21 ' The Saga of King Olaf, in the Heims-
kringla narrates the circumstances rather differently.
kringla narrates the circumstances rather differently.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
i.
, \v.
484
to
4S6.
480 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[July 29.
tains thai rimmed the east. 6 As customary in those days, an Icelandic scald, named Thormod, followed the king's fortunes, with a desire to celebrate his actions and virtues in Norse song. To the profession of bard, he united that of vocalist. He was awake when Olaf arose; but, the latter did not chose to disturb his soldiers from their slumbers. However, he asked Thormod for a song. Then his scald began to sing the grand old battle song of the North, and known as the Biarkamal, in a loud voice, and with great spirit. Soon the familiar strains sounded on their ears, when all the warriors awoke and listened. To reward the scald, Olaf took off a gold ring and gave it to him. Then Thormod thanked him for the
:
and he said
good king; but, it is not safe to say, how long he shall live. It is my prayer, sire, that you should never part from me, either in life or in death. " The king answered: "We shall go together, so long as I rule, and you shall follow
:
me. " Thormod then replied " I hope, sire, that whether in safety, or in
danger, I may stand near you. "* Then, he entoned a song, in which he pro- mised fidelity to his king, and that he should be true unto death. The warriors around applauded the scald, and thanked him for the lays he sang.
The night before the king and his rebellious subjects met for that final
encounter, the Lord Jesus appeared to Olaf in a vision, and He spoke these
:
words "Approachtome,mybeloved,thatyoumaygainthesweetfruitof
all your labours, enjoying my presence through a glorious eternity. " At the same time, Olaf beheld a ladder, as it were reaching to the highest heaven, whereby he was destined to ascend to that kingdom of glory. This vision
afforded him great consolation, and he felt perfectly resigned for the issue of that combat awaiting him. 8 Before the battle had commenced, a pagan, named Arnliot Geillina, offered to fight for the king. He was a handsome andawell-armedman,butOlafaskedifhewereaChristian. ThenArnliot
:
answered " My faith has hitherto been to believe in my own power and
strength, and a very satisfactory faith I found it ; but, I am not indisposed, sire,tobelieveinyou. " ThensaidOlaf:"Ifyouputfaithinme,youmust also put faith in what I will teach you. You must believe that Jesus Christ has made heaven and earth and all mankind, and to him shall all those who are and
rightly believing go
gift,
after death. " Arnliot " I have replied :
good
indeed heard of the White Christ, but I neither know what he proposes, nor what he rules over ; but now, I will believe all thou desirest, and lay my lot inthyhands. " ThenthekinghastilytaughthimsomuchoftheFaithashe could, within the few minutes at his disposal, and Arnliot was baptized. Thereupon, the warrior took his place in the host. 9
The king afterwards ordered his soldiers into their positions, addressed
his army, and desired them to prepare for battle. Owing to want
of rest, Olaf felt fatigued, and having commanded a halt, he sat down, laying his head upon the marshal's knee. He then slept, but only for a short time. Soon the bonders came in sight, with their banners and flags floating in the breeze. While the king was sleeping, and before his enemies approached, the chief marshal of his army, named Phin or Finn, aroused him from sleep.
:
Then, drawing a sigh, Olaf said " O what have you done? Methought I
had ascended to the top of a ladder, which reached to the stars, and that heaven was about to open, so that I should enter it, had you not awakened
5 Somewhat differently runs the account as given by Theodric, the monk of Nidro- sia, in his Life of St. Olaf, cap. xix.
" Lives cf
Baring-Gould's
the Saints," vol. vii. , July 29, p. 66S.
7 In the Fosthbnethra the of Saga, history
this Thormod and of his foster-brother is
given.
K See the Acta Brevia S. Olavi, published
by the Bollandists, cap. i. , num. io.
9 See Rev. S. " Lives of Baring-Gould's
the Saints," vol. vii. , July 26, pp. 670,
671.
,0 Adam of Baemen continues: 'Tost*
6 Sec Rev. S.
" We have a
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 481
me. "10 ThenFinnlookedverygrave,forhethoughtthedreamindicatedthe king's approaching death, even though it should lead to an immortal life of happiness. While the king's forces confronted those of his rebellious sub- jects, one Thorgill, who lived in that place, offered his services as a warrior. The pious monarch answered, however, that it should be better to reserve himself as a non-combatant, to aid the wounded during the fight, and to bury the dead after it. Moreover, Olaf besought him to take care of his own corpse should he fall in battle, and if Thorgill were allowed to do so by his enemies. This Thorgill solemnly promised.
