No More Learning

35 It narrates what happened to our saint, after his staff had been broken on our Lord's
day.
36 Printed at Louvain, A. D. 1485. See
44° LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29. have been compiled. This is not less faulty, than that Life in the Utrecht
—
as its
Manuscript—nay, it
even more so
additions, however limited, pre-
is
sent mere absurdities of statements
The old Sagas and scald compositions have frequent allusion to an Olaf
and to his romantic adventures in Ireland. 38 With our Island, he seems,
while young, to have had family and friendly relations ;39 but, he generally
goesbythenameofKingAulafTryggvesson. * Accordingtoacustomusual among the Northmen, this king took his father's name, which was Trygve,
"
to which the term "son
was a grandson of the celebrated Harald Haarfager. As related for us, his adventures were strange and romantic. His father had governed a part of Norway under King Haquin the Good. However, he had been betrayed by his own relations and massacred, before the birth of Olave, whose mother was obliged to fly for refuge into Sweden. Her brother Sigurd was one of the chiefministers to the Prince of Russia, and she hoped to place herself there under his protection. On the route, she was pursued by a pirate, who made her a prisoner. She was then separated from her young son, who was sold to a native of Esthonia. After some time, Olaf was restored to his uncle Sigurd, but being still pursued by his enemies, he resolved on betaking him- self to the pursuits of a sea-rover. The life he led was a very adventurous one. He ravaged with his fleet the coasts of England and of France. After an interview he had with a hermit, who lived on one of the Scilly Islands, Olaus embraced Christianity, In 996, he arrived in Dublin. There, he was
induced to sail for Norway, where Haquin the Tyrant then reigned. With
» Thus it is related at fol. 102 " Veniens
:
ergo S. Olavus, ut regnum Dacioe, sibi divi- nitus promissum, acceptaret, omnes cam-
panae totius regni per se pulsare inceperunt. Hoc idem factum est, eo revertente de Rus-
forces could be collected, retiring to Stam-
ford bridge on the Derwent, a desperate battle was fought there on the 27th of that month. Both Harald Hardraade and Tos- tig fell, with many celebrated Norwegian chiefs and brave warriors. After this great victory, the English King sent for Olaf, son of Hardraade, when accompanied by the Earl of Orkney and his bishop, Olaf waited on the conqueror, by whom he was most
was added. This king was born in 956, and he
cia abexilio in Daciam. "
38 See Rev. James Johnstone's
Olaf swore to live in amity with England, and when Harald took possession of the Norwegian fleet, he bestowed twelve ships on Olaf to enable him to sail for his native country. Thenhereceivedfromhisbrother Magnus the south-eastern parts of Norway, and two years later when he died, Olaf III. reigned over the whole of that kingdom. He married Ingigard, the daughter of Svend Estrithson,KingofDenmark. Hisprinci-
Antiqui- tates Celto-Scandicse," p. 68, et seq.
"
3' See Charles Haliday's "Scandinavian
Kingdom of Dublin," edited with some No-
tice of the Author's Life, by John P. Pren- humanely and graciously received. Then
dergast, pp. lxiii. , lxiv.
40 Another well known personage Olaf
III. , surnamed Kyrre or the Pacific—the
son of Harald III. , surnamed I lard - younger —
raada or the Cruel was a nephew to the
present St. Olaf. During the lifetime of his
father Harald III. , whom he had accom-
panied on an expedition to England, his
valuur was signalized, although war was ab-
horrent to his feelings. His father had fre-
quent contests with the Danes, who obtained
a naval victory over him in 1062. Another
Harald, King of England, he opposed, in
conjunction with Tostig the exiled Earl of courage improvements and industry, he Northumberland. With a fleet of three founded the city of Bergen in 1076. He in- hundred sail, and a gallant army, leaving the vited strangers, skilled in mechanical arts, to regency of Norway to his son Magnus, settle in Norway, while he took measures to
Harald Hardraade, in August, 1066, em- enfranchise slaves, who had became captives barked and landed at the mouth of the Tyne, in war. He organized religious societies,
where Tostig joined him with a few ships. Entering the Humber and ascending the Ouse, they became masters of the province
of York in September. However, Harold,
while he provided settled incomes for the clergy, whose efforts for the advancement of morality and religion he zealously seconded. See "Formanna-Sdgur," tomus vii. Olafs
King of England, immediately marched Sagakyrra, Kaupmannahoin, 1831.
