'°3 The whole structure is of
irregularly
coursed masonry.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
Muriartach, called bytheNorseaccountsMoriartak,cametohisassistance; whentheirunited forces took possession of Dublin, and a great part of the country.
Having set men to defend his conquests, Magnus spent the winter with King Muir- cheartech, in Connaught.
" But, in the following year, 1102, a hosting of the men of Ireland proceeded to Ath-cliath, to oppose the progress of the inva-
rs See the
"
Chronicon Manniae," at A. D.
Without any danger of miscalcula-
tion,
From the birth of Christ of reli- pure
gion,
Till the coming of Maghnus to Ire-
land. "
'' In the Chronologia postfixed to the "Kristui Saga," at A. D. 1102, we read "
Magni Regis Norveg. expeditio Irlandica," p. 182. This is more fully given in the Scan- dinavian than in tlie Irisli records,
1098.
'' See the "
Orkneyinga Saga,"
at A. D.
1095, pp. no to 113.
'' Called Melkoflf, in the Northern Chronic
cles.
'^ See I" Sagan of Hinum Helga Magnuse
Eya Jarle," cap. 8, pp. 456, 457.
'» See the "Chronicon Manniae," at 1098. '° See Hid.
'See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 970, 971, where
" A year about one hundred and a thou- sand,
an Irish stanza is thus translated
:
—
" See Samuel " Laing's
Heimskringla ; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway," vol.
iii. , Saga xi. , Magnus Barefoot's Saga, pp. 143, 144.
April i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. i8i
der. However,itwasagreed,thatatruceforoneyearshouldbeestablished,
between the men of Ireland and the Vi-King Magnus. ? * In conjunction
with Muircheartach, both kings invaded Ulster, where they fought many
battles, and subdued that part of the country. Afterwards, King Muirchear-
tach returned home to Connaught. Magnus rigged his ships, and prepared for his return for Norway, only waiting off the shores' of Ulster, to obtain cattle
which he intended to slaughter for provisions. '5 His son Siguard,'* still young, but enjoying the principality of the Orkneys, was contracted ^^ in marriage toadaughter? 'oftheKingofIreland. " HewasgiveninchargetoHaco, sonofPaul,theexiledEarlofOrkney. '" Besidesthispledgeoffamilycon-
fidence, or through interested motives. King Muircheartach gave the Vi-King
Magnus many jewels and gifts. '' In the year 1103, Magnus sailed in person, with sixteen galleys, to reconnoitre the northern coast. On this predatory
excursion, leaving his ships and impudently going on shore, he was slain by the Ulidians. '" This event happened on St. Bartholomew's Day, while Magnus and his warriors marched through mires, mosses and brushwood, to meet as they thought a herd of cattle, approaching through clouds of dust. Those beasts had been driven, by the men of Muircheartach, as he had arranged. Meantime, Magnus had been warned, by one of his chiefs,'^ to be- wareofanambush; andbothofthemwentforwardtoreconnoitre. ''' Theking wore a helmet ; he held a red shield, inlaid with a gilded lion ; he was girt with the sharp sword Legbiter, the hilt of which was ivory and the hand-grip wound about with gold thread. In his hand, he bore a short spear, and over his coat was a short cloak of red silk, having a lion embroidered in yellow silk, both before and behind. Among other men, he was distinguished for his commanding stature, and for a fine personal appearance. Eyvind had a red silk cloak like the king's, and he was also a stout, handsome, warlike man. However, on driving the cattle towards their ships, the Irish started up on every side from the bushy places, surrounding and attacking the scat- tered bands of Norsemen. 's At the command of their king, these gathered together and tried to effect a retreat, in good order, to their ships. But, the Ulidians pressed onwards, and shot boldly. Although they fell in crowds, there came always two in place of one. At the last ditch, Magnus tried to make a stand there with a party, "while one of his divisions passed over to defend it. But, his men began to fly, and the king was at first pierced with a spear, through both his thighs ; afterwards, he was struck in the neck, with anIrishbattle-axe,andthiswashisdeath-wound. Agreatnumberofthe Irish fell in this engagement, and much less of the Northmen, but, among these were many of very distinguished rank. '* Magnus Barefoot was buried
" See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp, 972, 973.
'5 See Samuel s " Laing
Heimskringla ; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway," vol.
in Norway the following year 1099. "
S. "Lives of the Baring-Gould's
vol. iv. , April 16, p. 214. 'SeeDr. O'Donovan's"Annalsofthe
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 972, 973.
iii. , Sagaxi. 1+4-
Magnus
Barefoot's
Saga, p.
'' In the Irish Annals, he is -
Sifc^AiTj.
called
*" He reigned over the Islands six years. "
"
'^ He is called Eyvind Olboge.
•* See an account of the death of King Magnus, in Thormod Torfaeus' " Historia Rerura Norvegicarum," tomus iii. , lib. vii,,
cap. ix. , pp. 443 to 446.
' See S. A. Dunham's "History of Den-
mark, Sweden and Norway," vol. ii. , Book
" The word used by Thormod Torfaeus is despondit. "
'• She b called Biadminia, or Hiadminia,
See ChroniconMannise,"p. 12.
a virgin, only five years old, while Sigurd was a boy of only nine years. See " Historia Rerum Norvegicarum," &c. , tomus iii. , lib. vii. , cap. ix. , p. 424.
" By some writers, it is said, she was ii. , chap, ii. , p. 267. ""
daughter to the King of Connaught. See Samuel Laing's Heimskringla J
*" " The two earls, Paul and Erlendr, died
—Rev. Saints,"
i82
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i6.
in the church of St. Patrick, at Cluain. ^' The Norwegians, who escaped to their vessels, sailed for the Orkney Islands ^^ The ° ^ "
and
called Erlingr, or Erlend, fell in this battle,^^
father Erlind, and an uncle, called Haco, had died m Norway.
