The south of England, 1046-49 ADMany families contain a black sheep and, to my eternal sorrow, mine is no different. My sadness is twofold since that person is my firstborn son, Sweyn. As a child, there was little to suggest he would become a rogue and an outlaw – a nithing – a man of no honour. The first sign came in his youth, when he declared himself a child of Knut, thus slurring his mother"s reputation. He was careful to do this when I was far from home and lucky that Gytha"s love for her first child is stronger than her warrior instincts. Outraged, she limited herself to calling noblewomen as witnesses to swear to Sweyn"s paternity. I ascribed his behaviour to ambition, which I hoped would be slaked once he took his earldom on the confines with Wales.
nithingIt was evident that he m