against them,
and before their scattered 41 See Munter's "
Kirchen-geschichte
von
ples of policy were to keep in peace with all his neighbours, and to foster trade and commerce among his own subjects. To en-
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 441
some vessels and having only a small armament, he landed. The people received him as a liberator, and they proclaimed him king. Afterwards, his greatexertionsweretomakeChristianconvertsamonghispeople. Inthese attempts, his measures as taken were very arbitrary, but his zeal was in a great degree successful. It is stated, that he introduced Christianity into Iceland, into the Feroe Islands, and even into Greenland. *1 He was also the found—er
—
of Drontheim 4 2 or Trondheim 43 Nidarosia44 or Nidrosia
called in Latin
because it had been built at the mouth of the River Nid. 4S A magnificent
fiord extends northwards from the town while the Island of Munkholm 46 ;
rises majestically in front of it above the bay. This romantic view is termi- natedbymountainscoveredwithsnow. Onaccountofthegreatnumberof rocks at the mouth of its harbour, only small vessels can now frequent its waters ; so that we may infer, the ships of the vikings of former times did notrequireverydeepwaters,toaffordthemaplaceforanchorage. Thisdis- trict of Drontheim 47 now comprises two bishoprics \ the one taking in the baili- wick of North Drontheim, of South Drontheim and of Romsdal, while the other comprehends the amts or divisions of Nordland and the Finmarken. The Drontheim-fiorden nearly divided the kingdom of Norway into two parts. The town of Drontheim is said to have been formerly a magnificent capital, and at present it has greatly fallen from its ancient splendour.
There was also a King of Sweden, Olaf III. , and surnamed Scot-Konung,
8
from the time he was a child/ because his father Eric the Victorius wished
him to be recognised as his successor. His father had ruled over Denmark,49 as well as over Sweden, before his death, which happened in 994. His son Olaf-Scot-Konungwasonlyfourteenyearsofage,atthattime; andafterthe death of Eric, his widow Sigbrit married Sven or Sweyn I,, King of Denmark. s° Olaf embraced Christianity, in 1008, having been baptized by St. Sigfrid,51 who had come from England for that purpose. All his family and many of the nobles followed his example. Afterwards, on the condition of Sweyn propagating the Christian religion in Denmark, he relinquished the latter kingdom. Nevertheless,Olafdesiringtoextendhisprerogativegavegreat offence to the chiefs, and he was obliged to yield such a pretension. Hereto- fore, his predecessors were called Kings of Upsal, a town where their residence usually had been, and which was their seat for government. How
DanemarkundNorwegen.
"
thechiefmagistrate,andit overtopsallthe other buildings. Its style of architecture is simple and noble ; but being built of wood, its ornaments have been distorted through
it is almost wholly surrounded by that river and the sea. With the exception of a few houses, the town is wholly built of wood, according to the usage very generally pre- vailing in Norway, and it has two suburbs, Back-kelandet and Ladegaard, in each of which there is a church. The principal street of Drontheim is called theMunkegade, and this extends through the whole breadth of the town to the shores of the fiord. The buildings on both sides of it have a very re-
spectable appearance.
43 Sometimes written Trondhjem. It is in
the district of Strinden, and it is the capital of the Province of Drontheim, situated in north latitude 63 25' 50". The town-house, now in the Munkegade, is the residence of
"
44 This town received its name Nideroos,
outlet of the Nid," owing to its position,
„
42 It is pronounced Tronyem, by the Nor-
wegians, and it is now the seat of anadminis-
trative division of Norway, the most north-
em in the kingdom. It is situated on a small
gulf,onthesouthsideoftheRiverNid,and See GazetteeroftheWorld,"vol. v. ,p. 79.
the opposite influences of heat and moisture, "
Nidar is the genitive case of Nid in the
Norwegian language.
4S According to Petrus Claudius Undalin,
as cited by Torfgeus in his " Historia Rerum
Norvegicarum," tomus i. , lib. ii. , cap. 21,
pp. 88, 89.
