However, he seems not
consistent
in his subsequent account of our St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
A plot was now laid, that when the king should go in to assist at vespers, Swend was to draw a dagger from beneath his cloak, and then plunge it in the king's body.
However, as Olaf came out of the room, he walked quicker than Swend expected ; when, on looking the king in the face, the servant became deadly pale and his hand trembled.
Observing this terror, the king asked the cause.
Whereupon, Swend threw down his cloak and dagger, while he fell at the
" All is in God's thenorderedhimtobeseizedandmanacled. Hedirected,likewise,that
Hraereck's seat should be moved from his own to another position. Olaf, however, gave Swend his life, and he left the country. The king also
appointed a different lodging for Hraereck to sleep in, from that occupied by himself and by his attendants, while he set two of his court-men, who had long been with him, and whom he could trust, to attend Hraereck afterwards, both by night and by day.
Nevertheless, the captive's desire for vengeance was not appeased ; for, while the king was at Tunsberg, a much frequented place, Hraereck had engaged a Finn to have a vessel ready in the port. Having murdered his two guards one night, they endeavoured to reach the ship and so escape. But, one of the king's servants happening to stumble over the dead bodies in the dark, Olaf was instantly informed of what had occurred, and orders
were despatched to apprehend the fugitives. Hraereck was soon captured,
king's
feet
saying :
hand,
and in
thine,
O
king. "
The
king
only three years old at this time ; but, this is quite incorrect, for he must have been considerably older.
I3 Such is the account given by the monk Theordric of Nidrosia, in his Life of St, Olavus, chapter xvi.
:
" It is hard that you
462 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
and when no hope of escape was presented to his confederates, these run their ship ashore and hid themselves in the woods, while they killed one of the pursuers with an arrow. Having been brought back to the king, Hraereck was again pardoned, but he was guarded more strictly than before.
During that same year and in the same place, when the Sunday after Ascension Day came round, the king prepared to assist at High Mass. The Bishop in processional order led him to the throne, when Hraereck was allowed to remain at his side. Concealing his face in a cloak, Hraereck
placed his hand on the king's shoulder.
" It is a Festival we cele- Day
Olaf then
" Thou hast fine clothes to-day,
" I do not assent to all tell me about you
said he.
brate with reverence, and in memory of Christ's Ascension into Heaven. "
cousin,"
King
replied :
Hraereck
Christ ; much of what you relate is incredible to me, although doubtless, many wonderful things took place in former times. " At the commencement of Mass, proceeding from his place, and elevating his hands above his head, the king went upon his knees before the altar, and the cloak fell back on his shoulders. Then seizing his opportunity, Hraereck started up hastily, and having concealed a daggar under his cloak, he now drew it forth aiming at the king. However, the blow" was arrested by the cloak, which was cut, and the king sprang upon the floor to avoid the stroke. Another was dealt by Hraereck, but it was ill-directed, and the king escaped without a wound. When the assassin found this, he cried out in a
flying from me? " Immediately, by the king's order, he was secured and brought out from the church. Then many of the king's friends advised him to take Hraereck's life, so as to consult for his own security, since repeated pardons were dangerous and productive of no generous returns, nor was it likely that his mania for revenge should cease ; while, as they added, it must be hazardous, likewise, to give him liberty, when he might excite seditions and intestine wars. The king remarked, that no doubt, for lesser offences, many had been capitally punished ; however, as he had already captured five Upland kings, his relations, one morning, and without the loss of life, so was he now unwilling to stain that triumph, by shedding the culprit's blood. Another expedient was devised. An Icelander, named Thorarin, was then in Tunsberg when this incident occurred. He had just rigged out a merchant vessej, of which he was the owner, and in the summer, he intended to sail for Greenland. Accordingtoastipulationenteredintobetweenhimselfandthe king, Thorarin was to transport Hraereck to Greenland, or if that were not possible to Iceland. Driven back by gales, Thorarin could only reach the latter place, where the captive was left in charge of some faithful friends and subjects of Olaf. There, Hraereck was seized with illness, and so ended his days.
That very same year, Olaf prepared a large fleet and a splendid retinue, with which he sailed to Gothia, the bounds of his own kingdom. There,
according to an agreement with the King of Sweden, he expected to meet Ingigerd, who had been promised to him in marriage. To his great surprise,
although he waited there for a good part of the . summer, Ingigerd did not appear, nor was any message received from her father, to explain the cause
for this delay. At length, referring to Rognuald, Jarl of Gothia, he had no better information from that chief, and he was long left in a state of suspense ;
however, Ingigerd herself wrote to Rognuald, stating, the King of Sweden
Whereupon,
replied :
M The Jarl of the Visigoths is said to have placed her hand in that of the Norwegian King Olaf, who espoused her.
*S See Loccenius, " Historia Suecioe," lib. i.
l6 The words Scot and lot are originally
rage ;
" O fat man, are you
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 463
had perfidiously violated his engagement of the previous year, and had now destinedhisdaughterforanotherprince. Moreover,RognualdprayedKing Olaf to believe he wus no party to that base act, and he trusted the failure
of such engagement should not lessen in any way their own private friend- ship. Naturallyfilledwithresentmentforthisbadfaithandindiguityshown him, Olaf for some time hesitated, as to whether he should not immediately direct his fleet and crew against Sweden, or defer his purpose to avenge the injury done him for the following year. The latter course was that advised by his counsellors, and he adopted it. Returning to Sarpsburg, he there dis- banded that hosting, although keeping during the winter a numerous body of dependents in his service. This affair greatly tormented Rognuald, who learned, that Ingigerd had been married to Jarislaus, King of Russia, not- withstanding that solemn engagement entered upon before the popular assem- bly convened. As Olaf, however, agreed to the alternative of marrying Astrida, the base-born daughter to Olaus the Tributary; after some difficulty, her father's consent was obtained, but only because he feared a rising of his chiefs and people were it refused. 13 About the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a. d. 1019, the nuptials were celebrated. 1 *
According to the Sagas, West Gothland was discontented with the rule of the Swedish king, while some of its chief men meditated transferring their allegiance to the Crown of Norway. One of these chiefs was Egmund of Skara, the law-giver of that district ; and, it would seem, that he had been deputed to visit King Olave-Scot-Konung, so as to lay the views of the West Gothlanders before him. Accordingly, mounting his horse, Egmund rode to Upsala, where the king resided, and he bent the knee before his monarch. "What news from Gothland? " asked the king. Whereupon, Egmund answei cc " There is little news among us Gothlanders but, it
:
appears to us worth relating, that the proud and stupid Atli, whom we took to be a great sportsman, went into the forest in winter, with his snow-shoes andhisbow. Whenhehadgotsomanyfursashishand-sledgecouldcarry, hereturnedhomefromthewoods. Ontheway,hesawasquirrelamong the branches of the trees. He shot an arrow, but he did not hit it. He was angry, and then leaving his sledge, he ran after the squirrel. However, the animal sprang where the wood was thickest, and sometimes he was at the roots, and immediately after, he was jumping from branch to branch. Whenever Atli shot at it, his arrows flew too high or too low. All day, Atli chased the squirrel, but it completely eluded his pursuit. A dark night and a heavy snow-storm then followed, and Atli got lost in the snow. The sledge, loaded with the furs he procured in the morning, was buried under the snow, so that Atli lost his sledge, his furs, his arrows and the squirrel. " "This is no news of importance," replied the king; "have you come all the way from Goth- land to tell me only this? " •' No, king," returned Egmund, " I have come to learnyourjudgmentinalawcase. " "Outwithitthen,"saidOlave. Then
" There were two noble-born men of birth, but these equal
Egmund replied :
were unequal in property and disposition. They quarrelled about some land, and did each other much damage ; but, most was done to him, who was least
powerful. At last, the quarrel was settled, and it was arranged, that a com- position should be paid, by the most powerful of the two. However, at the
first settlement, instead of paying a goose, the latter paid a gosling ; for an old sow, he gave a sucking pig ; for a mark of gold, he returned half a mark ;
"
Swedish or Teutonic words meaning tax. " Rome," while Scot-Konung means "the
Thus, Rome-Scot is interpreted
"
a tax for King's tax. "
;
464 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29. while for half a mark, he only gave a pot of clay. Now, sire, what is your
"
judgment ? " Then Oliive at once said :
he who has thus treated the other shall have his property and goods confis- cated j half shall go to the king, and half to the aggrieved party. " Egmund then had witnesses for the judgment, and he departed hastily. He was expected to sup at the king's table that very evening, but he did not appear.