One of the most remarkable incidents of this campaign was the circum-
stance, that brothers were opposed to brothers, as often happens in the case
of civil war. For a long time, the brother of Finn Arneson, named Kalf, had
served King Olaf; but, he had been seduced from his allegiance, owing to
the presents and promises of King Canute. Even at that moment, when the
opposing forces drew together, for the purpose of engaging in battle, the good
King Olaf desiring peace went out before his vanguard, and addressed him-
self to Kalf, who stood in the front line of his enemies' ranks. u Why art thou
"
there, O Kalf ?
J'
Have we not, when last we parted, saluted
said the king.
each other as friends ? Nor is it just, when four of your brothers fight on our side, that your arms should be directed against us. " Whereupon, Kalf
:
answered "Manythingsthatarewrong,nowhappen byyourlatedesertion
;
of us, we were compelled by necessity to be at peace with those who remained.
Therefore, let each one defend the ground that remains to him. Had I mine own wish to consult, I should be at peace with you. " Then said the king :
" O Possibly,
Kalf, you
wish for ; but, our citizens do not show them- peace
However, these efforts to procure a respite were
selves disposed for it. "
11
tried for one
vainly ; Sigurd,
a Danish 12 who was in the interests of Bishop,
Canute, spoke in a seditious manner. ^ Then, all hope of reconciliation was soon at an end.
When the onset was about to take place, a brave warrior, named Biorn, carried the king's standard. One Thorer Hund led the first column, on the side of the rebels, and he wore a coat of rein-deer skin over his coat of mail. On the side of Olaf, the army now only waited the signal to engage. His
1 rallying cry was, "Forward, soldiers of Christ, of the cross, and of the king. *
In the very first charge, the king's standard-bearer Biorn fell by the hand of Thorer Hund, who had aimed at the king. The latter exchanged blows with
him, wounding him in the hand, and striking him across the shoulders, but his coat of mail seems to have been impenetrable. ^ Then Olaf exclaimed
quam visionem vidit Rex circumventus a suis
Baggonibus, quorum maximus et prsecipuus
seleris auctor erat, ut fertur, quidam nomine
listen to any advice or terms offered by their
king.
" He is different from one so named, who
Calf bonde, occiditur et martyrio corona- fled with Olaf from Norway. Oth—er autho-
tur. " rities—such as Johannes Magnus
call this
11
Theodric the monk of Nidrosia some-
what differently relates this matter, by stat-
Bishop Trugill.
,3 See Torfeus' " Historia Rerum Norve-
ing, that when both armies were about to gicarum," tomus iii. , lib. iii. , cap. vii. , pp.
engage, the king sent Finn, brother to Kalf,
sothathe offertermsof onthe might peace,
basis of forgetting all past injuries, and of pardoning all former offences on both sides.
The
shed and to civil wars, while he desired to stay his hand, should reasonable counsels prevail. However, a contrary spirit seemed to pervade the rebel forces, nor would they
195 to 197.
'4 Hewasthe first to afor- inaugurate
inula, which afterwards had been adopted by the Crusaders, at the Council of Cler-
king
declared himself averse to blood-
in See Midland's " mont, 1096.
Biographie Universelle Ancienne et Moderne," tome
xxxi. , p. 221.
,s According to the Saga of Olafi Hinom
Helga, cap. ccxl. See
"
Heimskringla cur fn
482 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
to Biorn : "Do thou kill the dog, on whom steel doth not bite. " Then
Biorn turned round the battle-axe in his hands, and he gave Thorer a blow
with the hammer-end, and on the shoulder. It was so hard, that Thorer
tottered, but immediately recovering, he drove his spear right through the
stone, throwing down his sword, and praying God to help him. Instantly,
J
Finn Arneson killed Thorstein. 7 While the king lay bleeding and faint,
Thorer Hund aimed a stroke at him with his spear, which lodged below his coat of mail and entered the belly. One of the chief leaders of the peasant
and he now
approached, Having been mortally wounded, and Olaf's sword having fallen from his hand, he was slain in that
battle, by one of the enemy's chiefs, as generally related. It is said, that Thorer Hund afterwards then went to where the king's dead body lay, and then stretch- ing it out on the ground, he spread a cloak over it. He afterwards declared, that when he wiped away blood from the king's face, it looked beautiful and serene even in death. There was red on the cheeks, as if the holy man were
body
Biorn, exclaiming :
18 was Kalf
dealing a death-blow on the left side of the neck.