46 This is now crowned with a castle,
47 In Latin it is designated Thrandia, Throndemonis, Throndemnis, andThronde- mis.
48 He was born some time after 980.
49 This kingdom he obtained in 987.
s° Son to Haquin the Bad.
si His feast occurs on the 15th of Feb-
ruary.
442
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, [July 29.
ever, he is distinguished as King Olaf I. , of Sweden. A league was formed between himself and Sweyn, to wrest Norway from the rule of Olaf I. , sur- named Trygvason ; and, the latter, being defeated in a great naval battle, jumped overboard when on the point of being made a prisoner. Thus, he perished in the waves. Afterwards, Olaf received a part of Norway as a reward, but this he held in suzerainty from Sweyn.
For the better understanding of historic events, in connexion with the
subject here treated, we deemed it important to present some notion respect-
ing the foregoing distinguished personages, who were contemporaries, and who had relations with the present holy king. Besides, whatever may have been related about his private life and virtues j his public actions and career have made him prominent in the Northern Chronicles, while it is only by comparison, with those who figured as his friends or opponents, that we can gain a proper estimate of the motives and necessities or policy that controlled his impulses and fortunes. How varied these were may have been chiefly owing to the turbulent and semi-barbarous ideas and customs of his country- men and of the age ; as also to the restless spirit of adventure and of con- questthatdestroyedallstabilityofgovernmentoroforder; becauseambition was strongly excited among the bold and aspiring, who little respected rulers—themselves often usurpers—or rights, however recognized or trans- mitted.
Before entering on the biography of St. Olaf himself, it is necessary to investigate the contradictory accounts contained in the Northern Chronicles, regarding his parents and ancestors. Some writers have incorrectly called our saint the son of Olaf Tryggvasson ; whereas, in reality, he was the son of Harald. The latter is said to have had for his father Gudriod,52 the son of Biorn,53 and the grandson of Harald Haarfager, or of the beautiful Hair, who was the first King of all Norway, towards the close of the ninth century. Wherefore, it seems, that not only was our saint of noble birth, but his family moreover descended from the renowned hero King of Norway. The father of Olaus is named Harald Grcenske,5* or the Greenlander. This was the province of Norway in which he had been educated. 55 He is also called Harold Grensdius, prince of Vingulmarch s6 and Westfold, in the southern part of Norway. This included three divisions, viz. : Listerleen or Listensen, MandalsteenorMandalense,NedenesteenorNidnesense. Tothese,other writersaddafourthdistrictcalled or — Hismother
Abigdelag Raabygdelag. "
—dsometimes
is called Asta, an Aasta, daughter
ofGudbrand sometimescalled
Gulbrand Kuta governor of Gulbmnd's Dale. Wherefore, Arngrim Jonas and Bailletus are astray, when they call his mother Astrida ; this latter was the
parent of Olaf Tryggvesson, and owing to the similarity of ourOlai's name, that mistakewasprobablycommitted. AccordingtotheNorthernGenealogies,58
sa Theodric, the monk of Nidrosia, styles him Gotd' rotd' ar Syr.
53 The same authority calls him Bernharcl, surnamed the Merchant.
54Heis "
styled arriere-petit-fils
he only ruled over a particular province in it, which was so called, and which extended nearly over the entire southern portion. See " Ilistoria Rerum Norvegicarum,"tomus ii. , lib. 261to
deHa- raid Haarfager, ct qui regna sur une partic
263.
—M. Le Dr. Hocfer's "Nouvelle Biographic Generate," tome
vi. , cap. xvi. , pp.
» According to Undalin, pars i. , lib. ii. ,
de la Norvege. "
x.
s8 As set forth by Torfacus, in " Series Dy-
nastarum et Regum Daniae a Skioldo Odini
Filio ad Gormum Grandrevum," lib. iii. ,
cap. x. , p. 359. Copenhagen, 1702,410.
55> This fierce sea-rover was born about A. D. 720, and he died a. d. 790. See ibid. ,
xxxviii. , col. 583.
55 According to Torfoeus, " Ilistoria Re-
rum Norvegicarum," tomus ii. , lib. vi. , cap. vi. , p. 246, and Ericus Olaus, lib. i. , p. 27.
56
appears to hold that Harald had been king
Although Eric of Upsal, lib. i. , at p. 27,
over all Norway Torfceus ; yet,
that
cap. x. , xi. , pp. 345 to 382. °°
theCodex
shows,
According to Torfyeus, quoting
cap.
