The Lay of Havelok the Dane Part 2

Rex vero Ethelbert de uxore sua quamdam filiam genuit, nomine Argentile, pulcherrimam valde. Athelberto obiente, vel ante mortem ejus, regem rogavit Edelfridum ut filiam suam homini fortissimo ac validiori totius sui regni in conjugium copularet, nihil doli vel mali machinans.

Rex autem Adelfrid omnem malitiam ingeminans de conjugio puellae malitiose disponens, cogitans se habere unum lixam in coquina sua qui omnes homines regni sui in vigore et fort.i.tudine superabat, et juxta votum patris puellae ad illum hominem fortissimum illam generosam juvenculam toro maritali copulavit, ob cupiditatem regni puellae ipsam ita enormiter maritabat. Hauelok in patria Danemarchiae et Argentile in Britannia aequali sorte ad custodiendum deputati sunt, totum tamen nutu Divino cedebat eis in honorem. Nam Hauelok post paucos annos regnum Britanniae adoptus est, et a Saxonibus tandem occisus et apud le Stonhenge est sepultus. Pater ejus Kirkeban vocabatur.

This agrees closely with the accounts given above (-- 12 and -- 13). The chief point to be noticed is that this account identifies Edelfrid with the aethelfrith son of aethelric who was king of the Northumbrians from A.D. 593 to 617, according to the computation of the A.S. Chronicle, and who was succeeded by Eadwine son of aelle, who drove out the aethelings or sons of aethelfrith. It may be remarked further, that the same aethelfrith is called aeluric by La?amon, who gives him a very bad character; see La?amon, ed. Madden, vol. iii. p. 195.

-- 16. The story is also mentioned by Henry de Knyghton, a canon of Leicester abbey, whose history concludes with the year 1395. But his is no fresh evidence, as it is evidently borrowed from the French Chronicle of Rauf de Boun; see -- 7. It is also alluded to in a blundering manner in a short historical compilation extending from the time of Brutus to the reign of Henry VI., and preserved in MS. Cotton Calig. A. 2. At fol.

107 _b_ is the pa.s.sage-- "Ethelwolde, qui generavit filiam de (_sic_) Haueloke de Denmarke, per quem Danes per cccc. annos postea fecerunt clameum Anglie." Some omission after the word _de_ has turned the pa.s.sage into nonsense; but it is noteworthy as expressing the claim of the Danes to the English crown by right of descent from Havelok; a claim which is more clearly expressed in MS. Harl. 63, in which the King of Denmark is represented as sending a herald to aethelstan (A.D. 927)-- "to witte wheder he wold fynde a man to fight w{i}t{h} Colbrande[14] for the righ[t]e of the kyngdom Northumbr{e}, that the Danes had claymed byfore by the t.i.tle of kyng Haueloke, that wedded Goldesburghe the kyngis daughter of Northumbr{e}" --fol. 19.[15] Four hundred years before this date would intimate some year early in the sixth century. Finally, the story is found at a later period in Caxton's Chronicle (A.D. 1480) as above intimated in -- 12; whence it was adopted by Warner, and inserted into his poem ent.i.tled Albion's England; book iv. chap. 20, published in 1586. Warner called it the tale of "Argentile and Curan;" and in this ballad-shape it was reprinted in Percy's Reliques of Ancient Poetry (vol. ii. p. 261; ed. 1812) with the same t.i.tle. Not long after, in 1617, another author, William Webster, published a larger poem in six-line stanzas; but this is a mere paraphrase of Warner. The t.i.tle is-- "The most pleasant and delightful historie of Curan, a prince of Danske, and the fayre princesse Argentile," &c. John Fabyan, in his Concordance of Historyes, first printed in 1516, alludes to the two kings Adelbryght and Edill, only to dismiss the "longe processe"

concerning them, as not supported by sufficient authority. See p. 82 of the reprint by Ellis, 4to, 1811.