army,
at the battle of
Stiklestad,
Arneson,
" Thus I kill bears. " 16 The manifested his king
of
usual valour in this engagement, and in the front ranks of his men, Olaf wielded a two-handed sword. He cut one Thorgeir of Quiststad across the face, and slashed off the nose-piece of his helmet, cleaving his head down below the eyes, so that they fell out. —In the beginning of this fight, the king received a stroke from a battle-axe which the Norwegians were*accus- tomed to wield—and this was dealt him in the left thigh above the knee, by one Thorstein, a bonder. After this wound, the king staggered towards a
1 ? When one of the
the king and his standard-bearer had fallen, he boldly raised the banner once more, and shouted to the army, to avenge their monarch's death, and to leave no bloodless victory to their adversaries. Whereupon, fired with his enthu- siasm, the soldiers levelled their arms, and forming a close body, they charged twice or thrice through the thickest ranks, mowing down many of their enemies.
The Icelandic scald, Thormod, was placed under King Olafs banner in that encounter. When the king had fallen, the battle was raging, so that all the king'smenwereeitherkilledorwounded. Thormodwasseverelywounded, andhefellback,whenthesurvivorsretreated. Then,therere-guard,headed by Dagr, rushed forward over the ground, strewn with dead, and endeavoured by their desperate courage to retrieve the fortunes of the day. Thormod stepped aside weary and faint. As he stood thus, an arrow struck him in the left side, but he broke off the shaft of that arrow. lie then went out of the ranks, and up towards the firm of Sticklastad, where the wounded were being attended to in a large barn. Thormod held a drawn sword in his hand. As
: hewentthither,hemetaman,namedKimbe,comingout,whosaid "The
wounded in there howl and scream with pain, and bear their wounds very
" Wert thou in the battle too ? " " I was with the
only sleeping.
leaders, Dagr,
a kinsman to saw that Olaf,
ill. " Thormod then said
bonders, which was the best side," said he. u And art thou wounded any way ? "
16
It appears, that Biorn signifies "a land, and Ireland. " The Norwegians in
bear," in the Norse language.
17 See Thormod Torfaeus' " Historke Re-
Scotland, sect, v. , p. 222.
*» See the Saga of" Olaf] Hinom Ilelga,
rum Norvegicarum," Pars Tertia, lib. iii. , cap. viii. , p. 199.
cap. ccxlii. , in "
Ileimskringla
edr Noregs
" See A. Worsaae's "Account of the J. J.
Konunga-Sogor," tomus ii. . p. 371.
:
said Thormod, "A little/' answered the man, who asked, "And hast thou been
" I was with them who had the best cause. " Noregs Konunga-Sogor," tomus ii. , p. 368. Danes and Norwegians in England, Scot-
in the battle ? " Thormod
"Art thou wounded? '' asked the man. "Not much to signify," replied
replied,
-° Then the woman
"
Why do you
said,
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 483 Thormod. As the man saw that Thormod had a heavy gold ring on his
arm—it was that him in the given
St. Olaf—he " Thou art said,
morning by
certainly a king's man. Give me thy gold ring, and I will hide thee. The
bonders will kill thee, if thou fallest in their way. " Thormod answered,
" Take the ring, if thou canst get it. I have lost what is more dear to me
than a ring. " Kimbe stretched out his hand, and wanted to take the ring ;
bul,swinginghissword,Thormodcutoffhishand. Then,Kimbescreamed
and howled as badly as any whom he had been blaming. He then went off,
when Thormod sat down in the barn, and listened to what people were saying.
The conversation turned on what each had seen in the battle. While some
praised King Olaf, others spoke against him. Thormod went out, and
entered into a chamber apart. In this, there were many wounded men, and
with them a woman, who was binding their wounds. There was fire upon
the floor, at which she warmed water, to wash and cleanse them from blood.
