A source from the 12th century, Liber Eliensis, written by the monks at Ely, suggests that Byrhtnoth had only a few men to command: "he was neither shaken by the small number of his men, nor fearful of the multitude of the enemy".
En kilde fra 1100-tallet, Liber Eliensis, der er skrevet i Ely, skriver at Byrhtnoth kun havde få mænd under sin kommando: "han blev hverken rystet af de ringe antal af sine mænd, eller bange over antallet hos fjenden."