No More Learning

The Danish King Sweyn Forkedbeard had been engaged in England with
a
King Ethelre—d.
of The latter betrayed by some of his own chiefs, and thus
withhisqueen
some accounts
about this— and he had seized
time, upon
—Emmaandhertwosons. Intheautumnof to 1013 according
King Olaf came to England. However, this happened at King 'Sweyn died suddenly at night, in his bed, a. d. 10 14,
powerful army
overpowered wasobligedtoflythecountry,andtotakerefuge—Normandy,
a later period.
and during the first week in February. 33 Ethelred was then in Flanders, and
hearing of Sweyn's death, he prepared at once for a return to England. No sooner had he arrived there, than he invited all to join him, in recovering his rights to that kingdom. Many flocked to his standard. Richard II. , Duke of Normandy, seconded this enterprise. ** Among the rest, King Olaf came to his assistance with a large force of Northmen. Their united enterprise was directed against London, where the Danes had thrown up strong fortifi- cations, on either bank of the Thames. Having united their respective fleets, Olaf and Ethelred sailed their ships into the Thames, and as the Danes held London, which was fortified, and at a place called Sudrvic,35 it was resolved tobesiegethem. Theyhadalreadydugdeepditches,withinwhichtheyhad a bulwark of stone, of turf, and of timber, with a large army to defend it. King Ethelred ordered an assault, which was unsuccessful, for the Danes
bravely repelled it.
1830, 8vo.
30 See Rev.
There was a bridge so broad between the castle and
James Johnstone's
tates Celto-Scandicae ; sive Series Rerum
Gestarum inter Nationes Brittannicarum In- sularum et Gentes Septentrionales," at A. D. 1012,pp. 97,98. Theseaccountsarctaken from Snorro, Land-nama-boc, Egils-Skalla- grimi-Saga, Nials-saga, Olaf-Tiyggvasonar- saga, Orkneyinga-saga, Hriggiar-stiekki, Knytlinga-saga, Speculum Regale, &c. The
chronology however is often defective.
"
Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. vii. ,
July 29, p. 645.
32 Now a commune and town of France,
in the Department of C6tes-du-Nord. See
"Gazetteer of the World," vol. iii. , p.
328.
33 It is related, by Houeden, that having
spoiled St. Edmund's monastery in Suffolk, and in the midst of his nobles, he suddenly cried out, that St. Edmund struck him with a sword, when three days afterwards, and
Anliqui-
31 According to another account, he on the 3rd of February, in great anguish and reached Normandy and spent the winter of torment, his career ended. Some state, he
1016-1017 at Rouen, where he met the sons of Ethelred, who had been expelled from
England by King Canute, after the murder of Edmund Ironside. See Rev. S. Baring-
died at Thetford, while other writers have it
at Gainsborough.
34 See John Speed's "History of Great
Britaine," book vii. , chap, xliiii. . p. 396.
the
in
kingdom
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 451
Southwark, that two waggons could pass each other on it. They raised barricades on that bridge, in the direction of the river and across it. Towers and wooden parapets, nearly breast high, crowned the bridge, under which piles had been driven to the bottom of the river. From that vantage ground, the Danes defended themselves. King Ethelred was very anxious, that the bridge should be broken down ; and, to effect that object, a council of the chiefs was held to devise a suitable plan. Then King Olaf offered to lay his ships alongside of the bridge, provided the English should do so ; and, at length, it was determined to make such an attempt. Each captain of a ship now began to superintend the necessary preparations. Several old houses on the Thames were then pulled down, and floating wood was collected, and while stout pillars were set upright in each ship, a roof of shingles but of great strength was set over those posts, so that the covering reached to the
side. These defences were intended to — the crews from the ship's protect
stones, which the Danes were expected to cast probably from balistae; while there was room enough underneath, for the men to wield their own weapons, and, if necessary, to emerge from their cover for an assault. When all was ready, the united fleet rowed up the river ; but, when the mariners came near the bridge, a shower of stones, arrows, javelins and other weapons assailed them. The crews were greatly galled, and many of the ships were so damaged, that they fell out in the line of battle. However, King Olaf and the Northman fleet—most likely deprived of masts—rowed quite up to and under the bridge, when the* crews laid strong cables around the piles supporting it, and then with all their might, they rowed away down the stream. The piles shaken from their foundations became loose under the bridge, and finally they began to give way. At this time, numbers of armed men stood on the bridge, while heavy heaps of stones and other warlike machines added to the weight. Down sunk the battlements, and a great part of the soldiers fell into the river, while all the rest fled, some into the castle and some into Southwark. Soon afterwards, this place was taken by storm.