Thormod went to a pillar and stood leaning against it. The girl then said
"
expired.
speaks
King
Are you one of the king's men, or do you belong to the bonders'
a 20 and soon after it he stave,
to him, side? " In
21
22
Icelander.
it should command love and reverence in men of heroic minds, while willing todieastheyhadlivedfaithfultohisinterestsandcause. ,
According to one account, the battle so fiercely contested, with great bravery on both sides, was protracted to the evening, and night only separated the combatants. It is stated, likewise, that neither side had greatly the
advantage over the other, while both parted, owing chiefly to the loss of men
nurse-girl looked at him in the face and said,
to her he question,
sang loyal
reply
Thus died this brave and
well for
heart. It
Olaf, that he could have inspired such affection in the soul of that gallant
Nothing seems so indicative of a great man's character, as that
not let your wound be dressed, if you are hurt? " Thormod answered, "I have a woundwhich none bind Then
'
is this man— art thou why
may up. "
she who was heating the water said to him,
said,
' Letmesee Thereupon
"
less ? If you are wounded, let your sore—be
Why are you so pale, man, and so colour-
attended to. " But Thormod answered
but could not find where the iron had penetrated. In a stone pot she had stirred together andboiled leeks andother herbs. These she gave the wounded men to eat, through which means she discovered if the wounds had penetrated into the belly; for if the wound had gone so deep, it would smell through of the leek. She brought some of this broth now to Thormod, and ' Takeit away, I have no appetite for my broth. ' Then she took a large pair of tongs, and But the verse was not completed by him, tried to pull out the iron ; but, it sat too
" I am not ruddy, the ruddy youths Readiest tend the tender maids.
Far in, deep-dyed in blood, Stands in my wound the spear That struck me, fair faced ! The trace of the rushing storm Of swift weapons burns me. "
And when he had sung that stanza, leaning against the pillar, he fell dead to the earth.
Ilarald Sigurd's son having added the words
"
burns me. " According to the Fostbraethra Saga, sect. ii.
21 ' The Saga of King Olaf, in the Heims-
kringla narrates the circumstances rather differently. It is said, that Thormod re-
joiced at the arrow having pierced him, for now that Olaf was dead, he had no wish to live. ''Thormod stood up and went in towards the fire, and stood there awhile.
woman said to him, ' Go young out,
The
man, and bring in some of the split firewood which lies close beside the door. ' He went out and brought in an armful of wood, which he threw down upon the floor, Then the
out,
mod leaned back and died. " Saga vii.
:
of iron was in
it,
Dreadfully pale
so? ' . . . Andshe
thy wound, and I will bind it. '
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.
484
to
4S6.
480 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[July 29.
tains thai rimmed the east. 6 As customary in those days, an Icelandic scald, named Thormod, followed the king's fortunes, with a desire to celebrate his actions and virtues in Norse song. To the profession of bard, he united that of vocalist. He was awake when Olaf arose; but, the latter did not chose to disturb his soldiers from their slumbers. However, he asked Thormod for a song. Then his scald began to sing the grand old battle song of the North, and known as the Biarkamal, in a loud voice, and with great spirit. Soon the familiar strains sounded on their ears, when all the warriors awoke and listened. To reward the scald, Olaf took off a gold ring and gave it to him. Then Thormod thanked him for the
:
and he said
good king; but, it is not safe to say, how long he shall live. It is my prayer, sire, that you should never part from me, either in life or in death. " The king answered: "We shall go together, so long as I rule, and you shall follow
:
me. " Thormod then replied " I hope, sire, that whether in safety, or in
danger, I may stand near you. "* Then, he entoned a song, in which he pro- mised fidelity to his king, and that he should be true unto death. The warriors around applauded the scald, and thanked him for the lays he sang.
The night before the king and his rebellious subjects met for that final
encounter, the Lord Jesus appeared to Olaf in a vision, and He spoke these
:
words "Approachtome,mybeloved,thatyoumaygainthesweetfruitof
all your labours, enjoying my presence through a glorious eternity. " At the same time, Olaf beheld a ladder, as it were reaching to the highest heaven, whereby he was destined to ascend to that kingdom of glory. This vision
afforded him great consolation, and he felt perfectly resigned for the issue of that combat awaiting him. 8 Before the battle had commenced, a pagan, named Arnliot Geillina, offered to fight for the king. He was a handsome andawell-armedman,butOlafaskedifhewereaChristian. ThenArnliot
:
answered " My faith has hitherto been to believe in my own power and
strength, and a very satisfactory faith I found it ; but, I am not indisposed, sire,tobelieveinyou. " ThensaidOlaf:"Ifyouputfaithinme,youmust also put faith in what I will teach you. You must believe that Jesus Christ has made heaven and earth and all mankind, and to him shall all those who are and
rightly believing go
gift,
after death. " Arnliot " I have replied :
good
indeed heard of the White Christ, but I neither know what he proposes, nor what he rules over ; but now, I will believe all thou desirest, and lay my lot inthyhands. " ThenthekinghastilytaughthimsomuchoftheFaithashe could, within the few minutes at his disposal, and Arnliot was baptized. Thereupon, the warrior took his place in the host. 9
The king afterwards ordered his soldiers into their positions, addressed
his army, and desired them to prepare for battle. Owing to want
of rest, Olaf felt fatigued, and having commanded a halt, he sat down, laying his head upon the marshal's knee. He then slept, but only for a short time. Soon the bonders came in sight, with their banners and flags floating in the breeze. While the king was sleeping, and before his enemies approached, the chief marshal of his army, named Phin or Finn, aroused him from sleep.
