra scilicet hostes, et a litore longe remotas pupes, ideoque si non vincerent, quod pariter occumbere deberent. Unde illi animosiores effecti, in praelio ilico manifestant, quam periculosa sit desperatio. Enimvero de refugio fugae desperati, tanta in hostes debachati sunt insania, ut non tantum mortuorum aspiceres corpora cadentia, verum etiam vivorum ictus declinantia. Tandem ergo potiti optata victoria, suorum quae reperire poterant tumulabant membra. Ab adversariis quoque diripientes spolia revertuntur, et adiacentem regionem invadendam accinguntur.