That pleased them all well, and they laughed and wished that all had wives who had no mind to rule.

“Here is word that is going home to my wife,” said one to his neighbour.  “If the queen sets the fashion of obedience, it behoves all good wives to follow her leading.”

“Maybe I would let some other than yourself tell the lady that,” answered the other thane with a great laugh, for he knew that household and its ruler.

So Goldberga had her will, and then began the long years of peace and happiness to the kingdoms of which all men know.  Wherefore I think that my story is done.  What I have told is halting maybe, and rough, but it is true.  And Goldberga, my sister, says that it is good.  Which is all the praise that I need.

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So far went Radbard, my friend, and then he would tell no more.  So it is left to me, Wislac the priest, who have written for him, to finish.  He says that everyone knows the rest, and so they do just now.  But in the years to come, when this story is read, men will want to know more.  So it is fit that I should end the story, telling things that I myself know to be true also.

Sigurd’s host went back in the autumn, rich with the treasure of Alsi the king; and from that time forward no Danish host ever sought our shores.  Wars enough have been in England here, but they have not harmed us.  No host has been suffered to cross the borders of Lindsey or East Anglia, save in peace, and in the wars of Penda of Mercia Havelok has taken no part.  Yet he has had to fight to hold his own more than once, but always with victory, for always the prayers of the few Christians have been with him.

They set Earl Ragnar to hold the southern kingdom for Havelok and his wife; and presently, when he was left a widower, he wedded the youngest daughter of Grim, Havelok’s foster father.  Eglaf was captain of the Lincoln courtmen or housecarls, whichever the right name may be among those who speak of them.  One name is Danish and the other English, but they mean the same.  As for my good friend Radbard, he was high sheriff before long, and that he is yet.  He wedded Ragnar’s sister the year that Havelok was crowned in Norwich, which was the next year after the crowning at Lincoln.

Raven went back to the sea, and he will now be in Denmark or else on the Viking path with Sigurd, for that is what he best loves.  Arngeir bides at Grimsby, high in honour with all, and the port and town grow greater and more prosperous year by year.  Wise was Grim when he chose to stay in the place where he had chanced to come, if it were not more than chance that brought him.  I suppose that for all time the ships that are from Grimsby will be free from all dues in the ports that are Havelok’s in the Danish land.  Witlaf, the good old thane, bides in his place yet, and he rejoices ever that he had a hand in bringing Havelok up.  Nor does our king forget that.