When the garrison in the castle saw that they now stood alone, and that a passage had been opened for the ships to the head waters of the Thames,
whom
surrendered to
ever, the Danes were still strong, in other parts of the kingdom, while they retained possession of many cities and towns. King Olaf passed all that winter with King Ethelred, who now seemed to have subjected nearly the whole kingdom. HefoughtagreatbattleatHiringmaraHeath,inUlfkel'sland. 3? Here again the king was victorious. When his father died, Canute, the son
they
Ethelred,
they recognised
8 and his actions must have been
his councillors and chiefs. However, the Danes were still able to cause much uneasinesstoEthelred,beingtheninLindesey,apartofLincolnshire. Mean- time,whenleastexpected,KingEthelredledanarmyagainstthem. Then they were obliged to fly for protection to their ships. The city of Canter- bury was still in the hands of the Danes. Olaf led his army against it and forced their defences. After killing many of the defenders, he burned their castle. On the death of his father, the Danish army proclaimed his son Canute as King of England, in 1014. 39 This was known likewise to have been the intention of Sweyn before his death, as Harold his brother was
of was Sweyn,
very young,3
guided by
3 3 Now Southwark, on the southern bank of the Thames.
"
38 According to the Northern accounts, he was then only ten years of age. See Rev.
35 See Rev.
"
Celto-
James Johnstone's tates Celto-Scandicse," pp. 90 to 92.
37 Somewhere in East Anglia, ; probably Assington, in Essex.
James Johnstone's Scandicse," p. 104.
Antiquitates
Antiqui-
as their 6 How- king. 3
"
poedia of Biography," vol. ii. , col. 69.
39 See Charles Knight's
English Cyclo-
452
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
dead. The Danes had now a difficult task to undertake j for, the Saxon thanes were assembled at London, to deliberate on the state of affairs, when
they resolved, that the juncture was favourable for recovery of their independ- ence, and it was agreed, that Ethelred should forgive all past offences, that he should govern according to law, and abide on all great occasions by the advice of his great council. On their part, the thanes swore to support his authority, and never to be subject to any Danish monarch. In order to main- tain their cause, the Danish chiefs in England sent messengers to Denmark,
for reinforcements of men; but, they advised, that as their king was still too young and unskilled in warfare, he should select a leader and forward as many warriorsascouldbemustered. Accordingly,Canutefollowedtheiradvice, and for three years after he had been proclaimed king, he resided in Den- mark. Attheendofthistime,sendingmessengerstoNorway,theysought Jarl Eric, his relative, who was ambitious of military glory, and who had alreadyprovedhisvalourintworemarkableengagements. Ericthenlevied a large force, and with him Canute sailed for England.
Olaf had been entrusted with the land defences of England, and he coasted roundthecountrywithhiswarships. HemettheDanesoncemoreatNew Romney,40 and he was successful in the battle he there fought. 41 Ethelred ordered, that Olaf should be paid for his assistance 21,000*, or, as some say, 30,000 pounds. To collect this sum, Olaf was allowed to overrun the country, extorting it from the people, while engaged murdering and burning where that tax was refused. The death of Ethelred occurred on the 23rd of April, a. d.
1016. 42 ByhisfirstwifeElfleda,hehadthreesonswhosurvivedhim,Edmund, Edwy, and Athelstan ; while, by his second wife Emma, he left two other—s,
Edward and Alfred. The eldest of eitherforhisstrengthorowingtohisarmour wasremarkableforhisvalour.
— surnamed Ironside these, Edmund,
Being in London, at the time of his father's death, he was immediately pro- claimed king by the citizens.