[Footnote 14: Colbrande is the giant defeated by Guy in the Ballad of "Guy and Colebrande." See _Percy Folio MS._; ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. ii. p. 528, where _Auelocke_ means _Anlaf_.]

[Footnote 15: Quoted in a note in Sir F. Madden's preface, p. xxiii.]

-- 17. The only other two sources whence any further light can be thrown upon our subject are the traditions of Denmark and Grimsby. A letter addressed by Sir F. Madden to Professor Rask elicited a reply which was equivalent to saying that next to nothing is known about it in Denmark.

This seems to be the right place to mention a small book of 80 pages, published at Copenhagen in the present year (1868), and ent.i.tled "Sagnet om Havelok Danske; fortalt af Kristian Koster." It contains (1) a version, in Danish prose, of the English poem; (2) a version of the same story, following the French texts of the Arundel and Royal MSS.; and (3) some elucidations of the legend. The author proposes a theory that Havelok is really the Danish king Amlet, i.e. Hamlet; but I have not s.p.a.ce here to state all his arguments. As far as I follow them, some of the chief ones are these; that Havelok ought to be found in the list of Danish kings;[16] that Hamlet's simulation of folly or madness is paralleled by Havelok's behaviour, as expressed in ll. 945-954 of our poem; and that both Hamlet and Havelok succeeded in fulfilling the revenge which they had long cherished secretly. But I am not much persuaded by these considerations, for, even granting some resemblance in the names,[17] the resemblance in the stories is very slight. But I must refer the reader to the book itself.

[Footnote 16: So then ought Hamlet; but the editor of Saxo Grammaticus says, "in antiquioribus regum Daniae genealogiis Amlethus non occurrit." See Saxo Gram. ed. Muller, Havniae, 1839; end of lib. iii. and beginning of lib. iv.; also the note on p. 132 of the Notae Uberiores. The idea that Havelock is Amlet is to be found in Grundtvig, North. Myth. 1832, p. 565.]

[Footnote 17: Havelok [_or_ Hanelock, as it is sometimes read]

is quite as like Anlaf, whence the blunder noticed in note 1, p. xviii. In the form Hablok, it is not unlike _Blecca_, who was a great man in _Lindesey_ soon after the days of _aethelberht_ of Kent; see Saxon Chronicle, An. DCXXVII.]

-- 18. Turning however to local traditions, we find that Camden briefly alludes to the story in a contemptuous manner (p. 353; ed. 8vo, Lond.

1587); but Gervase Holles is far from being disposed to regard it as fabulous. In his MSS. collections for Lincolnshire, preserved in MS.

Harl. 6829, he thus speaks of the story we are examining.[18]

"And it will not be amisse, to say something concerning y^e Common tradition of her first founder Grime, as y^e inhabitants (with a Catholique faith) name him. The tradition it thus. _Grime_ (say they) a poore Fisherman (as he was launching into y^e Riuer for fish in his little boate vpon Humber) espyed not far from him another little boate, empty (as he might conceaue) which by y^e fauour of y^e wynde & tyde still approached nearer & nearer vnto him. He betakes him to his oares, & meetes itt, wherein he founde onely a Childe wrapt in swathing clothes, purposely exposed (as it should seeme) to y^e pittylesse [rage] of y^e wilde & wide Ocean. He moued with pitty, takes itt home, & like a good foster-father carefully nourisht itt, & endeauoured to nourishe it in his owne occupation: but y^e childe contrarily was wholy deuoted to exercises of actiuity, & when he began to write man, to martiall sports, & at length by his signall valour obteyned such renowne, y^t he marryed y^e King of England's daughter, & last of all founde who was his true Father, & that he was Sonne to y^e King of Denmarke; & for y^e comicke close of all; that _Haueloke_ (for such was his name) exceedingly aduanced & enriched his foster-father Grime, who thus enriched, builded a fayre Towne neare the place where Hauelocke was founde, & named it Grimesby. Thus say some: others differ a little in y^e circ.u.mstances, as namely, that Grime was not a Fisherman, but a Merchant, & that Hauelocke should be preferred to y^e King's kitchin, & there liue a longe tyme as a Scullion: but however y^e circ.u.mstances differ, they all agree in y^e consequence, as concerning y^e Towne's foundation, to which (sayth y^e story) Hauelocke y^e Danish prince, afterward graunted many immunityes.

