Octa

Layamon's Brut

• attestation: Octa sent messengers over three kingdoms, and bade each brave man speedily to come to him, who would obtain land, or silver or gold. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Octa sent messengers over three kingdoms, and bade each brave man speedily to come to him, who would obtain land, or silver or gold."

• attestation: They came soon to the army, as hail that falleth, that was to wit, with three hundred ships. (Layamon's Brut)

  "They came soon to the army, as hail that falleth, that was to wit, with three hundred ships."

• attestation: Forth went with Octa thirty thousand and eke more, brave men and keen. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Forth went with Octa thirty thousand and eke more, brave men and keen;"

• attestation: His heathen folk, that he had in the burgh, they betook them to counsel, what they might do. And thus spake Octa with his companion Ebissa: "I have now bethought me, what I will do. (Layamon's Brut)

  "And his heathen folk, that he had in the burgh, they betook them to counsel, what they might do."

• attestation: And thus spake Octa with his companion Ebissa: "I have now bethought me, what I will do. (Layamon's Brut)

  "And thus spake Octa with his companion Ebissa: "I have now bethought me, what I will do."

• attestation: We all shall else be dead, except we follow this counsel." And, they all did so, as Octa them advised. (Layamon's Brut)

  "We all shall else be dead, except we follow this counsel." And, they all did so, as Octa them advised;"

• attestation: They all were still, and kept silence with voice. (Layamon's Brut)

  "They all were still, and kept silence with voice;"

• attestation: Was there no man so high, that durst a word utter; and ever lay Octa at the king's feet so. (Layamon's Brut)

  "was there no man so high, that durst a word utter;"

• attestation: Ever lay Octa at the king's feet so; all his knights lay behind him. (Layamon's Brut)

  "and ever lay Octa at the king's feet so;"

• attestation: All his knights lay behind him. Then spake Aldadus, the good bishop, and said thus: "Ever it was, and ever it shall be, and yet it behoveth us, when we yearn mercy, that we should have mercy. (Layamon's Brut)

  "all his knights lay behind him."

• attestation: Spake Aldadus, the good bishop, and said thus: "Ever it was, and ever it shall be, and yet it behoveth us, when we yearn mercy, that we should have mercy; worthy is he of mercy, who worthily prayeth for it. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Then spake Aldadus, the good bishop, and said thus: "Ever it was, and ever it shall be, and yet it behoveth us, when we yearn mercy, that we should have mercy;"

• attestation: Worthy is he of mercy, who worthily prayeth for it. And thou thyself, lord king, thou art chief of the people, pardon thou Octa, and also his companions, if they will receive Christendom with good belief. (Layamon's Brut)

  "worthy is he of mercy, who worthily prayeth for it."

• attestation: Thou thyself, lord king, thou art chief of the people, pardon thou Octa, and also his companions, if they will receive Christendom with good belief; for yet it may befall, in some country that they may fitly worship the Lord. (Layamon's Brut)

  "And thou thyself, lord king, thou art chief of the people, pardon thou Octa, and also his companions, if they will receive Christendom with good belief;"

• attestation: For yet it may befall, in some country that they may fitly worship the Lord. Now stands all this kingdom in thine own hand, give them a place, where it shall be agreeable to thee, and take of them hostages, such as thou wilt require. (Layamon's Brut)

  "for yet it may befall, in some country that they may fitly worship the Lord."

• attribution: Octa called to him his kin that was nearest, they betook them to counsel, of their old deeds, that they would by their life desert Christendom. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Octa called to him his kin that was nearest, they betook them to counsel, of their old deeds, that they would by their life desert Christendom."

• relationship: Each man forth-right take shrift of all his sins, each man shrive other, as if it were his brother, and every good knight take on him much shrift, and God we shall promise to amend our sins. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Each man forth-right take shrift of all his sins, each man shrive other, as if it were his brother, and every good knight take on him much shrift, and God we shall promise to amend our sins."

• attestation: Octa heard say of the sickness of the king, and spake with the guardsmen, who should keep him: "Hearken to me now, knights, what I will make known to you. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Octa heard say of the sickness of the king, and spake with the guardsmen, who should keep him: "Hearken to me now, knights, what I will make known to you."

• attestation: Octa engaged in combat involving Loth (Layamon's Brut)

  "Octa held much war, and Loth often fought with him, and oft he gained possessions, and oft he them lost."

• attestation: The Britons had mickle mood, and immoderate pride, and were void of dread, on account of the king's age. (Layamon's Brut)

  "The Britons had mickle mood, and immoderate pride, and were void of dread, on account of the king's age;"

• attestation: and so men shall leach his limbs that are sore, and heal his bones with bitter steel!" Thus spake him Octa with his comrade Ebissa;. (Layamon's Brut)

  "and so men shall leach his limbs that are sore, and heal his bones with bitter steel!" Thus spake him Octa with his comrade Ebissa;"

• attestation: up arose Octa, Ebissa, and Ossa, and ordered their knights to prepare them for fight, to undo their broad gates, and unfasten the burgh. (Layamon's Brut)

  "up arose Octa, Ebissa, and Ossa, and ordered their knights to prepare them for fight, to undo their broad gates, and unfasten the burgh."

• attestation: Octa rode him out, and much folk followed after him. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Octa rode him out, and much folk followed after him;"

• attestation: Octa loved him, the while that he lived. The Saxish men were greatly discouraged, and proceeded them together into Scotland. (Layamon's Brut)

  "and Octa loved him, the while that he lived."