Now Olaf had sailed away from England with his fleet, in quest of other objects to reward his ambition. He sought the coast of Normandy, and he sailed as a pirate along the western shores of France, until he arrived at the mouth of the Garonne, waiting for a favourable wind to sail for the coast of Spain, and to enter the Straits of Gibraltar, so that he might visit Jerusa- lem. 4^
The stronghold of the Saxon King Edmund Ironside was London, while Canute was stationed at Southampton, where the southern thanes very unwillingly submitted to his power. The latter king had collected a fleet of three hundred and forty vessels, at the mouth of the Thames, and each carried on an
4 which
men. ThesiegeofLondonnowcommenced,thecitizensandgarrisonrefus- ing to submit, and these prepared for a stubborn resistance. Edmund and his brother escaped in a boat through the Danish fleet, in order to levy a land force to relieve the city. Leaving a detachment to carry on the siege, Canute now marched to meet Edmund and the army he had collected. A desperate battle was fought at Scearstan, and night alone put an end to the contest ; but, in the morning, Canute was in retreat and on the march to London, when Edmund having repaired his
average eighty,*
brought
his unitedforce to about thousand twenty-seven
40 Nyamode, probably New Komney
Britaine," book vii. , chap, xliv. , p. 397.
*3 See Kev. S. " Lives of Baring-Gould's
the Saints," vol. vii. , July 29, pp. 644, 645.
44 Such is the information given by Dit- mar. Bishop of Mersburgh, who received it this same year from an acquaintance,
others
suppose Newport,
; in the Isle of
Wight
41 See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of
the Saints," vol. vii. , July 29, pp. 638 to
43
See John Speed's "History of Great
July 29. ] LIV&S OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 453
lossescloselyfollowedhim. AsecondbattlewasfoughtatBrentford,and Canute having failed in an assault on the city raised the siege. . Having then
pillaged the neighbouring country, Edmund overtook the plunderers at Oxford, where they were again defeated. Edmund had sent a challenge to
Canute, offering to decide the issue between them by single combat, but it was declined. Afterwards, the Danish fleet sailed for the Isle of Sheppy. Soon, however, Canute landed on the coast of Essex, and Edmund then met his army at Assington. But treachery or cowardice was in the Saxon ranks, when a chief named Edric fled with his division, at the first onset. However, the other two divisions of Edmund's army fought with desperate bravery, from threeo'clockintheafternoonuntilsundown; when,aftergreatslaughteron bothsides,theSaxonsfledineverydirection. Almostalltheirwesternnobi- lity perished. The Danes buried their own dead ; then stripping the bodies of the English, these were left naked on the field. Edmund now retreated towards Gloucester ; but, while waiting the result of another battle, a com- promise had been effected by the rival kings and their chiefs. It was agreed, to divide the kingdom between them ; so that, while Mercia and Northum- bria had been assigned to Canute, Edmund was recognised as supreme kingr the rest of England having been left under his rule. Within a month after this treaty, and after a short disturbed reign of only seven months, Edmund is said to have been assassinated; but, the particulars of his death have been variedly stated,noraretheywithanygreatdegreeofcertaintyknown. Helefttwo infant sons, Edward and Edmund. After the death of Edmund, Canute became sole King of England, in 1017 ; and, of all his possessions, he chose thatcountrytobehisusualplaceofresidence. 4^ Duringthefirstyearsof his reign, he had been cruel, suspicious and tyrannical ; but, when all rivals who laid claim to the throne had been removed, he ruled with mildness, and for the most part with justice. He was remarkable too for his piety and zeal in the interests of religion. He gained the affection of his subjects, while he won universal esteem among foreigners. His reign lasted for about twenty years.
While Olaf was in Normandy, it is related, that he saw in a dream one
night a gigantic man, who warned him, that he must return to Norway, where he should receive his crown. After this, he went northwards, and on his way, it is said, that he plundered and burned Parthenay. It has been stated, that Olaf extended his conquests not alone to Normandy, but even to
the shores of and of Spain
6 While Olaf was in
a. d. hetheremetEdwardtheConfessor,4? whodesiredtoasserthisrighttothe throneofEngland,whichCanutehadusurped. ToengageOlaf'said,he was promised the territory of Northumberland, in case of success. Yet, nothing of consequence resulted, although Olaf was enabled to realize some
booty, during his piratical descents, on that province. In the spring of 1017, Olaf essayed an attempt, on the south-west coast of England. There, however, he made very little impression ; but, soon afterwards, his ardent and active mind was bent on an adventure, which promised him a chance of success.
Finding this period of Danish depression favourable to his enterprise,
45 See Charles " Knight's
received at the Court of Solomon,
English Cyclo- poedia of Biography," vol. vii. , col. 69.
hospitably
46 See Michaud's "
selle Ancienne et Moderne," tome xxxi. , p. 22. 1.