The king enquired regarding his absence, when he was told, that immediately
after pronouncing the afore-mentioned judgment, Egmund had mounted his
horse, and had galloped away. The king then began to muse on the story of Atli and his loss, as also on that of the two noblemen at variance. Soon he solved the riddle and rightly. He was himself no other than Atli. His sledge full of furs represented Sweden, while the escaped squirrel was Nor- way ; thus, in aiming at getting Norway, he was in danger of losing Sweden. Again, he and St. Olaf were the two noble-born men at variance ; while, after a reconciliation had been effected, he had shirked the fulfilment of his pro- mise, by giving his daughter Astrid to him instead of Ingegerd.
Both the kings of Norway and of Sweden had an interview at Kunghiell, where they agreed to be thoroughly reconciled, and to consolidate their interests, on conditions mutually advantageous. ^ When Olaf Haraldsonand Olaf-Scot-Konung had cemented their alliance, both agreed to introduce the Rome-Scot,16 whereby a small annual tribute was to be paid by them as a
respectful offering to the Apostolic See.
As a ruler, Olaf was exceedingly vigilant and active. In 1020, he set out
on a visitation towards the North, and through Vika, so that he might inspect thestateofthecountriesthere. Hefound,thatmanythingsrequiredreform and correction in northern Halogia, a district of the Drontheim province, as also in Naumudal, and through the interior regions, lie desired, likewise, toreachFinmark,theextremenorthernprovinceofNorway. Ontheopen- ing of spring, with five ships and their crews, together with three hundred select warriors, he set out and directed his course to Naumudal, where he met the people in their assemblies, and exacted from them an oath of fidelity to himself and to his laws. These he caused to be promulgated, and very severe penalties were attached for their enforcement. However, the king, if severe in their execution, was inflexibly just, having no respect for persons or classes. Nor did he leave that district, until all had vowed to become Christians. Having thus acted, when the various comitice had been held, and having settled affairs, civil and religious, during the greater part of the summer, he returned to Drontheim in autumn, and there spent that winter. Nevertheless, he found it a very difficult matter to keep in the Faith those pagans, who had so grudgingly professed themselves Christians ; for, no sooner had the king departed from among them, than he learned through his emissaries,thattheyhadagainrelaspedintoidolatry. Hesummonedthechief men to him, so that he might learn their reasons for apostasy. Among these was one Aulver, a wealthy bonder of Egge, more powerful and persuasive than others, who thought he should escape the king's anger; although twice had he apologized and retracted for his disobedience to the Christian laws. How- ever, one Thorald had informed the king about his relapses into idolatry,
and accordingly, about Easter, 1021, having learned that a pagan celebration was appointed for a certain day and place, Olaf had his ships and crews ready.
He sailed thither, to the head of Drontheim Fiord, and apprehended Aulver,
17 According to Torfbeus, the Icelandic See " Ilistoria Rerum Norvegicarum,"
Manuscripts place the events narrated in the toinus iii. , lib. ii. , cap. xxi. , pp. 103, 104.
text during the seventh year of Olafs reign.
'*
See ibid. , cap. xxii. , pp. 105 to 108.
Let the full payment be made, or
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 465
in the very act of assisting and promoting the pagans' spring-feast. He was condemned to death. Others besides were made prisoners, and punishment was inflicted on them, proportionately to their deserts. The Assemblies were convened once more, and the former Christian profession of Faith was renewed; there churches were then built, and zealous pastors were set over them to spread more the Gospel. Olaf confiscated the property of Aulver ; however, when his widow—whose protection he assumed—had again married abetter husband, the possessions taken were restored to her. '?
That very same year, the Jails of the Orkney Islands had quarrels among themselves, which they desired Olaf should settle, as they always acknowledged
8
That. autumn, also, the king visited Noord- meerx9 andSundmerland,20 as also Romsdalen. 21 Here,leavinghis ships, he went to the Uplands. He visited Lesia and Dofra. In these places, he brought many to profess Christianity, and from these, he took hostages, to secure their fidelity. Churches were there built and priests were set over them. Many of the people, who would not desert their heathenism, were fined, while many fled from the king. In Gudbranzdal he encountered serious opposition. The dynast of that district, having heard from the pagan fugi- tives how forceful were the means adopted by Olaf, in his zeal for the spread of Christianity, Gudbrand resolved on raising a band to oppose the monarch. Seven hundred pagans were collected, and his son became their leader. How- ever, relying on Divine assistance, Olaf engaged this army of rustics, and vanquished them. Their leader was taken prisoner, and treated kindly by Olaf for four days, during which time he seems to have been imbued with a desire to become a Christian. But, he had not been baptized, before he agreed to see his father, and to induce also his compliance with the king's wishes. Little desire had Gudbrand to yield* and he reproached his son for changing his opinions. However, as he was about to lead against Olaf a new force, Gudbrand had a nocturnal vision, when a man with serene yet awe- " You know how unfortunate has
:
proved the expedition of your son against King Olaf; but, should you oppose
him,yourlossoflifeandbloodshallbestillgreater; youshallfoilwithyour
whole array, to be torn by the wolves and crows. " The account of this
vision Gudbrand communicated to Thordus Instrumagius, who was also a chief
22
in Dalor; and, the latter declared, he had a similar vision. Wherefore,
abandoning the idea of resisting Olaf further, Gudbrand sent him a message,
that in a public Assembly the proposition of accepting a new doctrine should be pacifically entertained. Then both Gudbrand and Thord, at the desire ofOlaf,hadoneconvened,whereagreatnumberofpeopleassembled. For three days, this conference lasted. On the first day, King Olaf and Bishop Sigurd, who accompanied him, entered upon a long discussion, to prove the existenceofonetrueGod,andaboutthekindofworshipduetoHim. The heathens took objection to their arguments, by stating, that he could not be aGod,whowasnotseen,orwhocouldnotbeshown,byanyperson; while it was otherwise with their great idol Thor, whose divinity was recognisable, and whose majestic aspect was visible to all eyes. A challenge was now offered to the Christian advocates, that as rain then prevailed, if their God had any power, he might cause it. to be fine next day, while they should bring their Thor to the Assembly, to effect the same purpose. Whereupon, King Olaf and Bishop Sigurd, in a great state of anxiety, returned to their lodgings;
19 Also called North More.
vassalage to the Norway Kings. '
inspiring countenance appeared and said
10
21 Also called Raunsdal.
valley
23 Also written Hedemark.
Also called South More.
22 A
In the same tract of countiy, towards the south.
IG
466 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
but, they hoped, that the Almighty would work out His Divine will, . and in Hisownway. ThesonofGudbrandaccompaniedthem. TheKingand
Bishop Sigurd spent that whole night in prayer, and after early dawn, when Mass had been celebrated, both set out for the Assembly. The morning shoneoutbeautifully,butthistrialdidnotsatisfyall; for,thepeopledesiredto see, if it should happen so the day after. The King and the Bishop prayed as before, during that night, and then they went again to the Assembly. That day was also very fine. The heathens now with great ceremony brought out their idol Thor, which was of great size, and profusely adorned with gold and silver enrichments. The idolaters all cried out, that he was the true and onlypowerfulGod. ThenOlaflaughed,andimmediatelytheiridolfellinto
: smallpieces. Whereupon,Gudbrandexclaimed "Wehavereceivedagreat
shock, through the destruction of our God ; yet, as he cannot help himself, it
that God, whom adore. " WT
you hereupon,
is but that we now just,
worship
Gudbrand with his son was baptized, by Bishop Sigurd ; priests were left in
Dalor ; and friendship having been established between himself and King
Olaf, Gudbrand built a church in his own district.
