Hamwic, Hampshire and Sondwic, Kent, 1002-1003 AD
Hamwic, Hampshire and Sondwic, Kent, 1002-1003 ADKeeping his crews happy whilst maintaining the blockade tested Folcwin’s leadership. Judiciously allowing ships to dock as a distraction in Hamwic by turns, he sustained morale. Boredom was relieved by one courageous Viking craft trying to break out but Folcwin’s ship caught her and as Helmfrid said,
“You made short shrift of them, Ealdorman.”
“Never fight a bored Saxon, remember that, Thegn.”
The late-autumn weather brought an end to the blockade for every English ship except the lone lookout vessel deployed to observe enemy movements, which was not forthcoming because of fog, mist, storms, and the worsening conditions as winter approached.
The New Year came in and with it a change in t
