The death of Ethelred
occurred
on the 23rd of April, a.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
Hoefer's " Nouvelle tates Celto-Scandicae," p.
73.
This incident
pp. 461
Biographic Generale," tome xliv. , col.
625.
» See Rev. Dr. " of Lingard's History
England," vol. i. , chap, v. , p. 237.
"One of these was a Saxon named Alfin, who, when his suit had been rejected in favour of Olaf, challenged the latter to a
James Johnstone's
508.
Antiqui-
According to Matthew of Westminster, per totam Angliam adeo superbiendo duel. According to agreement, this was inualuerunt, quod uxores virorum nobilium
on either et filias vi
when Olafs men were victorious, dere
having killed or wounded dangerously all riarum," p. 391.
with twelve
fought champions,
et — ludibrio tia- opprimere vbique
ride ;
prwsumpserunt,"
&c.
"
Flores Histo-
20 See Rev.
is there referred to 993.
" Among the Poems of the well-known
American Poet W. are Henry Longfellow,
several versified Sagas, relating to Olaf Tryggvason, in Tales of a Wayside Inn.
22 "
With ninety-four
were 22 nor violated,
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 449
invaders were completely taken by surprise. King Ethelred had ordered a general massacre of the Danes, on the same day, and in every district of the land. 2* This mandate was obeyed everywhere by the vengeful chiefs and people; while hatred was so inflamed against the victims, that not only the men, but even the women and children, had their bodies miserably mangled,
2
attheirownfiresidesanddoors. * InLondon,manyfledtothechurchesfor
asylum, but those were pitilessly massacred around the altars. Among the
rest, Gunhilda, sister to Sweyn, had embraced Christianity, and she married Paling, a Northman, who had come to England some years before. Both of
these, with their only son, had been given to Ethelred, as hostages for a peace betweentheEnglishandDanes. 25 Byordersofacruelthane,namedEadric,
to whom those distinguished captives had been consigned, the husband and son of Gunhilda were transfixed with spears, and in her presence. Finally, he ordered her to be decapitated. This iniquitous sentence was borne by Gunhilda with wonderful courage and rare equanimity ; but, before suffering death she declared, that the shedding of her blood should bring ruin upon England. When beheaded, it was remarked afterwards, that her features became composed and placid, as if she had been in a calm slumber.
Her brother Sweyn was only too willing to avenge her death, and that of
hiscountrymen. WhenheheardwhathadoccurredinEngland,hesent
messengers to all his chiefs, to assemble their forces and to prepare their ships.
He even invited pirates and plunderers from distant countries, to join his
expedition, with promises of procuring them plunder and wealth. Sweyn
soon made his appearance and ravaged England, in revenge for the perfidy
and cruelty of King Ethelred. A numerous army had been collected to
oppose him, in 1003 ; but, as the foreigners swarmed like locusts over the
land,
treachery
24 "
26
ibid. , p. 392.
At A. D. 1004, Matthew of Paris writes :
26
and cowardice
the Saxons. — the prevailed among Through
the Norman
been appointed through the influence of Ethelred's wife Emma Sweyn and
his barbarians obtained possession of that town, and thence they penetrated
into the interior of England. The northern fleet entered the port of Sand-
wich, and coasting round East Anglia, those invaders sailed into the mouth
of the Humbert At length, in 1007, Ethelred, by the payment of a heavy
tribute, procured a temporary respite, which he was not able to obtain by
28
Meantime, Olaf was engaged following his pursuits as a marine freebooter andanadventurer; nordoesheappeartohavebeenaChristianatthattime. After many a cruise in his galleys, he landed on the shores of Normandy, where his countrymen, and probably some of his kindred, had already settled on
lands had 2^ The they conquered. ,
or of negligence perfidy Hugo,
governor
of Exete—
force ofarms.
civilizing
now begun to make some progress among them. Twelve years after the
23 "
See Rev. Dr. Lingard's History of
England," vol. i. , chap, v. , pp. 239 to 241.
Sicque Dani, qui firmo fcedere paulo ante vtrinque iurato, cum Anglis pacifice ha- bitare debuerunt, opprobriose nimis sunt perempti, mulieres cum liberis ad domovum postes allisae miserabiliter animas effude- runt. "—"Flores Historiarum," per Mat- thaeum Westmonasteriensem collect! , p. 391.
25 See
tradentes, nee fuit inventus quisquam qui
"
tate inaudita, Angliam totam sicut locustre cooperientes, omnia spoliantes, homines neci
Quo utique anno Dani efcarserunt crudeli-
"
Conquetes des Normands," liv. i. , Paris,
Vol. VII. —No. 8.
1 f
influences of had Christianity
—"Chronica
edited by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. ,
hostibus obviaret. "
Majora,"
vol. i. , p. 481.
s? Matthew of Westminster adds
" a quo flumen Trente ingrediens, ad Gaynesburch villam navigavit, et ibidem nauium suarum stationem composuit. *'—" Flores Historia-
:
28 See Matthew of Paris, -" Chronica Ma-
jora," vol. i. , p. 481. Edited by Henry
Richards Luard, M. A.
29 See Gauttier d'Arc's
rum," ad A. D. , MXIU. rede M. III.
r whohad
Histoire des
450 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
death of King Olaf Tryggveson, for two summers and a winter, Olaf Haraldson coastedroundthewesternshoresofFrance; andoccasionally,wemaysup- pose, he landed on the shores of Normandy, where he received a friendly welcome. The Norman chiefs had traced their descent from the Norwe- gians, and therefore they had kept up friendly relations and alliance with the latter people,* who were able when called upon to send them ships and crews, to strengthen a dominant race, that had now ceased to be colonists. To the time of Olafs arrival in Normandy, about the year 1014,^ it is sup- posedmostprobable,thathehadnotreceivedbaptism; although,aswehave already stated, some accounts of him refer his Christian regeneration to an early period of his life. At that time, when he left England, Robert I. had been Archbishop of Rouen, while Richard II. was Duke of Normandy, and Odo was Count of Carnoet. s* It is generally admitted, by the Icelandic records, that Olaf remained to the spring time of that year in Normandy ; while it is stated, that owing to the influence and persuasion of Milred or Ethelred,andofRoberttheArchbishop,Olafreceivedbaptism. Ithasbeen stated, likewise, that his name had then been changed to James ; however, such a statement does not appear to be correct.
The Danish King Sweyn Forkedbeard had been engaged in England with
a
King Ethelre—d.
of The latter betrayed by some of his own chiefs, and thus
withhisqueen
some accounts
about this— and he had seized
time, upon
—Emmaandhertwosons. Intheautumnof to 1013 according
King Olaf came to England. However, this happened at King 'Sweyn died suddenly at night, in his bed, a. d. 10 14,
powerful army
overpowered wasobligedtoflythecountry,andtotakerefuge—Normandy,
a later period.
and during the first week in February. 33 Ethelred was then in Flanders, and
hearing of Sweyn's death, he prepared at once for a return to England. No sooner had he arrived there, than he invited all to join him, in recovering his rights to that kingdom. Many flocked to his standard. Richard II. , Duke of Normandy, seconded this enterprise. ** Among the rest, King Olaf came to his assistance with a large force of Northmen. Their united enterprise was directed against London, where the Danes had thrown up strong fortifi- cations, on either bank of the Thames. Having united their respective fleets, Olaf and Ethelred sailed their ships into the Thames, and as the Danes held London, which was fortified, and at a place called Sudrvic,35 it was resolved tobesiegethem. Theyhadalreadydugdeepditches,withinwhichtheyhad a bulwark of stone, of turf, and of timber, with a large army to defend it. King Ethelred ordered an assault, which was unsuccessful, for the Danes
bravely repelled it.
