These are stated to have been chiefs of ships, outlaws, ferocious and impious men, having no
reverence
" for God or man, for church or for sanc- tuary.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
589 to 623.
were not the products of her own skill and
industry.
=' This ignominy she deeply resented.
" He wasOlaf Kuaran.
'3 However curious and interesting the
subject matter of these Sagas may be, and
however specific their details, we must con-
fess our ignorance, regarding the exact Friderici Suhmii et Legati Arna-Magnseani. amount of credence to be given, in reference
to their Irish historic allusions.
'*See in "The Dubhu Penny Journal,"
vol. i. , No. 17, that article headed "The lished at Edinburgh, A. D. 1S61, in two vols.
Battle of Clontarf," pp. 133 to 136.
's He tells us, however, that the Annals of Innisfallen and of Ulsterhave been followed,
in many details, especially, when giving the list of chieftains, who fell in that engagement. '' See "Journal of the Royal Historical and
Archseological Association of Ireland," vol. V. Fourth series. No. 40. On the site of the Battle of Clontarf, by Thomas O'Gor- man, pp. 169 to 182.
8vo.
'" See the Introduction, ibid. , vol. i. , pp.
clxxxix. to cxcviii. Also vol. ii. , cap. cliii. ,
cliv. , civ. , clvi. , pp. 322 to 343.
3" See Dr. Gudbrand Viglusson's "Stur-
lunga Saga, including the Islendinga Saga of Lawman Sturla Tliordson and other
works," edited with Prologomena, Appen- dices, Tables, Indicesand Maps, vol. i. Prolo-
gomena, sect. 8, p. xlii. Oxford, 1878, 8vo.
"^ "
See Nials-Saga," Historia Niali et
Filiorum, Latine reddita, cum adjecta
Chronologia, variis Textus Islandici Lec-
tionibus, earumque crisi, nee non Glossario .
et Indice Rerum et Locorum. Accessere
specimina scriptur. -e Codicum Membraneo- rum tabulis seneis incisa. Sumptibus Petri
Havnia. ', anno MDCCCIX. , 410.
"' It has been translated from Njals Saga,
by George WebbeDasent, D. C. L. , and pub-
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 395
At this period, the Leinstermen and the whole Scanian race acted in con-
cert ; and, soon it was apparent, that their ambitious designs must lead to a
formidable struggle for supremacy, and against the authority of the Irish monarch. The Northmen deemed it necessary, to collect a powerful arma- ment, and they adopted those means, which were required to insure the suc- cess of their arms. The King of Leinster approved of their measures and engagements ; while he prepared his own forces, to second the efforts of tlieir gathering host. For this great expedition, the Danes collected their rein- forcements, from all parts of Europe. 3^ Having been parted from Brian, her former husband, Gormflaith, or Kormlada,33 sent her son Sitric, or Sigtrygg, to induce the Norsemen to attack the monarch of Ireland, at Clontarf. S'* She was the fairest of all women, and, adds the Saga very enigmatically, the best giftedinever}'thingthatwasnotinherownpower; but,itwasthetalkof men, that she did all things ill, over which she had any power. 35 Her hus- band's name was Olafrattle, and her son Sigtrygg went from Ireland, arriving in the Orkney Islands, while Earl Sigurd was keeping his Yule festival there, in 1013. Earl Gilli, Sigurd's brother-in-law,3* out of tlie Southern Isles, was with him, at that time. King Sigtrygg sat there on a high seat, in the middle,
and on either side of the king was placed one of the Earls. 37 The whole hall was filled with art audience, to hear a story on Yule Day itself, from GunnarLambi'sson,whosatonastool; but,beforehehadended,oneKari drew a sword, and cut off his head. 3^ The northern Sagas have mistaken the relationship of both Sigtrygg and Brian ; and, after those accounts, Thomas Gray, the Poet, strangely states, that Sictryg, "with the silken beard,"39 was
- father-in-law to Bryan, King of Dublin, with whom he was making war. <° When Sigtrygg first moved this subject to Sigurd, the latter was very reluc- tant to engage in the contest, and all his men endeavoured to dissuade him from it. However, he demanded Sigtrygg's mother's hand for his alliance, and to be King of Ireland, if he slew Bryan. To this arrangement, the Danish King of Dublin gave his assent. Then Sigtrygg fared south to Ireland, and told his mother Kornilada what lie had promised Earl Sigurd, and the under- standing given, that he accepted such conditions. She showed herself well pleased at that arrangement ; but, she said a greater force must be gathered. She informed him, that two vikings and brothers lay off the west coast of Man ; one of these was Ospak, and the other was Broder, men of great hardi- hood. She said, moreover, that these must be induced, at any price, to sustain his quarrel. Again, King Sigtrygg sets out on his errand, and finds both of these vikings lying outside, and in ships, off the Isle of Man. Broder refused the proposal, until King Sigtrygg promised him the kingdom and his motlier. Finally, the condition was agreed to, and the secret was to have been kept in such a manner, that Earl Sigurd should know nothing about it. Then, the
'' See S. A. Dunham's ' '
mark, Sweden and Norway," vol. i. , L, chap, iv. , sect, i. , p. 320.
33 This is the name given to her, in the
Sagas.
3* See the "Nials Saga," chap, civ. , p.
S90. The date for this mission is placed, at
A. D. 1012 ; but, it seems referable rather, to
the following year.
35 The story of the Burnt Njal relates :
Scandian
History
of Den- Book
sister,
37 As a curious picture of the manners in
vogue, away from Sigtrygg sat his men and the men of Earl Gilli, on the inner side.
38 See Webbe Dasent's " of George Story
Burnt Njal," vol. ii. , chap, cliii. , cliv. , pp. 322 to 327. We are told, that the head of Gunnar Lambi'sson spun off, on to the board, before tlie king and the earls.
