Scandinavian-Britain

14 SCANDINAVIAN BRITAINover Harold War-tooth, in the eighth century,a successionof efforts, in fact, on the part of vigorouskings to raise an empire, such as Ermanaric had setup and ruled over for so many glorious years. Theseefforts to bring the three great peoples under onehead failed, but for three centuries they seemed tohave absorbed the energiesof the Scandinavianfolk.The end of the eighth century saw the renewalof the migrations from the north. Eastward wentRuric and Olga, to found the realm of Holm -garthor Garth-ric, with Newgarth (the Russian Nov-gorod)and Kiev for their capitals, pushing whence southwardthey brought their ships up to besiege the wallsof Mickle-garth itself, that New Rome, which was therichest, most populous, and mightiest city of thewhole world. But with their fortunes we have not todo here. Southward^ the great confederacies, Frisian,Saxon, and Frankish, were, though hard put to it nofresh settlersdoubt, yet strong enough to repulse anyfrom the North.The West way was stillopen, and over it theresailed fleet after fleet for 220 years. This westernmovement is made up of two distinguishable streamsof migration ; one, mainly Danish, starting from theWick and from the Gothic coast, and Danish islesand headlands, and creeping down the Frisian coastto the Rhine delta ;then roving to the East Englishland, or up the Thames mouth to the East Saxon orKentish shores, or passing on down Channel attackingthe fruitful and open country on either side, occupying