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Updated: May 24, 2025
But a less practised diplomat than the great Countess might have speculated reasonably on such an event. At least, let this be said, that when historians have complained of the treachery of King Swend Ulfsson and his Danes, they have forgotten certain broad and simple facts. Swend sailed for England to take a kingdom which he believed to be his by right; which he had formerly demanded of William.
The Jarl heard them patiently, to the last one, then politely asked the opinion of the other chief. Now the guest, Jarl Swend, knew perfectly well that of all the sailors in longships along that land not one was more long-headed, more perfect in the art of war or in making other leaders at a council believe his was the better way, than was the man who sat by his side.
Cuthbert; and William went down to Winchester angry and sad, and then went off to Gloucestershire; and hunted for, whatever befell, he still would hunt in the forest of Dean. And still Swend and his Danes had not sailed; and Hereward walked to and fro in his house, impatiently, and bided his time. In July, Baldwin died.
Magnus, the more gentle of the two, died just as his uncle had led him to enter on a war of ambition with Swend, King of Denmark. Norwegian traditions relate that he dreamt that his father, St. Olaf, appeared to him, saying, "Wilt thou choose, my son, to follow me, or to become a long-lived and powerful king, at the cost of a crime that can never be expiated?"
"God forbid, my beloved! What words are these?" "Swend fool that he is with his over-caution, always the same! has let the prize slip from between his fingers. He has sent Osbiorn instead of himself." "But why is that so terrible a mistake?" "We do not want a fleet of Vikings in England, to plunder the French and English alike. We want a king, a king, a king!" and Hereward stamped with rage.
But Harold's sons went to their father's cousin; to Sweyn Swend Sweno Ulfsson, and called on him to come and reconquer England in the name of his uncle Canute the Great; and many an Englishman went with them.
"Do they expect Swend Ulfsson, who never moved a finger yet, unless he saw that it would pay him within the hour, to spend blood and treasure in putting that puppet boy upon the throne instead of himself?" "Calm yourself, great Countess," said Hereward, with a smile. "The man who puts him on the throne will find it very easy to take him off again when he needs." "Pish!" said Gyda.
"I have so heard, my lord." "Then I command, I, Hereward, Lord of Bourne! that this abbey be held against him and all Frenchmen, in the name of Swend Ulfsson, king of England, and of me. And he that admits a Frenchman therein, I will shave his crown for him so well, that he shall never need razor more. This I tell thee; and this I shall tell your monks before I go.
And those who do not win it will yet be none the worse for trying." Then Jarl Swend laughed as he looked at Sigurd, and said, "Truly, it is not for nothing that men call thee Sigurd the Wise; now I see why the young men who sail their longships from your vik are luckier than other men." And Sigurd was satisfied.
Harald united with his cousin Swend, who had been dispossessed of an earldom by Magnus, and they advanced together; but Harald was inclined, if possible, rather to decide the matter by a treaty, than by force of arms; while Swend, on the other hand, wished for war and revenge. One evening, as the two allies were sitting together, Swend asked Harald what he valued most of all his property.
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