Sigurd heard that his father Magnus had fallen '"battle, leaving King'sdaughterbehind,hesetoffimmediatelywiththewholefleet and thatautumn,inNorway. 9" Hiscousin,Haco,seizedtheMa^dsoOrkney
and he obtained the title of Earl, from King
who ruled his subjects, in a despotic manner. Whereupon, Magnus
lected a large force, to assert his rights for a joint ^^^^^f'g^/y'^^a^sim^"~S for Caithness. The islanders hailedh. s supremacy with enthus
left the shores of Caithness, and complained to h. s overlord E>stein TMhaegn^mhse was restored to his father's half of Orkney, Haco being afraid to contest his claim, by force. The supreme king confirmed such an arrangement, and
conferred on Magnus the dignity of an Earl. For some ^he cousms y^^'f. ' divisions
agreed to reign conjointly, and in peace, over their respective
T^eir forces were combined, to beat off and kill a common the pirate
Dufniall. 9' According to Dempster, St. Magnus wrote /oe.
"fdthOsrcisa^^nos but. there is every reason to suppose, simply
on a visit, to the English court of king Henry ^ During this absence of Magnus, Haco seized all the Orkney IsLands. as also Caithness, on the mainland of Scotland. A tempoi-ary
; for e^d anenviousdispositionwerereadyagents,toexcitetheill-willofHako ^A^l^t^^e^r^ some time, dissensions broke out again, and Hako had recourse to a miser- able act of treachery, in the year mo. To adjust their differences, it was
arranged, that both belligerents should meet in Eg. lshay,^. to ratify a cove,
nant of This is one of the Orkney Islands, and it lies about mile peace. ^x it
Monita Salutaria. " Lib. i.
r
The virtues of Magnus, the love ^oine him by the
an
Orkneyln subjects, with a growing envy and ambition,
Hako to lend a ready ear to those, who sought to stir up stnle. 93 An oppor
unsupported
fiction.
induced the PerM ous tunity was presented, when the unsuspecting Magnus who married a boots
had woman. 94 gone
'
named Beauclerc. 95
arrangement was made
;
but. it did not long continue
c^'i^nf
southofWestray. 9« Itisabouttwomileslong,andonemilembreadth,
or Chronicle of the Kings of Norway,'"^ ^Bj^l^rm, perhaps
"^ '°^,"f;;
^"'''"'' '"'^ ''
'^? ; See h"^ 'Chronicon Manniae," under native of Scotland, and of Scottish race a.
'"•
. ,
'^d^ it foTr
. J'a
dist neuished
''-y|:: Samuel Laing's-Heimskringla; "
or,Chr'onrcleoftheK^gsofNorway, vol. iu. . Saga xi. Magnus Barefoofs Saga, p.
"*^' Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish
parents
o St. Magnus had mduced h. m to
^4ord^s"£? ;es^f^rheta-nts. ''voi. iv. ,Apfd ^:^i^ft^. '^:^t:^^^
-^g".
'Vsee'lamuerilg's<'Heimskrignla;or. Chronicle of the Kings of Norway," vol. iii. . °f Sagaxi. Magnus Uarefoofs Saga, p. 147-
^^TI' ^'" ^^"n'llrju 'lol"o^^^^
^"gl^"^' ^? n {-^. vtLa s'Sa^" at A. D. ''See the "Orkneymga Saga,
"' ^:iZl' ai6'"^
""Vh^e Brevlarl"
of Abereeen styles it
poses,
paga:! Norwegians.
'«, *^^:::'°;^:0'^^J' lished A. D. 1805, Edinburgh, 4to.
^ti iv^K^fP
b>;°"^^[to t^. s tMiame|nuhis previous When King
But, Haco was a
Sigurd^ St- tyrcaonl
^"'^
rto uuitrx^^iLrrrrfTrrgV:
from a woman of INormman descend Cameranus remarks, that the
^^^ fjf^^^^^j'^T,^ ^::t^C:^T. . told, he renounced the world, and led a reli-
" siveEcclesi. Insula, Lee. ,. 1 sia^iica Gentis Eglissei ';
thatHakoandhisfoUowerswere M? PP-^-'i
'
*'4ee nto^U; ^^
Scotorum," tomus U. . lib. xii. . nu. . 855. p.
« The Rev. Alban Butler incorrectly sup- num. xxiv. , p. 61 Its site °" *(=
^:^-^-,,^:S! ^^XoV ^S
die Irih TMd
i^*^'"'''P"''
«"[;
Apkil 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 183
was chosen, as a place of residence, by some of the ancient Counts "» and Bishops of Orkney,"" while a church was there, at the time of our narrative. Whether it was identical, with the unique towered one there at present, may be questioned. This consists of nave and chancel,'"' but it differs from all other known churches in Scotland, a Round Tower "" on tothe west
by having joined
end of the nave.
'°3 The whole structure is of irregularly coursed masonry. '"* There is nothing in the material or character of the tower '"s to suggest, that it had not been built, at a period corresponding with that of the church. "* The upper story of the tower had four windows,'"? facing the cardinal points.
Egilshay Oiiirch and Round Tower, Scotland.
The tower is built of smaller stones,"* than these used in the construction of the church, and access to it is obtained, through a round-headed doorway, opening through the west gable of the nave. '"* The chancel "" has no proper
•* The DoogUssesand Montdths were sub-
lequently iti proprieton. See ibib.
""See Robert Forsyth'* "Beauties of
Scotland,"&c. , vol. v. , Islands, Orkney p.
