The Gesta Danorum (Books I-IX) on Hardbeen
The Danish History, > Book Seven.
attestation: Hardbeen of Helsingland was a berserker of enormous stature reaching nine ells who kidnapped and ravished princesses
"one Hardbeen, who came from Helsingland, gloried in kidnapping and ravishing princesses, and used to kill any man who hindered him in his lusts."
attestation: Hardbeen kept twelve champions whose duty was to restrain his battle-frenzy with chains or propitiate it by human slaughter
"He had twelve champions dwelling with him, whose business it was to rise up and to restrain his fury with the aid of bonds, whenever the rage came on him that foreboded of battle."
attestation: In his demoniacal frenzy before battle, Hardbeen bit his shield, swallowed coals and embers, rushed through fire, and killed six of his own champions
"he furiously bit and devoured the edges of his shield; he kept gulping down fiery coals; he snatched live embers in his mouth and let them pass down into his entrails"