2
Afterwards, the king went into Heidmarcb, 3 where all the inhabitants
were brought to a knowledge of Christ; pastors were stationed in their parishes ; churches were built ; and, in fine, Christian morality was there firmly established, in all parts. However, the Christians were cautioned not to penetrate into the interior of the country, lest their presence might irritate the people, where their chiefs had been subdued and coerced ; for, there fac- tions and treacherous conduct might still prevail, while plots and treason were to be feared. Thotnia and Hadaland Olaf also visited, and there, likewise, the inhabitants adopted the Christian Faith and rites. In Hringarich, the king had a great pleasure in finding the people well disposed to favour Christianity. When the people of Raumarich, however, were informed about the king's progress, they resolved to oppose him, and they assembled a very superior force at the River Nicia. At first, they made a fierce onset ; but, they were speedily put to flight. At length, they embraced Christianity. Thence pro- ceeding eastwards to Soleyas, Olaf influenced all the inhabitants of that pro-
2 vince to profess the Faith of Christ. *
Different writers have assigned various dates for the death of Olave Scot
Kilning, viz. , from a. d. toi8 2 5tOA. D. 1027 26
; but, it is generally supposed to
2 28
have happened, in io2 2, 7 as the Bollandists seem to confirm. St. Olaf spent
much of the year 1022 in Vika, and in the eastern parts, making the tour of inspection, according to his usual custom. Having returned to Sarpsburg
"
74 The Bollnndists slate:
Sanctus annum Chrisli 1021, perpetuo pro- gressu per mediterraneas sibique succeden-
tes ordine —situquc provincias ab Acjuilone in
toricus, sect, v. , vi. , pp. 96 to 100.
e j This is stated to have been the year for
his decease, by Joannes Magnus, in "His- toria Gothonun," lib. xvii. , cap. xxiii. He is followed by Gi^lo and Suaning in their chronicles. The year 1024 is assigned by Messenius, in his Annotations to Yasto- \ius.
See lib. ii. , p. 31.
However, he seems not consistent in his subsequent account of our St. Olaf, when lie writes soon afterwards : "Rex Norvegice post mortem Schotta-
Mortuus konungh din supcrvixit. est veto
S. Olavus anno Domini mxxviii. "
-"
In this year, Torfeus places his death, relying on the Icelandic accounts, not alone in his " Historia Rcrum Norvegicarum," tomus iii. , HI), ii. , cap, xxiii. , pp. 108 to 112; but also, in his Notes to Yastovius, " Vilis
"
Series Dynastarum et Regum Daniae a Skioldo Odini Filio ad Gormum Grandsevum," lib. iii. , cap. x. , the same chronology has
Austrum. " "Acta Sanctorum,"
tenuis Julii xxix. De S. Olavo, Regc et Martyre, Ts'idrosice in Norvegia. Commentarius His-
6
places the death of Olave at the eighth year, alter giving his daughter Astrid in marriage.
Eric of Uptal prefers this date, for he
been observed,
-8 "
Ita clausit
vii. ,
Aquilonia," p. VJ. Moreover, in his
l! osch thus writes: Et supei vixisse quidem Olavo Succo Norvcgicum, docet
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 467
and Tonsbeig, in the spring of 1023, Olaf then sailed to the Island of Car-
9 men, towards the west, in the district of Stavangeiieen. ?
As serving to illustrate the wild actions of that age and country, while the king was guest' of the Chief Aulfnes, one of his villagers named Thorercame to complain, about an injury inflicted on him by a certain noble named Asbiorn. At this time, the king was seated at table, and Thorer gave a dubious account of the transaction, and, as in most cases, when a complaint is made, he mingled false with true statements ; however, Asbiorn, who had entered without the man's knowledge, having heard that public accusation, flew towards the accuser, who was near the king, and drawing his sword, with a stroke cut off Thorer's head. The king was justly indignant, at the perpe- tration of such an act. Immediately, he ordered the murderer to be appre- hended, and to be executed. It happened to be the Thursday after Easter, and the culprit being consigned to the keeping of one Thorarin, a near cousin named Skialg endeavoured to obtain pardon from the king, but in vain. The sentence passed was that Asbiorn should be crucified on that very night. But Skialg, having influenced Thorarin to evade this order, told the king how nocturnal executions were most reprehensible, so that the criminal had a
respiteuntilmorning. Thedayfollowing,Olafbeganhiscoursebyassist- ing at Mass, before he engaged at any other order of business ; and seeing Thorarin, he asked had the sun risen to show the punishment which was to be inflicted on their friend Asbiorn. Then Thorarin replied, that it was Friday, the day when the Omnipotent King suffered the greatest injuries, and with the meekest submission, so that it should be better to imitate him, than those wicked men, who had condemned Him to so cruel a death. This say- ing moved the king, who replied: ''Your request shall be granted, and to-day,Asbiornshallnotdie; however,guardhimcarefully,andattheperil of your own life, should he happen to escape. " Then the king entered the church. On the Saturday following, having assisted at Matins, the king was engaged longer than usual, in discussing matters at the provincial assembly, and then going to assist at Mass, he afterwards went to dinner. Then Thora- rin sought the bell-ringer, and persuaded him to ring the bronze bell for announcement of the coming Sunday's Festival,3° before the ordinary hour, and when the king rose from table. At that moment, Olaf had ordered his servants, to see that Asbiorn should be led to*execution ; but, suddenly, the bell pealed, and then Thorarin, taking advantage of the king's exact religious observances, prayed the execution to be deferred during that festive time. The king once more assented, and went to the church. When Sunday came, as Asbiorn now seemed to repent of his crime, so was he allowed by the Bishop to assist at the sacred ceremonies. Meantime, expecting what was to happen, Thorarin besought the king to release him from the disagreeable duty of being Asbiorn's keeper ; while Skialg instigated his father Erling, who was uncle to Asbiorn, that he should assemble his hosting, which
eliam Hist. Dan. , lib. 10 in Canuto Magno Saxo Grammaticus. Adamus contra Ere- mensis Hist. Eccl. , lib. 2, cap. 54, Norve- gico Suecum superstitem facit, saltern quin- quennio ; cum hunc obiisse asserat eodem tempore, quo Canutus Magnus finemvivendi fecit : et hunc sequitur Vastovius in Vite Aquilonia; imoetTheodricusNidrosiensis, ut patet turn ex cap. 16, turn maxime —ex cap. 18. Quid ergo hie ccrii statuas? "
Norvegia. Commentarius Historicus, sect.
vii. , num. 68, p. IOO.
29 Stavanger is a town and port of Nor-
way, and the capital of a bailiwick bearing a similar name, in the diocese of Chiistian- ? and, and on the south-west side of the Bukke Fiord. It has a good harbour. See "Gazetteer of the World," vol. xii. , p. 728.
s° As that should have been Dominica in Albis, so we may suppose, the bell sounded for the first Vespers of that Feast, and in the
"
De S. Olavo, Rege et Martyre. Nidroswe in
Acta Sanctorum," tomus vii. , Julii xxix.
468 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
amounted to 1,500 men-at-arms. These were instructed to rescue Asbiorn from his guards, and assembling at the church, they entered it in a tumul-
tuous manner. But, the king seemed alone undisturbed, for his soul was wholly filled with devout meditation. When the Holy Sacrifice was over, leaving the house of God, Olaf was accosted by Erling with a salute, which had something of menace conveyed, for armed retainers stood around and obedient to their chief's command. He demanded rather than asked the release of his nephew, and without death, mutilation or exile being inflicted on him. The courageous king looked at Erling defiantly, but the bishop fear- ing the result interfered, and persuaded Olaf to pardon the culprit, or at least to inflict a light punishment, so that he might not add Erling to the list of his
powerful foes.
That same spring, King Olaf visited Hordia*1 and Vorsia ; while learning
that Christianity was in a languishing condition in the district of Vangs, he there summoned a meeting. To this, the inhabitants went reluctantly, as also armed, for they desired to resist their monarch's wishes. When all had met, a riot seemed imminent, and both sides prepared for a battle. However, the rioters appear to have acted without concert or organization ; nor were they able to agree in their choice of a leader, for when that post was offered severally to the chiefs, all declined to accept it. It seems probable, they feared an encounter with the king's disciplined forces. Surrendering at dis- cretion, it was to be apprehended, their subsequent profession of Christianity could not have been a willing one ; but, as they received baptism, Olaf then departed. To Oster Fiord, in northern Harland, the king then went, and having gone on board his ships, sailing still more northwardly, he visited Songia, throughwhichhepassedduringthatsummer. Duringtheautumn,hewas in the Fiord of Songia. He moved round the lake by great journeys in Val-
dresia, which extended from the coast towards the valleys of Gudbrand ; and there, it seems, a popular commotion took place, while the inhabitants were still bitterly opposed to the introduction of the Christian religion among them. Hearingthatthekingwasnowapproaching,accordingtotheircus- tom when preparing for war, a weapon was sped around that district to men of all conditions and classes, so that the villages were deserted, and a great multitude rallied to the place of meeting indicated. When Olaf heard of these proceedings, knowing that their lands were now deprived of defenders, he allowed their forces to muster at one side of the Fiord, and then sailing with his ships to the other, he began to devastate their houses and farms. This action disconcerted the designs of his enemies ; for now, it was deemed necessary by many to return, so that they might defend their wives and chil- dren. However, their forces soon dispersed, while the king sailed across the strait and devastated the lands on the other side. He also blocked the mouthoftheFiord,andcapturedalltheirvessels. Soontheyacknowledged Olaf as their sovereign and law-giver. They submitted to his rule, and acceded to his wishes, by professing the Christian religion. They gave hos- tages, likewise, for their fidelity to the conditions he exacted from them.