King of Hungary. The sons of King Ethel-
by queen
Edward ; these fled into Normandy, to avoid the cruelty of Canute. See Matthaei Pari- siensis, Monachi Sancti Albani, "Chronica
Biographie
Univer-
red, his Emma, were Alfred and
Italy. *
Normandy,
1017,
47 By Canute, King of England, Eadward
and his brother Eadwin, sons of Edmund Majora," vol. i. , A. D. 1017, p. 501. Edited Ironside, had been banished, and they were by Henry Richards Luard.
454 LIVES OF 1HE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
and desirous of recovering the prestige of his family, the expelled Olaf, son to Harald, King of Norway, is stated to have resolved on returning to his
own country. However, before doing so, according to some accounts, he landed in England, where he had an interview with a hermit, who was a man of holy life and conversation. He had the gift of prophecy, likewise, and he is said to have predicted much of what should happen to Olaf, and even to have manifested the sort of death he should endure, before departing to Christ. A curious story is told, that while Olaf was in Northumbria, and accompanied by his brother Harald, they both agreed to sail for Norway in different vessels, and whosoever should first arrive there was to be recognised
—
proposal, and he waited even to assist at Mass, before weighing anchor ; while Harald, on the contrary, set sail at once, and now sure of success, he
pursued his course exultingly in the open sea. Notwithstanding the odds, both the brothers seem to have arrived nearly at the same time off Kyrkesund. It was surrounded by a reef of rocks, but within there was calm water, and theIsleofTjorn. WhileHarald,intheOrmen,waitedforthetidetoturn, and for a favourable gale, outside the reef; Olaf courageously faced the rocks, scarcely covered by the foaming breakers, but he passed over them unscathed, and thus outstripped his brother. Wherefore, it was allowed, that he should gain the crown of Norway. *8 Returning from his Continental and insular expeditions, knowing that King Canute was far distant from Norway, Olaf
hadthusarrivedinthatcountry. Hisfameasagreatandsuccessfulwarrior
had preceded him. He had also acquired much booty.
When Olaf landed in Norway, his first great desire was to visit his mother
Aasta, and his stepfather Sigurd Syr. He surprised her one day, and at an early hour in the morning; when, full of joy at his approach, she ordered her
servants to make all preparations for honouring her son, whose aspirations to thecrownofNorwaywerenosecrettoher. Messengersweresenttothecorn-
field, where the thrifty Sigurd Syr was out, and superintending the work of his labourers. His dress is described as consisting of a blue kirtle, with blue hose, a grey cloak and a broad-brimmed hat, and having shoes laced about the legs.
He had a veil before his face, to keep off the mosquitoes ; while he had a staff in his hand with a silver-gilt head, and a silver ring round it. When he learned that Olaf was about to assert his claim to the crown of Norway, with his usual caution, he hesitated and said : "This means fighting allthepowerofSwedenandDenmark. " However,hiswifeAastahadgreat influence over him, and she was resolved to second her son's ambitious aims. For all Sigurd's objections, she had a ready reply; so that, in fine, his con- sent was rather reluctantly given to take an active part in this contest. Meantime, Olaf approached with one hundred well-armed men, having ban- ners displayed, and a number of the country people crowding to witness this unwonted display. The impetuous Aasta had already prepared a great feast, towhichallthepeoplehadbeenasked. ThehundredwarriorsofOlafwere invited in to partake of meat and drink, and these remained as the guests of Sigurd Syr, who entertained them. Alternately they had, one day fish and milk, and the next day flesh and ale. To do honour in the presence of his stepson Olaf—an aspirant to the throne of Norway—Sigurd dressed himself inhisfinestclothes,andhavingascarletcloakoverall, heputoncorduvan
as its " king.
said " the Ormen Harald,
we shall
meaning serpent—sails fast, but the Oxen sails slow. " Olaf accepted the
However,
change vessels,"
48 "He erected six small watch-towers in
memory of this miracle. Four piles of fallen and disappeared. "—Rev. S. Baring- brickwork remain on Tjorn, called at this Gould's " Lives of the Saints," vol. vii. ,
day S. Olaf's Vardar; two
out of the six have
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 455
ortannedleatherboots,towhichgoldenspurswerebound. Healsogirded on his sword, set a gilded helmet on his head, mounted his horse, and at the head of thirty well dressed men, he arranged to have a body-guard for Olaf. Agricultural labours were now to be laid aside, to undertake the risks of war. Meantime, Olaf made a tour through the Uplands, where he visited all the petty kings and chiefs, who were the largest farmers in each district, so that he might induce them to espouse his cause. He had much difficulty in engaging the services of many; for, they feared the result of a contest, which to them seemed an unequal one, so powerful were the Jarls who ruled over them. Notwithstanding, after considerable hesitation, all the Upland Kings and bonders agreed to draw their men together, and to proclaim Olaf as their
sovereign.