:
Then, drawing a sigh, Olaf said " O what have you done? Methought I
had ascended to the top of a ladder, which reached to the stars, and that heaven was about to open, so that I should enter it, had you not awakened
5 Somewhat differently runs the account as given by Theodric, the monk of Nidro- sia, in his Life of St. Olaf, cap. xix.
" Lives cf
Baring-Gould's
the Saints," vol. vii. , July 29, p. 66S.
7 In the Fosthbnethra the of Saga, history
this Thormod and of his foster-brother is
given.
K See the Acta Brevia S. Olavi, published
by the Bollandists, cap. i. , num. io.
9 See Rev. S. " Lives of Baring-Gould's
the Saints," vol. vii. , July 26, pp. 670,
671.
,0 Adam of Baemen continues: 'Tost*
6 Sec Rev. S.
" We have a
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 481
me. "10 ThenFinnlookedverygrave,forhethoughtthedreamindicatedthe king's approaching death, even though it should lead to an immortal life of happiness. While the king's forces confronted those of his rebellious sub- jects, one Thorgill, who lived in that place, offered his services as a warrior. The pious monarch answered, however, that it should be better to reserve himself as a non-combatant, to aid the wounded during the fight, and to bury the dead after it. Moreover, Olaf besought him to take care of his own corpse should he fall in battle, and if Thorgill were allowed to do so by his enemies. This Thorgill solemnly promised.
One of the most remarkable incidents of this campaign was the circum-
stance, that brothers were opposed to brothers, as often happens in the case
of civil war. For a long time, the brother of Finn Arneson, named Kalf, had
served King Olaf; but, he had been seduced from his allegiance, owing to
the presents and promises of King Canute. Even at that moment, when the
opposing forces drew together, for the purpose of engaging in battle, the good
King Olaf desiring peace went out before his vanguard, and addressed him-
self to Kalf, who stood in the front line of his enemies' ranks. u Why art thou
"
there, O Kalf ?
J'
Have we not, when last we parted, saluted
said the king.
each other as friends ? Nor is it just, when four of your brothers fight on our side, that your arms should be directed against us. " Whereupon, Kalf
:
answered "Manythingsthatarewrong,nowhappen byyourlatedesertion
;
of us, we were compelled by necessity to be at peace with those who remained.
Therefore, let each one defend the ground that remains to him. Had I mine own wish to consult, I should be at peace with you. " Then said the king :
" O Possibly,
Kalf, you
wish for ; but, our citizens do not show them- peace
However, these efforts to procure a respite were
selves disposed for it. "
11
tried for one
vainly ; Sigurd,
a Danish 12 who was in the interests of Bishop,
Canute, spoke in a seditious manner. ^ Then, all hope of reconciliation was soon at an end.
When the onset was about to take place, a brave warrior, named Biorn, carried the king's standard. One Thorer Hund led the first column, on the side of the rebels, and he wore a coat of rein-deer skin over his coat of mail. On the side of Olaf, the army now only waited the signal to engage. His
1 rallying cry was, "Forward, soldiers of Christ, of the cross, and of the king. *
In the very first charge, the king's standard-bearer Biorn fell by the hand of Thorer Hund, who had aimed at the king. The latter exchanged blows with
him, wounding him in the hand, and striking him across the shoulders, but his coat of mail seems to have been impenetrable. ^ Then Olaf exclaimed
quam visionem vidit Rex circumventus a suis
Baggonibus, quorum maximus et prsecipuus
seleris auctor erat, ut fertur, quidam nomine
listen to any advice or terms offered by their
king.
