Then Godrich for the first time in six years felt that he was indeed King of England.
'You are a wise maiden,' cried he, his face glowing with joy; 'and, to show you how well I love you, I will give you much gold, and you shall have an archbishop to bless your marriage.' And so it was done.
Both Havelok and his wife felt that they could stay in Lincoln no longer, and the next day they bought two horses and set forth for Grimsby. To Havelok's great grief he found that the fisherman had died just before, after a few days' illness, but his sons and daughters gave them a glad greeting, and bade them stay in their house, promising that they themselves would be their servants.
Weary with travel, Havelok soon went to bed, but Goldborough knelt praying before the window, when suddenly a bright light filled the room. She turned to see what it might be, and beheld it issuing from a cross on Havelok's shoulder. While she gazed wondering, she heard a voice saying, 'Goldborough, let sorrow depart from you, for your husband is no scullion, but the son of a king, and he shall rule over England and Denmark.' At that her heart grew light again, and she kissed Havelok and woke him, and told him what the voice had said.
'Let us sail at once,' added she, 'for who knows when Godrich the traitor may change his mind? And bid the sons of Grim sail with us.'
Goldborough's counsel seemed good to Havelok, and he rose in haste and sought Grim's sons, whom he found setting forth to fish. He begged them to wait, and to listen to his story, which Grim had always hidden from them, and when they heard it, they said that they would go with him, and help him to slay the murderer of his sisters and the robber of his crown.
'You shall be rich men the day he dies,' vowed Havelok; and the boat was made ready for sea.
A fair wind blew them to Denmark, and Havelok left his wife with his three foster-brothers, and betook himself to the house of Ubbe the earl, whom his father had loved dearly. He said no word as to his birth, but asked him leave to trade on his lands, offering a ring as earnest-money.
[Illustration: HAVELOK PRESENTS GOLDBOROUGH TO THE ENGLISH PEOPLE.]
Ubbe looked at the ring, and then at the young man who gave it.