Invader's Bones

When piratical Sweyn Forkbeard I, King of Denmark, made his third invasion of England, 930 years ago, he arrived on the River Humber with his son Canute, conquered the country and was accepted as king. Before he could be crowned, according to one legend, Sweyn was stabbed to death at Thetford, Norfolk, by patriots of the ancient Anglo-Saxon "underground." Canute* got the throne.

Thirty-five years ago a sarcophagus weighing 3 1/2 tons was found buried in the old chapel of St. Edmund at Thetford. The sarcophagus lay around until two weeks ago when a Mrs. Jameson, archeologist wife of a local doctor, convinced that it contained Sweyn's bones, agitated for recommitment. Rev. Ronald Cooling, Vicar of St. Mary's, Thetford was about to conduct the ceremony last week when Bishop Herbert of Norwich intervened. Experts, he decreed, must first study the bones.

*Misremembered as the overweening king who got his feet wet by planting his throne on the beach and ordering the tide not to come in. Actually canute, fed up with lickspittle flattery, was making a mock of his courtiers.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.