Britons and Celts

Reign of the Pirate Priest

“He then made a descent on the provinces of Scotland, wasting all before him with rapine and slaughter; but whenever the royal army was dispatched against him, he eluded the whole warlike preparation, either by retreating to distant forests, or taking to the sea; and when the troops had retired, he again issued from his hiding-places to ravage the provinces.” […]

Supernatural

Just Another Rain of Blood

“It grew so dark that people could not see beyond the home meadow, and they could scarcely distinguish their own hands. So much rain fell from the cloud that all the hay lying on the ground became soaked. The cloud suddenly drew past and the weather cleared up. People could then see that blood had rained down in the shower.” […]

Human Affairs

Ritual for Infanticide

“Using the light they had brought with them, they lit two candies, each an inch long, one on each side of the child’s head and fixed them in -the trunk above it. Then they withdrew until the candles had burnt out.” […]

History

A Perilous Kingship

“When they want to appoint this khaqan, they take this man and strangle him with a piece of silk until he is on the point of death. Then they ask him, “How long to you wish to reign?” He replies, “Such and such a number of years.” If he dies before the time expires, fine; if not, he is executed when he reaches the designated year.” […]

Supernatural

A Blessed Massacre

“On the following day the head of the chieftain was set up in the camp, and around it the decapitated bodies of seven hundred of the captives, and also his chief adviser, with his eyes gouged out and his tongue cut off, was left helpless in the midst of the corpses.” […]

Britons and Celts

A Model Cornish King

“Where are you making for, you coward? Where are you running to, you slackers? Turn back! Turn back, I say, and do battle with Corineus! Shame on you! You are so many thousands and yet you run away from me who am one!” […]

Humor

A Farcical Killing

“Sinfjotli took the horn and said: “There is poison in this drink.” Sigmund answered: “Filter it through your mustache, son.” Sigmund was quite drunk, and therefore he talked in this way. Sinfjotli drank and at once fell to the ground. Sigmund rose and his sorrow was almost his death.” […]

Supernatural

Speaker with the Dead

“Next Thrandur instructed a blazing fire be made in the fire-house, and he had four metal grates placed in a square, and Thrandur himself scored nine furrows in the earthen floor, making nine concentric circles around the square, and he sat down on a stool between the fire and the grated pen. He asked his men not to speak to him, and they stood silently by.” […]