This is y^e famous Tradition concerning Grimsby w^ch learned Mr.

Cambden gives so little creditt to, that he thinkes it onely _illis dignissima, qui anilibus fabulis noctem solent protrudere_."

And again, after shewing that _by_ is the Danish for _town_, and quoting a pa.s.sage about Havelock's father being named Gunter, which may be found in Weever (Ancient Funeral Monuments, fol. Lond. 1631, p. 749), he proceeds:

"that Hauelocke did sometymes reside in Grimsby, may be gathered from a great blew Boundry-stone, lying at y^e East ende of Briggowgate, which retaines y^e name of _Hauelock's-Stone_ to this day. Agayne y^e great priuiledges & immunityes, that this Towne hath in Denmarke aboue any other in England (as freedome from Toll, & y^e rest) may fairely induce a Beleife, that some preceding favour, or good turne called on this remuneration. But lastly (which proofe I take to be _instar omnium_) the Common Seale of y^e Towne, & that a most auncient one," &c. [Here follows a description of the Seal.]

"The singular fact," adds Sir F. Madden, "alluded to by Holles, of the Burgesses of Grimsby being free from toll at the Port of Elsineur, in Denmark, is confirmed by the Rev. G. Oliver, in his Monumental Antiquities of Grimsby, 8vo, Hull, 1825, who is inclined from that, and other circ.u.mstances, to believe the story is not so totally without foundation." There is also an absurd local story that the church at Grimsby, which has now but one turret, formerly had four, three of which were kicked down by Grim in his anxiety to destroy some hostile vessels.

The first fell among the enemy's fleet; the second dropped in Wellowgate, and is now Havelock's stone; the third fell within the churchyard, but the fourth his strength failed to move. Perhaps amongst the most interesting notices of the story are the following words by Sir Henry Havelock, whose family seems to have originally resided in Durham.

His own account, however, is this. "My father, William Havelock, descended from a family which formerly resided at Grimsby in Lincolnshire, and was himself born at Guisborough in Yorkshire."[19] And it may at least be said with perfect truth, that if the name of _Havelock_ was not famous formerly, it is famous now.

[Footnote 18: His account has been printed in the _Topographer_, V. i. p. 241. sq. 8vo, 1789. We follow, as usual, the MS. itself, p. 1.]

[Footnote 19: Quoted in Brock's Biography of Sir H. Havelock, 1858; p. 9.]

-- 19. The last evidence for the legend is the still-existing seal of the corporation of Great Grimsby. The engraving of this seal, as it appears in the present edition, was made from a copy kindly furnished to the E.E.T.S. by the Mayor of Grimsby, and I here subjoin a description of it, communicated to me by J. Hopkin, Esq., Jun., of Grimsby, which was first printed, in a slightly different form, in Notes and Queries, 2nd Series, vol. xi. p. 41; see also p. 216.