3* This appendage to his features supposes "Kormlada was not the mother of King some peculiarity, marked by the descrip-
Brian's children, and so grim was she against King Brian after their parting, that she would gladlyhavehimdead. "
tion.
<°See "Poetical Works," vol. i. , Ode viii.
TheFatalSisters,p. 78. London,1825,8vo.
A new in two volumes. edition,
3' He had to wife
Swanlauga,
Earl
Sigurd's
396 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
King of Dublin hastened home to his unprincipled mother, and told her how things stood. After that, Ospak, who had ten ships, and Brodir, who had twenty,talkedoverthesecretarrangement; but,Ospak,aheathen,andthe wisest of men, refused to join Brodir, against so good a king as Bryan. Both got wroth in the debate, and sundered their band, at once ; but, while Ospak's ships lay within a sound, Brodir's vessels were outside from them. '^'
The Danes summoned their countrymen, to join this great expedition ; while, in Ireland itself, their allies were to be found among the natives, who had been accustomed to serve with them in the field. Emissaries or agents duly instructed were sent to Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, as also to their colonial offshoots,*' urging by every argument the adventurous vikings to muster their hordes, and to draw out their vessels, from the northern fiords. Plat, a strong knight of Lochlann, and the hero Conmael, were invited to jointheconfederacy. 3 Weareinformed,likewise,thattheKingofDenmark sent his two sons, Carolus Kanutus • and Andreas, at the head of twelve thousand men, and that these were safely landed in Dublin, where they were kindly received and refreshed by Maelmordha. 'ts It is stated, moreover, that thirty thousand men were embodied in Scandinavia, and, afterwards, these made a descent on the shores of Ireland, landing at Clontarf. ** Thus, Danes came from the regions of snow,*? and from the Mediterranean Gothland. The Sclaves and Wandali, likewise, dwelt on islands of the Baltic sea, and spread their pagan hordes on the Continent, towards the south j-ts b^t^ ^^^ have no account, that those people took any part in the invasion. The Irish Scandina- vian colonists invited the Jarl Brodor,''^ or Broder,5° a renowned warrior, apparently from the North of Saxon-land, to take a command on their behalf, and he accordingly consented to join the expedition. By one authority, he is called the Earl of Cair Ascadal, as also, son to the King of Loclilann,! ' and by another, he is denominated Earl of Caer Ebroc,5= that is of York, in England. 53 He is said, not only to have embraced Christianity,5-* but even to have become a Mass Deacon, by consecration. Afterwards, he apostatized, and he resorted to gentile practices. He is called " God's dastard," being a worshipper of heathen fiends, and of all men most addicted to sorcery. He
*" Webbe Dasent's " of See George Story
vel
« He is also called " a Broderick, famous
Burnt Njal," chap, cliv. , pp. 327 to 329.
eversores, fuerunt," lib. ii. , cap. 2r, p. 38. Francofvrti, m. d. lxxx, fol.
<=
See
Thomas McGee's " D'Arcy
Popular of Ireland : from the Earliest Period
leader against the Britons of Wales and
History
to the Emancipation of the Catholics," vol.
—Thomas
i. , Book ii. , chap, vi. , p. 99. Glasgow edi- tion, no date, 8vo.
*3 See Coja'dVi jAecliel ne 5All<iibli,
chap. Ixxxvii. , pp. 152, 153.
1* Sometimes called Carl Canuteson.
's See tlie Battle of Clontarf, an article by John O'Donovan, in "The Dublin Penny Journal," vol. i. . No. 17,"p. 134.
«' See Dr. Hanmei's Chronicle of Ire-
laud," p. 184.
"So state the "Annales Inisfalenses,"
Dublm copy, and in a note, Kev. Dr. O'Conor interprets this designation, as i—n-
eluding "Norwegia, SueJia, Jutlandia. ''
" Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus
,
62.
«^SeeA. Krantzii
ii. , p.
"
Viri in Theologia et Jure Pontificio Celeberrimi, Historicique,
Clarissimi, Wandalia. De Wandalorum vera copy), in Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum
Origine, variis genlibu-;, creliris e patria mi-
grationibus, regnis item, quorum
Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii.
vel autores
"
According
to the "
Nials-Saga. "
Cornwall. "
J| Popular Histoiy of Ireland," vol. i. , Book ii. , chap, vi. , p. 99.
S" He is called Bruadar, chief of the Danes, in the Dublin copy of " Annales Inisfalenses," in Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Re- rum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 61.
si Such is the account in the Manuscript, distinguishetl as B, in Rev. James Henthorn Todd's edition of CogA-oh JaeoVieL He Sitiaibli, p. 151, n. 14.
5» According to the Annals of Loch Ce. Dr. Todd thinks, however, that this must be a mistake.
53 Another account has it, that Carolus and Anrud, sonof Elihric, and also two sons of the White Danes, joined this expeiiition. See "Annales Inisfalenses," p. 61 (Dublin
D'Arcy
McGee's
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIJVTS. 397
wore a coat of mail, which no steel could bite, and black hair so long, that he tucked its locks under his belt. He was both tall and strong. ss The Danes invited, also, Amlaibh,^* son to the King of Lochlann. Both of the last-named chiefs S7 are called Earls of Cair, and of all the North of Saxon- land.
These are stated to have been chiefs of ships, outlaws, ferocious and impious men, having no reverence " for God or man, for church or for sanc- tuary. "5' According to the account, these were at the head of two thousand hard-hearted mercenaries, ss being men in armour. ^° Other statements have it, that those chiefs commanded only one thousand men. ^' From Manann or the Isle of Man,*^ from Sci,^3 and from Leodhas,'* assistance was sought.
sent the " war arrow "
that obeyed him as Lord. *5 To Scotland, and to the Hebrides '^ and Orkney
Islands,*' the envoys repaired, to knit well the ramifications of this great con- federacy. The Cat Islands '* are mentioned as having furnished a contin- gent, as likewise, Cenn Tyre and Airer-Gaedhel. '' There Sigurd,? " the powerful Earl of the Orkneys,'' who began his rule over these islands, a. d. 996, and who had also possession of Caithness and of Sutherland, was remark- able for his warlike adventurers, at this epoch, both by sea and land. The
Suibne,
Earl of
Man,
through
all those "
out-islands,"
55 See the account, in George Webbe
Innisfallen Annals, is interpreted, the He-
brides, Rev. Dr. O'Conor, in " Rerum by
HibemicarumScriptores,"tomusii. , p. 61, n. 2.
