But so great was his love for his elder son that he swore that he would slay with his own hand whosoever first brought him news of his death.

As it chanced, Thyra heard sure tidings that this son had perished.

But when no man durst openly hint this to Germ, she fell back on her cunning to defend her, and revealed by her deeds the mischance which she durst not speak plainly out.

For she took the royal robes off her husband and dressed him in filthy garments, bringing him other signs of grief also, to explain the cause of her mourning; for the ancients were wont to use such things in the performance of obsequies, bearing witness by their garb to the bitterness of their sorrow.

Then said Germ: "Dost thou declare to me the death of Kanute ?" (2) And Thyra said: "That is proclaimed by thy presage, not by mine." By this answer she made out her lord a dead man and herself a widow, and had to lament her husband as soon as her son.