For a considerable part of that autumn, the king remained there engaged in building and dedicating churches, as also in supplying them with pastors. Fearing his ships might be closed in by the ice, and distrusting the loyalty of those people living around the upper part of the Fiord, he next visited Thot-
nia. 32
There, extending
his excursions
through
the and even to the valleys,
afternoon previous to it.
el called Holland.
33 Not only have the Icelandic Manu- scripts such an account ; but even the Bishop Adam of Bremen, in " Historia Ecclesias- tica," lib. ii. , cap. lvii. , and the Annalist
32 This %vas a in the midland district,
part of Norway, and not far from Valdresia.
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 469
mountain ranges, he afterwards returned to spend the winter in Dron- theim, which was the chief seat of his government.
We must have observed, throughout the whole of this narrative, that Olaf
was a man of naturally strong impulses and passions, which were not always controlled, and which were sometimes ill-directed ; even, it is sad to state, that when he seemed most fervent and zealous to propagate Christianity, he had not the caution to reflect, that those who stand should take heed lest they fall. Among the female attendants on the queen was a certain noble lady, named Alfhild, remarkable for her great elegance of features and of figure, to whom the king became attached; and yielding to temptation, about this time, an intrigue resulted, which in due course led to the unhappy dis- closure, that she was with child. 33 Hence may be drawn the lesson, that it is not meet for the man, who desires to be continent, to behold the beauty
;
of every woman, or to tarry in her company 3 * for, much as discipline may
have composed the soul, and even sanctified it, yet the roots of concupiscence are not wholly eradicated from the human heart. This incident has been referred to the latter end of 1023, or to the beginning of 1024. From this illicit connexion sprung Magnus, the son of Olaf, by Alfhild, and he is said to have been so called, after the celebrated Emperor Charlemagne, yet with- out his father's wishes in the matter being consulted. At the time of his birth, Alfhild was almost in the agonies ordeath, and the infant newly-born seemed hardly to breathe, when a priest who had been sent for felt impelled to baptize the child at once, lest he might die on the instant. However, he feared to give a name, without knowing it from the father's own lips. One Signat, a poet, happened to be present, with some attendant women, and he took upon himself to give the name, stating he should hold himself responsi- ble for his act to the king.
In the year 1023, Greenland is stated to have become tributary to Olaf; but, afterwards, it refused to fulfil the obligations he imposed. 3$ In the year 1024, disregarding the former clemency extended towards him by King Olaf, Asbiorn manifested once more hostility and perfidy, when the monarch ordered him to be put to death. This sentence however excited great enmity against him, and especially among the followers of an uncle, named Erling.
Having brought most of the Norwegian chiefs to adopt Christianity, Olaf next laboured to convert the Greenlanders, Icelanders, and people living in the Faeroe Islands. During the summer, he sent an ambassador to Iceland, whichIslandreceivedhiscivilandcanonlaw. Therehehadatemplebuilt,
and afterwards he presented a large bell, which was long preserved in Iceland, as a venerated memorial of him. 36
When the spring was much advanced, Olaf sailed from Drontheim towards the south, and during that whole summer, he visited the maritime districts there. In the autumn, he went eastwardly, and revisited Vika. The winter Olaf spent in the Uplands, where he devised measures for the better estab- lishment of Christianity, and for supplying whatever might be needed for the due celebration of religious observances, while he reformed any abuses he there detected. 3? Hewasentertained,whereverhepassed,ataroundofbanquets; but these were not always an indication of friendly feelings or of genuine hos- pitality, on the part of many faithless chiefs. While in that district, also, he
Saxo Grammaticus, at A. D. 1059. 34Ecclesiasticus,xlii. 12.
33 See Arngrim Jonas.
36 The chronicle, from which Torfaeus took that account, stated it was extant in the time
of the. writer ; in the time of Torfseus, how- ever,ithadbeenremoved. See"Historia Rerum Norvegicarum," tomus iii. , lib. ii. ,
122.
37 See ibid. , p. 124.
cap. xxix. , p.
47o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
had the opportunity of giving in marriage Gunnhild, his step-sister, and the daughter of Sigurd Syr, as also his aunt on the mother's side, and who was
called Isrid. 38 He had another aunt on the mother's side, also, and she was named Thoruna, the mother of St. Hallvard. 3*
CHAPTER IV.
CANUTE, KING OF ENGLAND AND OF DENMARK, ASSERTS HIS CLAIM TO THE CROWN OF NORWAY—HE PREPARES TO INVADE THAT COUNTRY—PREPARATIONS OF OLAF, KING OF NORWAY, AND OF ANUND II. , KING OF SWEDEN, TO OPPOSE HIM— CANUTE EXPELS OLAF FROM NORWAY, AND OBLIGES HIM TO TAKE REFUGE IN SWEDEN—OLAF RETIRES INTO RUSSIA—HE IS AGAIN IMPELLED TO RETURN TO NORWAY ON HEARING OF HACON's DEATH—HE VISITS SWEDEN—AN EXPEDITION ORGANIZED THERE FOR THE INVASION OF NORWAY.
Meantime, the ambitious King of England and of Denmark, Canute, had long desired to extend his dominion by annexing Norway to his crown, 1 and he soon took occasion to frame a pretext. After Olaf had visited the Uplands, word was brought to Canute, respecting the reluctant subjection of their chiefs
totheKingofNorway. Itwasanopportunityhehadlongexpected. How- ever, while he had been absent in England, the Swedes caused much annoy- ance to his subjects in Denmark. 2 Thither Canute repaired with forty ships in 1 019, and he remained there all that winter. 3 He was accompanied by an armyofDanesandofEnglish; whenaftersomeengagementswiththeSwedes, in which he proved victorious, Canute returned to England the following year. 4 Although Canute had been baptized during his infancy, still he knew little regarding the doctrines of Christianity. 5 His ambition and desire to extend his conquests seem to have been insatiable. To further such an object, he now began to intrigue with the subjects of Olaf. 6 In the begin- ning of 1025, he sent ambassadors with letters to Olaf, in which were pre- ferredhisclaimstoNorway,byhereditaryright; while,itwasstated,hedid not desire war on this head, unless he were forced to it ; moreover, if Olaf desired to retain his royal title, it should be through favour of Canute, and on condition of his paying that tribute, which formerly, he had received from the petty kings of Norway. 7 Although many of his counsellors advised
Olaf, to make some sort of composition with the poAverful king, Canute; yet, the King of Norway refused, with reproachful terms to the ambassadors, and asking,ifCanute'spresentpossessionofEngland,ofDenmark,andofagreatpart of Scotland, ought not be enough to satisfy his ambition, while he declared,
38 See "Acta Sanctorum/' tomus vis.
,
* See Bartholomwi do Cotton Monachi
Norwicensis '• Historia edited Anglicana,"
xxix. De S. Olavo, et
Rege Martyre,
Julii
Nidrosfee in Norvegia. Commentarius His- by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. , pp.
toricus, sect, vii. , pp. 100 to 102.
39 His feast is celebrated, on the
14th
of
37, 38.
s See Rev. Dr. " of Lingard's History
England/' vol. i. , chap, vi. , p. 261.
6 See Leslie Stephens' "Dictionary of National Biography," Art. Canute or Cnut,
May.
CHAPTER IV. —* See Les Petits Bol-
landi->ies, "Vies des Saints," tome ix. , e
xxix Jour de Juillet, p. 121. 2""
See John Speed's History of Great Britaine," booke viii. , chap, iii. , p. 401.
3 See Benjamin Thorpe's translation of
vol. ix. ,p. 6.
