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at Temesford (Tempsford), where they fixed themselves, and strengthened the place, deserting their other post of Huntingdon; and they intended to make their excursions from this station, and thought that thus they should again get the greater part of this land into their power. And they went forth until they came to Bedford, but the garrison marched out against them, and fought with them, and put them to flight, and slew a great part of them. Yet after this a great army again assembled from East Anglia and Mercia and proceeded to Wigmore, and they surrounded the place, and fought against it till late in the day, and they seized the cattle in the neighbourhood; nevertheless the garrison defended the town and they gave up the assault and departed. After this, the same summer, a large body of King Edward's subjects was collected from the towns[1] nearest Tempsford, and they
- ↑ In this part of the Chronicle the Saxon word Burh, which I have translated town, recurs perpetually; it would appear that the predatory warfare, existing every where, had compelled the inhabitants of the country to gather themselves into townships, for the sake of mutual protection; these were probably surrounded by some species of inclosure as a defence against sudden attacks. The erection of a stone wall seems to be considered worthy of mention, as a work but rarely undertaken.