^In966,statesthePoet Gray,thepeople
of the Orkney Islands became Chriitians,
but probably it happened in 995 ; however, although they and the other Gothic nations
no longer worshipped their old divinities, yet they never doubted of their existence, or forgottheirancientmythology. See"The Works of Thomas Gray, containing his Poems and Correspondence, with Memoirs of his Life and Writings," tome i. , p. 78, note.
" The people of the Ore Islands and of
the Cat Islands are represented, as "an
assembled army of ignorant, barbarous,
thoughtless, irreclaimable, unsociable foreign-
ers. See CogAoVi 54ex)heL tie 5dtt<iibh,
chap. Ixxxvii. , pp. 152, 153.
''In the Dublin of the "Annales
"
Dasent's "
of Burnt
vol. ii. ,
Story chap, cliv. , p. 329.
Njal,'
5^ Probably, he is not distinct from Asca- dal. Earl of Cair Ascadal.
- 57 The romantic tale, known as the Cath ChluanaTarbh, distinguishes them as Broda' and Asgal, two sons of the King of Loch- lann, and probably they were brothers.
5* See CogATsh 54et)liet He jAlLiMbh, chap. Ixxxvii. , pp. 150 to 153.
5* Accustomed to hire themselves for gold or silver, or for other treasures ; in other words, they were a standing and a regularly
disciplinedbodyofmen. Seeiiu/.
^Their armour is stated to have been triple-plated, of refined iron or of cool un- corroding brass, polished, glittering and strong, encasing their sides and bodies, from
head to foot. See iiiii.
''
According
to the Annals of Ulster and
of the Four Masters, as also, the Leabhar Inisfalenses, the Irish version has Ciiintire
Gabhala, or Book of Conquests.
agus Oirear Caedhil, which is translated, by Dr. Charles O'Conor, "et Kentirias etOrien- talium Hibemorum. " He adds, in a note to this passage, "i^. in mare Hibernico Orien- tali. ' This latter is a mistaken identifica- tion of their position, which was in Argyle. See " Rerum Hibemicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , pp. 61, 62.
? " Sometimeshe is called Sigurd, Hlodver's son,asintheNials-Saga,cap. civiii. ; some- times, Sinchradh, son of Lodar, as in the Annals of Ulster ; sometimes, Sichfrith, son of Ltidar, as in the " Annals of the Four Masters;" and sometimes, Sincrad, son of Lotar, or Sitric, son of Lodar, as in the different copies of the CogAxiVi 5Aet)'hel He Salldibn.
" There the original Celtic population had yielded to the Scandinavian. At this time, the Danish pirates had possession of Man. The Manx language resembles more the Erse of Ireland and the Gaelic of Scotland, than the Cymric or lesser Breton. See
"
Elisee Reclus'
verselle, laTerre et les Hommes, tome iv. He de Man, p. 626.
'3 Probably the Island of Sky, although in the Dublincopy of the Annals of Innisfallen, we find Sgiligia, interpreted Shetland, by
Rev. Dr. O'Conor, in
Renim Hibemica-
Nouvelle Geographic Uni-
" rumScriptores,"tomusii. , p. 61,n. 3.
**
Lewis, by Rev. Dr. O'Conor. /iid. , n. 4.
Otherwise, Leodhasa, interpreted
McGec'S " Book
Cead, as used in the Dublin copy of the
' He is called
'5 See Thomas
D'Arcy
Popular
ii. , ney
Luadar, evidently
Count of the Ork-
History of Ireland," &c. , vol. i. ,
Islands father's name
a mistake for his
chap, vi. , p. 99.
in of the
'°
copy
——
"Annates Inisfalenses. " See Rev. Dr.
the Dublin copy
398 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
coasts of Ross and Moray were ravaged by him ; the Hebrides paid him tri- ^
bute;7" in 1006, the Scottish king, Malcolm II. tried, but in vain, to purchase peace for Scotland, by giving his daughter in marriage, as a second wife. Sigurd made a second descent upon Moray in 10 10, but, he was signally de- feated, at Mortlach, and with great slaughter, after a protracted struggle. " This fierce leader was probably only a nominal Ciiristian. ? * Wearied with the dull amenities of repose, around his own shores, when the blast of war
blew from a distance, and probably hoping to share the anticipated division of Irish soil, in favour of foreign auxiliaries ;" this brave Viking spread his sails to
the breeze, and careened long the seas, with his ships and soldier mariners, to the aid of Sigtric, Northman King of Dublin. '* The hundred inhabited isles," which lie between Yell and Man, sent in their contingents to swell the following of the renowned Earl. '*
In 1013, Sweyn invaded England, and he took possession of a considera-
ble portion of that country, having been acknowledged as its king. '' Whether heassistedtheprojectofinvasion,ornot,seemstobeunknown; but,hedied in the following year,*" after a remarkable career. Two barons of the Con Britons,^' or Coir-Bhreathnaicc,** and Corndabbliteoc,*3 of the Britons at Cill Muni,** or St. David's, were invited to this confederacy. From another place, the Coir-na-Liogog foreigners were collected, for the anticipated invasion. ^s After the death of Sweyn, Canute, the son, completed his father's conquests, and he became King of Denmark, of Norway, and of England. Under Canute, the power of Denmark reached its highest position. He was styled
theGreat; but,hewasprobablytoomuchengagedwithotherenterprises,to lend any considerable assistance to that expedition, destined for Ireland. **
O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip-" tores," tomus ii. , p. 6l.
