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ANGLO-SAXONS. 483
CHAPTER . IX D*
Ubbo, who with his brothers Ingwar and Halfden, had conducted his fatal fleet to England, to avenge "the death of their father”, and who had distinguished himself in the massacre at Peterborough, and who tack in was now the only survivor of those children of Vem var Ragnar Lodbrog who had afflicted England, had been harassing the Britons in South Wales, where he had wintered. After much of that slaughter, which always attended their invasions, he returned with twenty-three ships to the English Channel. Sailing by the north of Devonshire, the Castle of Kynwith (12) attracted his notice, where many of the king's thegns had embraced the protection of the Earl of Devon. The place was unprovided with subsistence. It had 110 stronger fortification than a Saxon wall (13) ; but Ubbo found that its rocky situation made it impregnable against all assault, except at the eastern point. He also remarked that no water was near it, and consequently that a short siege would reduce the inhabitants to every misery of thirst and famine. He preferred the certain victory of a blockade to a bloody attack, and surrounded it with his followers. Odun saw the extent of his distress, and the inevitable certainty on which the pagans calculated; and determined on a vigorous sally. It was bravely executed. While the dawn was mingling with the darkness, Odun pierced at once to the tent of Ubbo, slew him and his attendants, and turning on the affrighted host, destroyed the largest part ; a few reached their vessels and escaped. An immense booty rewarded the victors, among which the capture of their magical standard, the famous Reafan, was to the eye of ignorant superstition a more fatal disaster than even Ubbo's death, and their destructive defeat
(Asser confirms this battle in the year 878 and the place as 'ante Arcem Cynuit' in Devonshire (Castle Cunwit), which today is called Kenny (Kinuith) Castle of Taw, near Appledore.)
(12) Risdon places this castle near Appledore ; it is called Henney Castle. Gough's Camden, i. p. 40.
(13) Asser seems to treat Saxon fortifications with some contempt ; for he says, that it was omnino immuriitam nisi quod msenia nostro more erecta solum modo
Rag vonshire nar Lodbrog
Latin:
Ibique acceperunt spolia non minima. In quo etiam acceperunt illud vexillum quod Reafan nominant. Dicunt enim, quod sixty sorores Hynguari a Hubbae, filiae vedelicet Lodebrochi, illud vexillum texuerunt, a totum paraverunt illud uno Meridiano tempore. Dicunt etiam, quod in omni bello ubi praecederet idem signum, si Victoriam adepturi Essent, apparet in mid signi quasi corvus vivens volitans; si vero vincendi in futuro fuissent, penderet directe nihil movens. One hoc saepe probatum est.
English:
"In the battle took the (British) also the banner, which they call" The Raven ". It is said namely that the three sisters of Inguar and Ubbe, daughters of Lodbrog, woven this banner and was drafted in a dinner hour. We also say that each battle where hærtegn fed the lead that then, if they should win the victory, in the middle of the sign appears like a live raven, which flap their wings, but they must first since the opportunity to win the win when hanging bird now straight down. It has often turned on. "