A.D. 1016. DUKE EADBIC ADDBE8SES THE NOBLES. 510 enemy's line like lightning, and piercing it through the centre, he passed right through it, and enabled his followers to overthrow it completely. Then he rushed forth against the squadron which was immediately behind Canute, shouting his terrible battle-cry. There the most terrible part of the conflict between the two armies took place. But when that traitor duke Eadric saw the army of the Danes begin to give way, he deserted to Canute with the squadron which he commanded, as they had arranged beforehand. By this desertion, the Danes became the stronger army, and made a great slaughter of the English. For there fell on the side of the English the noble dukes jElfric and Godwin, Usci tal and his son Ethel wold, Ethelwin beloved by God, Eadnoth, bishop of Dorchester, and the abbot Wolfy, with nearly all the nobility of England, which had never before lost such number of princes in one battle. This battle took place on the festival of Saint Luke the Evangelist. Canute also on his side suffered an irreparable loss on the same day, by the death of several of his dukes and nobles. After this disastrous battle, in which so many nobles fell, a few days intervened, and then king Edmund pursued Canute, who was now committing his ravages in the province of Gloucester. Therefore the two kings met in battle in the place which is called Deerhurst ; where Edmund, being posted on the western side of the river Severn with his men, and Canute and his army on the eastern bank, both prepared themselves manfully for battle ; and when the two armies were ready to engage, the wicked duke Eadric, summoning all the nobles round him, burst forth into the following speech, and said, " Ο ye insensate nobles, men mighty in arms, why do we so often expose ourselves to death in battle for our kings, who, in spite of the slaughter which befalls us, neither succeed in becoming masters of the kingdom, nor put any bounds to their rapacity ? My advice is, that they should both fight, aye, fight in single combat, since their object is to reign singly. What is the meaning of such a lust for kingly power, that England is not sufficient for two kings, when it was formerly large enough for eight? Therefore, let them either singly make peace, or singly fight for the crown." And tin's opinion pleased every one ; andwhen the decision of the nobles was made known to the kings, they both consented and approved of it. There is an island situated in the middle of the river, which τ. τ 9