'» It is stated, that " the Kings of Den- mark and Norway treated with him on equal terms. "—Thomas D'Arcy McGec's "Popu- lar History of Ireland," &c. , vol. i. . Book ii. , chap, vi. , p. 99.
'* See Thomas D'Arcy McGee's "Popular
History of Ireland," vol. i. . Book ii. , chap,
vi. , p. 99.
" See Edward A. Freeman's " History of
the Norman Conquest of England ; lis Causes and Results. " chap, v. , sect. 4, pp.
396, 397-
"" " Sven, k ils avaient laisse prendre, qui
" See Dr.
tory of Scotland," vol. i. , chap, i. , p. 37.
James Taylor's
his man, and proclaim Clirislianity over all the Orkneys. He submitted to these condi-
de I'Angleterre par les Normands, de ses Causes etdeses Suites jusqu' a nos Jours, en Angleterre, en Ecosse, en Irlande et sur le Continent," tome i. , liv. ii. , p. 2l6. Sixieme edition, Paris, 1843, 8vo.
*' From Barru and from the Corrbritons,
" Pictorial His-
'* It is s. iid, that Olaf Tryggveson, the
first Christian ICing of Norway, returning
from a vi-king expedition to the west, came
to the Orkneys, A. D. 997, and seized Earl Augustin Thierry's Histoire de la Conquete Sigurd, as he lay under the Isle of Hoy, in a
single ship. King Olaf offered to ransom the
Earl, if he consented to embrace the true
faith and be baptized, that he should become
tions, and give his son Hundi as a hostage.
"*' "
See Olaf Tryggvesson's Saga," cap. Hi.
'S Flosi, an adventurer, who was on a visit with Sigurd, offered to accompany him on the expedition ; but this, tlie Earl would
not permit, since he had a pilgrimage to fulfil. However, fifteen of his band were
accepted by the Earl, to go on this voyage.
Then Flosi went with Earl Gilli to the
Southern Isles. Thorstein, son to Hall of the
side, Harfn the red, and Erling of Stranmey,
went along with Earl Sigurd. See the "
Saga,"chap,clvi. , p. 333.
Gazetteer of Scotland,"
Imperial vol. ii. , pp. 540, 541-
this in the Latin, " et Wallorum," to which "
'' See "
s n. 3, "Nempe S. DavidisMenevensis. " "RerumHibernica-
" After their conversion, these contained three hundred churches and chapels.
rum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 62.
*5 Rev. Dr. O'Conor conjectures this to be
meant for Comubia, as he translates it in
en I'annee 1014, le titre de roi d'Angleterre, mourut dans cette meme annee, assez subite- ment pour qu'il y ait lieu d'attribuer sa mor—t
& un elan d'indignation patriotique. " "
according to another account, aid came.
In the Dublin copy of the Annales
"
Inisfalenses, Rev. Dr. O'Conor translates
he appends, n. 2— Corwallia, juxta margi- nalem notam. " "Rerum Hibernicarum
Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 62.
'^ The Slanuscript B has the name Corn-
bliteoc.
** In the Dublin copy of the "Annales
Inisfalenses," the Irish version has agus Breathnaicc Cilletiiuitie ; and to this. Rev. Dr. O'Conor append—
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 399
Even the Danes of Normandy, then signalized as Northmen, as those of Britain and of the Isles around her coasts, heard the summons to arms with
delight. Then they had embraced Christianity. The pagan kings of Scan- dinavia brought aid to their Christian fellow-countrymen, in Ireland, as they did in Normandy ; for, the origin of race and of language caused relations of alliance and of national fraternity. ^7 However, the Dukes of Normandy had long acknowledged themselves as vassals of the successors to Charlemagne and *^ When the
Denmark, and one who joined the expedi- tion, as a commander, was probably his son.
'^ See Augustin Thierry's "Histoire de la
de la Conquete de I'Anglcterre par les Nor- mands," &c. , tome i.
"The monk Ademar, whose Chronicle was written before 1031, in the opinion of Labbe, states, "ut Hirlandis extinctis ipsi pro ipsis inhabitarent opulentissimam terram quae xii. civitates cum amplissimis Episco-
romanesque language
had the prevailed among
Capet.
Normans, they were called Franks, Romans, or Velsques, by the Scandina- vians. ^9 CarlusandEbric,9°twosonstotheKingofFrance,aresaidtohave been invited to join this expedition ;9' but, we may assume, that these were chiefs of the Normans. '^ They entered into the confederacy, and were
pleased at the prospect of settling in the cities '3 and towns, already opened to commerce, by the men of their race ; while possessions and lands were
thought to be the certain acquisition of those colonists,''* who having triumphed over the natives of Erinn, were, by the irregular laws of warfare then pre- vailing, entitled to those spoils won by their valour.
No less than sixteen thousand Danes, already settled in Dublin, and
in other strongholds of Ireland, together with all the power of Leinster, were gathered under the command of King Maelmordha,95 who either claimed a
suzerainty over them, or whose supremacy seems to have been admitted, for the occasion. The din of preparation was heard on the coasts, and within theislandsoftheBaltic,totheirmoresouthernsettlements. Joyfullydidthe hardy Norsemen receive the decision arrived at by their chiefs. Their na- tural courage, aroused by the message, was responded to with the readiness and excitement of warriors accustomed to bold adventures, whether on sea or land. They were already assured of conquest, owing to the extensive scale on which the expedition had been planned.
When he found a great war pending, with all possible speed, Bryan Boroimha summoned his lieges, and he mustered the forces of Munster and of Connaught, under his standard. These were joined, likewise, by the men ofMidhe,orofMeath,9*tothenumberofonethousandwarriors. Theremote situation of Ireland, which lay so far towards the south and west, in the Atlantic Ocean, and the widely disjjersed colonies of the confederates, were no slight protection from the Northman invasion, while efforts were being
the Latin. See ibid. , p. 62, and n. 4.
were not the products of her own skill and
industry.
