her up; better than killing her.”  So he sent and brought Goldborough to Lincoln, and set the bells ringing, and pretended great joy, for he said, “Goldborough, I am going to marry thee to the fairest and stalwartest man living.”  But Goldborough answered she would never wed any one but a king.  “Ay, ay, my girl; and so thou wouldst be queen and lady over me?  But thy father made me swear to give thee to the strongest man in England, and that is Havelok, the cook’s scullion; so willing or not willing to-morrow thou shalt wed.”  Then the earl sent for Havelok and said, “Master, will you marry?” “Not I,” said Havelok; “for I cannot feed nor clothe a wife.  I have no house, no cloth, no victuals.  The very clothes I wear do not belong to me, but to Bertram the cook, as I do.”  “So much the better,” said the earl; “but thou shalt either wed her that I shall bring thee, or else hang from a tree.  So choose.”  Then Havelok said he would sooner wed.  Earl Godrich went back to Goldborough and threatened her with burning at the stake unless she yielded to his bidding.  So, thinking it God’s will, the maid consented.  And on the morrow they were wed by the Archbishop of York, who had come down to the Parliament, and the earl told money out upon the mass-book for her dower.

Now after he was wed, Havelok knew not what to do, for he saw how greatly Earl Godrich hated him.  He thought he would go and see Grim.  When he got to Grimsby he found that Grim was dead, but his children welcomed Havelok and begged him bring his wife thither, since they had gold and silver and cattle.  And when Goldborough came, they made a feast, sparing neither flesh nor fowl, wine nor ale.  And Grim’s sons and daughters served Havelok and Goldborough.

Sorrowfully Goldborough lay down at night, for her heart was heavy at thinking she had wedded a bondsman.  But as she fretted she saw a light, very bright like a blaze of fire, which came out of Havelok’s mouth.  And she thought, “Of a truth but he must be nobly born.”  Then she looked on his shoulder, and saw the king mark, like a fair cross of red gold, and at the same time she heard an angel say—­

“Goldborough, leave sorrowing, for Havelok is a king’s son, and shall be king of England and of Denmark, and thou queen.”

Then was Goldborough glad, and kissed Havelok, who, straightway waking, said, “I have had a strange dream.  I dreamed I was on a high hill, whence I could see all Denmark; and I thought as I looked that it was all mine.  Then I was taken up and carried over the salt sea to England, and methought I took all the country and shut it within my hand.”  And Goldborough said, “What a good dream is this!  Rejoice, for it means that thou shalt be king of England and of Denmark.  Take now my counsel and get Grim’s sons to go with thee to Denmark.”