7 See Heinskringla edr Noregs Ko-
the 125.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle,
vol.
ii. , p.
8 See Torfa. us' " Historia Rerum Norvc- gicarum," tomus iii. , lib.
" All is in God's thenorderedhimtobeseizedandmanacled. Hedirected,likewise,that
Hraereck's seat should be moved from his own to another position. Olaf, however, gave Swend his life, and he left the country. The king also
appointed a different lodging for Hraereck to sleep in, from that occupied by himself and by his attendants, while he set two of his court-men, who had long been with him, and whom he could trust, to attend Hraereck afterwards, both by night and by day.
Nevertheless, the captive's desire for vengeance was not appeased ; for, while the king was at Tunsberg, a much frequented place, Hraereck had engaged a Finn to have a vessel ready in the port. Having murdered his two guards one night, they endeavoured to reach the ship and so escape. But, one of the king's servants happening to stumble over the dead bodies in the dark, Olaf was instantly informed of what had occurred, and orders
were despatched to apprehend the fugitives. Hraereck was soon captured,
king's
feet
saying :
hand,
and in
thine,
O
king. "
The
king
only three years old at this time ; but, this is quite incorrect, for he must have been considerably older.
I3 Such is the account given by the monk Theordric of Nidrosia, in his Life of St, Olavus, chapter xvi.
:
" It is hard that you
462 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
and when no hope of escape was presented to his confederates, these run their ship ashore and hid themselves in the woods, while they killed one of the pursuers with an arrow. Having been brought back to the king, Hraereck was again pardoned, but he was guarded more strictly than before.
During that same year and in the same place, when the Sunday after Ascension Day came round, the king prepared to assist at High Mass. The Bishop in processional order led him to the throne, when Hraereck was allowed to remain at his side. Concealing his face in a cloak, Hraereck
placed his hand on the king's shoulder.
" It is a Festival we cele- Day
Olaf then
" Thou hast fine clothes to-day,
" I do not assent to all tell me about you
said he.
brate with reverence, and in memory of Christ's Ascension into Heaven. "
cousin,"
King
replied :
Hraereck
Christ ; much of what you relate is incredible to me, although doubtless, many wonderful things took place in former times. " At the commencement of Mass, proceeding from his place, and elevating his hands above his head, the king went upon his knees before the altar, and the cloak fell back on his shoulders. Then seizing his opportunity, Hraereck started up hastily, and having concealed a daggar under his cloak, he now drew it forth aiming at the king. However, the blow" was arrested by the cloak, which was cut, and the king sprang upon the floor to avoid the stroke. Another was dealt by Hraereck, but it was ill-directed, and the king escaped without a wound. When the assassin found this, he cried out in a
flying from me? " Immediately, by the king's order, he was secured and brought out from the church. Then many of the king's friends advised him to take Hraereck's life, so as to consult for his own security, since repeated pardons were dangerous and productive of no generous returns, nor was it likely that his mania for revenge should cease ; while, as they added, it must be hazardous, likewise, to give him liberty, when he might excite seditions and intestine wars. The king remarked, that no doubt, for lesser offences, many had been capitally punished ; however, as he had already captured five Upland kings, his relations, one morning, and without the loss of life, so was he now unwilling to stain that triumph, by shedding the culprit's blood. Another expedient was devised. An Icelander, named Thorarin, was then in Tunsberg when this incident occurred. He had just rigged out a merchant vessej, of which he was the owner, and in the summer, he intended to sail for Greenland. Accordingtoastipulationenteredintobetweenhimselfandthe king, Thorarin was to transport Hraereck to Greenland, or if that were not possible to Iceland. Driven back by gales, Thorarin could only reach the latter place, where the captive was left in charge of some faithful friends and subjects of Olaf. There, Hraereck was seized with illness, and so ended his days.
That very same year, Olaf prepared a large fleet and a splendid retinue, with which he sailed to Gothia, the bounds of his own kingdom. There,
according to an agreement with the King of Sweden, he expected to meet Ingigerd, who had been promised to him in marriage. To his great surprise,
although he waited there for a good part of the . summer, Ingigerd did not appear, nor was any message received from her father, to explain the cause
for this delay. At length, referring to Rognuald, Jarl of Gothia, he had no better information from that chief, and he was long left in a state of suspense ;
however, Ingigerd herself wrote to Rognuald, stating, the King of Sweden
Whereupon,
replied :
M The Jarl of the Visigoths is said to have placed her hand in that of the Norwegian King Olaf, who espoused her.
*S See Loccenius, " Historia Suecioe," lib. i.
l6 The words Scot and lot are originally
rage ;
" O fat man, are you
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 463
had perfidiously violated his engagement of the previous year, and had now destinedhisdaughterforanotherprince. Moreover,RognualdprayedKing Olaf to believe he wus no party to that base act, and he trusted the failure
of such engagement should not lessen in any way their own private friend- ship. Naturallyfilledwithresentmentforthisbadfaithandindiguityshown him, Olaf for some time hesitated, as to whether he should not immediately direct his fleet and crew against Sweden, or defer his purpose to avenge the injury done him for the following year. The latter course was that advised by his counsellors, and he adopted it. Returning to Sarpsburg, he there dis- banded that hosting, although keeping during the winter a numerous body of dependents in his service. This affair greatly tormented Rognuald, who learned, that Ingigerd had been married to Jarislaus, King of Russia, not- withstanding that solemn engagement entered upon before the popular assem- bly convened. As Olaf, however, agreed to the alternative of marrying Astrida, the base-born daughter to Olaus the Tributary; after some difficulty, her father's consent was obtained, but only because he feared a rising of his chiefs and people were it refused. 13 About the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a. d. 1019, the nuptials were celebrated. 1 *
According to the Sagas, West Gothland was discontented with the rule of the Swedish king, while some of its chief men meditated transferring their allegiance to the Crown of Norway. One of these chiefs was Egmund of Skara, the law-giver of that district ; and, it would seem, that he had been deputed to visit King Olave-Scot-Konung, so as to lay the views of the West Gothlanders before him. Accordingly, mounting his horse, Egmund rode to Upsala, where the king resided, and he bent the knee before his monarch. "What news from Gothland? " asked the king. Whereupon, Egmund answei cc " There is little news among us Gothlanders but, it
:
appears to us worth relating, that the proud and stupid Atli, whom we took to be a great sportsman, went into the forest in winter, with his snow-shoes andhisbow. Whenhehadgotsomanyfursashishand-sledgecouldcarry, hereturnedhomefromthewoods. Ontheway,hesawasquirrelamong the branches of the trees. He shot an arrow, but he did not hit it. He was angry, and then leaving his sledge, he ran after the squirrel. However, the animal sprang where the wood was thickest, and sometimes he was at the roots, and immediately after, he was jumping from branch to branch. Whenever Atli shot at it, his arrows flew too high or too low. All day, Atli chased the squirrel, but it completely eluded his pursuit. A dark night and a heavy snow-storm then followed, and Atli got lost in the snow. The sledge, loaded with the furs he procured in the morning, was buried under the snow, so that Atli lost his sledge, his furs, his arrows and the squirrel. " "This is no news of importance," replied the king; "have you come all the way from Goth- land to tell me only this? " •' No, king," returned Egmund, " I have come to learnyourjudgmentinalawcase. " "Outwithitthen,"saidOlave. Then
" There were two noble-born men of birth, but these equal
Egmund replied :
were unequal in property and disposition. They quarrelled about some land, and did each other much damage ; but, most was done to him, who was least
powerful. At last, the quarrel was settled, and it was arranged, that a com- position should be paid, by the most powerful of the two. However, at the
first settlement, instead of paying a goose, the latter paid a gosling ; for an old sow, he gave a sucking pig ; for a mark of gold, he returned half a mark ;
"
Swedish or Teutonic words meaning tax. " Rome," while Scot-Konung means "the
Thus, Rome-Scot is interpreted
"
a tax for King's tax. "
;
464 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29. while for half a mark, he only gave a pot of clay. Now, sire, what is your
"
judgment ? " Then Oliive at once said :
he who has thus treated the other shall have his property and goods confis- cated j half shall go to the king, and half to the aggrieved party. " Egmund then had witnesses for the judgment, and he departed hastily. He was expected to sup at the king's table that very evening, but he did not appear.