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 443
Asta was descended from Ragnar or Regnar Lodbroch,59 King of Denmark and of England. After the murder of his father, Harald was obliged to fly into Sweden. After some years, through favour of Harald of the Blue Tooth, King of Denmark, and in the eighteenth year of his age, about a. d. 962, he was restored to his principality in the southern part of Norway. There he reigned for many succeeding years, under certain conditions exacted by the King of Denmark. It is stated, that our Olaf was born about the year 992. Others have it, that he was born about the year 995, and after the death of his father. 60 However, it has been thought more probable, that his birth should be assigned to a much earlier date, if we are to credit all those actions of his life, which have been recorded ; since, at this time, the northern chro-
61
years set down for his actions, which must have occurred in mature age, and
nology had not been safely settled,
and because we find in some authorities
62
detect manifest errors of statement, in the much lauded Icelandic documents,
which nevertheless fall within the tenth century.
Moreover, we are able to
and which are irreconcilable, not utterly
with facts recorded in 6^ history,
only
but even with the statements of many other of those Sagas that have seen the
light. When certain eastern regions in the north had been devastated, Harald directed his fleet against the shores of Sweden. The queen of that country, and then the widow of Eric the Victorious, was named Sigrid. She received him in a hospitable manner, but while some pleasantry passed between them at a banquet, she greatly offended Harald, by telling him that her fields and farms were as large as his whole kingdom in Norway. He abruptlyrosefromthetable,andleftherinanangrymood. However,she deemed it politic to appease him. Therefore, she bestowed so much attention and honour on her guest, afterwards, that he left in an agreeable fashion. The following summer, Harald repudiated his wife Asta, and he next meditated a new marriage. Undertaking a naval expedition towards the east, he visited
Sigrid on the way, and he then proposed, that she should become his wife.
However, although unwilling to marry him, yet fearing a refusal should excitehis anger,shetemporized; but,whilesheextolledthefidelityandmeritsofAsta, still she left him in hopes that her consent might be obtained. Harald was then invited to a banquet, where intoxicating drink was served to him in full measure. Overtakenbydrunkennessandsleep,hewasplacedonabed;
when, by orders of the perfidious queen, fagots were set around him, and fire was applied. The unfortunate Harald perished in the flames. 6* —
and on
intelligence had been conveyed to her by one Hranius 65 Asta went to her
1150.
*
62
Thus Jacobus Gislo, in his History, col-
After her
divorce,
hearing
about the death of h—
erhusband which
Flateyensis, in " Historia Rerum Norvegica-
rum," tomus ii. , lib. viii. , cap. xvii. , pp. 326,
327. 61
In his History of Sweden, Loccenius did not attempt to givedates before the year
identical with the present St. Olaf.
63 While Theodric, the monk of Nidrosia, defends the Icelandic chronology, which he
had very diligently "studied, he very strangely states, that Harald of the Beautiful Hair
reigned in the year of our Lord 1052, although he is recognised as the great-grand - father's father of St. Olave, who is stated to
have become a martyr in 1030. Thus, ac- cording to Theodoric's own computation, fully twenty-two years after his grandchild's grandson died, his great-grandfather's father reigned.
°4
Such is the account given by Eric of Upsal, in his work, lib. ii. , p. 28.
6s He appears to have been a pirate, who
had experienced many vicissitudes of fortune, and who had voyaged much at sea.