1830, 8vo.
30 See Rev.
There was a bridge so broad between the castle and
James Johnstone's
tates Celto-Scandicae ; sive Series Rerum
Gestarum inter Nationes Brittannicarum In- sularum et Gentes Septentrionales," at A. D. 1012,pp. 97,98. Theseaccountsarctaken from Snorro, Land-nama-boc, Egils-Skalla- grimi-Saga, Nials-saga, Olaf-Tiyggvasonar- saga, Orkneyinga-saga, Hriggiar-stiekki, Knytlinga-saga, Speculum Regale, &c. The
chronology however is often defective.
"
Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. vii. ,
July 29, p. 645.
32 Now a commune and town of France,
in the Department of C6tes-du-Nord. See
"Gazetteer of the World," vol. iii. , p.
328.
33 It is related, by Houeden, that having
spoiled St. Edmund's monastery in Suffolk, and in the midst of his nobles, he suddenly cried out, that St. Edmund struck him with a sword, when three days afterwards, and
Anliqui-
31 According to another account, he on the 3rd of February, in great anguish and reached Normandy and spent the winter of torment, his career ended. Some state, he
1016-1017 at Rouen, where he met the sons of Ethelred, who had been expelled from
England by King Canute, after the murder of Edmund Ironside. See Rev. S. Baring-
died at Thetford, while other writers have it
at Gainsborough.
34 See John Speed's "History of Great
Britaine," book vii. , chap, xliiii. . p. 396.
the
in
kingdom
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 451
Southwark, that two waggons could pass each other on it. They raised barricades on that bridge, in the direction of the river and across it. Towers and wooden parapets, nearly breast high, crowned the bridge, under which piles had been driven to the bottom of the river. From that vantage ground, the Danes defended themselves. King Ethelred was very anxious, that the bridge should be broken down ; and, to effect that object, a council of the chiefs was held to devise a suitable plan. Then King Olaf offered to lay his ships alongside of the bridge, provided the English should do so ; and, at length, it was determined to make such an attempt. Each captain of a ship now began to superintend the necessary preparations. Several old houses on the Thames were then pulled down, and floating wood was collected, and while stout pillars were set upright in each ship, a roof of shingles but of great strength was set over those posts, so that the covering reached to the
side. These defences were intended to — the crews from the ship's protect
stones, which the Danes were expected to cast probably from balistae; while there was room enough underneath, for the men to wield their own weapons, and, if necessary, to emerge from their cover for an assault. When all was ready, the united fleet rowed up the river ; but, when the mariners came near the bridge, a shower of stones, arrows, javelins and other weapons assailed them. The crews were greatly galled, and many of the ships were so damaged, that they fell out in the line of battle. However, King Olaf and the Northman fleet—most likely deprived of masts—rowed quite up to and under the bridge, when the* crews laid strong cables around the piles supporting it, and then with all their might, they rowed away down the stream. The piles shaken from their foundations became loose under the bridge, and finally they began to give way. At this time, numbers of armed men stood on the bridge, while heavy heaps of stones and other warlike machines added to the weight. Down sunk the battlements, and a great part of the soldiers fell into the river, while all the rest fled, some into the castle and some into Southwark. Soon afterwards, this place was taken by storm.
When the garrison in the castle saw that they now stood alone, and that a passage had been opened for the ships to the head waters of the Thames,
whom
surrendered to
ever, the Danes were still strong, in other parts of the kingdom, while they retained possession of many cities and towns. King Olaf passed all that winter with King Ethelred, who now seemed to have subjected nearly the whole kingdom. HefoughtagreatbattleatHiringmaraHeath,inUlfkel'sland. 3? Here again the king was victorious. When his father died, Canute, the son
they
Ethelred,
they recognised
8 and his actions must have been
his councillors and chiefs. However, the Danes were still able to cause much uneasinesstoEthelred,beingtheninLindesey,apartofLincolnshire. Mean- time,whenleastexpected,KingEthelredledanarmyagainstthem. Then they were obliged to fly for protection to their ships. The city of Canter- bury was still in the hands of the Danes. Olaf led his army against it and forced their defences. After killing many of the defenders, he burned their castle. On the death of his father, the Danish army proclaimed his son Canute as King of England, in 1014. 39 This was known likewise to have been the intention of Sweyn before his death, as Harold his brother was
of was Sweyn,
very young,3
guided by
3 3 Now Southwark, on the southern bank of the Thames.
"
38 According to the Northern accounts, he was then only ten years of age. See Rev.
35 See Rev.
"
Celto-
James Johnstone's tates Celto-Scandicse," pp. 90 to 92.
37 Somewhere in East Anglia, ; probably Assington, in Essex.
James Johnstone's Scandicse," p. 104.
Antiquitates
Antiqui-
as their 6 How- king. 3
"
poedia of Biography," vol. ii. , col. 69.
39 See Charles Knight's
English Cyclo-
452
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
dead. The Danes had now a difficult task to undertake j for, the Saxon thanes were assembled at London, to deliberate on the state of affairs, when
they resolved, that the juncture was favourable for recovery of their independ- ence, and it was agreed, that Ethelred should forgive all past offences, that he should govern according to law, and abide on all great occasions by the advice of his great council. On their part, the thanes swore to support his authority, and never to be subject to any Danish monarch. In order to main- tain their cause, the Danish chiefs in England sent messengers to Denmark,
for reinforcements of men; but, they advised, that as their king was still too young and unskilled in warfare, he should select a leader and forward as many warriorsascouldbemustered. Accordingly,Canutefollowedtheiradvice, and for three years after he had been proclaimed king, he resided in Den- mark. Attheendofthistime,sendingmessengerstoNorway,theysought Jarl Eric, his relative, who was ambitious of military glory, and who had alreadyprovedhisvalourintworemarkableengagements. Ericthenlevied a large force, and with him Canute sailed for England.
Olaf had been entrusted with the land defences of England, and he coasted roundthecountrywithhiswarships. HemettheDanesoncemoreatNew Romney,40 and he was successful in the battle he there fought. 41 Ethelred ordered, that Olaf should be paid for his assistance 21,000*, or, as some say, 30,000 pounds. To collect this sum, Olaf was allowed to overrun the country, extorting it from the people, while engaged murdering and burning where that tax was refused.
The death of Ethelred occurred on the 23rd of April, a. d.
1016. 42 ByhisfirstwifeElfleda,hehadthreesonswhosurvivedhim,Edmund, Edwy, and Athelstan ; while, by his second wife Emma, he left two other—s,
Edward and Alfred. The eldest of eitherforhisstrengthorowingtohisarmour wasremarkableforhisvalour.
— surnamed Ironside these, Edmund,
Being in London, at the time of his father's death, he was immediately pro- claimed king by the citizens.