The king enquired regarding his absence, when he was told, that immediately
after pronouncing the afore-mentioned judgment, Egmund had mounted his
horse, and had galloped away. The king then began to muse on the story of Atli and his loss, as also on that of the two noblemen at variance. Soon he solved the riddle and rightly. He was himself no other than Atli. His sledge full of furs represented Sweden, while the escaped squirrel was Nor- way ; thus, in aiming at getting Norway, he was in danger of losing Sweden. Again, he and St. Olaf were the two noble-born men at variance ; while, after a reconciliation had been effected, he had shirked the fulfilment of his pro- mise, by giving his daughter Astrid to him instead of Ingegerd.
Both the kings of Norway and of Sweden had an interview at Kunghiell, where they agreed to be thoroughly reconciled, and to consolidate their interests, on conditions mutually advantageous. ^ When Olaf Haraldsonand Olaf-Scot-Konung had cemented their alliance, both agreed to introduce the Rome-Scot,16 whereby a small annual tribute was to be paid by them as a
respectful offering to the Apostolic See.
As a ruler, Olaf was exceedingly vigilant and active. In 1020, he set out
on a visitation towards the North, and through Vika, so that he might inspect thestateofthecountriesthere. Hefound,thatmanythingsrequiredreform and correction in northern Halogia, a district of the Drontheim province, as also in Naumudal, and through the interior regions, lie desired, likewise, toreachFinmark,theextremenorthernprovinceofNorway. Ontheopen- ing of spring, with five ships and their crews, together with three hundred select warriors, he set out and directed his course to Naumudal, where he met the people in their assemblies, and exacted from them an oath of fidelity to himself and to his laws. These he caused to be promulgated, and very severe penalties were attached for their enforcement. However, the king, if severe in their execution, was inflexibly just, having no respect for persons or classes. Nor did he leave that district, until all had vowed to become Christians. Having thus acted, when the various comitice had been held, and having settled affairs, civil and religious, during the greater part of the summer, he returned to Drontheim in autumn, and there spent that winter. Nevertheless, he found it a very difficult matter to keep in the Faith those pagans, who had so grudgingly professed themselves Christians ; for, no sooner had the king departed from among them, than he learned through his emissaries,thattheyhadagainrelaspedintoidolatry. Hesummonedthechief men to him, so that he might learn their reasons for apostasy. Among these was one Aulver, a wealthy bonder of Egge, more powerful and persuasive than others, who thought he should escape the king's anger; although twice had he apologized and retracted for his disobedience to the Christian laws. How- ever, one Thorald had informed the king about his relapses into idolatry,
and accordingly, about Easter, 1021, having learned that a pagan celebration was appointed for a certain day and place, Olaf had his ships and crews ready.
He sailed thither, to the head of Drontheim Fiord, and apprehended Aulver,
17 According to Torfbeus, the Icelandic See " Ilistoria Rerum Norvegicarum,"
Manuscripts place the events narrated in the toinus iii. , lib. ii. , cap. xxi. , pp. 103, 104.
text during the seventh year of Olafs reign.
'*
See ibid. , cap. xxii. , pp. 105 to 108.
Let the full payment be made, or
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 465
in the very act of assisting and promoting the pagans' spring-feast. He was condemned to death. Others besides were made prisoners, and punishment was inflicted on them, proportionately to their deserts. The Assemblies were convened once more, and the former Christian profession of Faith was renewed; there churches were then built, and zealous pastors were set over them to spread more the Gospel. Olaf confiscated the property of Aulver ; however, when his widow—whose protection he assumed—had again married abetter husband, the possessions taken were restored to her. '?
That very same year, the Jails of the Orkney Islands had quarrels among themselves, which they desired Olaf should settle, as they always acknowledged
8
That. autumn, also, the king visited Noord- meerx9 andSundmerland,20 as also Romsdalen. 21 Here,leavinghis ships, he went to the Uplands. He visited Lesia and Dofra. In these places, he brought many to profess Christianity, and from these, he took hostages, to secure their fidelity. Churches were there built and priests were set over them. Many of the people, who would not desert their heathenism, were fined, while many fled from the king. In Gudbranzdal he encountered serious opposition. The dynast of that district, having heard from the pagan fugi- tives how forceful were the means adopted by Olaf, in his zeal for the spread of Christianity, Gudbrand resolved on raising a band to oppose the monarch. Seven hundred pagans were collected, and his son became their leader. How- ever, relying on Divine assistance, Olaf engaged this army of rustics, and vanquished them. Their leader was taken prisoner, and treated kindly by Olaf for four days, during which time he seems to have been imbued with a desire to become a Christian. But, he had not been baptized, before he agreed to see his father, and to induce also his compliance with the king's wishes. Little desire had Gudbrand to yield* and he reproached his son for changing his opinions. However, as he was about to lead against Olaf a new force, Gudbrand had a nocturnal vision, when a man with serene yet awe- " You know how unfortunate has
:
proved the expedition of your son against King Olaf; but, should you oppose
him,yourlossoflifeandbloodshallbestillgreater; youshallfoilwithyour
whole array, to be torn by the wolves and crows. " The account of this
vision Gudbrand communicated to Thordus Instrumagius, who was also a chief
22
in Dalor; and, the latter declared, he had a similar vision. Wherefore,
abandoning the idea of resisting Olaf further, Gudbrand sent him a message,
that in a public Assembly the proposition of accepting a new doctrine should be pacifically entertained. Then both Gudbrand and Thord, at the desire ofOlaf,hadoneconvened,whereagreatnumberofpeopleassembled. For three days, this conference lasted. On the first day, King Olaf and Bishop Sigurd, who accompanied him, entered upon a long discussion, to prove the existenceofonetrueGod,andaboutthekindofworshipduetoHim. The heathens took objection to their arguments, by stating, that he could not be aGod,whowasnotseen,orwhocouldnotbeshown,byanyperson; while it was otherwise with their great idol Thor, whose divinity was recognisable, and whose majestic aspect was visible to all eyes. A challenge was now offered to the Christian advocates, that as rain then prevailed, if their God had any power, he might cause it. to be fine next day, while they should bring their Thor to the Assembly, to effect the same purpose. Whereupon, King Olaf and Bishop Sigurd, in a great state of anxiety, returned to their lodgings;
19 Also called North More.
vassalage to the Norway Kings. '
inspiring countenance appeared and said
10
21 Also called Raunsdal.
valley
23 Also written Hedemark.
Also called South More.
22 A
In the same tract of countiy, towards the south.
IG
466 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
but, they hoped, that the Almighty would work out His Divine will, . and in Hisownway. ThesonofGudbrandaccompaniedthem. TheKingand
Bishop Sigurd spent that whole night in prayer, and after early dawn, when Mass had been celebrated, both set out for the Assembly. The morning shoneoutbeautifully,butthistrialdidnotsatisfyall; for,thepeopledesiredto see, if it should happen so the day after. The King and the Bishop prayed as before, during that night, and then they went again to the Assembly. That day was also very fine. The heathens now with great ceremony brought out their idol Thor, which was of great size, and profusely adorned with gold and silver enrichments. The idolaters all cried out, that he was the true and onlypowerfulGod. ThenOlaflaughed,andimmediatelytheiridolfellinto
: smallpieces. Whereupon,Gudbrandexclaimed "Wehavereceivedagreat
shock, through the destruction of our God ; yet, as he cannot help himself, it
that God, whom adore. " WT
you hereupon,
is but that we now just,
worship
Gudbrand with his son was baptized, by Bishop Sigurd ; priests were left in
Dalor ; and friendship having been established between himself and King
Olaf, Gudbrand built a church in his own district.