lected from the best authorities, and printed
at Stockholm in 1592, places at A. B. 998,
the period when St. Olave King of Norway
flourished, and when he carried on war with
Olave Scott Konung, while at 999, he states :
"
uxorem duxit. " Again, Pontanus, in lib. v. , " Rerum Danicarum," deems that Anlaf, who is recorded to have assisted King Sweyn in the blockade of London and against the English, a. d. 994, to have been
S. Olavus filiam Olavi Scottkonung in
444 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
father's house for refuge. Then, as has been supposed, Hacon, Jarl of Nor- way, had seized upon that kingdom. The place where her father lived was called Upland, and this district formed a considerable tract, in the midland
partsofNorway. Formerly,ithadbeengovernedbymanypettykings,and its people were known as Uplanders. It is represented, at present, by the
Province of Aggerhus, in which Christiana, the capital city of Norway is situated. 66 That place, too, is said to have been near Lake Mios or Mjosen. In this tract was situated Norwegian Groenland. Thither fled Asta, with her son Harald, afterwards celebrated in history as Hardraade ; while, according tosomeaccounts,hersonOlafwasnotthenborn. Hecameintotheworld, on the farm of Vika 6 ? at what exact time has been much contested, and
; but,
most probably now we may vainly enquire. According to some accounts,
Olaf was brought up by his maternal grandfather, Gudbrand, in Greenland ; while others state, that he was nurtured by Sigurd Syr, regulus of Hringarika, . jiear Obstoen Gulf, and towards the north. However, both statements maybe reconciled. ProbablyAstalivedwithhergrandfather,atfirst; and,whenafter
her second marriage with Sigurd, it seems likely, she brought her young chil- dren to their stepfather's house. Thus, at an early age, her son Olaus became anorphan. Afterthedeathofherhusband,Harald,AastamarriedSigurd Syr, a Jarl or petty king in Ringarik, in Norway, about a. d. 998.
It would thus seem, that under the care of his mother, Olaf was brought up in his foster-father's house. His future greatness was predicted by Sigurd, who probably inferred it, from the natural abilities he discovered in the child. According to some of the northern chronicles, when Olaus I. , King of Norway, and suraamed Trygvason, came to Ringarik to spread Chris- tianity,Sigurdandhiswife,withOlaf,Harald'sson,werebaptized. Atthis time, our Olaf must have been very young, since Olaf Trygvason engaged in war with Sweyn I. , King of Denmark, and he fell in a great naval battle fought a. d. 1000. While Olave was instructed, according to some accounts, at an early period of his life, in the Gospel truths, the wild stories related of his warlike adventures and his method of government give us rather an idea, that in manners and practice, he was by natural disposition ferocious and cruel. Yet, it does not seem so certain, that at this early term of his years, he had been otherwise than ignorant of the Christian doctrine and of its
moral obligations. According to other accounts, Olave embraced the faith in 68
England, buthewasnotbaptizeduntilhecametoNormandy,andthere,in
the of Rouen, he first received the Sacrament of 6? After- city regeneration.
wards, as we are told, he became very perfect ; for, in his ardour to obtain
eternal life, he despised all earthly enjoyments and pleasures. During the period of his youth, wild tales of adventures by sea and of foreign conquest must have been dinned into the ears of the boy, while these excited his imagination, and filled his mind with an ardent desire to seek an opportunity for distinguishing himself, like so many of his countrymen. At the age of eight, he is said to have surpassed all other children, in bodily strength and in
66
According to Undalin, in lib. ii. , cap. vi. to ix.
6? This is asserted in the Codex Flateyen-
"
as he who has been already mentioned, and who brought the news of Harald's death to Asta. He was also styled Peregrinator or the Wanderer, as also Nutricius, the Fos-
terer, probably owing to his training of Olaf.
7I Three different Manuscripts have this
statement, according to Torfreus.
Ja Found in a Manuscript old as those
mentioned. See Torfaeus, " Historia Re- rum Norvegicarum," tomus iii. , lib. i. , cap. xv. , p. 23.
Historia Re- rum Norvegicarum," tomus ii. , lib. viii. ,
sis, according to Torfaeus in cap. xvii. , p. 327.
68
See Bishop Challoner's "Memorials of British Piety," p. no.
69 Such is the statement contained in his
short Acts, as published by the Bollandists, cap, i. , num 2.
? ° He seems to have been the same
person,
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 445 powers of mind. His tutor or governor appears to have been Hranius,?
r
who brought him to sea in his twelfth year ;?
while, according to another
statement,' his age. 73
2 that nautical was undertaken in the fifteenth of trip year
CHAPTER II.
EARLY WARLIKE PROPENSITIES OF OLAF—HIS FIRST MARITIME ADVENTURES AGAINST DENMARK AND SWEDEN, FRIESLAND AND—HOLLAND—NORTHMAN INVASIONS OF ENGLAND AND WARS WITH THE SAXONS KING OLAF ARRIVES IN NORMANDY, WHERE PROBABLY HE WAS BAPTIZED—HE RETURNS TO AID ETHELRED IN ENGLAND—HIS VICTORIES—HE RECOVERS NORWAY FROM THE SWEDES AND DANES—HE IS THEN PROCLAIMED KING OF THAT COUNTRY.