Now Olaf had sailed away from England with his fleet, in quest of other objects to reward his ambition. He sought the coast of Normandy, and he sailed as a pirate along the western shores of France, until he arrived at the mouth of the Garonne, waiting for a favourable wind to sail for the coast of Spain, and to enter the Straits of Gibraltar, so that he might visit Jerusa- lem. 4^
The stronghold of the Saxon King Edmund Ironside was London, while Canute was stationed at Southampton, where the southern thanes very unwillingly submitted to his power. The latter king had collected a fleet of three hundred and forty vessels, at the mouth of the Thames, and each carried on an
4 which
men. ThesiegeofLondonnowcommenced,thecitizensandgarrisonrefus- ing to submit, and these prepared for a stubborn resistance. Edmund and his brother escaped in a boat through the Danish fleet, in order to levy a land force to relieve the city. Leaving a detachment to carry on the siege, Canute now marched to meet Edmund and the army he had collected. A desperate battle was fought at Scearstan, and night alone put an end to the contest ; but, in the morning, Canute was in retreat and on the march to London, when Edmund having repaired his
average eighty,*
brought
his unitedforce to about thousand twenty-seven
40 Nyamode, probably New Komney
Britaine," book vii. , chap, xliv. , p. 397.
*3 See Kev. S. " Lives of Baring-Gould's
the Saints," vol. vii. , July 29, pp. 644, 645.
44 Such is the information given by Dit- mar. Bishop of Mersburgh, who received it this same year from an acquaintance,
others
suppose Newport,
; in the Isle of
Wight
41 See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of
the Saints," vol. vii. , July 29, pp. 638 to
43
See John Speed's "History of Great
July 29. ] LIV&S OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 453
lossescloselyfollowedhim. AsecondbattlewasfoughtatBrentford,and Canute having failed in an assault on the city raised the siege. . Having then
pillaged the neighbouring country, Edmund overtook the plunderers at Oxford, where they were again defeated. Edmund had sent a challenge to
Canute, offering to decide the issue between them by single combat, but it was declined. Afterwards, the Danish fleet sailed for the Isle of Sheppy. Soon, however, Canute landed on the coast of Essex, and Edmund then met his army at Assington. But treachery or cowardice was in the Saxon ranks, when a chief named Edric fled with his division, at the first onset. However, the other two divisions of Edmund's army fought with desperate bravery, from threeo'clockintheafternoonuntilsundown; when,aftergreatslaughteron bothsides,theSaxonsfledineverydirection. Almostalltheirwesternnobi- lity perished. The Danes buried their own dead ; then stripping the bodies of the English, these were left naked on the field. Edmund now retreated towards Gloucester ; but, while waiting the result of another battle, a com- promise had been effected by the rival kings and their chiefs. It was agreed, to divide the kingdom between them ; so that, while Mercia and Northum- bria had been assigned to Canute, Edmund was recognised as supreme kingr the rest of England having been left under his rule. Within a month after this treaty, and after a short disturbed reign of only seven months, Edmund is said to have been assassinated; but, the particulars of his death have been variedly stated,noraretheywithanygreatdegreeofcertaintyknown. Helefttwo infant sons, Edward and Edmund. After the death of Edmund, Canute became sole King of England, in 1017 ; and, of all his possessions, he chose thatcountrytobehisusualplaceofresidence. 4^ Duringthefirstyearsof his reign, he had been cruel, suspicious and tyrannical ; but, when all rivals who laid claim to the throne had been removed, he ruled with mildness, and for the most part with justice. He was remarkable too for his piety and zeal in the interests of religion. He gained the affection of his subjects, while he won universal esteem among foreigners. His reign lasted for about twenty years.
While Olaf was in Normandy, it is related, that he saw in a dream one
night a gigantic man, who warned him, that he must return to Norway, where he should receive his crown. After this, he went northwards, and on his way, it is said, that he plundered and burned Parthenay. It has been stated, that Olaf extended his conquests not alone to Normandy, but even to
the shores of and of Spain
6 While Olaf was in
a. d. hetheremetEdwardtheConfessor,4? whodesiredtoasserthisrighttothe throneofEngland,whichCanutehadusurped. ToengageOlaf'said,he was promised the territory of Northumberland, in case of success. Yet, nothing of consequence resulted, although Olaf was enabled to realize some
booty, during his piratical descents, on that province. In the spring of 1017, Olaf essayed an attempt, on the south-west coast of England. There, however, he made very little impression ; but, soon afterwards, his ardent and active mind was bent on an adventure, which promised him a chance of success.
Finding this period of Danish depression favourable to his enterprise,
45 See Charles " Knight's
received at the Court of Solomon,
English Cyclo- poedia of Biography," vol. vii. , col. 69.
hospitably
46 See Michaud's "
selle Ancienne et Moderne," tome xxxi. , p. 22. 1.
King of Hungary. The sons of King Ethel-
by queen
Edward ; these fled into Normandy, to avoid the cruelty of Canute. See Matthaei Pari- siensis, Monachi Sancti Albani, "Chronica
Biographie
Univer-
red, his Emma, were Alfred and
Italy. *
Normandy,
1017,
47 By Canute, King of England, Eadward
and his brother Eadwin, sons of Edmund Majora," vol. i. , A. D. 1017, p. 501. Edited Ironside, had been banished, and they were by Henry Richards Luard.
454 LIVES OF 1HE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
and desirous of recovering the prestige of his family, the expelled Olaf, son to Harald, King of Norway, is stated to have resolved on returning to his
own country. However, before doing so, according to some accounts, he landed in England, where he had an interview with a hermit, who was a man of holy life and conversation. He had the gift of prophecy, likewise, and he is said to have predicted much of what should happen to Olaf, and even to have manifested the sort of death he should endure, before departing to Christ. A curious story is told, that while Olaf was in Northumbria, and accompanied by his brother Harald, they both agreed to sail for Norway in different vessels, and whosoever should first arrive there was to be recognised
—
proposal, and he waited even to assist at Mass, before weighing anchor ; while Harald, on the contrary, set sail at once, and now sure of success, he
pursued his course exultingly in the open sea. Notwithstanding the odds, both the brothers seem to have arrived nearly at the same time off Kyrkesund. It was surrounded by a reef of rocks, but within there was calm water, and theIsleofTjorn. WhileHarald,intheOrmen,waitedforthetidetoturn, and for a favourable gale, outside the reef; Olaf courageously faced the rocks, scarcely covered by the foaming breakers, but he passed over them unscathed, and thus outstripped his brother. Wherefore, it was allowed, that he should gain the crown of Norway. *8 Returning from his Continental and insular expeditions, knowing that King Canute was far distant from Norway, Olaf
hadthusarrivedinthatcountry. Hisfameasagreatandsuccessfulwarrior
had preceded him. He had also acquired much booty.
When Olaf landed in Norway, his first great desire was to visit his mother
Aasta, and his stepfather Sigurd Syr. He surprised her one day, and at an early hour in the morning; when, full of joy at his approach, she ordered her
servants to make all preparations for honouring her son, whose aspirations to thecrownofNorwaywerenosecrettoher. Messengersweresenttothecorn-
field, where the thrifty Sigurd Syr was out, and superintending the work of his labourers. His dress is described as consisting of a blue kirtle, with blue hose, a grey cloak and a broad-brimmed hat, and having shoes laced about the legs. He had a veil before his face, to keep off the mosquitoes ; while he had a staff in his hand with a silver-gilt head, and a silver ring round it. When he learned that Olaf was about to assert his claim to the crown of Norway, with his usual caution, he hesitated and said : "This means fighting allthepowerofSwedenandDenmark. " However,hiswifeAastahadgreat influence over him, and she was resolved to second her son's ambitious aims. For all Sigurd's objections, she had a ready reply; so that, in fine, his con- sent was rather reluctantly given to take an active part in this contest. Meantime, Olaf approached with one hundred well-armed men, having ban- ners displayed, and a number of the country people crowding to witness this unwonted display. The impetuous Aasta had already prepared a great feast, towhichallthepeoplehadbeenasked. ThehundredwarriorsofOlafwere invited in to partake of meat and drink, and these remained as the guests of Sigurd Syr, who entertained them. Alternately they had, one day fish and milk, and the next day flesh and ale. To do honour in the presence of his stepson Olaf—an aspirant to the throne of Norway—Sigurd dressed himself inhisfinestclothes,andhavingascarletcloakoverall, heputoncorduvan
as its " king.