=' This ignominy she deeply resented.
" He wasOlaf Kuaran.
'3 However curious and interesting the
subject matter of these Sagas may be, and
however specific their details, we must con-
fess our ignorance, regarding the exact Friderici Suhmii et Legati Arna-Magnseani. amount of credence to be given, in reference
to their Irish historic allusions.
'*See in "The Dubhu Penny Journal,"
vol. i. , No. 17, that article headed "The lished at Edinburgh, A. D. 1S61, in two vols.
Battle of Clontarf," pp. 133 to 136.
's He tells us, however, that the Annals of Innisfallen and of Ulsterhave been followed,
in many details, especially, when giving the list of chieftains, who fell in that engagement. '' See "Journal of the Royal Historical and
Archseological Association of Ireland," vol. V. Fourth series. No. 40. On the site of the Battle of Clontarf, by Thomas O'Gor- man, pp. 169 to 182.
8vo.
'" See the Introduction, ibid. , vol. i. , pp.
clxxxix. to cxcviii. Also vol. ii. , cap. cliii. ,
cliv. , civ. , clvi. , pp. 322 to 343.
3" See Dr. Gudbrand Viglusson's "Stur-
lunga Saga, including the Islendinga Saga of Lawman Sturla Tliordson and other
works," edited with Prologomena, Appen- dices, Tables, Indicesand Maps, vol. i. Prolo-
gomena, sect. 8, p. xlii. Oxford, 1878, 8vo.
"^ "
See Nials-Saga," Historia Niali et
Filiorum, Latine reddita, cum adjecta
Chronologia, variis Textus Islandici Lec-
tionibus, earumque crisi, nee non Glossario .
et Indice Rerum et Locorum. Accessere
specimina scriptur. -e Codicum Membraneo- rum tabulis seneis incisa. Sumptibus Petri
Havnia. ', anno MDCCCIX. , 410.
"' It has been translated from Njals Saga,
by George WebbeDasent, D. C. L. , and pub-
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 395
At this period, the Leinstermen and the whole Scanian race acted in con-
cert ; and, soon it was apparent, that their ambitious designs must lead to a
formidable struggle for supremacy, and against the authority of the Irish monarch. The Northmen deemed it necessary, to collect a powerful arma- ment, and they adopted those means, which were required to insure the suc- cess of their arms. The King of Leinster approved of their measures and engagements ; while he prepared his own forces, to second the efforts of tlieir gathering host. For this great expedition, the Danes collected their rein- forcements, from all parts of Europe. 3^ Having been parted from Brian, her former husband, Gormflaith, or Kormlada,33 sent her son Sitric, or Sigtrygg, to induce the Norsemen to attack the monarch of Ireland, at Clontarf. S'* She was the fairest of all women, and, adds the Saga very enigmatically, the best giftedinever}'thingthatwasnotinherownpower; but,itwasthetalkof men, that she did all things ill, over which she had any power. 35 Her hus- band's name was Olafrattle, and her son Sigtrygg went from Ireland, arriving in the Orkney Islands, while Earl Sigurd was keeping his Yule festival there, in 1013. Earl Gilli, Sigurd's brother-in-law,3* out of tlie Southern Isles, was with him, at that time. King Sigtrygg sat there on a high seat, in the middle,
and on either side of the king was placed one of the Earls. 37 The whole hall was filled with art audience, to hear a story on Yule Day itself, from GunnarLambi'sson,whosatonastool; but,beforehehadended,oneKari drew a sword, and cut off his head. 3^ The northern Sagas have mistaken the relationship of both Sigtrygg and Brian ; and, after those accounts, Thomas Gray, the Poet, strangely states, that Sictryg, "with the silken beard,"39 was
- father-in-law to Bryan, King of Dublin, with whom he was making war. <° When Sigtrygg first moved this subject to Sigurd, the latter was very reluc- tant to engage in the contest, and all his men endeavoured to dissuade him from it. However, he demanded Sigtrygg's mother's hand for his alliance, and to be King of Ireland, if he slew Bryan. To this arrangement, the Danish King of Dublin gave his assent. Then Sigtrygg fared south to Ireland, and told his mother Kornilada what lie had promised Earl Sigurd, and the under- standing given, that he accepted such conditions. She showed herself well pleased at that arrangement ; but, she said a greater force must be gathered. She informed him, that two vikings and brothers lay off the west coast of Man ; one of these was Ospak, and the other was Broder, men of great hardi- hood. She said, moreover, that these must be induced, at any price, to sustain his quarrel. Again, King Sigtrygg sets out on his errand, and finds both of these vikings lying outside, and in ships, off the Isle of Man. Broder refused the proposal, until King Sigtrygg promised him the kingdom and his motlier. Finally, the condition was agreed to, and the secret was to have been kept in such a manner, that Earl Sigurd should know nothing about it. Then, the
'' See S. A. Dunham's ' '
mark, Sweden and Norway," vol. i. , L, chap, iv. , sect, i. , p. 320.
33 This is the name given to her, in the
Sagas.
3* See the "Nials Saga," chap, civ. , p.
S90. The date for this mission is placed, at
A. D. 1012 ; but, it seems referable rather, to
the following year.
35 The story of the Burnt Njal relates :
Scandian
History
of Den- Book
sister,
37 As a curious picture of the manners in
vogue, away from Sigtrygg sat his men and the men of Earl Gilli, on the inner side.
38 See Webbe Dasent's " of George Story
Burnt Njal," vol. ii. , chap, cliii. , cliv. , pp. 322 to 327. We are told, that the head of Gunnar Lambi'sson spun off, on to the board, before tlie king and the earls.
3* This appendage to his features supposes "Kormlada was not the mother of King some peculiarity, marked by the descrip-
Brian's children, and so grim was she against King Brian after their parting, that she would gladlyhavehimdead. "
tion.
