k the daughter of Gaut captive,
and brought her to Gotrik for his own.

Gotrik, who is also called Godefride, carried his arms against
foreigners, and increased his strength and glory by his successful
generalship. Among his memorable deeds were the terms of tribute
he imposed upon the Saxons; namely, that whenever a change of kings
occurred among the Danes, their princes should devote a hundred
snow-white horses to the new king on his accession. But if the Saxons
should receive a new chief upon a change in the succession, this chief
was likewise to pay the aforesaid tribute obediently, and bow at
the outset of his power to the sovereign majesty of Denmark; thereby
acknowledging the supremacy of our nation, and solemnly confessing his
own subjection. Nor was it enough for Gotrik to subjugate Germany: he
appointed Ref on a mission to try the strength of Sweden. The Swedes
feared to slay him with open violence, but ventured to act like bandits,
and killed him, as he slept, with the blow of a stone. For, hanging a
millstone above him, they cut its fastenings, and let it drop upon his
neck as he lay beneath. To expiate this crime it was decreed that each
of the ringleaders should pay twelve golden talents, while each of
the common people should pay Gotrik one ounce. Men called this "the
Fox-cub's tribute". (Refsgild).

Meanwhile it befell that Karl, King of the Franks, crushed Germany in
war, and forced it not only to embrace the worship of Christianity, but
also to obey his authority. When Gotrik heard of this, he attacked the
nations bordering on the Elbe, and attempted to regain under his sway as
of old the realm of Saxony, which eagerly accepted the yoke of Karl, and
preferred the Roman to the Danish arms. Karl had at this time withdrawn
his victorious camp beyond the Rhine, and therefore forbore to engage
the stranger enemy, being prevented by the intervening river. But when
he was intending to cross once more to subdue the power of Gotrik, he
was summoned by Leo the Pope of the Romans to defend the city.

Obeying this command, Karl intrusted his son Pepin with the conduct of
the war against Gotrik; so that while he himself was working against a
distant foe, Pepin might manage the conflict he had undertaken with his
neighbour. For Karl was distracted by two anxieties, and had to furnish
sufficient out of a scanty band to meet both of them. Meanwhile Gotrik
won a glorious victory over the Saxons. Then gathering new st