2
Afterwards, the king went into Heidmarcb, 3 where all the inhabitants
were brought to a knowledge of Christ; pastors were stationed in their parishes ; churches were built ; and, in fine, Christian morality was there firmly established, in all parts. However, the Christians were cautioned not to penetrate into the interior of the country, lest their presence might irritate the people, where their chiefs had been subdued and coerced ; for, there fac- tions and treacherous conduct might still prevail, while plots and treason were to be feared. Thotnia and Hadaland Olaf also visited, and there, likewise, the inhabitants adopted the Christian Faith and rites. In Hringarich, the king had a great pleasure in finding the people well disposed to favour Christianity. When the people of Raumarich, however, were informed about the king's progress, they resolved to oppose him, and they assembled a very superior force at the River Nicia. At first, they made a fierce onset ; but, they were speedily put to flight. At length, they embraced Christianity. Thence pro- ceeding eastwards to Soleyas, Olaf influenced all the inhabitants of that pro-
2 vince to profess the Faith of Christ. *
Different writers have assigned various dates for the death of Olave Scot
Kilning, viz. , from a. d. toi8 2 5tOA. D. 1027 26
; but, it is generally supposed to
2 28
have happened, in io2 2, 7 as the Bollandists seem to confirm. St. Olaf spent
much of the year 1022 in Vika, and in the eastern parts, making the tour of inspection, according to his usual custom. Having returned to Sarpsburg
"
74 The Bollnndists slate:
Sanctus annum Chrisli 1021, perpetuo pro- gressu per mediterraneas sibique succeden-
tes ordine —situquc provincias ab Acjuilone in
toricus, sect, v. , vi. , pp. 96 to 100.
e j This is stated to have been the year for
his decease, by Joannes Magnus, in "His- toria Gothonun," lib. xvii. , cap. xxiii. He is followed by Gi^lo and Suaning in their chronicles. The year 1024 is assigned by Messenius, in his Annotations to Yasto- \ius.
See lib. ii. , p. 31.
However, he seems not consistent in his subsequent account of our St. Olaf, when lie writes soon afterwards : "Rex Norvegice post mortem Schotta-
Mortuus konungh din supcrvixit. est veto
S. Olavus anno Domini mxxviii. "
-"
In this year, Torfeus places his death, relying on the Icelandic accounts, not alone in his " Historia Rcrum Norvegicarum," tomus iii. , HI), ii. , cap, xxiii. , pp. 108 to 112; but also, in his Notes to Yastovius, " Vilis
"
Series Dynastarum et Regum Daniae a Skioldo Odini Filio ad Gormum Grandsevum," lib. iii. , cap. x. , the same chronology has
Austrum. " "Acta Sanctorum,"
tenuis Julii xxix. De S. Olavo, Regc et Martyre, Ts'idrosice in Norvegia. Commentarius His-
6
places the death of Olave at the eighth year, alter giving his daughter Astrid in marriage.
Eric of Uptal prefers this date, for he
been observed,
-8 "
Ita clausit
vii. ,
Aquilonia," p. VJ. Moreover, in his
l! osch thus writes: Et supei vixisse quidem Olavo Succo Norvcgicum, docet
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 467
and Tonsbeig, in the spring of 1023, Olaf then sailed to the Island of Car-
9 men, towards the west, in the district of Stavangeiieen. ?
As serving to illustrate the wild actions of that age and country, while the king was guest' of the Chief Aulfnes, one of his villagers named Thorercame to complain, about an injury inflicted on him by a certain noble named Asbiorn. At this time, the king was seated at table, and Thorer gave a dubious account of the transaction, and, as in most cases, when a complaint is made, he mingled false with true statements ; however, Asbiorn, who had entered without the man's knowledge, having heard that public accusation, flew towards the accuser, who was near the king, and drawing his sword, with a stroke cut off Thorer's head. The king was justly indignant, at the perpe- tration of such an act. Immediately, he ordered the murderer to be appre- hended, and to be executed. It happened to be the Thursday after Easter, and the culprit being consigned to the keeping of one Thorarin, a near cousin named Skialg endeavoured to obtain pardon from the king, but in vain. The sentence passed was that Asbiorn should be crucified on that very night. But Skialg, having influenced Thorarin to evade this order, told the king how nocturnal executions were most reprehensible, so that the criminal had a
respiteuntilmorning. Thedayfollowing,Olafbeganhiscoursebyassist- ing at Mass, before he engaged at any other order of business ; and seeing Thorarin, he asked had the sun risen to show the punishment which was to be inflicted on their friend Asbiorn. Then Thorarin replied, that it was Friday, the day when the Omnipotent King suffered the greatest injuries, and with the meekest submission, so that it should be better to imitate him, than those wicked men, who had condemned Him to so cruel a death. This say- ing moved the king, who replied: ''Your request shall be granted, and to-day,Asbiornshallnotdie; however,guardhimcarefully,andattheperil of your own life, should he happen to escape. " Then the king entered the church. On the Saturday following, having assisted at Matins, the king was engaged longer than usual, in discussing matters at the provincial assembly, and then going to assist at Mass, he afterwards went to dinner. Then Thora- rin sought the bell-ringer, and persuaded him to ring the bronze bell for announcement of the coming Sunday's Festival,3° before the ordinary hour, and when the king rose from table. At that moment, Olaf had ordered his servants, to see that Asbiorn should be led to*execution ; but, suddenly, the bell pealed, and then Thorarin, taking advantage of the king's exact religious observances, prayed the execution to be deferred during that festive time. The king once more assented, and went to the church. When Sunday came, as Asbiorn now seemed to repent of his crime, so was he allowed by the Bishop to assist at the sacred ceremonies. Meantime, expecting what was to happen, Thorarin besought the king to release him from the disagreeable duty of being Asbiorn's keeper ; while Skialg instigated his father Erling, who was uncle to Asbiorn, that he should assemble his hosting, which
eliam Hist. Dan. , lib. 10 in Canuto Magno Saxo Grammaticus. Adamus contra Ere- mensis Hist. Eccl. , lib. 2, cap. 54, Norve- gico Suecum superstitem facit, saltern quin- quennio ; cum hunc obiisse asserat eodem tempore, quo Canutus Magnus finemvivendi fecit : et hunc sequitur Vastovius in Vite Aquilonia; imoetTheodricusNidrosiensis, ut patet turn ex cap. 16, turn maxime —ex cap. 18. Quid ergo hie ccrii statuas? "
Norvegia. Commentarius Historicus, sect.
vii. , num. 68, p. IOO.
29 Stavanger is a town and port of Nor-
way, and the capital of a bailiwick bearing a similar name, in the diocese of Chiistian- ? and, and on the south-west side of the Bukke Fiord. It has a good harbour. See "Gazetteer of the World," vol. xii. , p. 728.
s° As that should have been Dominica in Albis, so we may suppose, the bell sounded for the first Vespers of that Feast, and in the
"
De S. Olavo, Rege et Martyre. Nidroswe in
Acta Sanctorum," tomus vii. , Julii xxix.
468 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
amounted to 1,500 men-at-arms. These were instructed to rescue Asbiorn from his guards, and assembling at the church, they entered it in a tumul-
tuous manner. But, the king seemed alone undisturbed, for his soul was wholly filled with devout meditation. When the Holy Sacrifice was over, leaving the house of God, Olaf was accosted by Erling with a salute, which had something of menace conveyed, for armed retainers stood around and obedient to their chief's command. He demanded rather than asked the release of his nephew, and without death, mutilation or exile being inflicted on him. The courageous king looked at Erling defiantly, but the bishop fear- ing the result interfered, and persuaded Olaf to pardon the culprit, or at least to inflict a light punishment, so that he might not add Erling to the list of his
powerful foes.
That same spring, King Olaf visited Hordia*1 and Vorsia ; while learning
that Christianity was in a languishing condition in the district of Vangs, he there summoned a meeting. To this, the inhabitants went reluctantly, as also armed, for they desired to resist their monarch's wishes. When all had met, a riot seemed imminent, and both sides prepared for a battle. However, the rioters appear to have acted without concert or organization ; nor were they able to agree in their choice of a leader, for when that post was offered severally to the chiefs, all declined to accept it. It seems probable, they feared an encounter with the king's disciplined forces. Surrendering at dis- cretion, it was to be apprehended, their subsequent profession of Christianity could not have been a willing one ; but, as they received baptism, Olaf then departed. To Oster Fiord, in northern Harland, the king then went, and having gone on board his ships, sailing still more northwardly, he visited Songia, throughwhichhepassedduringthatsummer. Duringtheautumn,hewas in the Fiord of Songia. He moved round the lake by great journeys in Val-
dresia, which extended from the coast towards the valleys of Gudbrand ; and there, it seems, a popular commotion took place, while the inhabitants were still bitterly opposed to the introduction of the Christian religion among them. Hearingthatthekingwasnowapproaching,accordingtotheircus- tom when preparing for war, a weapon was sped around that district to men of all conditions and classes, so that the villages were deserted, and a great multitude rallied to the place of meeting indicated. When Olaf heard of these proceedings, knowing that their lands were now deprived of defenders, he allowed their forces to muster at one side of the Fiord, and then sailing with his ships to the other, he began to devastate their houses and farms. This action disconcerted the designs of his enemies ; for now, it was deemed necessary by many to return, so that they might defend their wives and chil- dren. However, their forces soon dispersed, while the king sailed across the strait and devastated the lands on the other side. He also blocked the mouthoftheFiord,andcapturedalltheirvessels. Soontheyacknowledged Olaf as their sovereign and law-giver. They submitted to his rule, and acceded to his wishes, by professing the Christian religion. They gave hos- tages, likewise, for their fidelity to the conditions he exacted from them.