On the voyage to Norway, he had reached the Island called Saelo, which
is interpreted Lucky. 49 This seemed to him a presage for his future happi-
ness. He then said
:
" It is a happy day for me, to have landed on Lucky
Isle. " As they ascended it, the king slipped with one foot in the clay, but
""
he supported himself from falling with the other. Ah," said he, the king
falls. " " Nay," replied his trusty man Rane, " thou didst not fall, O king, but
" It may be so, if God wills it. " Thence he sailed into a place called Sautung- sund, or Ulfasunda, southwards fromSaela, where he remained for some days. Here he learned, that Hacon, son of Eric, and an aspirant for the greater part of Norway, had come with two ships. s° He was a nephew of King Canute. Olaf did not desire a needless effusion of blood ; but, he contrived
an ingenious device to take him prisoner. He had two vessels, and these he anchored at either side of the sound, while he stretched a stout cable between them. Hakon unsuspectingly rowed in between the ships, thinking these were merchant vessels. Then Olaf set his crews to wind the capstan, and to draw the cable up, and from under the keel of Hacon's ship. When the stern was thus lifted, the bows plunged downwards ; water rushed in, and thevesselsank,whilesomeofthecrewweredrowned. EarlHaconand most of his men were then made prisoners. Olaf offered him life and liberty to depart, on swearing that he would leave the country, and never again take armsagainsthim. ThisengagementHaconenteredupon,andtakingthe required oath, he was set free. Afterwards, he went to join his uncle, Canute the Great.
However, Olaf had another opponent to meet, and Jarl Sweyn or Swend nowcollectedanarmytoopposehim. Thisforceamountedto2,000men, whowereassembledatDrontheim. TheymarchedalongtheGualar-daleto surprise and attack Olaf. He had barely time to escape on board his ships, while leaving all his provisions on shore. These were seized by the army of Sweyn. Nothing more was attempted, however, during that winter. In spring, both Olaf and Sweyn prepared for an encounter. The former steered his fleet out from Viken to meet his opponents; since the northern contests were, for the most part, decided at sea. On the Saturday before Palm Sunday, the fleets were near each other, and preparations for a naval combat were made. King Olaf s
wascalledtheCarl's 1 becauseonitsbowwas a Head^ represented king's
only set fast foot in the soil. " Whereupon, the king laughed and said
:
ship
head, which had been carved with his own hands. In his vessels were one
July 29, p. 646.
49 According to Torfaeus, it was situated
about the middle of Norway. See " His-
torise Rerum Norvegicarum," tomus iii. , lib. i. , cap. xx. , p. 34.
5° A northern chronicler thus describes them.
" una parva, quam nos vocamus scuta, altera longa, quam antiqui vocabant liburnam. "
SI This might have been intended for
Charlemagne's Head, and Olaf held that
great Emperor in high veneration, having named his son Magnus after him.
4$6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29,
hundred men, armed with coats of ring-mail, and having foreign helmets. Most of his men had white shields, on which gilt crosses were emblazoned. Some of his men had a cross painted in red or blue. He had the cross painted,inapalecolour,onthefrontofalltheirhelmets. Thiswastosignify, that after the example of Constantine,52 he wished to conquer under that sign of our redemption. On his banner a serpent was figured. He made a religious preparation for this battle. He ordered Mass to be celebrated, and and at this he devoutly assisted. Then having supplied his mariners with meat and drink, he commanded his captains to sound their war-horns, to row forwards to meet the enemy, and to engage at once in battle. A furious struggle ensued, and the crews on both sides fought resolutely. However, this naval engagement was not of long duration. The victory inclined to Olaf,andJarlSweynsoonspreadhissailsinflight. Afterwards,heleftNor- way, and went to Russia, but he did not long survive that discomfiture. Having obtained success against his adversaries, Olaf delivered the people of Norway from the tyranny under which the Swedes and Danes had placed their land. In fine, he was able to assert his right to that throne, and he was received with general acclaim by nearly all his new subjects.