"The ancient Town Seal of Great Grimsby is engraven on a circular piece of bra.s.s not very thick; and on the back, which is rather arched, is a small projecting piece of bra.s.s, placed as a subst.i.tute for a handle, in order when taking an impression the more easily to detach the matrix from the Wax. This seal is in an excellent state of preservation, and is inscribed in Saxon characters 'Sigillvm Comunitatis Grimebye' and represents thereon Gryme ('Gryem') who by tradition is reported to have been a native of Souldburg in Denmark, where he gained a precarious livelihood by fishing and piracy; but having, as is supposed, during the reign of Ethelbert,[20] been accidentally driven into the Humber by a furious storm, he landed on the Lincolnshire Coast near Grimsby, he being at this time miserably poor and almost dest.i.tute of the common necessaries of life; for Leland represents this 'poor fisschar' as being so very needy that he was not 'able to kepe his sunne Cuaran for poverty.' Gryme, finding a capacious haven adapted to his pursuits, built himself a house and commenced and soon succeeded in establishing a very lucrative Trade with Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Other Merchants having in process of time settled near him, attracted by the commercial advantages offered by this excellent Harbour, they jointly constructed convenient appendages for extensive Trade, and the colony soon rose into considerable importance, and became known at an early period by the name of Grimsby. For not only was Grimsby const.i.tuted a borough so early as the seventh century, but Peter of Langtoft speaks of it as a frontier Town and the boundary of a Kingdom erected by the conquests of Egbert in the year 827, which he states included all that portion of the Island which lay between 'the maritime Towns of Grymsby and Dover.' So that even at that period, Grimsby must have been a place of peculiar strength and importance. Gryme is represented on the seal as a man of gigantic stature with comparatively short hair, a shaven chin, and a moustache, holding in his right hand a drawn sword and bearing on his left arm a circular shield with an ornate boss and rim. The sleeveless tunic above his under vest is most probably the panzar or panzara of the Danes. Between his feet is a Conic object, possibly intended for a helmet, as it resembles the chapelle-de-fer worn by William Rufus on his Great Seal, and which in the laws of Gula is distinguished as the Steel hufe. On the right hand of Gryme stands his protege Haveloc ('Habloc'), whom, during one of his mercantile excursions soon after his arrival in Lincolnshire, Gryme had the good fortune to save from imminent danger of Shipwreck, and who proved to be the Son of Gunter, King of Denmark, and who was therefore conveyed to the British Court, where he subsequently received in marriage Goldburgh, the Daughter of the British Sovereign. Above Gryme is represented a hand, being emblematical of the hand of providence by which Haveloc was preserved, and near the hand is the star which marks the point where the inscription begins and ends. Haveloc made such a favourable representation of his preserver at the British and Danish Courts, that he procured for him many honours and privileges. From the British Monarch Gryme, who had already realised an abundance of wealth, received a charter, and was made the chief governor of Grimsby; and the Danish Sovereign granted to the Town an immunity (which is still possessed by the Burgesses of Grimsby) from all Tolls at the Port of Elsineur. Gryme afterwards lived in Grimsby like a petty prince in his Hereditary Dominions.

Above Haveloc is represented a crown and in his right hand is a battle axe, the favourite weapon of the Northmen, and in his right hand is a ring which he is presenting to the British Princess Goldburgh ('Goldebvrgh'), who stands on the left side of Gryme and whose right hand is held towards the Ring. Over her head is a Regal Diadem, and in her left hand is a Sceptre. Sir F. Madden states that it is certain that this seal is at least as old as the time of Edward I. (and therefore contemporaneous with the MS.) as the legend is written in a character which after the year 1300 fell into disuse, and was succeeded by the black letter, or _Gothic_."

[Footnote 20: aethelberht of Kent reigned from A.D. 560-616 (56 years).]

-- 20. SKETCH OF THE STORY OF "Le Lai d'Aueloc."[21]

It is my intention to offer some remarks on the probable sources of the legend, and to fix a conjectural date for the existence of Havelok. But it is obviously convenient that a sketch of the story should first be given. It appears, however, that the resemblance between the French and English versions is by no means very close, and it will be necessary to give separate abstracts of them. I begin with the French version, in which I follow the Norfolk MS. rather than the abridgment by Gaimar.

I have already said that the former is printed in Sir F. Madden's edition, and that it was reprinted by M. Michel with the t.i.tle "Lai d'Havelok le Danois," Paris, 1833, and by Mr Wright for the Caxton Society in 1850.

