Many years passed away in peace and quiet. At last the Frisians made a
viking raid on Gothland, burning defenceless granges and cottages.
Before King Hygelak could reach the place of their depredation, and
offer them battle, they had taken to their ships again, and were far
away. The king determined to make a descent upon Friesland and punish
the marauders; he would not listen to Beowulf when he advised him to
delay till better preparations could be made for the onslaught.
The Goths landed in Friesland without opposition, and, marching into
the country, revenged themselves by burning many a farmstead, and
taking many a castle and township. Now the Frisians were a free and
warlike people, whose heroes had played an honourable part in the great
Bravalla-fight; the time had come for them to preserve their homes and
liberty, and they did not shun to make ready for battle. A murderous
engagement took place between them and their Gothic invaders, in which
the latter were defeated, and obliged to fly to their ships,
terror-stricken by the loss of their king. Beowulf and the noblest of
the warriors alone stood their ground, and, although severely wounded,
did not join in the retreat until they had rescued and carried off
Hygelak’s body. Then the conquered army set sail for Gothland.
Queen Hygd was at first so overwhelmed with sorrow for the loss of her
husband that she could give no thought to matters of state; but after a
time she roused herself from her grief, and began to consider what was
best for the nation. It was well that she did so, for while she was
still wrapped up in her sorrow, the barons had been quarrelling among
themselves, and creating much disturbance. The royal widow therefore
called a meeting of the notables, and standing up before the assembly,
spoke of the anarchy into which the country was falling, and said that
as her son Hardred was too young to govern the kingdom, and preserve it
from civil or foreign war, she strongly advised that Beowulf should be
made king. The notables all cheered, and shouted that Beowulf should be
their king; but the hero came forward and said:
“And do you really think, ye men of Gothland, that I would rob the
child of my uncle and friend of his rights and honours? May the gods,
the avengers of all evil, preserve me from such a crime! Here,” he
cried, lifting young Hardred on his shield, and holding him aloft,
“here is our king. I will be his faithful guardian, and will act in his
name till he is old enough and wise enough to take the reins of
government into his own hands.”
Nobody ventured to remonstrate with Beowulf; indeed, they all knew that
remonstrance would be in vain. And so the matter was settled.
Years passed on, and Beowulf kept his word. He ruled the kingdom with a
strong hand, and with absolute justice; and with the help of Queen Hygd
educated the young king with so much wisdom, that when the sovereign
power was placed in his hands, there was every hope that he would use
it for his people’s good. But Hardred was not long to rule over the
Goths. Like his former guardian and teacher Beowulf, the king was of a
frank and honest nature, and trustful of all who had not shown
themselves his enemies. So when Eanmund and Eadgils, the sons of
Ohtere, king of Swithiod, came to him as fugitives, he received them
with all kindness. He often tried to make them see that they had been
wrong in rebelling against their father, and offered to arrange matters
with him on their behalf. One day, when he was speaking to them very
earnestly on this subject, Eanmund, a passionate, hot-tempered man,
told him that he was too young to advise a tried warrior like him.
Hardred sharply told him to remember to whom he was speaking; and
Eanmund, completely losing the little self-control he ever had, drew
his sword and stabbed his royal host to the heart. Young Wichstan
(Weohstan) at once avenged the king’s murder by slaying Eanmund; but
Eadgils fled back to Swithiod, and soon after succeeded his father on
the throne.
The Gothic Allthing, the assembly of all the free men of the nation,
was called together as soon as Hardred’s murder was made known, and by
a unanimous vote Beowulf was elected king in his cousin’s stead. He
accepted the office, and swore to rule his people justly.