For a considerable part of that autumn, the king remained there engaged in building and dedicating churches, as also in supplying them with pastors. Fearing his ships might be closed in by the ice, and distrusting the loyalty of those people living around the upper part of the Fiord, he next visited Thot-
nia. 32
There, extending
his excursions
through
the and even to the valleys,
afternoon previous to it.
el called Holland.
33 Not only have the Icelandic Manu- scripts such an account ; but even the Bishop Adam of Bremen, in " Historia Ecclesias- tica," lib. ii. , cap. lvii. , and the Annalist
32 This %vas a in the midland district,
part of Norway, and not far from Valdresia.
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 469
mountain ranges, he afterwards returned to spend the winter in Dron- theim, which was the chief seat of his government.
We must have observed, throughout the whole of this narrative, that Olaf
was a man of naturally strong impulses and passions, which were not always controlled, and which were sometimes ill-directed ; even, it is sad to state, that when he seemed most fervent and zealous to propagate Christianity, he had not the caution to reflect, that those who stand should take heed lest they fall. Among the female attendants on the queen was a certain noble lady, named Alfhild, remarkable for her great elegance of features and of figure, to whom the king became attached; and yielding to temptation, about this time, an intrigue resulted, which in due course led to the unhappy dis- closure, that she was with child. 33 Hence may be drawn the lesson, that it is not meet for the man, who desires to be continent, to behold the beauty
;
of every woman, or to tarry in her company 3 * for, much as discipline may
have composed the soul, and even sanctified it, yet the roots of concupiscence are not wholly eradicated from the human heart. This incident has been referred to the latter end of 1023, or to the beginning of 1024. From this illicit connexion sprung Magnus, the son of Olaf, by Alfhild, and he is said to have been so called, after the celebrated Emperor Charlemagne, yet with- out his father's wishes in the matter being consulted. At the time of his birth, Alfhild was almost in the agonies ordeath, and the infant newly-born seemed hardly to breathe, when a priest who had been sent for felt impelled to baptize the child at once, lest he might die on the instant. However, he feared to give a name, without knowing it from the father's own lips. One Signat, a poet, happened to be present, with some attendant women, and he took upon himself to give the name, stating he should hold himself responsi- ble for his act to the king.
In the year 1023, Greenland is stated to have become tributary to Olaf; but, afterwards, it refused to fulfil the obligations he imposed. 3$ In the year 1024, disregarding the former clemency extended towards him by King Olaf, Asbiorn manifested once more hostility and perfidy, when the monarch ordered him to be put to death. This sentence however excited great enmity against him, and especially among the followers of an uncle, named Erling.
Having brought most of the Norwegian chiefs to adopt Christianity, Olaf next laboured to convert the Greenlanders, Icelanders, and people living in the Faeroe Islands. During the summer, he sent an ambassador to Iceland, whichIslandreceivedhiscivilandcanonlaw. Therehehadatemplebuilt,
and afterwards he presented a large bell, which was long preserved in Iceland, as a venerated memorial of him. 36
When the spring was much advanced, Olaf sailed from Drontheim towards the south, and during that whole summer, he visited the maritime districts there. In the autumn, he went eastwardly, and revisited Vika. The winter Olaf spent in the Uplands, where he devised measures for the better estab- lishment of Christianity, and for supplying whatever might be needed for the due celebration of religious observances, while he reformed any abuses he there detected. 3? Hewasentertained,whereverhepassed,ataroundofbanquets; but these were not always an indication of friendly feelings or of genuine hos- pitality, on the part of many faithless chiefs. While in that district, also, he
Saxo Grammaticus, at A. D. 1059. 34Ecclesiasticus,xlii. 12.
33 See Arngrim Jonas.
36 The chronicle, from which Torfaeus took that account, stated it was extant in the time
of the. writer ; in the time of Torfseus, how- ever,ithadbeenremoved. See"Historia Rerum Norvegicarum," tomus iii. , lib. ii. ,
122.
37 See ibid. , p. 124.
cap. xxix. , p.
47o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
had the opportunity of giving in marriage Gunnhild, his step-sister, and the daughter of Sigurd Syr, as also his aunt on the mother's side, and who was
called Isrid. 38 He had another aunt on the mother's side, also, and she was named Thoruna, the mother of St. Hallvard. 3*
CHAPTER IV.
CANUTE, KING OF ENGLAND AND OF DENMARK, ASSERTS HIS CLAIM TO THE CROWN OF NORWAY—HE PREPARES TO INVADE THAT COUNTRY—PREPARATIONS OF OLAF, KING OF NORWAY, AND OF ANUND II. , KING OF SWEDEN, TO OPPOSE HIM— CANUTE EXPELS OLAF FROM NORWAY, AND OBLIGES HIM TO TAKE REFUGE IN SWEDEN—OLAF RETIRES INTO RUSSIA—HE IS AGAIN IMPELLED TO RETURN TO NORWAY ON HEARING OF HACON's DEATH—HE VISITS SWEDEN—AN EXPEDITION ORGANIZED THERE FOR THE INVASION OF NORWAY.
Meantime, the ambitious King of England and of Denmark, Canute, had long desired to extend his dominion by annexing Norway to his crown, 1 and he soon took occasion to frame a pretext. After Olaf had visited the Uplands, word was brought to Canute, respecting the reluctant subjection of their chiefs
totheKingofNorway. Itwasanopportunityhehadlongexpected. How- ever, while he had been absent in England, the Swedes caused much annoy- ance to his subjects in Denmark. 2 Thither Canute repaired with forty ships in 1 019, and he remained there all that winter. 3 He was accompanied by an armyofDanesandofEnglish; whenaftersomeengagementswiththeSwedes, in which he proved victorious, Canute returned to England the following year. 4 Although Canute had been baptized during his infancy, still he knew little regarding the doctrines of Christianity. 5 His ambition and desire to extend his conquests seem to have been insatiable. To further such an object, he now began to intrigue with the subjects of Olaf. 6 In the begin- ning of 1025, he sent ambassadors with letters to Olaf, in which were pre- ferredhisclaimstoNorway,byhereditaryright; while,itwasstated,hedid not desire war on this head, unless he were forced to it ; moreover, if Olaf desired to retain his royal title, it should be through favour of Canute, and on condition of his paying that tribute, which formerly, he had received from the petty kings of Norway. 7 Although many of his counsellors advised
Olaf, to make some sort of composition with the poAverful king, Canute; yet, the King of Norway refused, with reproachful terms to the ambassadors, and asking,ifCanute'spresentpossessionofEngland,ofDenmark,andofagreatpart of Scotland, ought not be enough to satisfy his ambition, while he declared,
38 See "Acta Sanctorum/' tomus vis.
,
* See Bartholomwi do Cotton Monachi
Norwicensis '• Historia edited Anglicana,"
xxix. De S. Olavo, et
Rege Martyre,
Julii
Nidrosfee in Norvegia. Commentarius His- by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. , pp.
toricus, sect, vii. , pp. 100 to 102.
39 His feast is celebrated, on the
14th
of
37, 38.
s See Rev. Dr. " of Lingard's History
England/' vol. i. , chap, vi. , p. 261.
6 See Leslie Stephens' "Dictionary of National Biography," Art. Canute or Cnut,
May.
CHAPTER IV. —* See Les Petits Bol-
landi->ies, "Vies des Saints," tome ix. , e
xxix Jour de Juillet, p. 121. 2""
See John Speed's History of Great Britaine," booke viii. , chap, iii. , p. 401.
3 See Benjamin Thorpe's translation of
vol. ix. ,p. 6.
7 See Heinskringla edr Noregs Ko-
the 125.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle,
vol.
ii. , p.
8 See Torfa. us' " Historia Rerum Norvc- gicarum," tomus iii. , lib.
