Tatwin, who steered him to Crowland; and St. Egbert, his
confessor; and St. Cissa the anchorite; and of the most holy virgin St.
Etheldreda; and many more. But little of them remained since Sigtryg and
Bagsac's heathen Danes had heaped them pellmell on the floor, and burned
the church over them and the bodies of the slaughtered monks.
The plunder which was taken from Crowland on that evil day lay, and lies
still, with the plunder of Peterborough and many a minster more, at the
bottom of the Nene, at Huntingdon Bridge. But it had been more than
replaced by the piety of the Danish kings and nobles; and above the twelve
white bearskins which lay at the twelve altars blazed, in the light of
many a wax candle, gold and jewels inferior only to those of Peterborough
and Coventry.
And there in the nave they buried the lad Godwin, with chant and dirge;
and when the funeral was done Hereward went up toward the high altar, and
bade Winter and Gwenoch come with him. And there he knelt, and vowed a vow
to God and St. Guthlac and the Lady Torfrida his true love, never to leave
from slaying while there was a Frenchman left alive on English ground.
And Godiva and Ulfketyl heard his vow, and shuddered; but they dared not
stop him, for they, too, had English hearts.
And Winter and Gwenoch heard it, and repeated it word for word.
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