The second line seems to exclude the supposition of there being any reference to Almighty God, though Scyld, like Helm, is one of his names, examples of which are numerous in all Anglosaxon poetry. There are one or two places in England which bear the name of this god or hero: these are Scyldes treów[785], Scyldmere[786], and Scyldes heáfda[787]; but except in the genealogy of Wessex and the tradition recorded by Æðelweard and William of Malmesbury, there is no record of Sceaf. Footnote 779: From which form we must conclude for the reading Scyldu (as Wudu, Duru). Footnote 780: ðone God sende whom God sent folce tó frófre, to the people for their comfort, fyrenþearfe ongeat the evil need he understood ða híe ǽr drugon which they before had suffered aldorleáse. while without a king. Beów. l. 26. Footnote 781: Æðelw. lib. iii. He attributes the legend to Sceaf, Scyld’s father; his words are: “Ipse Scef cum uno dromone advectus est in insula oceani quae dicitur Scani, armis circumdatus, eratque valde recens puer, et ab incolis illius terrae ignotus; attamen ab eis suscipitur, et ut familiarem diligenti animo eum custodierunt, et post in regem eligunt: de cuius prosapia ordinem trahit Athulf rex.” Footnote 782: William of Malmesbury (G. R. ii. 116) adds another peculiarity to the legend, which however he gives to Sceaf, Scyld’s father; he says, “Iste, ut ferunt, in quandam insulam Germaniae Scandzam, de qua Jordanes historiographus Gothorum loquitur, appulsus, navi sine remige, puerulus, posito ad caput frumenti manipulo, dormiens, ideoque Sceaf nuncupatus, ab hominibus regionis illius pro miraculo exceptus, et sedulo nutritus, adulta aetate regnavit in oppido quod tunc Slasvic, nunc vero Haithebi appellatur. Est autem regio illa Anglia Vetus dicta, unde Angli venerunt in Britanniam, inter Saxones et Gothos constituta.” Wendover (Flor. Hist.) copies Malmesbury, with the explanation of the name Sceafa, from Sceaf a sheaf of corn; others derived it from scúfan, _trudere_, “quia fortunae commissus.” Die Stammtafel der Westsachsen, p. 33. Footnote 783: “Se wæs geboren in ðǽre earce Noes.” Chron. Sax. 855. Footnote 784: Cod. Exon. p. 407. Footnote 785: Cod. Dipl. No. 436. Footnote 786: Ibid. Nos. 356, 762. Footnote 787: Ibid. No. 721. -----