" He is different from one so named, who
Calf bonde, occiditur et martyrio corona- fled with Olaf from Norway. Oth—er autho-
tur. " rities—such as Johannes Magnus
call this
11
Theodric the monk of Nidrosia some-
what differently relates this matter, by stat-
Bishop Trugill.
,3 See Torfeus' " Historia Rerum Norve-
ing, that when both armies were about to gicarum," tomus iii. , lib. iii. , cap. vii. , pp.
engage, the king sent Finn, brother to Kalf,
sothathe offertermsof onthe might peace,
basis of forgetting all past injuries, and of pardoning all former offences on both sides.
The
shed and to civil wars, while he desired to stay his hand, should reasonable counsels prevail. However, a contrary spirit seemed to pervade the rebel forces, nor would they
195 to 197.
'4 Hewasthe first to afor- inaugurate
inula, which afterwards had been adopted by the Crusaders, at the Council of Cler-
king
declared himself averse to blood-
in See Midland's " mont, 1096.
Biographie Universelle Ancienne et Moderne," tome
xxxi. , p. 221.
,s According to the Saga of Olafi Hinom
Helga, cap. ccxl. See
"
Heimskringla cur fn
482 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
to Biorn : "Do thou kill the dog, on whom steel doth not bite. " Then
Biorn turned round the battle-axe in his hands, and he gave Thorer a blow
with the hammer-end, and on the shoulder. It was so hard, that Thorer
tottered, but immediately recovering, he drove his spear right through the
stone, throwing down his sword, and praying God to help him. Instantly,
J
Finn Arneson killed Thorstein. 7 While the king lay bleeding and faint,
Thorer Hund aimed a stroke at him with his spear, which lodged below his coat of mail and entered the belly. One of the chief leaders of the peasant
and he now
approached, Having been mortally wounded, and Olaf's sword having fallen from his hand, he was slain in that
battle, by one of the enemy's chiefs, as generally related. It is said, that Thorer Hund afterwards then went to where the king's dead body lay, and then stretch- ing it out on the ground, he spread a cloak over it. He afterwards declared, that when he wiped away blood from the king's face, it looked beautiful and serene even in death. There was red on the cheeks, as if the holy man were
body
Biorn, exclaiming :
18 was Kalf
dealing a death-blow on the left side of the neck.
army,
at the battle of
Stiklestad,
Arneson,
" Thus I kill bears. " 16 The manifested his king
of
usual valour in this engagement, and in the front ranks of his men, Olaf wielded a two-handed sword. He cut one Thorgeir of Quiststad across the face, and slashed off the nose-piece of his helmet, cleaving his head down below the eyes, so that they fell out. —In the beginning of this fight, the king received a stroke from a battle-axe which the Norwegians were*accus- tomed to wield—and this was dealt him in the left thigh above the knee, by one Thorstein, a bonder. After this wound, the king staggered towards a
1 ? When one of the
the king and his standard-bearer had fallen, he boldly raised the banner once more, and shouted to the army, to avenge their monarch's death, and to leave no bloodless victory to their adversaries. Whereupon, fired with his enthu- siasm, the soldiers levelled their arms, and forming a close body, they charged twice or thrice through the thickest ranks, mowing down many of their enemies.
The Icelandic scald, Thormod, was placed under King Olafs banner in that encounter. When the king had fallen, the battle was raging, so that all the king'smenwereeitherkilledorwounded. Thormodwasseverelywounded, andhefellback,whenthesurvivorsretreated. Then,therere-guard,headed by Dagr, rushed forward over the ground, strewn with dead, and endeavoured by their desperate courage to retrieve the fortunes of the day. Thormod stepped aside weary and faint. As he stood thus, an arrow struck him in the left side, but he broke off the shaft of that arrow. lie then went out of the ranks, and up towards the firm of Sticklastad, where the wounded were being attended to in a large barn. Thormod held a drawn sword in his hand. As
: hewentthither,hemetaman,namedKimbe,comingout,whosaid "The
wounded in there howl and scream with pain, and bear their wounds very
" Wert thou in the battle too ? " " I was with the
only sleeping.
leaders, Dagr,
a kinsman to saw that Olaf,
ill. " Thormod then said
bonders, which was the best side," said he. u And art thou wounded any way ? "
16
It appears, that Biorn signifies "a land, and Ireland. " The Norwegians in
bear," in the Norse language.