<°See "Poetical Works," vol. i. , Ode viii.
TheFatalSisters,p. 78. London,1825,8vo.
A new in two volumes. edition,
3' He had to wife
Swanlauga,
Earl
Sigurd's
396 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
King of Dublin hastened home to his unprincipled mother, and told her how things stood. After that, Ospak, who had ten ships, and Brodir, who had twenty,talkedoverthesecretarrangement; but,Ospak,aheathen,andthe wisest of men, refused to join Brodir, against so good a king as Bryan. Both got wroth in the debate, and sundered their band, at once ; but, while Ospak's ships lay within a sound, Brodir's vessels were outside from them. '^'
The Danes summoned their countrymen, to join this great expedition ; while, in Ireland itself, their allies were to be found among the natives, who had been accustomed to serve with them in the field. Emissaries or agents duly instructed were sent to Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, as also to their colonial offshoots,*' urging by every argument the adventurous vikings to muster their hordes, and to draw out their vessels, from the northern fiords. Plat, a strong knight of Lochlann, and the hero Conmael, were invited to jointheconfederacy. 3 Weareinformed,likewise,thattheKingofDenmark sent his two sons, Carolus Kanutus • and Andreas, at the head of twelve thousand men, and that these were safely landed in Dublin, where they were kindly received and refreshed by Maelmordha. 'ts It is stated, moreover, that thirty thousand men were embodied in Scandinavia, and, afterwards, these made a descent on the shores of Ireland, landing at Clontarf. ** Thus, Danes came from the regions of snow,*? and from the Mediterranean Gothland. The Sclaves and Wandali, likewise, dwelt on islands of the Baltic sea, and spread their pagan hordes on the Continent, towards the south j-ts b^t^ ^^^ have no account, that those people took any part in the invasion. The Irish Scandina- vian colonists invited the Jarl Brodor,''^ or Broder,5° a renowned warrior, apparently from the North of Saxon-land, to take a command on their behalf, and he accordingly consented to join the expedition. By one authority, he is called the Earl of Cair Ascadal, as also, son to the King of Loclilann,! ' and by another, he is denominated Earl of Caer Ebroc,5= that is of York, in England. 53 He is said, not only to have embraced Christianity,5-* but even to have become a Mass Deacon, by consecration. Afterwards, he apostatized, and he resorted to gentile practices. He is called " God's dastard," being a worshipper of heathen fiends, and of all men most addicted to sorcery. He
*" Webbe Dasent's " of See George Story
vel
« He is also called " a Broderick, famous
Burnt Njal," chap, cliv. , pp. 327 to 329.
eversores, fuerunt," lib. ii. , cap. 2r, p. 38. Francofvrti, m. d. lxxx, fol.
<=
See
Thomas McGee's " D'Arcy
Popular of Ireland : from the Earliest Period
leader against the Britons of Wales and
History
to the Emancipation of the Catholics," vol.
—Thomas
i. , Book ii. , chap, vi. , p. 99. Glasgow edi- tion, no date, 8vo.
*3 See Coja'dVi jAecliel ne 5All<iibli,
chap. Ixxxvii. , pp. 152, 153.
1* Sometimes called Carl Canuteson.
's See tlie Battle of Clontarf, an article by John O'Donovan, in "The Dublin Penny Journal," vol. i. . No. 17,"p. 134.
«' See Dr. Hanmei's Chronicle of Ire-
laud," p. 184.
"So state the "Annales Inisfalenses,"
Dublm copy, and in a note, Kev. Dr. O'Conor interprets this designation, as i—n-
eluding "Norwegia, SueJia, Jutlandia. ''
" Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus
,
62.
«^SeeA. Krantzii
ii. , p.
"
Viri in Theologia et Jure Pontificio Celeberrimi, Historicique,
Clarissimi, Wandalia. De Wandalorum vera copy), in Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum
Origine, variis genlibu-;, creliris e patria mi-
grationibus, regnis item, quorum
Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii.
vel autores
"
According
to the "
Nials-Saga. "
Cornwall. "
J| Popular Histoiy of Ireland," vol. i. , Book ii. , chap, vi. , p. 99.
S" He is called Bruadar, chief of the Danes, in the Dublin copy of " Annales Inisfalenses," in Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Re- rum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 61.
si Such is the account in the Manuscript, distinguishetl as B, in Rev. James Henthorn Todd's edition of CogA-oh JaeoVieL He Sitiaibli, p. 151, n. 14.
5» According to the Annals of Loch Ce. Dr. Todd thinks, however, that this must be a mistake.
53 Another account has it, that Carolus and Anrud, sonof Elihric, and also two sons of the White Danes, joined this expeiiition. See "Annales Inisfalenses," p. 61 (Dublin
D'Arcy
McGee's
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIJVTS. 397
wore a coat of mail, which no steel could bite, and black hair so long, that he tucked its locks under his belt. He was both tall and strong. ss The Danes invited, also, Amlaibh,^* son to the King of Lochlann. Both of the last-named chiefs S7 are called Earls of Cair, and of all the North of Saxon- land.
These are stated to have been chiefs of ships, outlaws, ferocious and impious men, having no reverence " for God or man, for church or for sanc- tuary. "5' According to the account, these were at the head of two thousand hard-hearted mercenaries, ss being men in armour. ^° Other statements have it, that those chiefs commanded only one thousand men. ^' From Manann or the Isle of Man,*^ from Sci,^3 and from Leodhas,'* assistance was sought.
sent the " war arrow "
that obeyed him as Lord. *5 To Scotland, and to the Hebrides '^ and Orkney
Islands,*' the envoys repaired, to knit well the ramifications of this great con- federacy. The Cat Islands '* are mentioned as having furnished a contin- gent, as likewise, Cenn Tyre and Airer-Gaedhel. '' There Sigurd,? " the powerful Earl of the Orkneys,'' who began his rule over these islands, a. d. 996, and who had also possession of Caithness and of Sutherland, was remark- able for his warlike adventurers, at this epoch, both by sea and land. The
Suibne,
Earl of
Man,
through
all those "
out-islands,"
55 See the account, in George Webbe
Innisfallen Annals, is interpreted, the He-
brides, Rev. Dr. O'Conor, in " Rerum by
HibemicarumScriptores,"tomusii. , p. 61, n. 2.