said " the Ormen Harald,
we shall
meaning serpent—sails fast, but the Oxen sails slow. " Olaf accepted the
However,
change vessels,"
48 "He erected six small watch-towers in
memory of this miracle. Four piles of fallen and disappeared. "—Rev. S. Baring- brickwork remain on Tjorn, called at this Gould's " Lives of the Saints," vol. vii. ,
day S. Olaf's Vardar; two
out of the six have
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 455
ortannedleatherboots,towhichgoldenspurswerebound. Healsogirded on his sword, set a gilded helmet on his head, mounted his horse, and at the head of thirty well dressed men, he arranged to have a body-guard for Olaf. Agricultural labours were now to be laid aside, to undertake the risks of war. Meantime, Olaf made a tour through the Uplands, where he visited all the petty kings and chiefs, who were the largest farmers in each district, so that he might induce them to espouse his cause. He had much difficulty in engaging the services of many; for, they feared the result of a contest, which to them seemed an unequal one, so powerful were the Jarls who ruled over them. Notwithstanding, after considerable hesitation, all the Upland Kings and bonders agreed to draw their men together, and to proclaim Olaf as their
sovereign.
On the voyage to Norway, he had reached the Island called Saelo, which
is interpreted Lucky. 49 This seemed to him a presage for his future happi-
ness. He then said
:
" It is a happy day for me, to have landed on Lucky
Isle. " As they ascended it, the king slipped with one foot in the clay, but
""
he supported himself from falling with the other. Ah," said he, the king
falls. " " Nay," replied his trusty man Rane, " thou didst not fall, O king, but
" It may be so, if God wills it. " Thence he sailed into a place called Sautung- sund, or Ulfasunda, southwards fromSaela, where he remained for some days. Here he learned, that Hacon, son of Eric, and an aspirant for the greater part of Norway, had come with two ships. s° He was a nephew of King Canute. Olaf did not desire a needless effusion of blood ; but, he contrived
an ingenious device to take him prisoner. He had two vessels, and these he anchored at either side of the sound, while he stretched a stout cable between them. Hakon unsuspectingly rowed in between the ships, thinking these were merchant vessels. Then Olaf set his crews to wind the capstan, and to draw the cable up, and from under the keel of Hacon's ship. When the stern was thus lifted, the bows plunged downwards ; water rushed in, and thevesselsank,whilesomeofthecrewweredrowned. EarlHaconand most of his men were then made prisoners. Olaf offered him life and liberty to depart, on swearing that he would leave the country, and never again take armsagainsthim. ThisengagementHaconenteredupon,andtakingthe required oath, he was set free. Afterwards, he went to join his uncle, Canute the Great.
However, Olaf had another opponent to meet, and Jarl Sweyn or Swend nowcollectedanarmytoopposehim. Thisforceamountedto2,000men, whowereassembledatDrontheim. TheymarchedalongtheGualar-daleto surprise and attack Olaf. He had barely time to escape on board his ships, while leaving all his provisions on shore. These were seized by the army of Sweyn. Nothing more was attempted, however, during that winter. In spring, both Olaf and Sweyn prepared for an encounter. The former steered his fleet out from Viken to meet his opponents; since the northern contests were, for the most part, decided at sea. On the Saturday before Palm Sunday, the fleets were near each other, and preparations for a naval combat were made. King Olaf s
wascalledtheCarl's 1 becauseonitsbowwas a Head^ represented king's
only set fast foot in the soil. " Whereupon, the king laughed and said
:
ship
head, which had been carved with his own hands. In his vessels were one
July 29, p. 646.
49 According to Torfaeus, it was situated
about the middle of Norway. See " His-
torise Rerum Norvegicarum," tomus iii. , lib. i. , cap. xx. , p. 34.
5° A northern chronicler thus describes them.
" una parva, quam nos vocamus scuta, altera longa, quam antiqui vocabant liburnam. "
SI This might have been intended for
Charlemagne's Head, and Olaf held that
great Emperor in high veneration, having named his son Magnus after him.
4$6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29,
hundred men, armed with coats of ring-mail, and having foreign helmets. Most of his men had white shields, on which gilt crosses were emblazoned. Some of his men had a cross painted in red or blue. He had the cross painted,inapalecolour,onthefrontofalltheirhelmets. Thiswastosignify, that after the example of Constantine,52 he wished to conquer under that sign of our redemption. On his banner a serpent was figured. He made a religious preparation for this battle. He ordered Mass to be celebrated, and and at this he devoutly assisted. Then having supplied his mariners with meat and drink, he commanded his captains to sound their war-horns, to row forwards to meet the enemy, and to engage at once in battle. A furious struggle ensued, and the crews on both sides fought resolutely. However, this naval engagement was not of long duration. The victory inclined to Olaf,andJarlSweynsoonspreadhissailsinflight. Afterwards,heleftNor- way, and went to Russia, but he did not long survive that discomfiture. Having obtained success against his adversaries, Olaf delivered the people of Norway from the tyranny under which the Swedes and Danes had placed their land. In fine, he was able to assert his right to that throne, and he was received with general acclaim by nearly all his new subjects.
CHAPTER III.
THE INDEPENDENCE OF NORWAY ACHIEVED 15Y OI. AF—HE IS ACKNOWLEDGED AS SOLE KING—HE liKlNGS MISSIONARIKS THERE—HIS ZEAL TO SPREAD RELIGION-HIS ROYAL PROGRESSES—PEACE PROCLAIMED BETWEEN HIMSELF AND THE KING OF SWEDEN—ATTEMPTS TO ASSASSINATE OLAF, KING OF NORWAY—HE MARRIES ASTRIDA—HIS REGAL AND MISSIONARY TOURS—THE BIRTH OF HIS SON MAGNUS— HE INTRODUCES CHRISTIANITY AMONG THE PEOPLE OF GREENLAND, OF ICELAND, AND OF THE FAEROE ISLANDS.
The chiefs and men of Norway, on his arrival there, ranged under his banner,
andtheseproclaimedOlafKingofNorway. Foralongtime,thatcountry hadgroanedundertheyokeoftheSwedishKingOlausIII. , surnamedScot- Konung. The exiled Olaf had now undertaken its deliverance. 1 In the
opening of spring, a. d. 1017, he led an expeditionary force against the
southern and eastern parts of the kingdom. Having gone to Vika, he chased
from it those who had ruled there, in the name of Eric and of Hakon. The
people afterwards paid him tribute, and acknowledged him as their ruler.
The Swedes had occupied Tonsberg and the province of Bahusien ; but, a
certain chief named Thorer, an emissary of the Norway King, excited a popu-
lar tumult there, and the people slew their governor Eilif. Soon the power
of Olaf was established towards the north, at Raumelfa, near Bahusien, while
along the shores and islands, he was favourably received. The surrender of
2
Sarpsburg, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, crowned his triumph.
He was entirely successful, in this war, which lasted during the autumn and winter.