45, Edinburgh, 8vo, 1805 to 1808, $ vols. " Hibbert gives an engraving from an old
drawing, which represents both church and tower, as covered by stone roofs, that of the Round Tower having a conical cap, like to the Round Towers of Ireland.
'"*
This is a perfect type of the Irish Round Tower, and it may have been built, by Irish ecclesiastics, iamiliar with the archi- tecture of such structures.
"^ The accompanying illustration has been drawn by William K. Wakeman, from one in Joseph Andrews' work, " Scotland in Early Christian Times," Lecture ii. , p. 36. First Series, Edinburgh, 1881, 8vo. It has bees engraved by Mrs. Millard.
'^Generally speaking, the stones are of irregular size, but some are 4 feet long, by 18 inches deep.
'"S Its is 48 feet, but about present height
15 feet of its original height was removed
many years ago, so that it must have been, at least, 60 feet high. The internal diameter of this tower is 7 fcet ; and, at the base, the thickness of the wall is 3J feet.
** A ground plan of this is given, in Muir's "Caithness and Orkney. "
"^ Below these, there is a narrow square-
topped window, in the east side, and straight
below it, there is a semi-circularly-hcaded window, of small dimensions.
"* These are unhewn, and fitted to the round, by their length.
"9 The nave itself is 29 feet, 9 inches, long,
by 15 feet, 6 inches, in breadth, internally; while the walU are about 3 feet, in thickness.
i84 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i6.
arch, and the end of its vault opened directly from the nave. Not dreaming
of treachery, on the day, before that appointed for the meeting, St. Magnus, preparing two long vessels,'" sailed for Egilshay, with a calm sea, and a cloud-
Nevertheless, on entering the boat, he stumbled, and immediately
not wishing to participate in an act of perfidy, one of his crew leaped over board, and swam to the nearest land. When he had reached Egilshay, Hako surroundedthechurch. ThenMagnuswentoutside,butfoundhimselfinthe midst of foes. Magnus had passed the night, in prayer ; and, early on the next morning, he devoutly received the Blessed Eucharist, while forecasting hisapproachingdoom. Theclansmen,whowerethere,insistedonthedis- advantages of a divided earldom. For some time, a parley was maintained, between the cousins. Magnus offered some humiliating proposals, to save his life; but, the wicked followers of Hako would not admit of compromise. " Then Hako ordered the standard-bearer "s to strike his helpless cousin. That man nobly refused, however, to become the executioner. Hako next
less sky.
he
said,
church, on Eglishay, and he prayed there. Next morning, he heard Mass in it. '" Instead of two vessels, as agreed upon, the treacherous Haco brought seven or eight, with a vastly greater number of armed attendants, than were warranted, by the terms of their convention. "3 Knowing Hako's purpose, and
" I fear this is an omen of a fatal fall. On he visited the landing,
desired one "* of his servants, to deal the fatal stroke ;
still, this man
" the
Mangus,
guilt is not thine ; and remember, my clothes become thy perquisite. " The Earl was then led apart to that spot, destined for his execution. With great courage, Magnus faced the executioner. "Stand before nie," he cried, "and strikeatmewithallthymight; itbeseemethnotaprincetobebeheadedlikea thief. "' Hethenblessedhimself. Beforethesecondblowwasgiventothe unfortunate Earl, he fell dead,"^ a victim to the barbarity of his unnatural relative. With his usual incorrect ideas, Dempster states, that St. Magnus suffered martyrdom, at the hands of wicked pagans,"' and when the Orkney Islands had lapsed again into the state of gentileism. "" Various are the years assigned, for this martyrdom of St. Magnus. While some accounts have
and he burst into tears. " Do not be said hesitated, afraid,"
"
It has two doorways, opposite each other, in Andrews' Scotland in Early Christian
the north and south walls, near the west
end. Theyaresemi-circularly-headed,each being 2 feet, 6 inches, wide. It has two windows, one in the north, and the other in the side wall : those are semi-circularly- headed, and widely splayed, on the interior. Besides these, there are two other windows,
on the south side, and these, apparently, are not very ancient.
"° It was roofed with a plain barrel vault ; and, its dimensions are 15 feet, by 9 feet, 6 inches, while the walls are about 2 feet, 9 inches, in thickness. There is no window, in the west end ; but, in the north wall, there is a small round-headed window, opening im- mediately under the impost of the vault. It is of the same character as those in the nave, and in the south wall there is a like window
Over the vault of the chan- eel was a chamber, to which access from the nave was given, by a round-headed doorway,
6 feet, inches, 2 2
4 high, by feet, inches,
Palladio et — commendo Servano, meipsum
et
similarly placed.
wide. The chamber was lighted by a flat-
headed window, 18 inches high, and this was
placed, in the east gable. See Joseph the Scottish Breviary.
Times. " Lecture ii. , pp. 34 to 37.
"AccordingtotheBreviaryofAberdeen, Lect. iii.
'" "
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's Lives of
the Saints," vol. iv. , April 16, p. 216.
"^ The Breviary of Aberdeen is authority for this statement. Lect. iii.
"* See " Sagan of Hinum Helga Magnuse Eya Jarle," cap. 24, pp. 494 to 499. To the writer of this work, the foregoing particulars were more fully detailed, by one Holdbod, who was present.
"5 On the same authority, he is called
Ofeyg, in cap. 25,
""' He is called Lifolf.
"' Quoting an ancient Chronicle, Camera- rius gives a different version of his dying
words
:
" Domine Jesu, tibi, S. Marise, SS.
gregemmeum. *' "MftlologiumScotorum," at the l6th of April .
"° See Forbes' " Kalendars of Bishop
Scottish Saints," p. 385.
