Britons and Celts

A Cunning King

“Dunvallo found himself still as far as ever from victory. He summoned six hundred of his boldest young men and ordered them to strip the arms from those of their enemies who lay dead around them and then to put those same arms on.” […]

Viking

Boy Vs. Bear

“They had not been there for long when they heard a loud crack from the woods, and suddenly they say an incredibly huge and savage-looking bear. It was a great bear, wolf-grey in color.” […]

Human Affairs

Noble Thieves; Just Deserts

“When Hading came home from his Swedish campaigns he found that the treasury in which he usually stowed the proceeds of his warfare and plundering had been broken into and riffled. He immediately hanged his guard, Glumer, and devised a cunning scheme. ” […]

History

Enemies (and Friends) in Unusual Places

” “Tell me, what have I done to you, Infantes of Carrion? I have kept faith with you and in return you have plotted my death. If I did not forbear for the sake of the Cid, Rodrigo of Vivar, I should exact such vengeance as would startle the world.” […]

Humor

A Spurious Speywife

“When her people indicated that strangers were coming to her, she would lurk in her chamber to hear why they were traveling and where they were coming from and other details which her people astutely asked about.” […]

Supernatural

A Violent Brew

“And with this nourishment and [the brothers’] persuasion and everything else, Guttorm became so violent and fierce that he promised to do the deed.” […]

Humor

An Annoying Devil

“The Pope crossed himself before taking meat, and at that moment Doctor Faustus did blow hard into his face. Every time the Pope crossed himself, Faustus would blow into his face again.” […]

Human Affairs

Forbidden Love and Swan Abuse

“Milun and his beloved maintained this way of life for twenty years. The swan acted as messenger. They had no other intermediary and they starved it before releasing it. Whoever received the swan fed it, of course. They came together on a number of occasions.” […]

Viking

Crazy Beats Good

“He rowed up to the enemy fleet at night, bored the bottoms of their ships with an auger, and to prevent a sudden in-rush of the sea plugged the gaping holes with the pins he had provided, temporarily repairing the damage.” […]