52 See Eusebius, in Vita Constantini, lib. i. , en p. xl.
1
( waiter in. — See Les Petits Bollan-
cap.
pp. 461
Biographic Generale," tome xliv. , col.
625.
» See Rev. Dr. " of Lingard's History
England," vol. i. , chap, v. , p. 237.
"One of these was a Saxon named Alfin, who, when his suit had been rejected in favour of Olaf, challenged the latter to a
James Johnstone's
508.
Antiqui-
According to Matthew of Westminster, per totam Angliam adeo superbiendo duel. According to agreement, this was inualuerunt, quod uxores virorum nobilium
on either et filias vi
when Olafs men were victorious, dere
having killed or wounded dangerously all riarum," p. 391.
with twelve
fought champions,
et — ludibrio tia- opprimere vbique
ride ;
prwsumpserunt,"
&c.
"
Flores Histo-
20 See Rev.
is there referred to 993.
" Among the Poems of the well-known
American Poet W. are Henry Longfellow,
several versified Sagas, relating to Olaf Tryggvason, in Tales of a Wayside Inn.
22 "
With ninety-four
were 22 nor violated,
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 449
invaders were completely taken by surprise. King Ethelred had ordered a general massacre of the Danes, on the same day, and in every district of the land. 2* This mandate was obeyed everywhere by the vengeful chiefs and people; while hatred was so inflamed against the victims, that not only the men, but even the women and children, had their bodies miserably mangled,
2
attheirownfiresidesanddoors. * InLondon,manyfledtothechurchesfor
asylum, but those were pitilessly massacred around the altars. Among the
rest, Gunhilda, sister to Sweyn, had embraced Christianity, and she married Paling, a Northman, who had come to England some years before. Both of
these, with their only son, had been given to Ethelred, as hostages for a peace betweentheEnglishandDanes. 25 Byordersofacruelthane,namedEadric,
to whom those distinguished captives had been consigned, the husband and son of Gunhilda were transfixed with spears, and in her presence. Finally, he ordered her to be decapitated. This iniquitous sentence was borne by Gunhilda with wonderful courage and rare equanimity ; but, before suffering death she declared, that the shedding of her blood should bring ruin upon England. When beheaded, it was remarked afterwards, that her features became composed and placid, as if she had been in a calm slumber.
Her brother Sweyn was only too willing to avenge her death, and that of
hiscountrymen. WhenheheardwhathadoccurredinEngland,hesent
messengers to all his chiefs, to assemble their forces and to prepare their ships.
He even invited pirates and plunderers from distant countries, to join his
expedition, with promises of procuring them plunder and wealth. Sweyn
soon made his appearance and ravaged England, in revenge for the perfidy
and cruelty of King Ethelred. A numerous army had been collected to
oppose him, in 1003 ; but, as the foreigners swarmed like locusts over the
land,
treachery
24 "
26
ibid. , p. 392.
At A. D. 1004, Matthew of Paris writes :
26
and cowardice
the Saxons. — the prevailed among Through
the Norman
been appointed through the influence of Ethelred's wife Emma Sweyn and
his barbarians obtained possession of that town, and thence they penetrated
into the interior of England. The northern fleet entered the port of Sand-
wich, and coasting round East Anglia, those invaders sailed into the mouth
of the Humbert At length, in 1007, Ethelred, by the payment of a heavy
tribute, procured a temporary respite, which he was not able to obtain by
28
Meantime, Olaf was engaged following his pursuits as a marine freebooter andanadventurer; nordoesheappeartohavebeenaChristianatthattime. After many a cruise in his galleys, he landed on the shores of Normandy, where his countrymen, and probably some of his kindred, had already settled on
lands had 2^ The they conquered. ,
or of negligence perfidy Hugo,
governor
of Exete—
force ofarms.
civilizing
now begun to make some progress among them. Twelve years after the
23 "
See Rev. Dr. Lingard's History of
England," vol. i. , chap, v. , pp. 239 to 241.
Sicque Dani, qui firmo fcedere paulo ante vtrinque iurato, cum Anglis pacifice ha- bitare debuerunt, opprobriose nimis sunt perempti, mulieres cum liberis ad domovum postes allisae miserabiliter animas effude- runt. "—"Flores Historiarum," per Mat- thaeum Westmonasteriensem collect! , p. 391.
25 See
tradentes, nee fuit inventus quisquam qui
"
tate inaudita, Angliam totam sicut locustre cooperientes, omnia spoliantes, homines neci
Quo utique anno Dani efcarserunt crudeli-
"
Conquetes des Normands," liv. i. , Paris,
Vol. VII. —No. 8.
1 f
influences of had Christianity
—"Chronica
edited by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. ,
hostibus obviaret. "
Majora,"
vol. i. , p. 481.
s? Matthew of Westminster adds
" a quo flumen Trente ingrediens, ad Gaynesburch villam navigavit, et ibidem nauium suarum stationem composuit. *'—" Flores Historia-
:
28 See Matthew of Paris, -" Chronica Ma-
jora," vol. i. , p. 481. Edited by Henry
Richards Luard, M. A.
29 See Gauttier d'Arc's
rum," ad A. D. , MXIU. rede M. III.
r whohad
Histoire des
450 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
death of King Olaf Tryggveson, for two summers and a winter, Olaf Haraldson coastedroundthewesternshoresofFrance; andoccasionally,wemaysup- pose, he landed on the shores of Normandy, where he received a friendly welcome. The Norman chiefs had traced their descent from the Norwe- gians, and therefore they had kept up friendly relations and alliance with the latter people,* who were able when called upon to send them ships and crews, to strengthen a dominant race, that had now ceased to be colonists. To the time of Olafs arrival in Normandy, about the year 1014,^ it is sup- posedmostprobable,thathehadnotreceivedbaptism; although,aswehave already stated, some accounts of him refer his Christian regeneration to an early period of his life. At that time, when he left England, Robert I. had been Archbishop of Rouen, while Richard II. was Duke of Normandy, and Odo was Count of Carnoet. s* It is generally admitted, by the Icelandic records, that Olaf remained to the spring time of that year in Normandy ; while it is stated, that owing to the influence and persuasion of Milred or Ethelred,andofRoberttheArchbishop,Olafreceivedbaptism. Ithasbeen stated, likewise, that his name had then been changed to James ; however, such a statement does not appear to be correct.
The Danish King Sweyn Forkedbeard had been engaged in England with
a
King Ethelre—d.
of The latter betrayed by some of his own chiefs, and thus
withhisqueen
some accounts
about this— and he had seized
time, upon
—Emmaandhertwosons. Intheautumnof to 1013 according
King Olaf came to England. However, this happened at King 'Sweyn died suddenly at night, in his bed, a. d. 10 14,
powerful army
overpowered wasobligedtoflythecountry,andtotakerefuge—Normandy,
a later period.
and during the first week in February. 33 Ethelred was then in Flanders, and
hearing of Sweyn's death, he prepared at once for a return to England. No sooner had he arrived there, than he invited all to join him, in recovering his rights to that kingdom. Many flocked to his standard. Richard II. , Duke of Normandy, seconded this enterprise. ** Among the rest, King Olaf came to his assistance with a large force of Northmen. Their united enterprise was directed against London, where the Danes had thrown up strong fortifi- cations, on either bank of the Thames. Having united their respective fleets, Olaf and Ethelred sailed their ships into the Thames, and as the Danes held London, which was fortified, and at a place called Sudrvic,35 it was resolved tobesiegethem. Theyhadalreadydugdeepditches,withinwhichtheyhad a bulwark of stone, of turf, and of timber, with a large army to defend it. King Ethelred ordered an assault, which was unsuccessful, for the Danes
bravely repelled it.