CHAPTER III.
THE INDEPENDENCE OF NORWAY ACHIEVED 15Y OI. AF—HE IS ACKNOWLEDGED AS SOLE KING—HE liKlNGS MISSIONARIKS THERE—HIS ZEAL TO SPREAD RELIGION-HIS ROYAL PROGRESSES—PEACE PROCLAIMED BETWEEN HIMSELF AND THE KING OF SWEDEN—ATTEMPTS TO ASSASSINATE OLAF, KING OF NORWAY—HE MARRIES ASTRIDA—HIS REGAL AND MISSIONARY TOURS—THE BIRTH OF HIS SON MAGNUS— HE INTRODUCES CHRISTIANITY AMONG THE PEOPLE OF GREENLAND, OF ICELAND, AND OF THE FAEROE ISLANDS.
The chiefs and men of Norway, on his arrival there, ranged under his banner,
andtheseproclaimedOlafKingofNorway. Foralongtime,thatcountry hadgroanedundertheyokeoftheSwedishKingOlausIII. , surnamedScot- Konung. The exiled Olaf had now undertaken its deliverance. 1 In the
opening of spring, a. d. 1017, he led an expeditionary force against the
southern and eastern parts of the kingdom. Having gone to Vika, he chased
from it those who had ruled there, in the name of Eric and of Hakon. The
people afterwards paid him tribute, and acknowledged him as their ruler.
The Swedes had occupied Tonsberg and the province of Bahusien ; but, a
certain chief named Thorer, an emissary of the Norway King, excited a popu-
lar tumult there, and the people slew their governor Eilif. Soon the power
of Olaf was established towards the north, at Raumelfa, near Bahusien, while
along the shores and islands, he was favourably received. The surrender of
2
Sarpsburg, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, crowned his triumph.
He was entirely successful, in this war, which lasted during the autumn and winter.
52 See Eusebius, in Vita Constantini, lib. i. , en p. xl.
1
( waiter in. — See Les Petits Bollan-
cap. x. , p. 368.
2
This-town was burned by the Swedes in 1617, as related by Undalin, lib. ii. , cap. v. I fowever, Frederick II. , King of Denmark, built another town nearer to the sea, and in the bishopric of Aggerhuus, to the south of Christiana. It was called Frederickstadt in his honour, and there has been erected a
distcs, "Vies des Saints," tome ix. , xxixc Jour de Juillet, p. 120. Olaus Scot- Konung was born a. d. 982, and when only eleven years of age, he succeeded Eric, his lather, on the throne, a. d. 993. See Thor- mod Torfaius' ; ' Series
and fortress. See " Gazetteer regular
el Re- gum D&nise, a primo eorum Skioldo Odini filio, ad Gornum Grandsevum," &c, lib. iii. ,
Dynaslorum
strong
of the World," vol. vi. , p. 463.
3 See Adam of Bremen, " Historian Eccle-
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 457
When he returned to the country of his paternal race, Olaf brought some ecclesiastics to convert his pagan subjects. 3 Among the missionaries from England* was one named Grimkele, who had been consecrated bishop of Drontheim, his capital. * Tin's pious prelate was a great favourite with the king, who made him a chief counsellor, so that nothing of importance was done without his advice. During the sway of Eric, of Sweyn, and of Hacon, in Norway, although their edicts were enforced with great exactness, and even severity ; yet, no effort had been made by them to promote Christianity, and as each person had been allowed to follow his own desires, so the people began to lapse generally into idolatry. Along the coasts of Norway, Chris- tianity alone spread, but although many had been there baptized, it seems, that few of them received sufficient instruction to ground them in the Faith. The first care of Olave, in accordance with the national usages of that country, was to convoke an Assembly of Sages, representing all classes of the people. ThenweresubjectedtotheirconsiderationthelawsofHacon,5 thealumnus or pupil of Adalstein, and who was the founder of Drontheim. We are informed, that to show his respect for the clergy, at his councils and enter- tainments, Olaf always placed Grimkele and the ecclesiastics at his right side, while the other chief councillors and officials sat at his left.