The Britons made a lay concerning King Havelok, who is surnamed Cuaran. His father was Gunter, King of the Danes. Arthur crossed the sea, and invaded Denmark. Gunter perished by the treason of Hodulf, who gained the kingdom, and held it of Arthur. Gunter had a fine castle, where his wife and son were guarded, being committed to the protection of Grim. The child was but seven years old; but ever as he slept, an odorous flame issued from his mouth. Hodulf sought to kill him, but Grim prepared a ship, and furnished it with provisions, wherein he placed the queen and the child, and set sail from Denmark. On their voyage they encountered pirates ("outlaghes"), who killed them all after a hard fight, excepting Grim, who was an acquaintance of theirs, and Grim's wife and children. Havelok also was saved. They at last arrived at the haven, afterwards named "Grimesbi" from Grim. Grim there resumed his old trade, a fisherman's, and a town grew up round his hut, which was called Grimsby. The child grew up, and waxed strong. One day Grim said to him, "Son, you will never thrive as a fisherman; take your brothers with you, and seek service amongst the King's servants." He was soon well apparelled, and repaired with his two foster-brothers to Nicole [Lincoln].[22] Now at that time there was a king named Alsi, who ruled over all Nicole and Lindesie;[23] but the country southward was governed by another king, named Ekenbright, who had married Alsi's sister Orewen. These two had one only daughter, named Argentille. Ekenbright, falling ill, committed Argentille to the care of Alsi, till she should be of age to be married to the strongest man that can be found. At Ekenbright's death, Alsi reigned over both countries, holding his court at Nicole. Havelok, on his arrival there, was employed to carry water and cut wood, and to perform all menial offices requiring great strength. He was named Cuaran, which means--in the British language--a scullion. Argentille soon arrived at marriageable age, and Alsi determined to marry her to Cuaran, which would sufficiently fulfil her father's wish--Cuaran being confessedly the strongest man in those parts. To this marriage he compelled her to consent, hoping thereby to disgrace her for ever. Havelok was unwilling that his wife should perceive the marvellous flame, but soon forgot this, and ere long fell asleep.

Then had Argentille a strange vision--that a savage bear and some foxes attacked Cuaran, but dogs and boars defended him. A boar having killed the bear, the foxes cried for quarter from Cuaran, who commanded them to be bound. Then he would have put to sea, but the sea rose so high that he was terrified. Next she beheld two lions, at seeing which she was frightened, and she and Cuaran climbed a tree to avoid them; but the lions submitted themselves to him, and called him their lord. Then a great cry was raised, whereat she awoke, and beheld the miraculous flame. "Sir," she exclaimed, "you burn!" But he rea.s.sured her, and, having heard her dream, said that it would soon come true. The next day, however, she again told her dream to a chamberlain, her friend, who said that he well knew a holy hermit who could explain it. The hermit explained to Argentille that Cuaran must be of royal lineage. "He will be king," he said, "and you a queen. Ask him concerning his parentage. Remember also to repair to his native place." On being questioned, Cuaran replied that he was born at Grimsby; that Grim was his father, and Saburc his mother. "Then let us go to Grimsby," she replied. Accompanied by his two foster-brothers, they came to Grimsby; but Grim and Saburc were both dead. They found there, however, a daughter of Grim's, named Kelloc, who had married a tradesman of that town. Up to this time Havelok had not known his true parentage, but Kelloc thought it was now time to tell him, and said: "Your father was Gunter, the King of the Danes, whom Hodulf slew. Hodulf obtained the kingdom as a grant from Arthur. Grim fled with you, and saved your life; but your mother perished at sea. Your name is HAVELOK. My husband will convey you to Denmark, where you must inquire for a lord named 'Sigar l'estal;' and take with you my two brothers." So Kelloc's husband conveyed them to Denmark, and advised Havelok to go to Sigar and show himself and his wife, as then he would be asked who his wife is. They went to the city of the seneschal, the before-named Sigar, where they craved a night's lodging, and were courteously entertained. But as they retired to a lodging for the night, six men attacked them, who had been smitten with the beauty of Argentille.