1830, 8vo.
30 See Rev.
There was a bridge so broad between the castle and
James Johnstone's
tates Celto-Scandicae ; sive Series Rerum
Gestarum inter Nationes Brittannicarum In- sularum et Gentes Septentrionales," at A. D. 1012,pp. 97,98. Theseaccountsarctaken from Snorro, Land-nama-boc, Egils-Skalla- grimi-Saga, Nials-saga, Olaf-Tiyggvasonar- saga, Orkneyinga-saga, Hriggiar-stiekki, Knytlinga-saga, Speculum Regale, &c. The
chronology however is often defective.
"
Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. vii. ,
July 29, p. 645.
32 Now a commune and town of France,
in the Department of C6tes-du-Nord. See
"Gazetteer of the World," vol. iii. , p.
328.
33 It is related, by Houeden, that having
spoiled St. Edmund's monastery in Suffolk, and in the midst of his nobles, he suddenly cried out, that St. Edmund struck him with a sword, when three days afterwards, and
Anliqui-
31 According to another account, he on the 3rd of February, in great anguish and reached Normandy and spent the winter of torment, his career ended. Some state, he
1016-1017 at Rouen, where he met the sons of Ethelred, who had been expelled from
England by King Canute, after the murder of Edmund Ironside. See Rev. S. Baring-
died at Thetford, while other writers have it
at Gainsborough.
34 See John Speed's "History of Great
Britaine," book vii. , chap, xliiii. . p. 396.
the
in
kingdom
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 451
Southwark, that two waggons could pass each other on it. They raised barricades on that bridge, in the direction of the river and across it. Towers and wooden parapets, nearly breast high, crowned the bridge, under which piles had been driven to the bottom of the river. From that vantage ground, the Danes defended themselves. King Ethelred was very anxious, that the bridge should be broken down ; and, to effect that object, a council of the chiefs was held to devise a suitable plan. Then King Olaf offered to lay his ships alongside of the bridge, provided the English should do so ; and, at length, it was determined to make such an attempt. Each captain of a ship now began to superintend the necessary preparations. Several old houses on the Thames were then pulled down, and floating wood was collected, and while stout pillars were set upright in each ship, a roof of shingles but of great strength was set over those posts, so that the covering reached to the
side. These defences were intended to — the crews from the ship's protect
stones, which the Danes were expected to cast probably from balistae; while there was room enough underneath, for the men to wield their own weapons, and, if necessary, to emerge from their cover for an assault. When all was ready, the united fleet rowed up the river ; but, when the mariners came near the bridge, a shower of stones, arrows, javelins and other weapons assailed them. The crews were greatly galled, and many of the ships were so damaged, that they fell out in the line of battle. However, King Olaf and the Northman fleet—most likely deprived of masts—rowed quite up to and under the bridge, when the* crews laid strong cables around the piles supporting it, and then with all their might, they rowed away down the stream. The piles shaken from their foundations became loose under the bridge, and finally they began to give way. At this time, numbers of armed men stood on the bridge, while heavy heaps of stones and other warlike machines added to the weight. Down sunk the battlements, and a great part of the soldiers fell into the river, while all the rest fled, some into the castle and some into Southwark. Soon afterwards, this place was taken by storm.
When the garrison in the castle saw that they now stood alone, and that a passage had been opened for the ships to the head waters of the Thames,
whom
surrendered to
ever, the Danes were still strong, in other parts of the kingdom, while they retained possession of many cities and towns. King Olaf passed all that winter with King Ethelred, who now seemed to have subjected nearly the whole kingdom. HefoughtagreatbattleatHiringmaraHeath,inUlfkel'sland. 3? Here again the king was victorious. When his father died, Canute, the son
they
Ethelred,
they recognised
8 and his actions must have been
his councillors and chiefs. However, the Danes were still able to cause much uneasinesstoEthelred,beingtheninLindesey,apartofLincolnshire. Mean- time,whenleastexpected,KingEthelredledanarmyagainstthem. Then they were obliged to fly for protection to their ships. The city of Canter- bury was still in the hands of the Danes. Olaf led his army against it and forced their defences. After killing many of the defenders, he burned their castle. On the death of his father, the Danish army proclaimed his son Canute as King of England, in 1014. 39 This was known likewise to have been the intention of Sweyn before his death, as Harold his brother was
of was Sweyn,
very young,3
guided by
3 3 Now Southwark, on the southern bank of the Thames.
"
38 According to the Northern accounts, he was then only ten years of age. See Rev.
35 See Rev.
"
Celto-
James Johnstone's tates Celto-Scandicse," pp. 90 to 92.
37 Somewhere in East Anglia, ; probably Assington, in Essex.
James Johnstone's Scandicse," p. 104.
Antiquitates
Antiqui-
as their 6 How- king. 3
"
poedia of Biography," vol. ii. , col. 69.
39 See Charles Knight's
English Cyclo-
452
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
dead. The Danes had now a difficult task to undertake j for, the Saxon thanes were assembled at London, to deliberate on the state of affairs, when
they resolved, that the juncture was favourable for recovery of their independ- ence, and it was agreed, that Ethelred should forgive all past offences, that he should govern according to law, and abide on all great occasions by the advice of his great council. On their part, the thanes swore to support his authority, and never to be subject to any Danish monarch. In order to main- tain their cause, the Danish chiefs in England sent messengers to Denmark,
for reinforcements of men; but, they advised, that as their king was still too young and unskilled in warfare, he should select a leader and forward as many warriorsascouldbemustered. Accordingly,Canutefollowedtheiradvice, and for three years after he had been proclaimed king, he resided in Den- mark. Attheendofthistime,sendingmessengerstoNorway,theysought Jarl Eric, his relative, who was ambitious of military glory, and who had alreadyprovedhisvalourintworemarkableengagements. Ericthenlevied a large force, and with him Canute sailed for England.
Olaf had been entrusted with the land defences of England, and he coasted roundthecountrywithhiswarships. HemettheDanesoncemoreatNew Romney,40 and he was successful in the battle he there fought. 41 Ethelred ordered, that Olaf should be paid for his assistance 21,000*, or, as some say, 30,000 pounds. To collect this sum, Olaf was allowed to overrun the country, extorting it from the people, while engaged murdering and burning where that tax was refused.
The death of Ethelred occurred on the 23rd of April, a. d.
1016. 42 ByhisfirstwifeElfleda,hehadthreesonswhosurvivedhim,Edmund, Edwy, and Athelstan ; while, by his second wife Emma, he left two other—s,
Edward and Alfred. The eldest of eitherforhisstrengthorowingtohisarmour wasremarkableforhisvalour.
— surnamed Ironside these, Edmund,
Being in London, at the time of his father's death, he was immediately pro- claimed king by the citizens.