We are informed, that Olaf's foster-father Sigurd was remarkable for his
moderation of character and for his love of domestic life
in his expenditure, and much interested in superintending the concerns of his farm, while cultivating likewise the mechanical arts. Moreover, sparing of words, he was free from avarice and content with what he possessed ; of a peaceful temperament, and assiduous in civil administration, he detested war and military glory. Those subject to his rule were justly governed, and wise laws were wisely administered to them. He was remarkable for his prudence, andworthytobeclassedasaPhilosopher,owingtohiswisdom. Hehada sufficiency of this world's goods. It was undoubtedly a matter of great im- portance,thathisfoster-sonOlafwaseducatedbysuchapatron; and,ifwe are to believe the Legend, it was owing to the son's pronouncement, when
he was only six years old, that Asta had preferred Sygurd Syr to another chief named Gissur, the son of Gudbrand, who had hoped to obtain her con-
1 An anecdote is related of the child, that shows his natural instincts were enterprising and warlike. Being instructed by his step- father in those exercises becoming his tender years, while the chamber door of his mother stood open one day, Olaf entered, and seeing there a sword belonging to Besing, he enquired regarding it. Being told it had belonged to Olaf, who had bestowed it, and whose name it bore, he asked for and obtained it ; but, his strength was not then equal to the task of raising it, and he dragged it along. His stepfather then reproached his mother, for having given it to her son, as a weapon altogether unsuited for him ; while adding, at the same time, that mothers never had the fortitude to refuse anything asked of them by children, whether those were suitable for them or other- wise. She then ordered a trial to be made, if the child could be induced willingly to part with it. Wherefore, with blandishments, and promising to give him some other suitable gift, Asta coaxed her son, that she might get
sent for a
marriage.
73 See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vii. , Julii xxix. De S. Olavo Regeet Martyre, Nidrosiae in Norvegia. Commen- tarius Historicus, sect, ii. , iii. , pp. 89 to 92.
trimulus quidem victricum nactus fuerit, utut id de rivalibus verum sit. " We are then told,
that the queen preferred Siguard, descended from Harald of the Beautiful Hair to Gissur,
Chapter —r "
and that Olafs forecast was
alone in having for a son Harald the Severe, but also many other descendants, who after- wards, were renowned Kings of Norw
See Thormod Torfseus' " Historia Rer
Norvegicarum," tomus iii. , lib. i. , cap. p. 22.
ii; Fertur tunc mater
fulfilled, not
utrumque ad convivium invitasse, omenque
ex pueri responso captura, eum super tanta
re consuluisse, cui potissimum nuberet? Is
autem respondisse, Regi nubendum, ut
Regesmdeprocrearipossent. Id vero respon- sum ei affictum ex jam relatis patet, cum ne
;
he was economical
446 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
back the sword, to keep for him, until he should *be able to wield it. Having
been asked for the weapon two or three times, he drew the sword from its
scabbard, at last, and hiding the latter under the cloak of Hran, holding the hilt, he extended the sword. He was then asked, why he did not give up the sheath, when he replied, because he had not strength to fight, for other-
2
ThenNorwayhadpassedunderthegovernmentofSweyn,3 KingofDen-
mark. Thatcountryremaineddividedbetweenhim,OlaveScot-Konung,*
and Eric. s The Danish King also sent his brother Earl Harald to govern
Norway. Itissaid,thatatanearlyage,Olafwasdesirousofobtainingdis-
tinction as a sea-rover. He was only fifteen—some even have it twelve-years
old, when he became leader of a piratical expedition. His appearance is thus
described at that age. He was not tall, but middle-sized, stout and strong.
