Young Folks Treasury, Volume 2 (of 12) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 686 pages of information about Young Folks Treasury, Volume 2 (of 12).

Young Folks Treasury, Volume 2 (of 12) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 686 pages of information about Young Folks Treasury, Volume 2 (of 12).

Now that same night, after he had gone to bed, Ubbe awoke about midnight and saw a great light shining from the chamber where Havelok and Goldborough lay.  He went softly to the door and peeped in to see what it meant.  They were lying fast asleep, and the light was streaming from Havelok’s mouth.  Ubbe went and called his knights, and they also came in and saw this marvel.  It was brighter than a hundred burning tapers; bright enough to count money by.  Havelok lay on his left side with his back towards them, uncovered to the waist; and they saw the king-mark on his right shoulder sparkle like shining gold and carbuncle.  Then knew they that it was King Birkabeyn’s son, and seeing how like he was to his father, they wept for joy.  Thereupon Havelok awoke, and all fell down and did him homage, saying he should be their king.  On the morrow Ubbe sent far and wide and gathered together earl and baron, dreng [servant] and thane, clerk, knight and burgess, and told them all the treason of Godard, and how Havelok had been nurtured and brought up by Grim in England.  Then he showed them their King, and the people shouted for joy at having so fair and strong a man to rule them.  And first Ubbe sware fealty to Havelok, and after him the others both great and small.  And the sheriffs and constables and all that held castles in town or burg came out and promised to be faithful to him.  Then Ubbe drew his sword and dubbed Havelok a knight, and set a crown upon his head and made him King.  And at the crowning they held merry sports—­jousting with sharp spears, tilting at the shield, wrestling, and putting the shot.  There were harpers and pipers and gleemen with their tabors; and for forty days a feast was held with rich meats in plenty and the wine flowed like water.  And first the King made Robert and William Wendut and Hugh Raven barons, and gave them land and fee.  Then when the feast was done, he set out with a thousand knights and five thousand sergeants to seek for Godard.  Godard was a-hunting with a great company of men, and Robert riding on a good steed found him and bade him to come to the King.  Godard smote him and set on his knights to fight with Robert and the King’s men.  They fought till ten of Godard’s men were slain; the rest began to flee.  “Turn again, O knights!” cried Godard; “I have fed you and shall feed you yet.  Forsake me not in such a plight.”  So they turned about and fought again.  But the King’s men slew every one of them, and took Godard and bound him and brought him to Havelok.  Then King Havelok summoned all his nobles to sit in judgment and say what should be done to such a traitor.  And they said, “Let him be dragged to the gallows at the mare’s tail, and hanged by the heels in fetters, with this writing over him:  ’This is he that drove the King out of the land, and took the life of the King’s sisters.’” So Godard suffered his doom, and none pitied him.

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Young Folks Treasury, Volume 2 (of 12) from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.