Havelok defended himself with an axe which he found, and slew five, whereupon the sixth fled. Havelok and his party fled away for refuge to a monastery, which was soon attacked by the townsmen who had heard of the combat. Havelok _mounted the tower_, and defended himself bravely, _casting down a huge stone on his enemies_.[24] The news soon reached the ears of Sigar, who hastened to see what the uproar was about. Beholding Havelok fixedly, he called to mind the form and appearance of Gunter, and asked Havelok of his parentage.

Havelok replied that Grim had told him he was by birth a Dane, and that his mother perished at sea; and ended by briefly relating his subsequent adventures. Then Sigar asked him his name. "My name is Havelok," he said, "and my other name is Cuaran." Then the seneschal took him home, and determined to watch for the miraculous flame, which he soon perceived, and was a.s.sured that Havelok was the true heir. Therefore he gathered a great host of his friends, and sent for the horn which none but the true heir could sound, promising a ring to any one who could blow it. When all had failed, it was given to Havelok, who blew it loud and long, and was joyfully recognized and acknowledged to be the true King. Then with a great army he attacked Hodulf the usurper, whom he slew with his own hand. Thus was Havelok made King of Denmark.

But after he had reigned four years, his wife incited him to return to England. With a great number of ships he sailed there, and arrived at Carleflure;[25] and sent messengers to Alsi, demanding the inheritance of Argentille. Alsi was indeed astonished at such a demand as coming from a scullion, and offered him battle. The hosts met at Theford,[26] and the battle endured till nightfall without a decisive result. But Argentille craftily advised her lord to support his dead men by stakes, to increase the apparent number of his army; and the next day Alsi, deceived by this device, treated for peace, and yielded up to his former ward all the land, from Holland[27] to Gloucester. Alsi had been so sorely wounded that he lived but fifteen days longer. Thus was Havelok king over Lincoln and Lindsey, and reigned over them for twenty years. Such is the lay of Cuaran.

[Footnote 21: For this latter portion of the Preface I am entirely responsible.]

[Footnote 22: _Nicole_ is a French inversion of Lincoln. It is not uncommon.]

[Footnote 23: The northern part of Lincolnshire is called _Lindsey_.]

[Footnote 24: Hence the obvious origin of the legend of "Havelok's stone," and the local tradition about Grim's casting down stones from the tower of Grimsby church.]

[Footnote 25: Possibly Saltfleet, suggests Mr Haigh. Such, at least, is the position required by the circ.u.mstances.]

[Footnote 26: In the Durham MS. it is Tiedfort, i.e. Tetford, not far from Horncastle, in Lincolnshire.]

[Footnote 27: A name given to the S.E. part of Lincolnshire.]

-- 21. The chief points to be noticed in Gaimar's abridgment are the few additional particulars to be gleaned from it. We there find that Havelok's mother was _Alvive_, a daughter of King _Gaifer_; that the King of Nicole and Lindeseie was a _Briton_, and was named Edelsie; that his sister, named Orwain, was married to Adelbrit, a _Dane_, who ruled over Norfolk; and that Edelsie and Adelbrit lived in the days of Costentin (Constantine), who succeeded Arthur. It is also said that the usurper Hodulf was brother to Aschis, who is the Achilles of Geoffrey of Monmouth. Another statement, that Havelok's kingdom extended from Holland to _Colchester_, seems to be an improvement upon "from Holland to _Gloucester_."

