As a wealthy thegn, I possessed household warriors and like all men of my rank, I was responsible for raising the fyrd on my lands. I had expected the summons to come from Bamburgh, not Jorvik, but when a messenger arrived, it was from King Guthred, who was ahead with his mobilisation. I was faced with the difficult situation of responding to a call and by doing so, refuting another. Since I could not divide myself in half, I kept the rider waiting longer than usual before deciding to throw in my lot with King Guthred, who seemed to be a more efficient leader, more decisive, than Eadwulf.
The time had come to raise the fyrd, I provided mostly men on foot, but of warrior stock, whereas I rode proudly at the head of my numerous and well-disciplined band of horsemen. It was especially due to
