There came ever more and more, and proceeded toward Octa,
when they together were all come, then were there thirty thousand,
without the women, of Hengest's kin. They took their host, and forth
gan to fare, and set all in their hand beyond the Humber, and the
people, where they gan march, there was a marvellous host! And they
proceeded right to York, and on each side the heathen people gan ride
about the burgh, and the burgh besieged, and took it all in their
hand, forth into Scotland, all that they saw they accounted their own.
But Uther's knights who were in the castle, defended the town within,
so that they might never get within, in no place heard any one, of few
men that did so well!
So soon as Uther of this thing was aware, he assembled a strong army,
over all his kingdom, and he very speedily marched toward York,
proceeded forth-right anon, where Octa him lay. Octa and his forces
marched against them; encountered them together with grim strength,
hewed hardily, helms resounded; the fields were dyed with the blood of
the slain, and the heathen souls hell sought! When the day's end
arrived, then was it so evilly done, that the heathen folk had the
upper hand, and with great strength routed the Britons, and drove them
to a mount that was exceeding strong.
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