The words of Mr Petrie, in his remarks upon the lay in Monumenta Historica Britannica, vol. i., may be quoted here. "Although both [French versions] have the same story in substance, and often contain lines exactly alike, yet, besides the different order in which the incidents are narrated, each has occasionally circ.u.mstances wanting in the other, and such too, it should seem, as would leave the story incomplete unless supplied from the other copy. Thus, the visit to the hermit, which is omitted in Gaimar, was probably in the original romance; for without it Argentille's dream tells for nothing; and in the Arundel copy there is a particular account of Haveloc's defence of a tower by hurling stones on his a.s.sailants, which in Gaimar is so obscurely alluded to as to be hardly intelligible. On the other hand, instead of the description of the extraordinary virtues of Sygar's ring in Gaimar, it is merely said in the Arundel copy that Sygar would give his _anel d'or_ to whoever could sound the horn; and, to omit other instances, a festival is described in Gaimar on the authority of _l'Estorie_, of which no notice whatever occurs in the Arundel MS."

-- 22. SKETCH OF THE ENGLISH POEM.

The "Lay of Havelok" has been admirably paraphrased by Professor Morley, in his "English Writers," vol. i. pp. 459-467, a book which should be in every reader's hands, and which should by all means be consulted. I only intend here to give a briefer outline, for the sake of comparing the main features of our poem with those of the French _Lai_.

Hear the tale of Havelok! There was once a good king in England, named Athelwold, renowned and beloved for his justice. He had but one child, a daughter named Goldborough. Knowing that his end was approaching, he sent for all his lords to a.s.semble at Winchester, and there committed Goldborough to the care of G.o.drich, the earl of Cornwall; directing him to see her married to the strongest and fairest man whom he could find. But G.o.drich imprisoned her at Dover, and resolved to seize her inheritance for his own son. At that time there was also a King of Denmark, named Birkabeyn, who had one son, Havelok, and two daughters, Swanborough and Helfled. At the approach of death, he committed these to the care of Earl G.o.dard. But G.o.dard killed the two girls, and only spared Havelok because he did not like to kill him with his own hand. He therefore hired a fisherman, named Grim, to drown Havelok at sea. But Grim perceived, as Havelok slept, a miraculous light shining round the lad, whereby he knew that the child was the true heir, and would one day be king. In order to avoid G.o.dard, Grim fitted up a ship, and provisioned it, and with his wife Leve, his three sons, his two daughters, and Havelok, put out to sea. They landed in Lindesey at the month of the Humber, at a place afterwards named Grimsby after Grim. Grim worked at his old trade, a fisherman's, and Havelok carried about the fish for sale. Then arose a great dearth in the land, and Havelok went out to seek his own livelihood, walking to Lincoln barefoot. He was hired as a porter by the earl of Cornwall's cook, and drew water and cut wood for the earl's kitchen. One day some men met to contend in games and to "put the stone." At the cook's command, Havelok also put the stone, hurling it further than any of the rest.[28] G.o.drich, hearing the praises of Havelok's strength, at once resolved to perform his oath by causing him to marry Goldborough; and carried his design into execution. As goon as the pair were married, Havelok suddenly quitted Lincoln with his wife, and returned to Grimsby, where he found that Grim was dead, but that his five children are yet alive. At night, Goldborough perceived a light shining round about Havelok, and observed a cross upon his shoulder. At the same time she heard an angel's voice, telling her of good fortune to come. Then he awoke, and told her a dream; how he had dreamt that all Denmark and England became his own. She encouraged him, and urged him to set sail for Denmark at once. He accordingly called to him Grim's three sons, and narrated to them his own history, and G.o.dard's treachery, asking them to accompany him to Denmark. To this they a.s.sented, and sailed with him and Goldborough to Denmark. There he sought out a former friend of his father's, Earl Ubbe, who invited him and his friends to a sumptuous feast. After the feast, Havelok and Goldborough and Grim's sons went to the house of one Bernard Brown, whose house was that night attacked by sixty thieves.