Now Olaf had sailed away from England with his fleet, in quest of other objects to reward his ambition. He sought the coast of Normandy, and he sailed as a pirate along the western shores of France, until he arrived at the mouth of the Garonne, waiting for a favourable wind to sail for the coast of Spain, and to enter the Straits of Gibraltar, so that he might visit Jerusa- lem. 4^
The stronghold of the Saxon King Edmund Ironside was London, while Canute was stationed at Southampton, where the southern thanes very unwillingly submitted to his power. The latter king had collected a fleet of three hundred and forty vessels, at the mouth of the Thames, and each carried on an
4 which
men. ThesiegeofLondonnowcommenced,thecitizensandgarrisonrefus- ing to submit, and these prepared for a stubborn resistance. Edmund and his brother escaped in a boat through the Danish fleet, in order to levy a land force to relieve the city. Leaving a detachment to carry on the siege, Canute now marched to meet Edmund and the army he had collected. A desperate battle was fought at Scearstan, and night alone put an end to the contest ; but, in the morning, Canute was in retreat and on the march to London, when Edmund having repaired his
average eighty,*
brought
his unitedforce to about thousand twenty-seven
40 Nyamode, probably New Komney
Britaine," book vii. , chap, xliv. , p. 397.
*3 See Kev. S. " Lives of Baring-Gould's
the Saints," vol. vii. , July 29, pp. 644, 645.
44 Such is the information given by Dit- mar. Bishop of Mersburgh, who received it this same year from an acquaintance,
others
suppose Newport,
; in the Isle of
Wight
41 See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of
the Saints," vol. vii. , July 29, pp. 638 to
43
See John Speed's "History of Great
July 29. ] LIV&S OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 453
lossescloselyfollowedhim. AsecondbattlewasfoughtatBrentford,and Canute having failed in an assault on the city raised the siege. . Having then
pillaged the neighbouring country, Edmund overtook the plunderers at Oxford, where they were again defeated. Edmund had sent a challenge to
Canute, offering to decide the issue between them by single combat, but it was declined. Afterwards, the Danish fleet sailed for the Isle of Sheppy. Soon, however, Canute landed on the coast of Essex, and Edmund then met his army at Assington. But treachery or cowardice was in the Saxon ranks, when a chief named Edric fled with his division, at the first onset. However, the other two divisions of Edmund's army fought with desperate bravery, from threeo'clockintheafternoonuntilsundown; when,aftergreatslaughteron bothsides,theSaxonsfledineverydirection. Almostalltheirwesternnobi- lity perished. The Danes buried their own dead ; then stripping the bodies of the English, these were left naked on the field. Edmund now retreated towards Gloucester ; but, while waiting the result of another battle, a com- promise had been effected by the rival kings and their chiefs. It was agreed, to divide the kingdom between them ; so that, while Mercia and Northum- bria had been assigned to Canute, Edmund was recognised as supreme kingr the rest of England having been left under his rule. Within a month after this treaty, and after a short disturbed reign of only seven months, Edmund is said to have been assassinated; but, the particulars of his death have been variedly stated,noraretheywithanygreatdegreeofcertaintyknown. Helefttwo infant sons, Edward and Edmund. After the death of Edmund, Canute became sole King of England, in 1017 ; and, of all his possessions, he chose thatcountrytobehisusualplaceofresidence. 4^ Duringthefirstyearsof his reign, he had been cruel, suspicious and tyrannical ; but, when all rivals who laid claim to the throne had been removed, he ruled with mildness, and for the most part with justice. He was remarkable too for his piety and zeal in the interests of religion. He gained the affection of his subjects, while he won universal esteem among foreigners. His reign lasted for about twenty years.
While Olaf was in Normandy, it is related, that he saw in a dream one
night a gigantic man, who warned him, that he must return to Norway, where he should receive his crown. After this, he went northwards, and on his way, it is said, that he plundered and burned Parthenay. It has been stated, that Olaf extended his conquests not alone to Normandy, but even to
the shores of and of Spain
6 While Olaf was in
a. d. hetheremetEdwardtheConfessor,4? whodesiredtoasserthisrighttothe throneofEngland,whichCanutehadusurped. ToengageOlaf'said,he was promised the territory of Northumberland, in case of success. Yet, nothing of consequence resulted, although Olaf was enabled to realize some
booty, during his piratical descents, on that province. In the spring of 1017, Olaf essayed an attempt, on the south-west coast of England. There, however, he made very little impression ; but, soon afterwards, his ardent and active mind was bent on an adventure, which promised him a chance of success.
Finding this period of Danish depression favourable to his enterprise,
45 See Charles " Knight's
received at the Court of Solomon,
English Cyclo- poedia of Biography," vol. vii. , col. 69.
hospitably
46 See Michaud's "
selle Ancienne et Moderne," tome xxxi. , p. 22. 1.
King of Hungary. The sons of King Ethel-
by queen
Edward ; these fled into Normandy, to avoid the cruelty of Canute. See Matthaei Pari- siensis, Monachi Sancti Albani, "Chronica
Biographie
Univer-
red, his Emma, were Alfred and
Italy. *
Normandy,
1017,
47 By Canute, King of England, Eadward
and his brother Eadwin, sons of Edmund Majora," vol. i. , A. D. 1017, p. 501. Edited Ironside, had been banished, and they were by Henry Richards Luard.
454 LIVES OF 1HE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
and desirous of recovering the prestige of his family, the expelled Olaf, son to Harald, King of Norway, is stated to have resolved on returning to his
own country. However, before doing so, according to some accounts, he landed in England, where he had an interview with a hermit, who was a man of holy life and conversation. He had the gift of prophecy, likewise, and he is said to have predicted much of what should happen to Olaf, and even to have manifested the sort of death he should endure, before departing to Christ. A curious story is told, that while Olaf was in Northumbria, and accompanied by his brother Harald, they both agreed to sail for Norway in different vessels, and whosoever should first arrive there was to be recognised
—
proposal, and he waited even to assist at Mass, before weighing anchor ; while Harald, on the contrary, set sail at once, and now sure of success, he
pursued his course exultingly in the open sea. Notwithstanding the odds, both the brothers seem to have arrived nearly at the same time off Kyrkesund. It was surrounded by a reef of rocks, but within there was calm water, and theIsleofTjorn. WhileHarald,intheOrmen,waitedforthetidetoturn, and for a favourable gale, outside the reef; Olaf courageously faced the rocks, scarcely covered by the foaming breakers, but he passed over them unscathed, and thus outstripped his brother. Wherefore, it was allowed, that he should gain the crown of Norway. *8 Returning from his Continental and insular expeditions, knowing that King Canute was far distant from Norway, Olaf
hadthusarrivedinthatcountry. Hisfameasagreatandsuccessfulwarrior
had preceded him. He had also acquired much booty.
When Olaf landed in Norway, his first great desire was to visit his mother
Aasta, and his stepfather Sigurd Syr. He surprised her one day, and at an early hour in the morning; when, full of joy at his approach, she ordered her
servants to make all preparations for honouring her son, whose aspirations to thecrownofNorwaywerenosecrettoher. Messengersweresenttothecorn-
field, where the thrifty Sigurd Syr was out, and superintending the work of his labourers. His dress is described as consisting of a blue kirtle, with blue hose, a grey cloak and a broad-brimmed hat, and having shoes laced about the legs. He had a veil before his face, to keep off the mosquitoes ; while he had a staff in his hand with a silver-gilt head, and a silver ring round it. When he learned that Olaf was about to assert his claim to the crown of Norway, with his usual caution, he hesitated and said : "This means fighting allthepowerofSwedenandDenmark. " However,hiswifeAastahadgreat influence over him, and she was resolved to second her son's ambitious aims. For all Sigurd's objections, she had a ready reply; so that, in fine, his con- sent was rather reluctantly given to take an active part in this contest. Meantime, Olaf approached with one hundred well-armed men, having ban- ners displayed, and a number of the country people crowding to witness this unwonted display. The impetuous Aasta had already prepared a great feast, towhichallthepeoplehadbeenasked. ThehundredwarriorsofOlafwere invited in to partake of meat and drink, and these remained as the guests of Sigurd Syr, who entertained them. Alternately they had, one day fish and milk, and the next day flesh and ale. To do honour in the presence of his stepson Olaf—an aspirant to the throne of Norway—Sigurd dressed himself inhisfinestclothes,andhavingascarletcloakoverall, heputoncorduvan
as its " king.
