Havelok the Dane was the hero of several English stories which appeared about 1290. He grew up in England as a peasant, but later became king of Denmark and part of England. After the death of his father, King Birkabeyn, the Earl of Godard ordered Havelok drowned. A fisherman named Grim fled with the boy to England, where Havelok is said to have grown head and shoulders taller than other men. He worked in the kitchen of Earl Godrich. The cruel earl also forced his ward, Princess Goldborough, to work in the kitchen, and chose Havelok for her husband. The princess discovered her husband's royal birth through a vision, and Havelok killed Godrich and Godard. Then Havelok and his princess ruled for 60 years.