By dint of great prowess, the friends at length slew all their sixty a.s.sailants, and Ubbe was so amazed at Havelok's valour that he resolved to dub him a knight, and invited him to sleep in his own castle. At night, he peeped into Havelok's chamber, and beheld the marvellous light, and saw a bright cross on his neck. Rejoiced at heart, he did homage to Havelok, and commanded all his friends and dependents to do the same. He also dubbed him knight, and proclaimed him King. With six thousand men he set out to attack G.o.dard, whom he defeated and made prisoner, and afterwards caused to be flayed, drawn, and hung. Then Havelok swore that he would establish at Grimsby a priory of black monks, to pray for Grim's soul; and G.o.drich, having heard that Havelok has invaded England, raised a great army against him. An indecisive combat took place between Ubbe and G.o.drich, but a more decisive one between G.o.drich and Havelok; for Havelok cut off his foe's hand and made him prisoner. Then the English submitted to Goldborough, and acknowledged her as queen; but G.o.drich was condemned and burnt. Havelok rewarded both his own friends and the English n.o.bles; for he caused Earl Reyner of Chester to marry Gunild, Grim's daughter, and Bertram, formerly G.o.drich's cook, to marry Levive, another of Grim's daughters; bestowing upon Bertram the earldom of Cornwall. Then were Havelok and Goldborough crowned at London, and a feast was given that lasted forty days. The kingdom of Denmark was bestowed upon Ubbe, who held it of King Havelok. Havelok and Goldborough lived to the age of a hundred years, and their reign lasted for sixty years in England. They had fifteen children, who were all kings and queens. Such is the _geste_ of Havelok and Goldborough.

[Footnote 28: Here again is an allusion to "Havelok's stone."]

-- 23. POSSIBLE DATE OF HAVELOK'S REIGN.

The various allusions to the story of Havelok already cited naturally lead us to consider the question as to what date we should refer such circ.u.mstances of the story as may have some foundation in truth, or such circ.u.mstances as may have originated the story. I do not look upon this as altogether a hopeless or profitless inquiry, for it seems to me that a theory may be constructed which will readily and easily fit in with most of the statements of our authorities. In the first place, to place Havelok's father in the time of Alfred, as is done by Peter de Langtoft and his translators, is absurd, and evidently due to the confusion between the names of Gunter and G.o.drum or Guthrum. We may even adduce Langtoft's evidence against himself, as he alludes to Grimsby as being the boundary of Egbert's kingdom; and indeed, the mere fact of its being a British lay points to a time before the establishment of the Heptarchy. As already suggested in -- 16, some of the authorities point to the sixth century. But the evidence of the French poem and of Gaimar points still more steadily to a similar early date. There we find Gunter appearing as the enemy, not of Alfred, but of Arthur. The French prose chronicle of the Brute places Adelbright and Edelfi after the death of Constantine, and it is clear that there is some close connection between the British lay of Havelok and the British Chronicle. The _G.o.drich_ of the English version is the _Alsi_ of the French poem, the _Edelsi_ of Gaimar, the _Adelfrid_[29] or _Edelfrid_ of the Eulogium Historiarum, the _Elfroi_ of Wace, the _aeluric_ of La?amon, the _aethelfrith_ who succeeded to the throne of Northumbria A.D. 593, according to the Saxon Chronicle. The _Athelwold_ of the English version is the _Adelbrict_ of Gaimar, the _Ekenbright_ of the French poem, the _Athelbert_ of the Eulogium Historiarum, the _Aldebar_ of Wace, and the _aethelbert_ of La?amon, i.e. no other than the celebrated _aethelberht_ of Kent, who was baptized by St Augustine A.D. 596, according to the Saxon Chronicle.

This is the right clue to the _names_, from which, when once obtained, the rest follows easily. The variations between the English and French versions are very great, and it is clear that each poet proceeded much as poets are accustomed to do. Taking a legend as the general guide or thread of a narrative, it is the simplest and easiest plan to dress it up after one's own fashion, and to draw upon the materials that are supplied by the _general surroundings_ of the story. I feel confident that the narrators of the Lay of Havelok must have used materials not much unlike those used by La?amon, and a mere comparison of the French and English lays with La?amon will amply suffice to elucidate this.