Part 41 - King Athelstan's Message

At this time a king called Aethelstan had taken the Kingdom of England. He was called victorious and faithful. He sent men to Norway to King Harald, with the errand that the messengers should present him with a sword, with the hilt and handle gilt, and also the whole sheath adorned with gold and silver, and set with precious jewels.

The ambassador presented the sword-hilt to the king, saying,

"Here is a sword which King Athelstan sends thee, with the request that thou wilt accept it."

The king took the sword by the handle; whereupon the ambassador said,

"Now thou hast taken the sword according to our king's desire, and therefore art thou his subject as thou hast taken his sword."

King Harald saw now that this was an insult, for he would be subject to no man. But he remembered it was his rule, whenever anything raised his anger, to collect himself, and let his passion run off, and then take the matter into consideration coolly. Now he did so, and consulted his friends, who all gave him the advice to let the ambassadors, in the first place, go home in safety.