Then Havelok gave his scepter into Earl Ubbe’s hand to rule Denmark on his behalf, and after that took ship and came to Grimsby, where he built a priory for black monks to pray evermore for the peace of Grim’s soul.  But when Earl Godrich understood that Havelok and his wife were come to England, he gathered together a great army at Lincoln on the 17th of March, and came to Grimsby to fight with Havelok and his knights.  It was a great battle, wherein more than a thousand knights were slain.  The field was covered with pools of blood.  Hugh Raven and his brothers, Robert and William, did valiantly and slew many earls; but terrible was Earl Godrich to the Danes, for his sword was swift and deadly.  Havelok came to him and reminding him of the oath he sware to Athelwold that Goldborough should be queen, bade him yield the land.  But Godrich defied him, and running forward with his heavy sword cut Havelok’s shield in two.  Then Havelok smote him to the earth with a blow upon the helm; but Godrich arose and wounded him upon the shoulder, and Havelok, smarting with the cut, ran upon his enemy and hewed off his right hand.  Then he took Earl Godrich and bound him and sent him to the Queen.  And when the English knew that Goldborough was the heir of Athelwold, they laid by their swords and came and asked pardon of the Queen.  And with one accord they took Earl Godrich and bound him to a stake and burned him to ashes, for the great outrage he had done.

Then all the English nobles came and sware fealty to Havelok and crowned him King in London.  Of Grim’s two daughters, Havelok wedded Gunild, the elder, to Earl Reyner of Chester; and Levive, the younger, fair as a new rose blossom opening to the sun, he married to Bertram, the cook, whom he made Earl of Cornwall in the room of Godrich.

Sixty years reigned Havelok and Goldborough in England, and they had fifteen children, who all became kings and queens.  All the world spake of the great love that was between them.  Apart, neither knew joy or happiness.  They never grew weary of each other, for their love was ever new; and not a word of anger passed between them all their lives.

THE VIKINGS

ADAPTED BY MARY MACGREGOR

I

CHARACTERS OF THE VIKINGS

In Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, in all the villages and towns around the shores of the Baltic, the viking race was born.

It has been said that the name “vikings” was first given to those Northmen who dwelt in a part of Denmark called Viken.  However that may be, it was the name given to all the Northmen who took to a wild, sea-roving life, because they would often seek shelter with their boats in one or another of the numerous bays which abounded along their coasts.

Thus the vikings were not by any means all kings, as you might think from their name; yet among them were many chiefs of royal descent.  These, although they had neither subjects nor kingdoms over which to rule, no sooner stepped on board a viking’s boat to take command of the crew, than they were given title of king.