17 See Thormod Torfaeus' " Historke Re-
Scotland, sect, v. , p. 222.
*» See the Saga of" Olaf] Hinom Ilelga,
rum Norvegicarum," Pars Tertia, lib. iii. , cap. viii. , p. 199.
cap. ccxlii. , in "
Ileimskringla
edr Noregs
" See A. Worsaae's "Account of the J. J.
Konunga-Sogor," tomus ii. . p. 371.
:
said Thormod, "A little/' answered the man, who asked, "And hast thou been
" I was with them who had the best cause. " Noregs Konunga-Sogor," tomus ii. , p. 368. Danes and Norwegians in England, Scot-
in the battle ? " Thormod
"Art thou wounded? '' asked the man. "Not much to signify," replied
replied,
-° Then the woman
"
Why do you
said,
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 483 Thormod. As the man saw that Thormod had a heavy gold ring on his
arm—it was that him in the given
St. Olaf—he " Thou art said,
morning by
certainly a king's man. Give me thy gold ring, and I will hide thee. The
bonders will kill thee, if thou fallest in their way. " Thormod answered,
" Take the ring, if thou canst get it. I have lost what is more dear to me
than a ring. " Kimbe stretched out his hand, and wanted to take the ring ;
bul,swinginghissword,Thormodcutoffhishand. Then,Kimbescreamed
and howled as badly as any whom he had been blaming. He then went off,
when Thormod sat down in the barn, and listened to what people were saying.
The conversation turned on what each had seen in the battle. While some
praised King Olaf, others spoke against him. Thormod went out, and
entered into a chamber apart. In this, there were many wounded men, and
with them a woman, who was binding their wounds. There was fire upon
the floor, at which she warmed water, to wash and cleanse them from blood.
Thormod went to a pillar and stood leaning against it. The girl then said
"
expired.
speaks
King
Are you one of the king's men, or do you belong to the bonders'
a 20 and soon after it he stave,
to him, side? " In
21
22
Icelander.
it should command love and reverence in men of heroic minds, while willing todieastheyhadlivedfaithfultohisinterestsandcause. ,
According to one account, the battle so fiercely contested, with great bravery on both sides, was protracted to the evening, and night only separated the combatants. It is stated, likewise, that neither side had greatly the
advantage over the other, while both parted, owing chiefly to the loss of men
nurse-girl looked at him in the face and said,
to her he question,
sang loyal
reply
Thus died this brave and
well for
heart. It
Olaf, that he could have inspired such affection in the soul of that gallant
Nothing seems so indicative of a great man's character, as that
not let your wound be dressed, if you are hurt? " Thormod answered, "I have a woundwhich none bind Then
'
is this man— art thou why
may up. "
she who was heating the water said to him,
said,
' Letmesee Thereupon
"
less ? If you are wounded, let your sore—be
Why are you so pale, man, and so colour-
attended to. " But Thormod answered
but could not find where the iron had penetrated. In a stone pot she had stirred together andboiled leeks andother herbs. These she gave the wounded men to eat, through which means she discovered if the wounds had penetrated into the belly; for if the wound had gone so deep, it would smell through of the leek. She brought some of this broth now to Thormod, and ' Takeit away, I have no appetite for my broth. ' Then she took a large pair of tongs, and But the verse was not completed by him, tried to pull out the iron ; but, it sat too
" I am not ruddy, the ruddy youths Readiest tend the tender maids.
Far in, deep-dyed in blood, Stands in my wound the spear That struck me, fair faced ! The trace of the rushing storm Of swift weapons burns me. "
And when he had sung that stanza, leaning against the pillar, he fell dead to the earth.
Ilarald Sigurd's son having added the words
"
burns me. " According to the Fostbraethra Saga, sect. ii.
21 ' The Saga of King Olaf, in the Heims-
kringla narrates the circumstances rather differently. It is said, that Thormod re-
joiced at the arrow having pierced him, for now that Olaf was dead, he had no wish to live. ''Thormod stood up and went in towards the fire, and stood there awhile.
woman said to him, ' Go young out,
The
man, and bring in some of the split firewood which lies close beside the door. ' He went out and brought in an armful of wood, which he threw down upon the floor, Then the
out,
mod leaned back and died. " Saga vii.
:
of iron was in
it,
Dreadfully pale
so? ' . . . Andshe
thy wound, and I will bind it. '
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.