^In966,statesthePoet Gray,thepeople
of the Orkney Islands became Chriitians,
but probably it happened in 995 ; however, although they and the other Gothic nations
no longer worshipped their old divinities, yet they never doubted of their existence, or forgottheirancientmythology. See"The Works of Thomas Gray, containing his Poems and Correspondence, with Memoirs of his Life and Writings," tome i. , p. 78, note.
" The people of the Ore Islands and of
the Cat Islands are represented, as "an
assembled army of ignorant, barbarous,
thoughtless, irreclaimable, unsociable foreign-
ers. See CogAoVi 54ex)heL tie 5dtt<iibh,
chap. Ixxxvii. , pp. 152, 153.
''In the Dublin of the "Annales
"
Dasent's "
of Burnt
vol. ii. ,
Story chap, cliv. , p. 329.
Njal,'
5^ Probably, he is not distinct from Asca- dal. Earl of Cair Ascadal.
- 57 The romantic tale, known as the Cath ChluanaTarbh, distinguishes them as Broda' and Asgal, two sons of the King of Loch- lann, and probably they were brothers.
5* See CogATsh 54et)liet He jAlLiMbh, chap. Ixxxvii. , pp. 150 to 153.
5* Accustomed to hire themselves for gold or silver, or for other treasures ; in other words, they were a standing and a regularly
disciplinedbodyofmen. Seeiiu/.
^Their armour is stated to have been triple-plated, of refined iron or of cool un- corroding brass, polished, glittering and strong, encasing their sides and bodies, from
head to foot. See iiiii.
''
According
to the Annals of Ulster and
of the Four Masters, as also, the Leabhar Inisfalenses, the Irish version has Ciiintire
Gabhala, or Book of Conquests.
agus Oirear Caedhil, which is translated, by Dr. Charles O'Conor, "et Kentirias etOrien- talium Hibemorum. " He adds, in a note to this passage, "i^. in mare Hibernico Orien- tali. ' This latter is a mistaken identifica- tion of their position, which was in Argyle. See " Rerum Hibemicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , pp. 61, 62.
? " Sometimeshe is called Sigurd, Hlodver's son,asintheNials-Saga,cap. civiii. ; some- times, Sinchradh, son of Lodar, as in the Annals of Ulster ; sometimes, Sichfrith, son of Ltidar, as in the " Annals of the Four Masters;" and sometimes, Sincrad, son of Lotar, or Sitric, son of Lodar, as in the different copies of the CogAxiVi 5Aet)'hel He Salldibn.
" There the original Celtic population had yielded to the Scandinavian. At this time, the Danish pirates had possession of Man. The Manx language resembles more the Erse of Ireland and the Gaelic of Scotland, than the Cymric or lesser Breton. See
"
Elisee Reclus'
verselle, laTerre et les Hommes, tome iv. He de Man, p. 626.
'3 Probably the Island of Sky, although in the Dublincopy of the Annals of Innisfallen, we find Sgiligia, interpreted Shetland, by
Rev. Dr. O'Conor, in
Renim Hibemica-
Nouvelle Geographic Uni-
" rumScriptores,"tomusii. , p. 61,n. 3.
**
Lewis, by Rev. Dr. O'Conor. /iid. , n. 4.
Otherwise, Leodhasa, interpreted
McGec'S " Book
Cead, as used in the Dublin copy of the
' He is called
'5 See Thomas
D'Arcy
Popular
ii. , ney
Luadar, evidently
Count of the Ork-
History of Ireland," &c. , vol. i. ,
Islands father's name
a mistake for his
chap, vi. , p. 99.
in of the
'°
copy
——
"Annates Inisfalenses. " See Rev. Dr.
the Dublin copy
398 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 23.
coasts of Ross and Moray were ravaged by him ; the Hebrides paid him tri- ^
bute;7" in 1006, the Scottish king, Malcolm II. tried, but in vain, to purchase peace for Scotland, by giving his daughter in marriage, as a second wife. Sigurd made a second descent upon Moray in 10 10, but, he was signally de- feated, at Mortlach, and with great slaughter, after a protracted struggle. " This fierce leader was probably only a nominal Ciiristian. ? * Wearied with the dull amenities of repose, around his own shores, when the blast of war
blew from a distance, and probably hoping to share the anticipated division of Irish soil, in favour of foreign auxiliaries ;" this brave Viking spread his sails to
the breeze, and careened long the seas, with his ships and soldier mariners, to the aid of Sigtric, Northman King of Dublin. '* The hundred inhabited isles," which lie between Yell and Man, sent in their contingents to swell the following of the renowned Earl. '*
In 1013, Sweyn invaded England, and he took possession of a considera-
ble portion of that country, having been acknowledged as its king. '' Whether heassistedtheprojectofinvasion,ornot,seemstobeunknown; but,hedied in the following year,*" after a remarkable career. Two barons of the Con Britons,^' or Coir-Bhreathnaicc,** and Corndabbliteoc,*3 of the Britons at Cill Muni,** or St. David's, were invited to this confederacy. From another place, the Coir-na-Liogog foreigners were collected, for the anticipated invasion. ^s After the death of Sweyn, Canute, the son, completed his father's conquests, and he became King of Denmark, of Norway, and of England. Under Canute, the power of Denmark reached its highest position. He was styled
theGreat; but,hewasprobablytoomuchengagedwithotherenterprises,to lend any considerable assistance to that expedition, destined for Ireland. **
O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip-" tores," tomus ii. , p. 6l.