"' This he foolishly states, although citing
April i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 185
it so early as 1104,"' 1106,'" iio9,"3j others again defer it to mo. "'* The Saga of St. Magnus states, that he died on the second day,"5 after the feast of Saints Tibiirtius and Valerian,"* and three weeks, after the festival of the Annunciation. But, the Orkneyinga Saga tells us, that he died two days, after the feast of St. Tiburtius, when himself and Hako had jointly ruled the Orkneys for seven years. "? He lived, in the year 1109, according to
ditions to Usuard's Martyrology, in Canisius, in Molanus, in Galesinius, in Ferarius, in David Camerarius, and in the works of other Kalendarists. '^ In the first instance, his body was buried in Egilshay. The church, dedicated to St. Magnus, is said to have been built, on that very spot, where the unjust andcruelmurderoftheholymantookplace;'3' and,it hasbeenidentified, with that one, to which the high and tapering round tower was attached. '^' An adventurous and a turbulent race were the inhabitants of the Orkney Is-
lands, and constantly engaged in predatory expeditions. During many a wretched age,'33 their Scandinarian settlers domineered over the Hebride
islanders, and yielded little subjection to any ruler, or obedience to any government. '3< Aftermuchentreaty,themotherofSt. Magnus,namedThora, had the remains of her martyred son removed to Christ Church, Bersa. 'JS A sister's son, named Ronald, avenged the death of his uncle, against the son of Hacon, who held for a time, after the father's death, his cousin's portionoftheprincipalityoftheOrkneys. Ronaldhadmadeavow,thatif successful against his rival, a splendid fane should be erected over the martyr's ashes ; but, when, in fine, some plots and contentions enabled him to become possessed of the whole Earldom, he resolved on the fulfilment of his resolution. '36 Finally, the body of St. Magnus was removed to Kirkwall, the chief metropolis of the Orkney Islands, and there his massive Cathedral of fine proportions is now to be seen. Its present length, on the outside, is 226 feet ; its breadth is 5-6 ; the height of the main roof is 71 feet ; and from the level of the floor to the top of the steeple, it is 133 feet. However, the
present spire is merely a plain pyramidical roof, and it is only a paltry substi- tuteforanelegantspire,whichwasdestroyedbylightning,ini67o. '37 The original style of this Cathedral is of the most ornate Irish-Romanesque
Dempster,
held,
'"See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xii. , num. 855,
pp. 454. 455.
"'In his " Menologium Scoticum," he has the feast of St. Magnus, at the 6th of
September, evidently confounding the pre- sent saint, with another bearing a like name.
'"
and to Rev. Alban Butler.
"3 The second day of the week did not
fall on the i6th of April, in a. d. 1104 or
the Saints," vol. iv. , April i6, p. 216.
According to the Aberdeen Breviary
" According to Bishop Challenor, Bollandists, and the Petits Bollandistes.
'^o " See the Bollandists'
on the i6th of '^^ he has April, although
and his festival was
it,atadifferentday,inanotherwork. "9 This,too,isthedateassignedfor it,'in the Breviary ofAberdeen, in the Manuscript of Florarius, in Greven's ad-
1 ftsthe Bollandists remark. 109,
438.
'3' See Rev.
" of History
states, that " anno Domini millesimo centesimo quarto, —sextodecimo
KalendasMaii,feriasecunda. " Lectv.
'"
This should be April 14.
"7 The year of his death was 1 1 10, accord-
ingto that Saga. See pp. 122 to 135.
his took Martyrdom
Blaviana," p. 159.
'33
in Nova
"*
See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
SeeTorfaeus,inreferencetotheOrca- des, chap. ii.
'3< See George Chalmers' "Caledonia," vol. i. . Book ii. , chap, iv. , p. 263.
'35SeeRobertWilliamBillings"Baronial and Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Scotland. " vol. iii. , after plates, 42 to 47, p. 2,
Breviary place
According
Geographia Descriptio Orcadum,
Scotorum," tomus ii, lib. xii. , num. 855, p. 455-
the
Acta Sancto- rum," tomus ii. , April xvi. De Sancto Magno, &c. Proemium, num. 2, I3, 4, p.
George Barry's
"* See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of the Orkney Islands," &c. , Book i. , chap,
"5 The Aberdeen
"' to the " Scotiae
ii. , num. xxiv. , p. 61.
1 86 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i6.
character, as the arches, windows, corbels, and tracery, abundantly demon- strate. At a latter time, some additions and restorations are worked o^'> ''^
Sometime before the middle
a Gothic style, incongruous, yet imposing. 'ss
of the twelfth century,'39 Ronald, Count of Orkney, founded this magnifi- cent church, in honour of his uncle, St. Magnus,|to whom it was dedicated. """ While this fine structure shows a pious industry, in the execution ; its design is bold and majestic, for the period and the place. 'ti The ground-plan pre- sents an appearance of great regularity, and the building is cruciform. ''*' The Breviary of Aberdeen assigns to the Festival of St. Magnus two special hymns, which recount some of his miracles. Provision is made, likewise, for the anniversary celebration, both of his passion and of his translation. On the west coast of the Shetland main-shore, St. Magnus' Bay was called after this holy man. He was regarded, as the chief Patron Saint of the Orkney Islands,'" BeforethegreatbattleofBannockburn,KingRobertBruceis said to have seen in a vision St. Magnus, who promised him a splendid vic- tory. "'tt At the time of the Reformation, some of his relics were carried away
Another
from Kirkwall. In part, these were deposited at Aix-la-Chapelle.
of St. Magnus' relics '45_a portion of the shoulder—was preserved, in the Metropolitan Church of St. Vitus, at Prague. Another festival has been assigned to St. Magnus, at the 19th of August. '+« Injustice and treachery had a partial triumph in the death of this noble and holy prince, but these opened for him the ultimate crown, awaiting the martyrs of Christ.
rs See the
"
Chronicon Manniae," at A. D.