Whereupon, acting on their advice, King Olaf repealed or added certain enactments ; which modifications were supposed to be best suited for altered circum- stances of the time and place. Thus, he incorporated the Canon Law, known as Kristinrett, with the civil jurisprudence of the kingdom. Above all things, he was most anxious, that good morals and order should everywhere prevail,
6
while he desired that Christianity should flourish throughout his dominions. He also exacted an oath of fidelity and obedience, from those representa- tivesofhissubjects,beforetheAssemblywasdissolved. t Thekingabolished all such ancient laws and usages, as were contrary to the Gospel. He also enacted other good laws, to promote order and morality throughout his king- dom. These he promulgated, not only throughout Norway, but even in the distant Iceland, and in the Orkneys, where his rule was respected.
In all the midland parts, and throughout the interior, especially among the mountains and valleys, the Norwegians were addicted to pagan usages, which they had derived from their ancestors. We are told, that at this time, Norway abounded in monsters of impiety, and that these indulged in practices ofbarbarism,whichhedesiredutterlytoextirpate. Thosepersonswerediviners, soothsayers, magicians, enchanters, and such satellites of Anti-Christ, who dwelt there ; while through their spells and magic arts, many unhappy souls had become slaves to the devils, who mocked at their blindness and folly. The good King Olaf grieved, that such scandals had caused a serious draw- back to the spread of Christianity in Norway, and he resolved on prosecuting their propagators with extreme rigour. So zealous was this king for the introduction of Christianity among his subjects, that he travelled in person from town to town, attended by a company of able Gospel preachers. In
siasticoe Ecclesiae Hamburgensis et Bremen- sis," &c, lib. ii. , cap. xl.
4 See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. vii. , July xxix.
5 He was the first Christian King of Nor- way, having reigned from a. d. 935 to A. d.
Saints," tome ix. , xxixe Jour de Juillet, pp. 120, 121.
? " Nee ilia solicitudo regni limitibus ter- minibatur : majora de Christiana re mereri cupiens, anxie in vicinarum gentium mores et instituta praesertim quae religionetti spec- tabant, inquirebat ; Orcadensium nempe,
Hialtlanor—um, Fsereyensium, et Islando-
vegicarum," tomus ii. ,
"
Torfa. *us, Ilistoria Rerum Nor-
p. 78-
6
"
Histoiia Rerum Nor-
lib. i. ,
See Les Petits Bollandists' Vies des
950. See Torfaeus,
Appendix ii. ,
rum,"&c.
vegicarum," tomus iii. , lib. ii. , cap. ii. , pp. 63, 64.
45 8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
several places, he demolished the idolatrous temples by force, and much to the dislike of the more uncultivated mountaineers.
Whenever Olaf had an interval of repose, he endeavoured to gtfvern his
kingdom according to justice, but tempered with severity. Especially, he had great zeal to promote the glory of God, and the welfare of religion. It would seem, however, that fear of his power, rather than love for God, obliged numbers of his subjects to become obedient to their new sovereign's decrees. Having settled his kingdom—as was thought in peace—Olaf was anxious to eradicate all popular superstitions and pagan usages, so that his people might the sooner embrace the truths of the Gospel. However, this course of pro- ceeding raised against him many enemies, as the pagans were much addicted to their old superstitions and laws ; while these were abandoned, by most of them, with much reluctance. 8
The Sagas inform us, that when King Olaf was with his mother on a visit, she brought out her children, and showed them to him. The king took his brother Guttorm on one knee, and his brother Halfdan on the other. In a sportive mood with the children, the king made a wry face, and both the boys were frightened. Thereupon, Aasta brought her youngest son Harald
—then only three years old—and
also made a
without regarding it, the infant boy looked him steadily in the face. The king
face at him
took him by the hair, and plucked it; then that child seized the king's whiskers,
:
in retaliation, and gave them a tug. Whereupon Olaf cried out " Ah my
friend, hereafter thou shalt be revengeful. " When the king was walking about the farm next day with his mother, they came to a place where her sons Gu—t- torm and Halfdan we—re amusing themselves. At play, these were engaged as children often are with building imaginary houses and barns, which they were filling with supposed cattle and sheep. Beside them was a pool of water, where Harald was sailing chips of wood close to the edge. The king then asked what these were, and Harald answered, that they were his ships of
war. The king then laughed and said
:
thou wilt command ships.