'» It is stated, that " the Kings of Den- mark and Norway treated with him on equal terms. "—Thomas D'Arcy McGec's "Popu- lar History of Ireland," &c. , vol. i. . Book ii. , chap, vi. , p. 99.
'* See Thomas D'Arcy McGee's "Popular
History of Ireland," vol. i. . Book ii. , chap,
vi. , p. 99.
" See Edward A. Freeman's " History of
the Norman Conquest of England ; lis Causes and Results. " chap, v. , sect. 4, pp.
396, 397-
"" " Sven, k ils avaient laisse prendre, qui
" See Dr.
tory of Scotland," vol. i. , chap, i. , p. 37.
James Taylor's
his man, and proclaim Clirislianity over all the Orkneys. He submitted to these condi-
de I'Angleterre par les Normands, de ses Causes etdeses Suites jusqu' a nos Jours, en Angleterre, en Ecosse, en Irlande et sur le Continent," tome i. , liv. ii. , p. 2l6. Sixieme edition, Paris, 1843, 8vo.
*' From Barru and from the Corrbritons,
" Pictorial His-
'* It is s. iid, that Olaf Tryggveson, the
first Christian ICing of Norway, returning
from a vi-king expedition to the west, came
to the Orkneys, A. D. 997, and seized Earl Augustin Thierry's Histoire de la Conquete Sigurd, as he lay under the Isle of Hoy, in a
single ship. King Olaf offered to ransom the
Earl, if he consented to embrace the true
faith and be baptized, that he should become
tions, and give his son Hundi as a hostage.
"*' "
See Olaf Tryggvesson's Saga," cap. Hi.
'S Flosi, an adventurer, who was on a visit with Sigurd, offered to accompany him on the expedition ; but this, tlie Earl would
not permit, since he had a pilgrimage to fulfil. However, fifteen of his band were
accepted by the Earl, to go on this voyage.
Then Flosi went with Earl Gilli to the
Southern Isles. Thorstein, son to Hall of the
side, Harfn the red, and Erling of Stranmey,
went along with Earl Sigurd. See the "
Saga,"chap,clvi. , p. 333.
Gazetteer of Scotland,"
Imperial vol. ii. , pp. 540, 541-
this in the Latin, " et Wallorum," to which "
'' See "
s n. 3, "Nempe S. DavidisMenevensis. " "RerumHibernica-
" After their conversion, these contained three hundred churches and chapels.
rum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 62.
*5 Rev. Dr. O'Conor conjectures this to be
meant for Comubia, as he translates it in
en I'annee 1014, le titre de roi d'Angleterre, mourut dans cette meme annee, assez subite- ment pour qu'il y ait lieu d'attribuer sa mor—t
& un elan d'indignation patriotique. " "
according to another account, aid came.
In the Dublin copy of the Annales
"
Inisfalenses, Rev. Dr. O'Conor translates
he appends, n. 2— Corwallia, juxta margi- nalem notam. " "Rerum Hibernicarum
Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 62.
'^ The Slanuscript B has the name Corn-
bliteoc.
** In the Dublin copy of the "Annales
Inisfalenses," the Irish version has agus Breathnaicc Cilletiiuitie ; and to this. Rev. Dr. O'Conor append—
April 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 399
Even the Danes of Normandy, then signalized as Northmen, as those of Britain and of the Isles around her coasts, heard the summons to arms with
delight. Then they had embraced Christianity. The pagan kings of Scan- dinavia brought aid to their Christian fellow-countrymen, in Ireland, as they did in Normandy ; for, the origin of race and of language caused relations of alliance and of national fraternity. ^7 However, the Dukes of Normandy had long acknowledged themselves as vassals of the successors to Charlemagne and *^ When the
Denmark, and one who joined the expedi- tion, as a commander, was probably his son.
'^ See Augustin Thierry's "Histoire de la
de la Conquete de I'Anglcterre par les Nor- mands," &c. , tome i.
"The monk Ademar, whose Chronicle was written before 1031, in the opinion of Labbe, states, "ut Hirlandis extinctis ipsi pro ipsis inhabitarent opulentissimam terram quae xii. civitates cum amplissimis Episco-
romanesque language
had the prevailed among
Capet.
Normans, they were called Franks, Romans, or Velsques, by the Scandina- vians. ^9 CarlusandEbric,9°twosonstotheKingofFrance,aresaidtohave been invited to join this expedition ;9' but, we may assume, that these were chiefs of the Normans. '^ They entered into the confederacy, and were
pleased at the prospect of settling in the cities '3 and towns, already opened to commerce, by the men of their race ; while possessions and lands were
thought to be the certain acquisition of those colonists,''* who having triumphed over the natives of Erinn, were, by the irregular laws of warfare then pre- vailing, entitled to those spoils won by their valour.
No less than sixteen thousand Danes, already settled in Dublin, and
in other strongholds of Ireland, together with all the power of Leinster, were gathered under the command of King Maelmordha,95 who either claimed a
suzerainty over them, or whose supremacy seems to have been admitted, for the occasion. The din of preparation was heard on the coasts, and within theislandsoftheBaltic,totheirmoresouthernsettlements. Joyfullydidthe hardy Norsemen receive the decision arrived at by their chiefs. Their na- tural courage, aroused by the message, was responded to with the readiness and excitement of warriors accustomed to bold adventures, whether on sea or land. They were already assured of conquest, owing to the extensive scale on which the expedition had been planned.
When he found a great war pending, with all possible speed, Bryan Boroimha summoned his lieges, and he mustered the forces of Munster and of Connaught, under his standard. These were joined, likewise, by the men ofMidhe,orofMeath,9*tothenumberofonethousandwarriors. Theremote situation of Ireland, which lay so far towards the south and west, in the Atlantic Ocean, and the widely disjjersed colonies of the confederates, were no slight protection from the Northman invasion, while efforts were being
the Latin. See ibid. , p. 62, and n. 4.