Without any danger of miscalcula-
tion,
From the birth of Christ of reli- pure
gion,
Till the coming of Maghnus to Ire-
land. "
'' In the Chronologia postfixed to the "Kristui Saga," at A. D. 1102, we read "
Magni Regis Norveg. expeditio Irlandica," p. 182. This is more fully given in the Scan- dinavian than in tlie Irisli records,
1098.
'' See the "
Orkneyinga Saga,"
at A. D.
1095, pp. no to 113.
'' Called Melkoflf, in the Northern Chronic
cles.
'^ See I" Sagan of Hinum Helga Magnuse
Eya Jarle," cap. 8, pp. 456, 457.
'» See the "Chronicon Manniae," at 1098. '° See Hid.
'See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 970, 971, where
" A year about one hundred and a thou- sand,
an Irish stanza is thus translated
:
—
" See Samuel " Laing's
Heimskringla ; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway," vol.
iii. , Saga xi. , Magnus Barefoot's Saga, pp. 143, 144.
April i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. i8i
der. However,itwasagreed,thatatruceforoneyearshouldbeestablished,
between the men of Ireland and the Vi-King Magnus. ? * In conjunction
with Muircheartach, both kings invaded Ulster, where they fought many
battles, and subdued that part of the country. Afterwards, King Muirchear-
tach returned home to Connaught. Magnus rigged his ships, and prepared for his return for Norway, only waiting off the shores' of Ulster, to obtain cattle
which he intended to slaughter for provisions. '5 His son Siguard,'* still young, but enjoying the principality of the Orkneys, was contracted ^^ in marriage toadaughter? 'oftheKingofIreland. " HewasgiveninchargetoHaco, sonofPaul,theexiledEarlofOrkney. '" Besidesthispledgeoffamilycon-
fidence, or through interested motives. King Muircheartach gave the Vi-King
Magnus many jewels and gifts. '' In the year 1103, Magnus sailed in person, with sixteen galleys, to reconnoitre the northern coast. On this predatory
excursion, leaving his ships and impudently going on shore, he was slain by the Ulidians. '" This event happened on St. Bartholomew's Day, while Magnus and his warriors marched through mires, mosses and brushwood, to meet as they thought a herd of cattle, approaching through clouds of dust. Those beasts had been driven, by the men of Muircheartach, as he had arranged. Meantime, Magnus had been warned, by one of his chiefs,'^ to be- wareofanambush; andbothofthemwentforwardtoreconnoitre. ''' Theking wore a helmet ; he held a red shield, inlaid with a gilded lion ; he was girt with the sharp sword Legbiter, the hilt of which was ivory and the hand-grip wound about with gold thread. In his hand, he bore a short spear, and over his coat was a short cloak of red silk, having a lion embroidered in yellow silk, both before and behind. Among other men, he was distinguished for his commanding stature, and for a fine personal appearance. Eyvind had a red silk cloak like the king's, and he was also a stout, handsome, warlike man. However, on driving the cattle towards their ships, the Irish started up on every side from the bushy places, surrounding and attacking the scat- tered bands of Norsemen. 's At the command of their king, these gathered together and tried to effect a retreat, in good order, to their ships. But, the Ulidians pressed onwards, and shot boldly. Although they fell in crowds, there came always two in place of one. At the last ditch, Magnus tried to make a stand there with a party, "while one of his divisions passed over to defend it. But, his men began to fly, and the king was at first pierced with a spear, through both his thighs ; afterwards, he was struck in the neck, with anIrishbattle-axe,andthiswashisdeath-wound. Agreatnumberofthe Irish fell in this engagement, and much less of the Northmen, but, among these were many of very distinguished rank. '* Magnus Barefoot was buried
" See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp, 972, 973.
'5 See Samuel s " Laing
Heimskringla ; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway," vol.
in Norway the following year 1099. "
S. "Lives of the Baring-Gould's
vol. iv. , April 16, p. 214. 'SeeDr. O'Donovan's"Annalsofthe
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 972, 973.
iii. , Sagaxi. 1+4-
Magnus
Barefoot's
Saga, p.
'' In the Irish Annals, he is -
Sifc^AiTj.
called
*" He reigned over the Islands six years. "
"
'^ He is called Eyvind Olboge.
•* See an account of the death of King Magnus, in Thormod Torfaeus' " Historia Rerura Norvegicarum," tomus iii. , lib. vii,,
cap. ix. , pp. 443 to 446.
' See S. A. Dunham's "History of Den-
mark, Sweden and Norway," vol. ii. , Book
" The word used by Thormod Torfaeus is despondit. "
'• She b called Biadminia, or Hiadminia,
See ChroniconMannise,"p. 12.
a virgin, only five years old, while Sigurd was a boy of only nine years. See " Historia Rerum Norvegicarum," &c. , tomus iii. , lib. vii. , cap. ix. , p. 424.
" By some writers, it is said, she was ii. , chap, ii. , p. 267. ""
daughter to the King of Connaught. See Samuel Laing's Heimskringla J
*" " The two earls, Paul and Erlendr, died
—Rev. Saints,"
i82
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i6.
in the church of St. Patrick, at Cluain. ^' The Norwegians, who escaped to their vessels, sailed for the Orkney Islands ^^ The ° ^ "
and
called Erlingr, or Erlend, fell in this battle,^^
father Erlind, and an uncle, called Haco, had died m Norway.