said " the Ormen Harald,
we shall
meaning serpent—sails fast, but the Oxen sails slow. " Olaf accepted the
However,
change vessels,"
48 "He erected six small watch-towers in
memory of this miracle. Four piles of fallen and disappeared. "—Rev. S. Baring- brickwork remain on Tjorn, called at this Gould's " Lives of the Saints," vol. vii. ,
day S. Olaf's Vardar; two
out of the six have
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 455
ortannedleatherboots,towhichgoldenspurswerebound. Healsogirded on his sword, set a gilded helmet on his head, mounted his horse, and at the head of thirty well dressed men, he arranged to have a body-guard for Olaf. Agricultural labours were now to be laid aside, to undertake the risks of war. Meantime, Olaf made a tour through the Uplands, where he visited all the petty kings and chiefs, who were the largest farmers in each district, so that he might induce them to espouse his cause. He had much difficulty in engaging the services of many; for, they feared the result of a contest, which to them seemed an unequal one, so powerful were the Jarls who ruled over them. Notwithstanding, after considerable hesitation, all the Upland Kings and bonders agreed to draw their men together, and to proclaim Olaf as their
sovereign.
On the voyage to Norway, he had reached the Island called Saelo, which
is interpreted Lucky. 49 This seemed to him a presage for his future happi-
ness. He then said
:
" It is a happy day for me, to have landed on Lucky
Isle. " As they ascended it, the king slipped with one foot in the clay, but
""
he supported himself from falling with the other. Ah," said he, the king
falls. " " Nay," replied his trusty man Rane, " thou didst not fall, O king, but
" It may be so, if God wills it. " Thence he sailed into a place called Sautung- sund, or Ulfasunda, southwards fromSaela, where he remained for some days. Here he learned, that Hacon, son of Eric, and an aspirant for the greater part of Norway, had come with two ships. s° He was a nephew of King Canute. Olaf did not desire a needless effusion of blood ; but, he contrived
an ingenious device to take him prisoner. He had two vessels, and these he anchored at either side of the sound, while he stretched a stout cable between them. Hakon unsuspectingly rowed in between the ships, thinking these were merchant vessels. Then Olaf set his crews to wind the capstan, and to draw the cable up, and from under the keel of Hacon's ship. When the stern was thus lifted, the bows plunged downwards ; water rushed in, and thevesselsank,whilesomeofthecrewweredrowned. EarlHaconand most of his men were then made prisoners. Olaf offered him life and liberty to depart, on swearing that he would leave the country, and never again take armsagainsthim. ThisengagementHaconenteredupon,andtakingthe required oath, he was set free. Afterwards, he went to join his uncle, Canute the Great.
However, Olaf had another opponent to meet, and Jarl Sweyn or Swend nowcollectedanarmytoopposehim. Thisforceamountedto2,000men, whowereassembledatDrontheim. TheymarchedalongtheGualar-daleto surprise and attack Olaf. He had barely time to escape on board his ships, while leaving all his provisions on shore. These were seized by the army of Sweyn. Nothing more was attempted, however, during that winter. In spring, both Olaf and Sweyn prepared for an encounter. The former steered his fleet out from Viken to meet his opponents; since the northern contests were, for the most part, decided at sea. On the Saturday before Palm Sunday, the fleets were near each other, and preparations for a naval combat were made. King Olaf s
wascalledtheCarl's 1 becauseonitsbowwas a Head^ represented king's
only set fast foot in the soil. " Whereupon, the king laughed and said
:
ship
head, which had been carved with his own hands. In his vessels were one
July 29, p. 646.
49 According to Torfaeus, it was situated
about the middle of Norway. See " His-
torise Rerum Norvegicarum," tomus iii. , lib. i. , cap. xx. , p. 34.
5° A northern chronicler thus describes them.
" una parva, quam nos vocamus scuta, altera longa, quam antiqui vocabant liburnam. "
SI This might have been intended for
Charlemagne's Head, and Olaf held that
great Emperor in high veneration, having named his son Magnus after him.
4$6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29,
hundred men, armed with coats of ring-mail, and having foreign helmets. Most of his men had white shields, on which gilt crosses were emblazoned. Some of his men had a cross painted in red or blue. He had the cross painted,inapalecolour,onthefrontofalltheirhelmets. Thiswastosignify, that after the example of Constantine,52 he wished to conquer under that sign of our redemption. On his banner a serpent was figured. He made a religious preparation for this battle. He ordered Mass to be celebrated, and and at this he devoutly assisted. Then having supplied his mariners with meat and drink, he commanded his captains to sound their war-horns, to row forwards to meet the enemy, and to engage at once in battle. A furious struggle ensued, and the crews on both sides fought resolutely. However, this naval engagement was not of long duration. The victory inclined to Olaf,andJarlSweynsoonspreadhissailsinflight. Afterwards,heleftNor- way, and went to Russia, but he did not long survive that discomfiture. Having obtained success against his adversaries, Olaf delivered the people of Norway from the tyranny under which the Swedes and Danes had placed their land. In fine, he was able to assert his right to that throne, and he was received with general acclaim by nearly all his new subjects.
CHAPTER III.
THE INDEPENDENCE OF NORWAY ACHIEVED 15Y OI. AF—HE IS ACKNOWLEDGED AS SOLE KING—HE liKlNGS MISSIONARIKS THERE—HIS ZEAL TO SPREAD RELIGION-HIS ROYAL PROGRESSES—PEACE PROCLAIMED BETWEEN HIMSELF AND THE KING OF SWEDEN—ATTEMPTS TO ASSASSINATE OLAF, KING OF NORWAY—HE MARRIES ASTRIDA—HIS REGAL AND MISSIONARY TOURS—THE BIRTH OF HIS SON MAGNUS— HE INTRODUCES CHRISTIANITY AMONG THE PEOPLE OF GREENLAND, OF ICELAND, AND OF THE FAEROE ISLANDS.
The chiefs and men of Norway, on his arrival there, ranged under his banner,
andtheseproclaimedOlafKingofNorway. Foralongtime,thatcountry hadgroanedundertheyokeoftheSwedishKingOlausIII. , surnamedScot- Konung. The exiled Olaf had now undertaken its deliverance. 1 In the
opening of spring, a. d. 1017, he led an expeditionary force against the
southern and eastern parts of the kingdom. Having gone to Vika, he chased
from it those who had ruled there, in the name of Eric and of Hakon. The
people afterwards paid him tribute, and acknowledged him as their ruler.
The Swedes had occupied Tonsberg and the province of Bahusien ; but, a
certain chief named Thorer, an emissary of the Norway King, excited a popu-
lar tumult there, and the people slew their governor Eilif. Soon the power
of Olaf was established towards the north, at Raumelfa, near Bahusien, while
along the shores and islands, he was favourably received. The surrender of
2
Sarpsburg, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, crowned his triumph.
He was entirely successful, in this war, which lasted during the autumn and winter.
52 See Eusebius, in Vita Constantini, lib. i. , en p. xl.
1
( waiter in. — See Les Petits Bollan-
cap.
