A long time ago, the Spear-Danes and their kings were a mighty people. All have heard of their power and their glory. All have heard of the famous Scyld Scefing, who destroyed his enemies and their drinking halls. Although he was an orphan, he rose to the rank of king and his people showered him with gifts. Scyld was a great king. The Gods knew the people had suffered without a leader, so they sent a gift from the heavens. A babe called Beow. That particular boy was famed throughout the northern lands and he behaved well in his youth. He handed out gifts and earned the friendship and favour of many menfolk that he would have to call upon later for battle. In any northern kingdom, actions like those were a sure path to greatness and power. Scyld died in the prime of his life and ordered his men to cast his body out to sea. They did as he wished and placed his body in his boat and filled it with more treasure, swords and armour than anyone had ever seen before. His body had been set upon the sea, just like he had been set upon the sea of life in his youth. From the mast of the ship, a golden flag flapped in the breeze that carried away the boat. The king Scyld and his treasure sailed into the unknown and his people mourned deeply.