Sigurd heard that his father Magnus had fallen '"battle, leaving King'sdaughterbehind,hesetoffimmediatelywiththewholefleet and thatautumn,inNorway. 9" Hiscousin,Haco,seizedtheMa^dsoOrkney
and he obtained the title of Earl, from King
who ruled his subjects, in a despotic manner. Whereupon, Magnus
lected a large force, to assert his rights for a joint ^^^^^f'g^/y'^^a^sim^"~S for Caithness. The islanders hailedh. s supremacy with enthus
left the shores of Caithness, and complained to h. s overlord E>stein TMhaegn^mhse was restored to his father's half of Orkney, Haco being afraid to contest his claim, by force. The supreme king confirmed such an arrangement, and
conferred on Magnus the dignity of an Earl. For some ^he cousms y^^'f. ' divisions
agreed to reign conjointly, and in peace, over their respective
T^eir forces were combined, to beat off and kill a common the pirate
Dufniall. 9' According to Dempster, St. Magnus wrote /oe.
"fdthOsrcisa^^nos but. there is every reason to suppose, simply
on a visit, to the English court of king Henry ^ During this absence of Magnus, Haco seized all the Orkney IsLands. as also Caithness, on the mainland of Scotland. A tempoi-ary
; for e^d anenviousdispositionwerereadyagents,toexcitetheill-willofHako ^A^l^t^^e^r^ some time, dissensions broke out again, and Hako had recourse to a miser- able act of treachery, in the year mo. To adjust their differences, it was
arranged, that both belligerents should meet in Eg. lshay,^. to ratify a cove,
nant of This is one of the Orkney Islands, and it lies about mile peace. ^x it
Monita Salutaria. " Lib. i.
r
The virtues of Magnus, the love ^oine him by the
an
Orkneyln subjects, with a growing envy and ambition,
Hako to lend a ready ear to those, who sought to stir up stnle. 93 An oppor
unsupported
fiction.
induced the PerM ous tunity was presented, when the unsuspecting Magnus who married a boots
had woman. 94 gone
'
named Beauclerc. 95
arrangement was made
;
but. it did not long continue
c^'i^nf
southofWestray. 9« Itisabouttwomileslong,andonemilembreadth,
or Chronicle of the Kings of Norway,'"^ ^Bj^l^rm, perhaps
"^ '°^,"f;;
^"'''"'' '"'^ ''
'^? ; See h"^ 'Chronicon Manniae," under native of Scotland, and of Scottish race a.
'"•
. ,
'^d^ it foTr
. J'a
dist neuished
''-y|:: Samuel Laing's-Heimskringla; "
or,Chr'onrcleoftheK^gsofNorway, vol. iu. . Saga xi. Magnus Barefoofs Saga, p.
"*^' Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish
parents
o St. Magnus had mduced h. m to
^4ord^s"£? ;es^f^rheta-nts. ''voi. iv. ,Apfd ^:^i^ft^. '^:^t:^^^
-^g".
'Vsee'lamuerilg's<'Heimskrignla;or. Chronicle of the Kings of Norway," vol. iii. . °f Sagaxi. Magnus Uarefoofs Saga, p. 147-
^^TI' ^'" ^^"n'llrju 'lol"o^^^^
^"gl^"^' ^? n {-^. vtLa s'Sa^" at A. D. ''See the "Orkneymga Saga,
"' ^:iZl' ai6'"^
""Vh^e Brevlarl"
of Abereeen styles it
poses,
paga:! Norwegians.
'«, *^^:::'°;^:0'^^J' lished A. D. 1805, Edinburgh, 4to.
^ti iv^K^fP
b>;°"^^[to t^. s tMiame|nuhis previous When King
But, Haco was a
Sigurd^ St- tyrcaonl
^"'^
rto uuitrx^^iLrrrrfTrrgV:
from a woman of INormman descend Cameranus remarks, that the
^^^ fjf^^^^^j'^T,^ ^::t^C:^T. . told, he renounced the world, and led a reli-
" siveEcclesi. Insula, Lee. ,. 1 sia^iica Gentis Eglissei ';
thatHakoandhisfoUowerswere M? PP-^-'i
'
*'4ee nto^U; ^^
Scotorum," tomus U. . lib. xii. . nu. . 855. p.
« The Rev. Alban Butler incorrectly sup- num. xxiv. , p. 61 Its site °" *(=
^:^-^-,,^:S! ^^XoV ^S
die Irih TMd
i^*^'"'''P"''
«"[;
Apkil 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 183
was chosen, as a place of residence, by some of the ancient Counts "» and Bishops of Orkney,"" while a church was there, at the time of our narrative. Whether it was identical, with the unique towered one there at present, may be questioned. This consists of nave and chancel,'"' but it differs from all other known churches in Scotland, a Round Tower "" on tothe west
by having joined
end of the nave.
'°3 The whole structure is of irregularly coursed masonry. '"* There is nothing in the material or character of the tower '"s to suggest, that it had not been built, at a period corresponding with that of the church. "* The upper story of the tower had four windows,'"? facing the cardinal points.
Egilshay Oiiirch and Round Tower, Scotland.
The tower is built of smaller stones,"* than these used in the construction of the church, and access to it is obtained, through a round-headed doorway, opening through the west gable of the nave. '"* The chancel "" has no proper
•* The DoogUssesand Montdths were sub-
lequently iti proprieton. See ibib.
""See Robert Forsyth'* "Beauties of
Scotland,"&c. , vol. v. , Islands, Orkney p.
45, Edinburgh, 8vo, 1805 to 1808, $ vols. " Hibbert gives an engraving from an old
drawing, which represents both church and tower, as covered by stone roofs, that of the Round Tower having a conical cap, like to the Round Towers of Ireland.
'"*
This is a perfect type of the Irish Round Tower, and it may have been built, by Irish ecclesiastics, iamiliar with the archi- tecture of such structures.
"^ The accompanying illustration has been drawn by William K. Wakeman, from one in Joseph Andrews' work, " Scotland in Early Christian Times," Lecture ii. , p. 36. First Series, Edinburgh, 1881, 8vo. It has bees engraved by Mrs. Millard.
'^Generally speaking, the stones are of irregular size, but some are 4 feet long, by 18 inches deep.
'"S Its is 48 feet, but about present height
15 feet of its original height was removed
many years ago, so that it must have been, at least, 60 feet high. The internal diameter of this tower is 7 fcet ; and, at the base, the thickness of the wall is 3J feet.
** A ground plan of this is given, in Muir's "Caithness and Orkney. "
"^ Below these, there is a narrow square-
topped window, in the east side, and straight
below it, there is a semi-circularly-hcaded window, of small dimensions.
"* These are unhewn, and fitted to the round, by their length.
"9 The nave itself is 29 feet, 9 inches, long,
by 15 feet, 6 inches, in breadth, internally; while the walU are about 3 feet, in thickness.
i84 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i6.
arch, and the end of its vault opened directly from the nave. Not dreaming
of treachery, on the day, before that appointed for the meeting, St. Magnus, preparing two long vessels,'" sailed for Egilshay, with a calm sea, and a cloud-
Nevertheless, on entering the boat, he stumbled, and immediately
not wishing to participate in an act of perfidy, one of his crew leaped over board, and swam to the nearest land. When he had reached Egilshay, Hako surroundedthechurch. ThenMagnuswentoutside,butfoundhimselfinthe midst of foes. Magnus had passed the night, in prayer ; and, early on the next morning, he devoutly received the Blessed Eucharist, while forecasting hisapproachingdoom. Theclansmen,whowerethere,insistedonthedis- advantages of a divided earldom. For some time, a parley was maintained, between the cousins. Magnus offered some humiliating proposals, to save his life; but, the wicked followers of Hako would not admit of compromise. " Then Hako ordered the standard-bearer "s to strike his helpless cousin. That man nobly refused, however, to become the executioner. Hako next
less sky.
he
said,
church, on Eglishay, and he prayed there. Next morning, he heard Mass in it. '" Instead of two vessels, as agreed upon, the treacherous Haco brought seven or eight, with a vastly greater number of armed attendants, than were warranted, by the terms of their convention. "3 Knowing Hako's purpose, and
" I fear this is an omen of a fatal fall. On he visited the landing,
desired one "* of his servants, to deal the fatal stroke ;
still, this man
" the
Mangus,
guilt is not thine ; and remember, my clothes become thy perquisite. " The Earl was then led apart to that spot, destined for his execution. With great courage, Magnus faced the executioner. "Stand before nie," he cried, "and strikeatmewithallthymight; itbeseemethnotaprincetobebeheadedlikea thief. "' Hethenblessedhimself. Beforethesecondblowwasgiventothe unfortunate Earl, he fell dead,"^ a victim to the barbarity of his unnatural relative. With his usual incorrect ideas, Dempster states, that St. Magnus suffered martyrdom, at the hands of wicked pagans,"' and when the Orkney Islands had lapsed again into the state of gentileism. "" Various are the years assigned, for this martyrdom of St. Magnus. While some accounts have
and he burst into tears. " Do not be said hesitated, afraid,"
"
It has two doorways, opposite each other, in Andrews' Scotland in Early Christian
the north and south walls, near the west
end. Theyaresemi-circularly-headed,each being 2 feet, 6 inches, wide. It has two windows, one in the north, and the other in the side wall : those are semi-circularly- headed, and widely splayed, on the interior. Besides these, there are two other windows,
on the south side, and these, apparently, are not very ancient.
"° It was roofed with a plain barrel vault ; and, its dimensions are 15 feet, by 9 feet, 6 inches, while the walls are about 2 feet, 9 inches, in thickness. There is no window, in the west end ; but, in the north wall, there is a small round-headed window, opening im- mediately under the impost of the vault. It is of the same character as those in the nave, and in the south wall there is a like window
Over the vault of the chan- eel was a chamber, to which access from the nave was given, by a round-headed doorway,
6 feet, inches, 2 2
4 high, by feet, inches,
Palladio et — commendo Servano, meipsum
et
similarly placed.
wide. The chamber was lighted by a flat-
headed window, 18 inches high, and this was
placed, in the east gable. See Joseph the Scottish Breviary.
Times. " Lecture ii. , pp. 34 to 37.
"AccordingtotheBreviaryofAberdeen, Lect. iii.
'" "
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's Lives of
the Saints," vol. iv. , April 16, p. 216.
"^ The Breviary of Aberdeen is authority for this statement. Lect. iii.
"* See " Sagan of Hinum Helga Magnuse Eya Jarle," cap. 24, pp. 494 to 499. To the writer of this work, the foregoing particulars were more fully detailed, by one Holdbod, who was present.
"5 On the same authority, he is called
Ofeyg, in cap. 25,
""' He is called Lifolf.
"' Quoting an ancient Chronicle, Camera- rius gives a different version of his dying
words
:
" Domine Jesu, tibi, S. Marise, SS.
gregemmeum. *' "MftlologiumScotorum," at the l6th of April .
"° See Forbes' " Kalendars of Bishop
Scottish Saints," p. 385.
