Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 9, 2025
But in honesty I will tell you that an old betrothal that was when I was a child seems to stand in the way. But neither I nor the child to whom I was betrothed have seen one another since the coming of Swein's host. And I know not where she is." "Ah! you would have it broken, and I wonder not. That can surely be."
There were none left to remind me of her, for one by one my few Bures men had fallen, and Edred, who had been my servant at the court, gave his life for mine in my first battle. Into Swein's East Anglia our levies never made their way. What need for me to say aught of those three years of warfare? Their tale is written in fire over all the fair face of England.
So it was not long before Ethelred and Eadmund rode away north towards Gainsborough at the head of as good a force as they had ever led, in order to be beforehand with the Danes, who as yet had made no move. It seemed as though they feared this new rising of all England against them, although all Swein's men who had been victors before were there with their new king.
Foreigners such as these, though hostile to the minister, were powerless against Godwine's influence and ability, and when at a later time they ventured to stand alone against him they fell without a blow. But the general ill-will at Swein's inlawing enabled them to stir Eadward to attack the earl, and in 1051 a trivial quarrel brought the opportunity of a decisive break with him.
So the ships came into the harbour, brave with gilded dragon heads and sails striped with bright colours, all fresh from their winter quarters, and Eadmund turned away, for he thought that they would be Swein's men, of the host of Thorkel the Norseman, his great captain, and foster father of Cnut his son. For Swein held Norway as well as Denmark, and many Norsemen followed him.
"Edric Streone is with King Ethelred," said Olaf; "he is not Cnut's man." "He has been Swein's man; and if it suits him will be Cnut's. I will not alter my saying of him." "Ethelred believes in him," answered Olaf, "and Eadmund the Atheling believes in him as in himself." "So much the worse for them," said the earl; "you will see if I am not right.
The fighting was coming nearer to me, and I watched and waited, and I knew that I had never seen so stern a fight as this, for before me Olaf's veterans fought against Swein's the trained thingmen who held the towns. And neither side had ever known defeat, and it seemed to me that surely we must fight till all were slain, for these were men who would not yield.
Thereat the king shook his head, and walked away to the window for a minute. Then he came back quickly and said, not looking at my mother: "Holy Church will be best served by warriors who will use carnal arms against Swein's heathen just now. The boy is right I would that there were more who had his spirit. We need and shall need those who love fighting."
The marriage of Emma with Æthelred brought about a close political connexion between the two countries. It was in Normandy that the King found a refuge from Swein's invasion, and his younger boys grew up in exile at the Norman court. Their presence there drew the eyes of every Norman to the rich land which offered so tempting a prey across the Channel.
Even London was forced at last to give way, and Æthelred fled over-sea to a refuge in Normandy. He was soon called back again. In the opening of 1014 Swein died suddenly at Gainsborough; and the spell of terror was broken. The Witan recalled "their own born lord," and Æthelred returned to see the Danish fleet under Swein's son, Cnut, sail away to the North.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking