Thus, this martyr king was buried
and that these should it to desecration or expose
injury.
and that these should it to desecration or expose
injury.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
'
Thormod sat down, cast off his clothes, and the girl saw his wound, and felt that a piece
He
fast, and would in no way come. As the Wound was swollen, there was little of the
'
told him to eat of it.
replied,
Now,' said Thormod, cut in deep enough, to get fast hold with the tongs, and let me pull. ' She did so. Then Thormod took a gold ring from his
'
It is a good man's gift,' he said, 'for King Olaf gave it to me this morning. ' Then, Thor- mod took out the tongs, and pulled the iron and it was barbed. Aft—erwards, Thor-
weapon to seize.
hand, and gave it the nurse-girl.
" Lives of the Saints," vol. vii. , July 29, pp. 672 to
22 See Rev. S. 675-
Baring-Gould's
4s4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIN1S. [July 29.
and through fatigue, when the victory was even then doubtful. 2 3 While these circumstances have been so specifically related, we are told by Theodric, that it is not at all certain, by whom King Olafs death-wound had been
given, nor whether he received one mortal wound or more than one. 2-*
2
This decisive battle was fought, July 29th, a. d. io3o, s at that place called
StiklestadorStichstadt,intheprovinceofDrontheim. Sucharethedates assigned for St. Olave's death, by the most reliable Icelandic and Norwegian
writers,
26 and
they
are followed usually by
the historians. 2? early English
Other accounts have it at a much earlier
period.
28 That St. Olaf met his death 2
on the fourth day of the week is related by many writers, ? and this seems to
be most probable, since in 1030,3° the 29th of July fell on Wednesday. One
x
accounthasit,3 thathisdeathhappenedonFriday,butthisdoesnotmerit
much notice. Several of the northern writers, however, place the year of St.
2
Olafs death, at 1028 ; and among these are Eric of Upsal,3 the Breviary of
Sleswick, the VitaS. Olavi, in the Bodensee Manuscript, and Albert Staden- sis. 33 With Baronius, several modern writers have followed this chronology. This also is the date given by Adam of Bremen. 3+ In an old Danish chro- nicle, it is related, that St. Olavus, King of the Northmen, was martyred at Sticlastath, in the year 1028. 35 According to the Short Acts, published by the Bollandists, this saint was martyred 3° by the pagans, near the old city of Throndhjems,betterknownasDrontheim. Again,Theodric,themonkof Nidrosia, states, that St. Olaf fell on the 29th of July, a. d. 1029 ;37 but, this date can hardly be reconciled with his own calculation. 38
33 Such is the account given by Theodric, the monk of Nidrosia.
24 He adds : "quia a diversis di versa di- cuntur, nos nil temerc affirmare volumus, nee ofheioso mendacio aliorum aures demul- cere. "
25 According to Matthew of Paris, at this
date: " Eodem anno Sanctus Olavus, rex,
32 In his account of Olaus Skotkonung. See lib. ii.
33 In his Chronicle.
34 He states: "Transivit ad Dominum anno ab incarnatione Domini ut supra nota- tion est, feria quarta, Augusti Kal. HIT.
omnibus Septentrionalis oceani populis aeterno cult—u ct devolissima veneratione me- morabilis. " "Historic Ecclesiastics Ham-
doctor, pra? dicator, et apostolus Norichorum
in Norwegia, Haroldi regis Norichorum burgensis et Bremensis, vicinorumque Loco-
Alius, in Norwegia injuste perimitur, a Nori-
chis percussus nimis truculenter quadam
securi,quiag—ensilianongladiissedsecuri-
bus utitur. " "Chronica Majora," vol. i. ,
p. 507. Edited by Henry Richards Luard, logia Rerum Danicarum ab Anno Christi
M. A.
26 Among these may be noticed Suaning
Huitfeld, forfceus, Sibern, &c
2 ? See Matthew of Westminster, " Flores
Ilistoriarum," pp. 406, 407.
28 The " Chronicon Manniae," in its mis-
taken chronology, has placed the death of
St. Olave at the year 1013. See Rev. James
" Celto-Norman- Johnstone's Antiquitates
niae," p. 4.
2 ? Resides the monk Theodric, the Boden-
30 For this year, the Saxon Chronicle, Florence of Worcester, Simon of Durham, Radulphus de Diceto, and other English authorities, contend.
norum,
MXXVIII. , ad Ann. mcclxxxii. cum Appen- dice Chronolog. usqve ad Ann. Mcccvir. Ex veteri Membrana emit, primusque edidit Arnas Magnreus," p. 1. Lipsire, a. d. 1695, 181110.
see Manuscript Life of St. Olave, cap. x. ,
num. 10, Snorro Sturleson, in his Life of St.
Olaf, as also, the unknown author of 37 Occubuit autcm beatus Olavus quarto "Chronica Danorum," p. 4. In the year
1028, the 29th of July fell on Tuesday.
xix. 38 For as the Bollandist Father Peter Bosch remarks, that either Theodric, or his 31 That of the Utrecht Manuscript Life of copyist, is in error, since the Dominical St. Olave, printed by Greven at Louvain, Letter of that year was E, and therefore the but which is notoriously filled with fables. 29th of July must have fallen on the third
rum Septentrionalium. "
35 See " Incerti Auctoris (qvi vcrgente
Seculo XIII. vixisse videtur) Clironica Da-
et seu Chrono- prcecipue Sialandiae,
36 The Acta Brevia state
:
" Occubuit au-
tem quarto Kalendas Augusti, feria quarta, milessimo et vicessimo octavo anno ab In- carnatione Domini, pro fidei defensione a—b inimicis fidei crudeliter interemptus. " "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vii. , Julii xxix. De S. Olavo Rege et Maityie, Nidrosia in
Norvegia, p. 115. "
Kal. Augusti, quod tunc erat quarta feria, anno ab Incarnatione Domini millessimo vicessimo—nono ; ut nos certius indagarc po-
tuimus. " De Regibus Norwegian, cap.
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 485
Notwithstanding what has been already related, much obscurity seems to
have shrouded the circumstances of the king's death, even in times not very
remote from those in which he lived. Some accounts have it, that St. Olaf
hadbeenassassinated,attheinstigationofKingCanute. ^ Whileitismost
generally believed, St. Olaf fell in battle, other traditions were, that he
had been slain by the Magi,40 and with manifestations of that great hatred
they bore him, and of their contempt, because he had been so opposed to
their 4l As the for his death has varied superstitious practices. chronology
with different writers ; so are they not accordant, in giving us the exact years
he reigned. This is not so surprising, as his rule had been greatly interrupted,
and as he had even been expelled from his kingdom. For nearly sixteen
years—but with vicissitudes intervening—Olafruled over Norway, according
to some writers 42 others have his reign there at fifteen years ;*3 others state ;
thirteen years 44 while it has been reduced to twelve,4^ as variously estimated, ;
and under the conditions specified. If we regard the reign of Olaf to have
commenced in 10 1 4, and to have lasted until 1030, making allowance for
the year 1029—a great part of which he passed as an exile in Russia—it may
be allowed, that he held Norway under his sway for sixteen whole
6
During their time, a constant war was waged between Knut, King of the
Danes, and Olaf, King of the Norwegians ; the former contending for Empire, and the latter for liberty. In these contests, Olaf had justice on his side, because with him war became a matter of necessity rather than ofchoice. 4? During the lifetime of his brother St. Olaf, some accounts have it, that Harald became an exile from Norway and went to Constantinople, and that afterwards, hefoughtmanybattlesagainsttheSaracens. Howeverthismaybe,itseems rather irreconcilable with the statement, that he arrived home in time to join
8 Olaf,inthatattempttorecoverhislostcrown/ Nevertheless,thetruthseems
to be, that after the battle of Stiklastad, Harald fled to Russia in the first
instance ; thence he went to Greece ; and afterwards, to the eastern countries
of Asia. Magnus, the son of Olaf, took refuge, also, in the kingdom of Russia,4 °
winters/
intoaccount. See"HistoricRerumNerve- gicarum," tomus iii. , lib. iii. , cap. ix. , p. 203. 44 Abstracting two years he spent in
exile.
—" Historige
Ecclesiastics Ecclesise Hamburgensis et his Historia Ecclesiastica," lib. ii. , cap.
andnotthefourthdayoftheweek.
s' Adam of Bremen writes
sciunt ilium ob gratiam Knut Regis latenter
occisum
;
quod et verum esse non difhdimus,
eo quod regnum ejus invasit. "
45 these are Adam of Bremen, in Among
Bremensis," &c, lib. ii. , cap. xliii. 40 Thus Adam of Bremen states
:
" Alii
"
xliii. , and Albertus Stadensis, in his chroni- cle.
4<5 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus vii. , Julii xxix. De S. Olavo, Rege
et Nidrosice in Com- Martyre, Norvegia.
mentarius sect, to Historicus, ix. , pp. 105
108.
47 According to Adam of Bremen, in his
**
Historic Ecclesiastics Hamburgensis et Bremensis, vicinorumque Locorum Septen- trionalium," lib. ii. , cap. 40, 43 ; also, lib. iii. , cap. 13, 18, 19.
48 See S. A. Denhanvs " of Den- History
mark, Sweden and vol. ii. , book Norway,"
ii. , chap,—i. , p. 174.
vero dicunt, eum in bello
dam autem in medio populi circo ad ludi-
brium Magis expositum. "—
p. 503, and n. 3.
42 Supposing it to date from the expulsion
of Hacon to the date assigned for his own death.
Ibid. 41 See Edward A. Freeman's "
of
History the Norman Conquest of England, its Causes and its Results," vol. i. , chap, vi. ,
the monk of Nidrosia, autem B. Olavus annis quindecim ; quorum tredecim solus obtinuit
43 Thus
Theodric, Regnavit
writes "
:
:
" Sed et alii
: peremptum qui-
nam anno cum Suenone, primo
See when about Canute the treating
regnum :
filio Hacon Mali, pugnam habuit ; ultimo vero . . . rebellionem passus est, et in-
49
Great—Joannes Isaac Pontan's "Rerum Danicarum Historia Libris x. , Unoquc Tomo ad Domum usque Oldenburgicam de- ducta," lib. v. , p. 153.
quietum fecit regnum. " To this computation Torfaeus leans, also, if the winters be taken
486 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29,
It is supposed, that Thorer Hund was desirous of giving Olai's body
honourable interment, after the battle was over, and that he adopted
the expedient of covering it with his cloak, so that it might be preserved from indignity, on the part of the victorious bonders. It is stated, also, that the blood which he wiped from the king's body had touched his own hand and had healed it. * Wherefore, he learned to regard Olaf as a saint. More- over, Thorgili, the son of Halma, to whom the king had given orders regarding what should be done for him after death, now went out in the evening when darkness set in, and searching for the body, together with his son Grime, they at length found it. Then, they carried it to a deserted cottage or barn near the field. There, they took off the clothes, and having obtained light, they washed away all stains of blood from the corpse. Afterwards, they placed linen around the body, and buried it beneath the floor, heaping wood over to conceal all traces of a grave, from those who should enter; so that, having despatched those offices of charity, they went home. Meantime, among the troop of beggars that followed either army for gain, there happened be a blind man, who was led to that deserted cottage, after the battle, as he desired to take refuge there for that night ; when he entered, having groped about with his hands, he reached the pile of wood, where some liquid stained his fingers, and feeling an itchiness in his sightless eyes, he rubbed them with hishand. Afterwards,goingoutfromthehut,hewasabletofindhiswayin
the darkness to the farm of Stiklestad, and entering a house, he was restored to the full use of vision. This was a cause of wonder to all, who knew his
previous condition, and on hearing his story regarding all the circumstances, they were naturally anxious to learn where the hut was in which he became
gifted with sight. No little apprehension was entertained, however, by Thor- gili and Grime, lest that miracle should reveal the king's body to his enemies,
1 It was
that should they find his remains, Olaf's foes might be disposed to burn them into ashes or to drown them in the fiord, after having shown their hatred of him by insults after death ; and, in consequence, Thorgili and Grime were greatly anxious to conceal the body, while they had miraculous manifestations
regarding the spot where it lay, having been enveloped in a supernatural light. Whereupon, they prepared two coffins, both very much alike. One they filled with stones of nearly equal weight with the king's body ; while in the other, with great reverence, they placed his corpse. Then, so soon as they found loiterersremovedfromStiklastad,bothcoffinswereplacedinapinnace; and, by night, Thorgili rowed over to a place, known as the Dirty Port, and there, inalittlehutapartfromothersheplacedthebody. Then,Thorgiliissaid to have reported to the Danish Bishop, Sigurd, that Olat's body had been found, and had been brought to Nidrosia in a boat. The Bishop, thinking this was so, ordered the coffin and corpse to be sunk in the river, without any rites of Christian interment. This order he was assured had been executed.
Meiafltvhile, Thorgili entered Drontheim, and went to those he knew to have been of the king's party, to see if measures could not be taken for its proper interment. But, at that juncture of their affairs, all feared to engage in the office. Whereupon, Thorgili repaired to the hut, and taking the body to the upper part of the fiord, he buried it in sand by the sea-shore. Then, endea- vouring to remove any traces, by which strangers might discover it, and having to the best of his ability discharged the pious trust confided to him by the king, Thorgili repaired to his own house.
Thus, this martyr king was buried
and that these should it to desecration or expose
injury. *
feared,
50 See Torfaeus' " Historic Rerum Norvc-
gicarum," tomus iii. , lib. iii. , cap. viii. , p. 199. 5' The foregoing incidents are said to have
occurred, on that day and night, when the battle took place.
s* " The last time his ship was seen on its
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 487
in a secret manner, by that proprietor of a farm, and to withdraw his body
from any knowledge of the people, whom he had so greatly irritated, and
among whom during life he was not generally popular.
At the time of Olafs death, Canute was in England ; but, he resolved on
securing Norway for his illegitimate son Sweyn, yet subject to his own. 2
suzerainty. After Haconhis nephew was drowned at sea,s Canute appointed once more his son Sweno " as viceroy over Norway. But, the choice war. ' not a popular one, for his arbitrary and unwise acts caused him to be generally disliked. So rigidly did he enforce tyrannical decrees, that the Norwegians began to consider him as a scourge sent by Heaven to punish them for rebel- lion against their lawful sovereign. Soon after the death of Olaf, the people of Norway, who were formerly most hostile to him, began to change their opinionregardinghischaracter; and,soonitwasnoisedabroad,thatmiracles had been wrought, owing to his intercession. Some were healed from dis- eases ; some were delivered from great dangers ; others found a happy issue for their vows ; while many were so assisted in their various necessities,that by popular acclaim, their former king was regarded as a martyr, and he was generally venerated as a saint. The Danish Bishop Trugill was blamed, like- wise, for having caused that battle, in which Olaf lost his life. Finding the people's hatred kindled against him, Trugill deemed it unsafe to remain in Norway, and he returned to King Canute then in Enland. The people of Drontheim, who knew best the virtues and merits of their former king, now called their Bishop Grimkele from the Uplands, where he had taken refuge. He was now asked to institute an enquiry, regarding the relation of Olafs miracles. This he did, and he found sufficient evidence to convince him- self of their reality. He sought out Thorgill and Grime of Stiklastad, and they went to Nidrosia, to relate those occurrences within their knowledge. He also learned from them where the martyr's body lay, and he resolved on taking measures for its removal to a more honourable place. One Einar Thambaskelfere felt a great desire to have Olaf publicly venerated. He took occasion to visit the king's mother, and to represent how desirable it should
be, to have a suitable tomb prepared for Olafs remains.
Meantime, a grand ceremonial had been arranged by Bishop Grimkele, who with Einar and a great concourse of persons went in procession to the grave. There when the ground had been opened, the coffin was found only hidden a little beneath the surface. With the approval of all, it was brought away to the church of St. Clement, which had been erected at the instigation and through the exertions of the Bishop. The covering had been removed from the coffin, by his order, when not only did the features appear as if Olaf were living, but his cheeks were ruddy, and a sweet odour was diffused around, to the great admiration of all who were present. Moreover, his hair and nails had grown in the grave during the interval, and as might have been expectedwerehealivingman. ThiswaswitnessedbySwenotheking,his mother Alfifa, and several of the nobles, who were present. However, not willing that Olafs remains should be regarded as having been miraculously preserved, Alfifa argued, that because sand surrounded them, it possessed such a natural saving property, and she asserted, that if they had been buried
Period to the Norman Conquest," vol. ii. , book vi. , chap, xi. , p. 338.
53 His mother was Alfifa, Alfgiva, or
return, was, late in the day, off Caithness, in Scotland ; a furious storm was raging, and the wind was driving him towards the Pent- land Firth ; neither the ve—ssel nor any of its mariners appeared again. " Sharon Turner's " ofthe
Alvina, a concubine of King Canute. Flor- "
History Anglo-Saxons : comprising the History of England from the Earliest
nensis Alfgiva; Alice Alfhelmi Ducis. "
"
ence of Worcester calls her Northamlu—-
Historia," p. 398.
488 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
in clay, such interment must have had quite a very different result. She demanded another ordeal, that the Bishop should cut off the hair and beard,
so that he might place them in a thurible, and apply fire, to see if they should not burn, since it was a known fact, that hair grew on dead bodies long after theirinterment. Thisrequestwascompliedwith,andtothegreatsurpriseofall present, while the incense burned away, the hair remained not even singed. Einar then took the freedom of upbraiding Alfifa with incredulity. At the same time, the king said in public, that Olaf was a saint, and that pronounce- ment was universally agreed to, when the body was brought to St. Clement's church, and there placed over its altar. The coffin was covered with a fine kind of linen, and decorated with silk bands. A year and five days after his death,thebodyofOlafwasdisinterred. 5* Thenortherntraditionsstate,thata fountain—afterwards called St. Olave's well—sprung from that spot, where his remains had been deposited. To this well, pilgrimages were made, and various cures of diseased persons were thus effected. Afterwards, a memorial chapel was erected there, to perpetuate those remarkable incidents, which succeeded St. Olaf's death and burial. To King Olaf Kyrre or the Pacific,^ that founda- tion is attributed, and an altar was there erected, immediately over the site of the former grave. Some of St. Olaf's relics were placed in a shrine, over that altar, and soon persons afflicted with diseases flocked thither, when they found immediate relief.
The excellent and Christian King of Norway, Olave III. , full of
religious zeal, commenced the erection of a noble cathedral at Drontheim,
which city grew up under his fostering care and genius. That grand cathe- dral was founded in honour of the Most Holy Trinity, and it was richly en- dowed. That magnificent church was erected, also, to receive St. Olafs remains, and of it he became the titular patron. Being Gothic in its general features,s6 this ancient structure was one justly deserving admiration. This aniversary of the Translation of St. OlaPs relics was afterwards observed as a solemn Feast; the 29th of July being regarded as the first Festival, while the 2nd or 3rd day of August was set down as the later or secondary Feast. The Bishop Grimkele, who had such reverence for his friend, commanded King Olaf to be venerated in that church, to which his remains had been removed. He was classed among the saints, and with the title of Martyr. Many mira- cles were afterwards wrought through his intercession. Meanwhile, Sweyn became exceedingly unpopular in Norway, where it is said he preferred the Danes, in all distributions of fiefs and honours, and where the fear of his fatherCanuteonlykeptthatcountryinsubjection. 57 Attheendoffiveyears,
that celebrated monarch
died,s
8 and the
Norwegians
were for insurrection. ripe
5 * Thus states Theodric, the monk of Ni-
:
drosia " Quomodo vero mox omnipotens
Deus nieritamartyris sui Olavi declaraverit, ccecis visum reddendo, et multa commoda
aegris mortalibus impendendo j et cjualiter episcopus Grimkel, qui Rut films fratris Sig-
1069. After a useful and happy reign, he
died on the 22nd of September, 1093.
s6 For the inspection of some beautiful
wardi episcopi, quern Olavus, filius Trygga,
secom adduxerat de Anglin, post annum et
quinque dies beatum corpus t terra levave-
rit, et in loco decenter ornato reposuerit, in
Nidrosiensi metropoli, quo statim, peracta mark, Sweden and Norway," vol. ii. , pugna, transvectum fuerat ; quia hsec omnia
a nonnullis memoriae tradita —nos notis
book ii. , chap, ii. , pp. 260, 261.
5i " Le rois dftnoif mourut en l'annec
sunt, immorari superfluum duximus. "
riade Regibus Norvegice," cap. xx.
" ilisto-
— " Histoirede la 1035. " Augustin Thierry's
55 He was son to Harald
sumamed
(Conquete de l'Angleterre par les Nor-
III. , Hardrade, and brother to Magnus II. , whom he succeeded as sole King of Norway in
mands,"
59 Sec S. A. Dunham's " History of Den-
views of the exterior and in- terior of the modern Throndjems Uomkirke, and drawn by H. Schirmer, the writer feels indebted to the Rev. Robert Foran, who visited the old city, and who saw its
lithographic
fine old church.
57 See S. A. Dunham's " History of Den-
tome liv. i. ,
ii. , p. 233.
mark, Sweden and Norway," vol. i. , chap.
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 489
In 1035, Magnus, surnamed the Good, the son of Olaf,-^ was called home from Russia, when Sweno was obliged to fly from Norway,60 and to take refuge in Denmark. At this time, Magnus was only eleven years of age. When Magnus had been acknowledged King of Norway, he greatly promoted the people'sdevotionforhisfather. Oneofthefirstfilialdutiesheassumedwas, to order the erection of an ornate sarcophagus, and it was formed in tomb-
shape.
It was covered with
gold,
silver and stones. 61 No sooner precious
had it been set up in that place destined to receive it, than many miracles
were there 62 the blind were often restored to the use of
wrought. Especially,
sight. Moreover, according to the usages of the middle ages, by ordinance of the laws and for a long time, the King of Norway and its nobles were
obliged to swear before this shrine, especially when great state engagements required, or when important affairs were at stake. The Bishop of Drontheim also consigned to the care of King Magnus that key which enclosed his father'sremains. Onceeachyear,Magnusopenedthesarcophagusandcutthe hair as also the nails. Generally on those occasions, several miracles were wrought ; and very curious traditional particulars have been transmitted to us,
from that distant 63 age.
of a 6 * at that chapel,
Moreover, Magnus,
is said to have the erection begun
and before it had been buried in the sands. In. the middle of Drontheim also was to be seen that port—called after St. Olaf—and where his remains were received, before they had been exhibited for public veneration. On the death of his brother, Harald^—remarkable for his avarice and cruelty—is said to have been recalled to Norway, about the year 1047. Afterwards, he ravaged the Danish coasts with fire and sword. 65 He put Sven to flight, and so long as he lived, a fierce war was waged between them. Harald was generally hated by all his subjects, on account of his truculence, although admired for his bravery. He followed alternately the role of pirate and knight-erant, of viking, and of varing, as expressed in the language of the North. 66 He was a very different character from his brother, and greatly addicted to magic practices ; while he robbed various churches, and put many Christians to death. Still, some his- torians67highlyextolhimforwisdom. 68 Whenmiraclessoonafterhisdeath
iii. , pp. 273, 274.
60 See Edward A. Freeman's " History of
gregem (ut interpretatur auctor) immensium claudorum caecorumque, aut aliter cegrotam-
the Norman Conquest of England, its Causes
tium, jam turn recepta valetudine integram
lonely hut,
where the
body
of his father
lay,
inde dicessisse perhibet. ''—" Historic Re- 61 Torfseus adds " anteridis in formam rum Norvegicarum," tomus iii. , lib. iii. , cap.
and its Results," vol. i. , chap, vi. , p. 533. :
superne pectinatum, postica parte laminis connexum, antica sera pensili clausum, columellis sustentum. "—" Historic Rerum
Norvegicarum," tomus iii. , lib. iii. , cap. xvi. ,
xi. , pp. 2IO, 21 1.
64 This is thought to have been finished
by King Harald III. , surnamed Hardrade, who began to reign over Norway in 1047, and who was killed at the celebrated battle of
Stansfort Bridge, in England, September
p. 62
226. >
Some of these are related by Siguat, the scald and satellite of King Magnus.
63 Thus Torfoeus writes " un- : Capilli,
guiumque pnesecandorum curam utrumque enim, tanquam vivo, crevisse episcopum gessisse. His testimonium perhibent car- mina duorum poetarum, qui hsec ipsa coram inspexerunt, vetustate sua authoritatem omni exceptione majorem sibi vindicantia : pri- mum familiaris ejus Siguati, qui capillos ere- visse afnrmat ; secundum Thorarini Loft- ungae, eo invictoe fidei, quod odse, quse Glelogn dicitur, honoii Sueni, Alfifae filii dicatae, hsec inseruerit, ubi pneter crinium unguiumque incrementum, ipse, qui proesens
See Augustin Thierry's
"
His-
apud Suenum, campanas sponte sonare,
sponte candelas super altare accendi, Anglo-Saxons : comprising the History of
25th, 1066.
toire de la
Normands," tome i. , liv. iii. , pp. 337 to 345.
6s The better to resist Danish aggressions, he built Opsolo, now Christiania, the capi- tal city of Norway, at the head of Bjorwigen Bay, and at the embouchure of the River Agger, on a Fiord of the most extraordinary and romantic beauty. This city lies opposite
Conquete
de l'Angleterre par les
Denmark and to the north.
** "
See Augustin Thierry's Histoire de la Conquete de l'Angleterre par les Normands," tome i. , liv. iii. , p. 312.
6; Such as Snorre Sturleson.
68 "
See Sharon Turner's History of the
49o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
announced the glory of St. Olaf in heaven, numberless oblations and trea- sures were presented at his shrine. However, the impious Ilarald seized on these valuables, and he distributed them among his rapacious soldiery. Whereupon, the Archbishop remonstrated with him, regarding such unnatural and impious conduct. But, Harald despised these reproofs, saying he did
not recognise any archbishop in Norway, nor any person as having authority
there but only himself. Many other evil deeds he wrought and bad speeches
he made, before his intolerable pride brought about his ruin. 6* Before
setting out on his fatal English expedition, in 1066, Harald opened the
shrine of St. Olaf for the last time ; when, having according to the established
usage cut the hair and nails, he closed the case, and threw the key into the
River Nid. ? ° This happened about thirty-five or thirty-six years after St. Olafs death.
Immediately after the death of Harald Hardrade, his eldest son succeeded him as ruler in the kingdom of Norway, under the title of Magnus ll. '1 At first, he reigned alone, but to secure himself better against the Danes, he ceded a part of his kingdom to his brother Olaf, surnamed Kyrre, or the
in 2 Nor did he Pacific, 1067. 7
survive that for arrangement, Magnus
long
died two years subsequently, when only about thirty-four years of age. On
the death of his father, Olaf Kyrre, Magnus III. ascended the Norwegian throne, in 1093. 73 He was a warlike and an enterprising king. After the death of Harthseknut, Magnus reigned in Norway and Dacia. 74 In the year 1098, the body of St. Olaus was examined, by Magnus Olaveson," King of Norway, and it was found to be without any sign of corruption. He had ordered the tomb to be opened, contrary to the wishes and remonstrances of
the Bishop and clergy ; but, the king audaciously persevered, and by royal mandate the shrine was opened. However, when with his own eyes he had seen the body of St. Olaf so fresh in appearance, and had touched it with his hands, a great fear came over him, as if he had repented such a profana- tion, when in great trepidation and haste he departed. The following night he had a vision, in which St. Olaf, the King and Martyr, appeared to him, saying: " Chose one of two alternatives, either to lose thy life and kingdom within thirty days, or to leave Norway, and never to see it more. " Awaking in great alarm, the king called together his chiefs and counsellors, relating his vision.
Thormod sat down, cast off his clothes, and the girl saw his wound, and felt that a piece
He
fast, and would in no way come. As the Wound was swollen, there was little of the
'
told him to eat of it.
replied,
Now,' said Thormod, cut in deep enough, to get fast hold with the tongs, and let me pull. ' She did so. Then Thormod took a gold ring from his
'
It is a good man's gift,' he said, 'for King Olaf gave it to me this morning. ' Then, Thor- mod took out the tongs, and pulled the iron and it was barbed. Aft—erwards, Thor-
weapon to seize.
hand, and gave it the nurse-girl.
" Lives of the Saints," vol. vii. , July 29, pp. 672 to
22 See Rev. S. 675-
Baring-Gould's
4s4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIN1S. [July 29.
and through fatigue, when the victory was even then doubtful. 2 3 While these circumstances have been so specifically related, we are told by Theodric, that it is not at all certain, by whom King Olafs death-wound had been
given, nor whether he received one mortal wound or more than one. 2-*
2
This decisive battle was fought, July 29th, a. d. io3o, s at that place called
StiklestadorStichstadt,intheprovinceofDrontheim. Sucharethedates assigned for St. Olave's death, by the most reliable Icelandic and Norwegian
writers,
26 and
they
are followed usually by
the historians. 2? early English
Other accounts have it at a much earlier
period.
28 That St. Olaf met his death 2
on the fourth day of the week is related by many writers, ? and this seems to
be most probable, since in 1030,3° the 29th of July fell on Wednesday. One
x
accounthasit,3 thathisdeathhappenedonFriday,butthisdoesnotmerit
much notice. Several of the northern writers, however, place the year of St.
2
Olafs death, at 1028 ; and among these are Eric of Upsal,3 the Breviary of
Sleswick, the VitaS. Olavi, in the Bodensee Manuscript, and Albert Staden- sis. 33 With Baronius, several modern writers have followed this chronology. This also is the date given by Adam of Bremen. 3+ In an old Danish chro- nicle, it is related, that St. Olavus, King of the Northmen, was martyred at Sticlastath, in the year 1028. 35 According to the Short Acts, published by the Bollandists, this saint was martyred 3° by the pagans, near the old city of Throndhjems,betterknownasDrontheim. Again,Theodric,themonkof Nidrosia, states, that St. Olaf fell on the 29th of July, a. d. 1029 ;37 but, this date can hardly be reconciled with his own calculation. 38
33 Such is the account given by Theodric, the monk of Nidrosia.
24 He adds : "quia a diversis di versa di- cuntur, nos nil temerc affirmare volumus, nee ofheioso mendacio aliorum aures demul- cere. "
25 According to Matthew of Paris, at this
date: " Eodem anno Sanctus Olavus, rex,
32 In his account of Olaus Skotkonung. See lib. ii.
33 In his Chronicle.
34 He states: "Transivit ad Dominum anno ab incarnatione Domini ut supra nota- tion est, feria quarta, Augusti Kal. HIT.
omnibus Septentrionalis oceani populis aeterno cult—u ct devolissima veneratione me- morabilis. " "Historic Ecclesiastics Ham-
doctor, pra? dicator, et apostolus Norichorum
in Norwegia, Haroldi regis Norichorum burgensis et Bremensis, vicinorumque Loco-
Alius, in Norwegia injuste perimitur, a Nori-
chis percussus nimis truculenter quadam
securi,quiag—ensilianongladiissedsecuri-
bus utitur. " "Chronica Majora," vol. i. ,
p. 507. Edited by Henry Richards Luard, logia Rerum Danicarum ab Anno Christi
M. A.
26 Among these may be noticed Suaning
Huitfeld, forfceus, Sibern, &c
2 ? See Matthew of Westminster, " Flores
Ilistoriarum," pp. 406, 407.
28 The " Chronicon Manniae," in its mis-
taken chronology, has placed the death of
St. Olave at the year 1013. See Rev. James
" Celto-Norman- Johnstone's Antiquitates
niae," p. 4.
2 ? Resides the monk Theodric, the Boden-
30 For this year, the Saxon Chronicle, Florence of Worcester, Simon of Durham, Radulphus de Diceto, and other English authorities, contend.
norum,
MXXVIII. , ad Ann. mcclxxxii. cum Appen- dice Chronolog. usqve ad Ann. Mcccvir. Ex veteri Membrana emit, primusque edidit Arnas Magnreus," p. 1. Lipsire, a. d. 1695, 181110.
see Manuscript Life of St. Olave, cap. x. ,
num. 10, Snorro Sturleson, in his Life of St.
Olaf, as also, the unknown author of 37 Occubuit autcm beatus Olavus quarto "Chronica Danorum," p. 4. In the year
1028, the 29th of July fell on Tuesday.
xix. 38 For as the Bollandist Father Peter Bosch remarks, that either Theodric, or his 31 That of the Utrecht Manuscript Life of copyist, is in error, since the Dominical St. Olave, printed by Greven at Louvain, Letter of that year was E, and therefore the but which is notoriously filled with fables. 29th of July must have fallen on the third
rum Septentrionalium. "
35 See " Incerti Auctoris (qvi vcrgente
Seculo XIII. vixisse videtur) Clironica Da-
et seu Chrono- prcecipue Sialandiae,
36 The Acta Brevia state
:
" Occubuit au-
tem quarto Kalendas Augusti, feria quarta, milessimo et vicessimo octavo anno ab In- carnatione Domini, pro fidei defensione a—b inimicis fidei crudeliter interemptus. " "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vii. , Julii xxix. De S. Olavo Rege et Maityie, Nidrosia in
Norvegia, p. 115. "
Kal. Augusti, quod tunc erat quarta feria, anno ab Incarnatione Domini millessimo vicessimo—nono ; ut nos certius indagarc po-
tuimus. " De Regibus Norwegian, cap.
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 485
Notwithstanding what has been already related, much obscurity seems to
have shrouded the circumstances of the king's death, even in times not very
remote from those in which he lived. Some accounts have it, that St. Olaf
hadbeenassassinated,attheinstigationofKingCanute. ^ Whileitismost
generally believed, St. Olaf fell in battle, other traditions were, that he
had been slain by the Magi,40 and with manifestations of that great hatred
they bore him, and of their contempt, because he had been so opposed to
their 4l As the for his death has varied superstitious practices. chronology
with different writers ; so are they not accordant, in giving us the exact years
he reigned. This is not so surprising, as his rule had been greatly interrupted,
and as he had even been expelled from his kingdom. For nearly sixteen
years—but with vicissitudes intervening—Olafruled over Norway, according
to some writers 42 others have his reign there at fifteen years ;*3 others state ;
thirteen years 44 while it has been reduced to twelve,4^ as variously estimated, ;
and under the conditions specified. If we regard the reign of Olaf to have
commenced in 10 1 4, and to have lasted until 1030, making allowance for
the year 1029—a great part of which he passed as an exile in Russia—it may
be allowed, that he held Norway under his sway for sixteen whole
6
During their time, a constant war was waged between Knut, King of the
Danes, and Olaf, King of the Norwegians ; the former contending for Empire, and the latter for liberty. In these contests, Olaf had justice on his side, because with him war became a matter of necessity rather than ofchoice. 4? During the lifetime of his brother St. Olaf, some accounts have it, that Harald became an exile from Norway and went to Constantinople, and that afterwards, hefoughtmanybattlesagainsttheSaracens. Howeverthismaybe,itseems rather irreconcilable with the statement, that he arrived home in time to join
8 Olaf,inthatattempttorecoverhislostcrown/ Nevertheless,thetruthseems
to be, that after the battle of Stiklastad, Harald fled to Russia in the first
instance ; thence he went to Greece ; and afterwards, to the eastern countries
of Asia. Magnus, the son of Olaf, took refuge, also, in the kingdom of Russia,4 °
winters/
intoaccount. See"HistoricRerumNerve- gicarum," tomus iii. , lib. iii. , cap. ix. , p. 203. 44 Abstracting two years he spent in
exile.
—" Historige
Ecclesiastics Ecclesise Hamburgensis et his Historia Ecclesiastica," lib. ii. , cap.
andnotthefourthdayoftheweek.
s' Adam of Bremen writes
sciunt ilium ob gratiam Knut Regis latenter
occisum
;
quod et verum esse non difhdimus,
eo quod regnum ejus invasit. "
45 these are Adam of Bremen, in Among
Bremensis," &c, lib. ii. , cap. xliii. 40 Thus Adam of Bremen states
:
" Alii
"
xliii. , and Albertus Stadensis, in his chroni- cle.
4<5 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus vii. , Julii xxix. De S. Olavo, Rege
et Nidrosice in Com- Martyre, Norvegia.
mentarius sect, to Historicus, ix. , pp. 105
108.
47 According to Adam of Bremen, in his
**
Historic Ecclesiastics Hamburgensis et Bremensis, vicinorumque Locorum Septen- trionalium," lib. ii. , cap. 40, 43 ; also, lib. iii. , cap. 13, 18, 19.
48 See S. A. Denhanvs " of Den- History
mark, Sweden and vol. ii. , book Norway,"
ii. , chap,—i. , p. 174.
vero dicunt, eum in bello
dam autem in medio populi circo ad ludi-
brium Magis expositum. "—
p. 503, and n. 3.
42 Supposing it to date from the expulsion
of Hacon to the date assigned for his own death.
Ibid. 41 See Edward A. Freeman's "
of
History the Norman Conquest of England, its Causes and its Results," vol. i. , chap, vi. ,
the monk of Nidrosia, autem B. Olavus annis quindecim ; quorum tredecim solus obtinuit
43 Thus
Theodric, Regnavit
writes "
:
:
" Sed et alii
: peremptum qui-
nam anno cum Suenone, primo
See when about Canute the treating
regnum :
filio Hacon Mali, pugnam habuit ; ultimo vero . . . rebellionem passus est, et in-
49
Great—Joannes Isaac Pontan's "Rerum Danicarum Historia Libris x. , Unoquc Tomo ad Domum usque Oldenburgicam de- ducta," lib. v. , p. 153.
quietum fecit regnum. " To this computation Torfaeus leans, also, if the winters be taken
486 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29,
It is supposed, that Thorer Hund was desirous of giving Olai's body
honourable interment, after the battle was over, and that he adopted
the expedient of covering it with his cloak, so that it might be preserved from indignity, on the part of the victorious bonders. It is stated, also, that the blood which he wiped from the king's body had touched his own hand and had healed it. * Wherefore, he learned to regard Olaf as a saint. More- over, Thorgili, the son of Halma, to whom the king had given orders regarding what should be done for him after death, now went out in the evening when darkness set in, and searching for the body, together with his son Grime, they at length found it. Then, they carried it to a deserted cottage or barn near the field. There, they took off the clothes, and having obtained light, they washed away all stains of blood from the corpse. Afterwards, they placed linen around the body, and buried it beneath the floor, heaping wood over to conceal all traces of a grave, from those who should enter; so that, having despatched those offices of charity, they went home. Meantime, among the troop of beggars that followed either army for gain, there happened be a blind man, who was led to that deserted cottage, after the battle, as he desired to take refuge there for that night ; when he entered, having groped about with his hands, he reached the pile of wood, where some liquid stained his fingers, and feeling an itchiness in his sightless eyes, he rubbed them with hishand. Afterwards,goingoutfromthehut,hewasabletofindhiswayin
the darkness to the farm of Stiklestad, and entering a house, he was restored to the full use of vision. This was a cause of wonder to all, who knew his
previous condition, and on hearing his story regarding all the circumstances, they were naturally anxious to learn where the hut was in which he became
gifted with sight. No little apprehension was entertained, however, by Thor- gili and Grime, lest that miracle should reveal the king's body to his enemies,
1 It was
that should they find his remains, Olaf's foes might be disposed to burn them into ashes or to drown them in the fiord, after having shown their hatred of him by insults after death ; and, in consequence, Thorgili and Grime were greatly anxious to conceal the body, while they had miraculous manifestations
regarding the spot where it lay, having been enveloped in a supernatural light. Whereupon, they prepared two coffins, both very much alike. One they filled with stones of nearly equal weight with the king's body ; while in the other, with great reverence, they placed his corpse. Then, so soon as they found loiterersremovedfromStiklastad,bothcoffinswereplacedinapinnace; and, by night, Thorgili rowed over to a place, known as the Dirty Port, and there, inalittlehutapartfromothersheplacedthebody. Then,Thorgiliissaid to have reported to the Danish Bishop, Sigurd, that Olat's body had been found, and had been brought to Nidrosia in a boat. The Bishop, thinking this was so, ordered the coffin and corpse to be sunk in the river, without any rites of Christian interment. This order he was assured had been executed.
Meiafltvhile, Thorgili entered Drontheim, and went to those he knew to have been of the king's party, to see if measures could not be taken for its proper interment. But, at that juncture of their affairs, all feared to engage in the office. Whereupon, Thorgili repaired to the hut, and taking the body to the upper part of the fiord, he buried it in sand by the sea-shore. Then, endea- vouring to remove any traces, by which strangers might discover it, and having to the best of his ability discharged the pious trust confided to him by the king, Thorgili repaired to his own house.
Thus, this martyr king was buried
and that these should it to desecration or expose
injury. *
feared,
50 See Torfaeus' " Historic Rerum Norvc-
gicarum," tomus iii. , lib. iii. , cap. viii. , p. 199. 5' The foregoing incidents are said to have
occurred, on that day and night, when the battle took place.
s* " The last time his ship was seen on its
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 487
in a secret manner, by that proprietor of a farm, and to withdraw his body
from any knowledge of the people, whom he had so greatly irritated, and
among whom during life he was not generally popular.
At the time of Olafs death, Canute was in England ; but, he resolved on
securing Norway for his illegitimate son Sweyn, yet subject to his own. 2
suzerainty. After Haconhis nephew was drowned at sea,s Canute appointed once more his son Sweno " as viceroy over Norway. But, the choice war. ' not a popular one, for his arbitrary and unwise acts caused him to be generally disliked. So rigidly did he enforce tyrannical decrees, that the Norwegians began to consider him as a scourge sent by Heaven to punish them for rebel- lion against their lawful sovereign. Soon after the death of Olaf, the people of Norway, who were formerly most hostile to him, began to change their opinionregardinghischaracter; and,soonitwasnoisedabroad,thatmiracles had been wrought, owing to his intercession. Some were healed from dis- eases ; some were delivered from great dangers ; others found a happy issue for their vows ; while many were so assisted in their various necessities,that by popular acclaim, their former king was regarded as a martyr, and he was generally venerated as a saint. The Danish Bishop Trugill was blamed, like- wise, for having caused that battle, in which Olaf lost his life. Finding the people's hatred kindled against him, Trugill deemed it unsafe to remain in Norway, and he returned to King Canute then in Enland. The people of Drontheim, who knew best the virtues and merits of their former king, now called their Bishop Grimkele from the Uplands, where he had taken refuge. He was now asked to institute an enquiry, regarding the relation of Olafs miracles. This he did, and he found sufficient evidence to convince him- self of their reality. He sought out Thorgill and Grime of Stiklastad, and they went to Nidrosia, to relate those occurrences within their knowledge. He also learned from them where the martyr's body lay, and he resolved on taking measures for its removal to a more honourable place. One Einar Thambaskelfere felt a great desire to have Olaf publicly venerated. He took occasion to visit the king's mother, and to represent how desirable it should
be, to have a suitable tomb prepared for Olafs remains.
Meantime, a grand ceremonial had been arranged by Bishop Grimkele, who with Einar and a great concourse of persons went in procession to the grave. There when the ground had been opened, the coffin was found only hidden a little beneath the surface. With the approval of all, it was brought away to the church of St. Clement, which had been erected at the instigation and through the exertions of the Bishop. The covering had been removed from the coffin, by his order, when not only did the features appear as if Olaf were living, but his cheeks were ruddy, and a sweet odour was diffused around, to the great admiration of all who were present. Moreover, his hair and nails had grown in the grave during the interval, and as might have been expectedwerehealivingman. ThiswaswitnessedbySwenotheking,his mother Alfifa, and several of the nobles, who were present. However, not willing that Olafs remains should be regarded as having been miraculously preserved, Alfifa argued, that because sand surrounded them, it possessed such a natural saving property, and she asserted, that if they had been buried
Period to the Norman Conquest," vol. ii. , book vi. , chap, xi. , p. 338.
53 His mother was Alfifa, Alfgiva, or
return, was, late in the day, off Caithness, in Scotland ; a furious storm was raging, and the wind was driving him towards the Pent- land Firth ; neither the ve—ssel nor any of its mariners appeared again. " Sharon Turner's " ofthe
Alvina, a concubine of King Canute. Flor- "
History Anglo-Saxons : comprising the History of England from the Earliest
nensis Alfgiva; Alice Alfhelmi Ducis. "
"
ence of Worcester calls her Northamlu—-
Historia," p. 398.
488 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
in clay, such interment must have had quite a very different result. She demanded another ordeal, that the Bishop should cut off the hair and beard,
so that he might place them in a thurible, and apply fire, to see if they should not burn, since it was a known fact, that hair grew on dead bodies long after theirinterment. Thisrequestwascompliedwith,andtothegreatsurpriseofall present, while the incense burned away, the hair remained not even singed. Einar then took the freedom of upbraiding Alfifa with incredulity. At the same time, the king said in public, that Olaf was a saint, and that pronounce- ment was universally agreed to, when the body was brought to St. Clement's church, and there placed over its altar. The coffin was covered with a fine kind of linen, and decorated with silk bands. A year and five days after his death,thebodyofOlafwasdisinterred. 5* Thenortherntraditionsstate,thata fountain—afterwards called St. Olave's well—sprung from that spot, where his remains had been deposited. To this well, pilgrimages were made, and various cures of diseased persons were thus effected. Afterwards, a memorial chapel was erected there, to perpetuate those remarkable incidents, which succeeded St. Olaf's death and burial. To King Olaf Kyrre or the Pacific,^ that founda- tion is attributed, and an altar was there erected, immediately over the site of the former grave. Some of St. Olaf's relics were placed in a shrine, over that altar, and soon persons afflicted with diseases flocked thither, when they found immediate relief.
The excellent and Christian King of Norway, Olave III. , full of
religious zeal, commenced the erection of a noble cathedral at Drontheim,
which city grew up under his fostering care and genius. That grand cathe- dral was founded in honour of the Most Holy Trinity, and it was richly en- dowed. That magnificent church was erected, also, to receive St. Olafs remains, and of it he became the titular patron. Being Gothic in its general features,s6 this ancient structure was one justly deserving admiration. This aniversary of the Translation of St. OlaPs relics was afterwards observed as a solemn Feast; the 29th of July being regarded as the first Festival, while the 2nd or 3rd day of August was set down as the later or secondary Feast. The Bishop Grimkele, who had such reverence for his friend, commanded King Olaf to be venerated in that church, to which his remains had been removed. He was classed among the saints, and with the title of Martyr. Many mira- cles were afterwards wrought through his intercession. Meanwhile, Sweyn became exceedingly unpopular in Norway, where it is said he preferred the Danes, in all distributions of fiefs and honours, and where the fear of his fatherCanuteonlykeptthatcountryinsubjection. 57 Attheendoffiveyears,
that celebrated monarch
died,s
8 and the
Norwegians
were for insurrection. ripe
5 * Thus states Theodric, the monk of Ni-
:
drosia " Quomodo vero mox omnipotens
Deus nieritamartyris sui Olavi declaraverit, ccecis visum reddendo, et multa commoda
aegris mortalibus impendendo j et cjualiter episcopus Grimkel, qui Rut films fratris Sig-
1069. After a useful and happy reign, he
died on the 22nd of September, 1093.
s6 For the inspection of some beautiful
wardi episcopi, quern Olavus, filius Trygga,
secom adduxerat de Anglin, post annum et
quinque dies beatum corpus t terra levave-
rit, et in loco decenter ornato reposuerit, in
Nidrosiensi metropoli, quo statim, peracta mark, Sweden and Norway," vol. ii. , pugna, transvectum fuerat ; quia hsec omnia
a nonnullis memoriae tradita —nos notis
book ii. , chap, ii. , pp. 260, 261.
5i " Le rois dftnoif mourut en l'annec
sunt, immorari superfluum duximus. "
riade Regibus Norvegice," cap. xx.
" ilisto-
— " Histoirede la 1035. " Augustin Thierry's
55 He was son to Harald
sumamed
(Conquete de l'Angleterre par les Nor-
III. , Hardrade, and brother to Magnus II. , whom he succeeded as sole King of Norway in
mands,"
59 Sec S. A. Dunham's " History of Den-
views of the exterior and in- terior of the modern Throndjems Uomkirke, and drawn by H. Schirmer, the writer feels indebted to the Rev. Robert Foran, who visited the old city, and who saw its
lithographic
fine old church.
57 See S. A. Dunham's " History of Den-
tome liv. i. ,
ii. , p. 233.
mark, Sweden and Norway," vol. i. , chap.
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 489
In 1035, Magnus, surnamed the Good, the son of Olaf,-^ was called home from Russia, when Sweno was obliged to fly from Norway,60 and to take refuge in Denmark. At this time, Magnus was only eleven years of age. When Magnus had been acknowledged King of Norway, he greatly promoted the people'sdevotionforhisfather. Oneofthefirstfilialdutiesheassumedwas, to order the erection of an ornate sarcophagus, and it was formed in tomb-
shape.
It was covered with
gold,
silver and stones. 61 No sooner precious
had it been set up in that place destined to receive it, than many miracles
were there 62 the blind were often restored to the use of
wrought. Especially,
sight. Moreover, according to the usages of the middle ages, by ordinance of the laws and for a long time, the King of Norway and its nobles were
obliged to swear before this shrine, especially when great state engagements required, or when important affairs were at stake. The Bishop of Drontheim also consigned to the care of King Magnus that key which enclosed his father'sremains. Onceeachyear,Magnusopenedthesarcophagusandcutthe hair as also the nails. Generally on those occasions, several miracles were wrought ; and very curious traditional particulars have been transmitted to us,
from that distant 63 age.
of a 6 * at that chapel,
Moreover, Magnus,
is said to have the erection begun
and before it had been buried in the sands. In. the middle of Drontheim also was to be seen that port—called after St. Olaf—and where his remains were received, before they had been exhibited for public veneration. On the death of his brother, Harald^—remarkable for his avarice and cruelty—is said to have been recalled to Norway, about the year 1047. Afterwards, he ravaged the Danish coasts with fire and sword. 65 He put Sven to flight, and so long as he lived, a fierce war was waged between them. Harald was generally hated by all his subjects, on account of his truculence, although admired for his bravery. He followed alternately the role of pirate and knight-erant, of viking, and of varing, as expressed in the language of the North. 66 He was a very different character from his brother, and greatly addicted to magic practices ; while he robbed various churches, and put many Christians to death. Still, some his- torians67highlyextolhimforwisdom. 68 Whenmiraclessoonafterhisdeath
iii. , pp. 273, 274.
60 See Edward A. Freeman's " History of
gregem (ut interpretatur auctor) immensium claudorum caecorumque, aut aliter cegrotam-
the Norman Conquest of England, its Causes
tium, jam turn recepta valetudine integram
lonely hut,
where the
body
of his father
lay,
inde dicessisse perhibet. ''—" Historic Re- 61 Torfseus adds " anteridis in formam rum Norvegicarum," tomus iii. , lib. iii. , cap.
and its Results," vol. i. , chap, vi. , p. 533. :
superne pectinatum, postica parte laminis connexum, antica sera pensili clausum, columellis sustentum. "—" Historic Rerum
Norvegicarum," tomus iii. , lib. iii. , cap. xvi. ,
xi. , pp. 2IO, 21 1.
64 This is thought to have been finished
by King Harald III. , surnamed Hardrade, who began to reign over Norway in 1047, and who was killed at the celebrated battle of
Stansfort Bridge, in England, September
p. 62
226. >
Some of these are related by Siguat, the scald and satellite of King Magnus.
63 Thus Torfoeus writes " un- : Capilli,
guiumque pnesecandorum curam utrumque enim, tanquam vivo, crevisse episcopum gessisse. His testimonium perhibent car- mina duorum poetarum, qui hsec ipsa coram inspexerunt, vetustate sua authoritatem omni exceptione majorem sibi vindicantia : pri- mum familiaris ejus Siguati, qui capillos ere- visse afnrmat ; secundum Thorarini Loft- ungae, eo invictoe fidei, quod odse, quse Glelogn dicitur, honoii Sueni, Alfifae filii dicatae, hsec inseruerit, ubi pneter crinium unguiumque incrementum, ipse, qui proesens
See Augustin Thierry's
"
His-
apud Suenum, campanas sponte sonare,
sponte candelas super altare accendi, Anglo-Saxons : comprising the History of
25th, 1066.
toire de la
Normands," tome i. , liv. iii. , pp. 337 to 345.
6s The better to resist Danish aggressions, he built Opsolo, now Christiania, the capi- tal city of Norway, at the head of Bjorwigen Bay, and at the embouchure of the River Agger, on a Fiord of the most extraordinary and romantic beauty. This city lies opposite
Conquete
de l'Angleterre par les
Denmark and to the north.
** "
See Augustin Thierry's Histoire de la Conquete de l'Angleterre par les Normands," tome i. , liv. iii. , p. 312.
6; Such as Snorre Sturleson.
68 "
See Sharon Turner's History of the
49o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
announced the glory of St. Olaf in heaven, numberless oblations and trea- sures were presented at his shrine. However, the impious Ilarald seized on these valuables, and he distributed them among his rapacious soldiery. Whereupon, the Archbishop remonstrated with him, regarding such unnatural and impious conduct. But, Harald despised these reproofs, saying he did
not recognise any archbishop in Norway, nor any person as having authority
there but only himself. Many other evil deeds he wrought and bad speeches
he made, before his intolerable pride brought about his ruin. 6* Before
setting out on his fatal English expedition, in 1066, Harald opened the
shrine of St. Olaf for the last time ; when, having according to the established
usage cut the hair and nails, he closed the case, and threw the key into the
River Nid. ? ° This happened about thirty-five or thirty-six years after St. Olafs death.
Immediately after the death of Harald Hardrade, his eldest son succeeded him as ruler in the kingdom of Norway, under the title of Magnus ll. '1 At first, he reigned alone, but to secure himself better against the Danes, he ceded a part of his kingdom to his brother Olaf, surnamed Kyrre, or the
in 2 Nor did he Pacific, 1067. 7
survive that for arrangement, Magnus
long
died two years subsequently, when only about thirty-four years of age. On
the death of his father, Olaf Kyrre, Magnus III. ascended the Norwegian throne, in 1093. 73 He was a warlike and an enterprising king. After the death of Harthseknut, Magnus reigned in Norway and Dacia. 74 In the year 1098, the body of St. Olaus was examined, by Magnus Olaveson," King of Norway, and it was found to be without any sign of corruption. He had ordered the tomb to be opened, contrary to the wishes and remonstrances of
the Bishop and clergy ; but, the king audaciously persevered, and by royal mandate the shrine was opened. However, when with his own eyes he had seen the body of St. Olaf so fresh in appearance, and had touched it with his hands, a great fear came over him, as if he had repented such a profana- tion, when in great trepidation and haste he departed. The following night he had a vision, in which St. Olaf, the King and Martyr, appeared to him, saying: " Chose one of two alternatives, either to lose thy life and kingdom within thirty days, or to leave Norway, and never to see it more. " Awaking in great alarm, the king called together his chiefs and counsellors, relating his vision.