He had light brown hair, and a white and red complexion. His eyes were
peculiarly fine, beautiful and piercing, so that one was afraid to look at him
in the face, when he was angry. Olaf was very expert in all bodily exercises,
heunderstoodwellhowtohandlethebow,andtothrowthespear. Hewasa
great swimmer, and handy at smith's work. It seems probable, that Olaf
deemed himself safer from his enemies at sea than on land, and he undertook
diversexpeditionsintheNorthernSeas. HismotherAastagavehimincharge
to one Hran or who was nicknamed, The Foster-father of 6 It Rane, Kings.
was customary for those, who took the lead of troops or of ships among the
Northmen, to assume likewise the name of Viking, although they had neither
land nor kingdom. Accordingly, Olaf obtained this title from the crew. We
are told, that while Hran or Rane sat at the helm, although he was king of
the men-at-arms, Olaf himself served as a common rower ; for, in those times,
ships were propelled by oars as well as by sails. The ships steered east-
ward along the land, and he came first to Denmark. 7 What had been the
object of this voyage does not very, clearly appear. Towards autumn, he
sailed to Sweden, as he thought he had cause of hostility against the Swedes,
because had killed his father Harald. 8 He took them they vengeance upon
by slaughter, burnings and booty, according to the rough usages of that
period. 9
His first recorded battle was fought at Sotholm, within the Skiergard, or
wise he should not surrender it to anyone.
28 See #/</. , pp. 22, 23.
3 This powerful monarch invaded England
in 1003, and expelled King Ethelred.
4 He was son—some say brother—to Eric King of Sweden. See " Historia Olai Magni Gothi Archiepiscopi Upsalensis, De Gen- tium Septrionalium," &C, lib. i i. , cap. xxi. ,
p. 67.
s He was son to Macon, Earl of Nor-
way.
6
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. vii. , July 29, p. 637.
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. vii. , July 29, pp. 637, 638.
9 This is expressed by a poet in these Latin lines : —
"Vos remis agitare rates et pandere vela
Assvcti, passim Zephyris spirantibus amplis,
Instruct! spoliis peragrastis Balthica regna.
In primis Cygni meritas sunt pen. dere paenas
fratres metus omnia mis- Compulsi :
cuit ingens. "
In the word Cygni, as we are informed by Thormod Toriaeus, there is a play upon words : Evan, meaning a swan, and also a Swede.
,0 " His augustiis circumventus Olaus I Iaraldi, consilium, quod presens necessitas subjecit,extemporecapit; etadAgnisitiam, ab Agno Dageii filio ita dictam, postea Stocholmiam a Stocsundio appellatam, de-
7 This is — in Otto Swart's expressed
Lay
on King Olaf:
** Young was the king when from his
home
He first began in ships to roam, His ocean steed to ride
To Denmark on the tide.
" Well exercised art thou in truth— In manhood's earnest work, brave
youth,
Out from the distant North,
Mighty host, thou come forth. "
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 447
smooth water. This lay within the fringe of Skerries, or rocks, which guards- that coast. He attacked some vikings there ; while he threw grappling irons into their ships, boarded the—m, and cleared them of men. Thence, he steered his way into the Mselar lake that beautiful little inland sea, to which access is obtained through an inlet near Stockholm. He sailed along the shores, ravagingthelandonbothsides. NewsofthehavocreachedOlaf,theSwedish king, and he laid iron chains across Stokkesund, the channel between the Mselarlakeandthesea,andheguardedtheentrancewithhistroops. Itmust be admitted, that the Viking was then of more mature age, than has been generally supposed ; while his judgment and resources, in escaping from dangers, are manifested, from those accounts we have on record regarding his daring maritime adventures. Olaf sailed eastwards, intending to escape out of the lake before winter j but, he found the entrance watched and barred. He therefore dug a channel across the flat land, that lay between the Mselar and the sea. Now a great number of rivers run into the Malar lake ; but, as the only outlet is small when heavy autumn rains fall, the water rushes through the narrow jaws of the Stokkesund like the sluice of a water-wheel, and all the low land round the lake is flooded. That autumn the rain fell in torrents, the rivers were swollen, and the lake brimmed over, rushed into the cutting made by Olaf, and swept his boats through it into the open sea. 10 Olaf then sailed eastward to the Island of Gothland, in harvest, and he there prepared to plunder ; but, the Gothlanders assembled, and sent men to him, offering him money, if he would spare his hand, from burning their stacks and farms. Such a tribute Olaf preferred ; he took their money, and he spent the winter in
He sailed
He next returned to Den- mark, and there he joined company with another pirate, Thorkell the Tall, brother of Earl Sigvald.