"' This he foolishly states, although citing
April i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 185
it so early as 1104,"' 1106,'" iio9,"3j others again defer it to mo. "'* The Saga of St. Magnus states, that he died on the second day,"5 after the feast of Saints Tibiirtius and Valerian,"* and three weeks, after the festival of the Annunciation. But, the Orkneyinga Saga tells us, that he died two days, after the feast of St. Tiburtius, when himself and Hako had jointly ruled the Orkneys for seven years. "? He lived, in the year 1109, according to
ditions to Usuard's Martyrology, in Canisius, in Molanus, in Galesinius, in Ferarius, in David Camerarius, and in the works of other Kalendarists. '^ In the first instance, his body was buried in Egilshay. The church, dedicated to St. Magnus, is said to have been built, on that very spot, where the unjust andcruelmurderoftheholymantookplace;'3' and,it hasbeenidentified, with that one, to which the high and tapering round tower was attached. '^' An adventurous and a turbulent race were the inhabitants of the Orkney Is-
lands, and constantly engaged in predatory expeditions. During many a wretched age,'33 their Scandinarian settlers domineered over the Hebride
islanders, and yielded little subjection to any ruler, or obedience to any government. '3< Aftermuchentreaty,themotherofSt. Magnus,namedThora, had the remains of her martyred son removed to Christ Church, Bersa. 'JS A sister's son, named Ronald, avenged the death of his uncle, against the son of Hacon, who held for a time, after the father's death, his cousin's portionoftheprincipalityoftheOrkneys. Ronaldhadmadeavow,thatif successful against his rival, a splendid fane should be erected over the martyr's ashes ; but, when, in fine, some plots and contentions enabled him to become possessed of the whole Earldom, he resolved on the fulfilment of his resolution. '36 Finally, the body of St. Magnus was removed to Kirkwall, the chief metropolis of the Orkney Islands, and there his massive Cathedral of fine proportions is now to be seen. Its present length, on the outside, is 226 feet ; its breadth is 5-6 ; the height of the main roof is 71 feet ; and from the level of the floor to the top of the steeple, it is 133 feet. However, the
present spire is merely a plain pyramidical roof, and it is only a paltry substi- tuteforanelegantspire,whichwasdestroyedbylightning,ini67o. '37 The original style of this Cathedral is of the most ornate Irish-Romanesque
Dempster,
held,
'"See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xii. , num. 855,
pp. 454. 455.
"'In his " Menologium Scoticum," he has the feast of St. Magnus, at the 6th of
September, evidently confounding the pre- sent saint, with another bearing a like name.
'"
and to Rev. Alban Butler.
"3 The second day of the week did not
fall on the i6th of April, in a. d. 1104 or
the Saints," vol. iv. , April i6, p. 216.
According to the Aberdeen Breviary
" According to Bishop Challenor, Bollandists, and the Petits Bollandistes.
'^o " See the Bollandists'
on the i6th of '^^ he has April, although
and his festival was
it,atadifferentday,inanotherwork. "9 This,too,isthedateassignedfor it,'in the Breviary ofAberdeen, in the Manuscript of Florarius, in Greven's ad-
1 ftsthe Bollandists remark. 109,
438.
'3' See Rev.
" of History
states, that " anno Domini millesimo centesimo quarto, —sextodecimo
KalendasMaii,feriasecunda. " Lectv.
'"
This should be April 14.
"7 The year of his death was 1 1 10, accord-
ingto that Saga. See pp. 122 to 135.
his took Martyrdom
Blaviana," p. 159.
'33
in Nova
"*
See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
SeeTorfaeus,inreferencetotheOrca- des, chap. ii.
'3< See George Chalmers' "Caledonia," vol. i. . Book ii. , chap, iv. , p. 263.
'35SeeRobertWilliamBillings"Baronial and Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Scotland. " vol. iii. , after plates, 42 to 47, p. 2,
Breviary place
According
Geographia Descriptio Orcadum,
Scotorum," tomus ii, lib. xii. , num. 855, p. 455-
the
Acta Sancto- rum," tomus ii. , April xvi. De Sancto Magno, &c. Proemium, num. 2, I3, 4, p.
George Barry's
"* See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of the Orkney Islands," &c. , Book i. , chap,
"5 The Aberdeen
"' to the " Scotiae
ii. , num. xxiv. , p. 61.
1 86 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i6.
character, as the arches, windows, corbels, and tracery, abundantly demon- strate. At a latter time, some additions and restorations are worked o^'> ''^
Sometime before the middle
a Gothic style, incongruous, yet imposing. 'ss
of the twelfth century,'39 Ronald, Count of Orkney, founded this magnifi- cent church, in honour of his uncle, St. Magnus,|to whom it was dedicated. """ While this fine structure shows a pious industry, in the execution ; its design is bold and majestic, for the period and the place. 'ti The ground-plan pre- sents an appearance of great regularity, and the building is cruciform. ''*' The Breviary of Aberdeen assigns to the Festival of St. Magnus two special hymns, which recount some of his miracles. Provision is made, likewise, for the anniversary celebration, both of his passion and of his translation. On the west coast of the Shetland main-shore, St. Magnus' Bay was called after this holy man. He was regarded, as the chief Patron Saint of the Orkney Islands,'" BeforethegreatbattleofBannockburn,KingRobertBruceis said to have seen in a vision St. Magnus, who promised him a splendid vic- tory. "'tt At the time of the Reformation, some of his relics were carried away
Another
from Kirkwall. In part, these were deposited at Aix-la-Chapelle.
of St. Magnus' relics '45_a portion of the shoulder—was preserved, in the Metropolitan Church of St. Vitus, at Prague. Another festival has been assigned to St. Magnus, at the 19th of August. '+« Injustice and treachery had a partial triumph in the death of this noble and holy prince, but these opened for him the ultimate crown, awaiting the martyrs of Christ.
