self. No Norwegian king had ever been so measuring linen. He was clad in a scarlet beloved in Iceland, for no king ever showed kirtle, and over all he had a scarlet cloak. more kindly feeling for them. So it was He had thrown the strings of his cloak up that later on, in 1056, when the great hard over his head to keep his hands free, while time and famine came upon the island, and he measured the linen. In the crick of his men ate whatever teeth could touch, and arm, that is, in the hollow of his arm, he had many were starved to death, Harold sent an axe with gold-studded haft. 'The king,' four ships laden with food to Iceland, just as said Thiodolf as he came in, 'wishes to ask in Ireland's need ships came so freighted thee for thy cloak.' Brand went on with across the Atlantic, and that food was sold his work and answered never a word, but he to all buyers at a low price. He gave them let the cloak fall back over his shoulders, a bell for their church at Thingvellir, where and Thiodolf took it up and carried it to the the Althing was held, for which Saint Olaf king. The king asked what had passed behad before sent the timber. On both sides tween them; he said that Brand had not utthe relation was a kindly one, and it was tered a word; and then Thiodolf went on to likely to last, for it was profitable to both. tell the king about his dress and work. The To Haldor, Snorri's son, Harold owed much. king said, "Of a truth this is a high-minded He not only had fought for him, but he man, and I daresay he thinks much of himhanded down the memory of his deeds. self, since he had never a word to say. Go Even when Harold was still alive he was again and tell him that now I ask of him struck at the wonderful way in which Thor- that gold-studded axe. Thiodolf said, 'I stein the learned, a young Icelander, who don't much like going oftener, Lord, I know was his guest, was able to tell the king's ad- not how he will take it if I crave the very ventures. "It could not be truer told," weapon out of his hand.' 'Thou startedst said the king. "Who taught thee to tell it?" this matter,' answered the king, when thou "When I was at home in Iceland," was the saidst so much about his open-handedness answer, "it was my wont to go year by both now and before, and so thou shalt go. year to the Althing, and there I learned it Methinks he is a niggard if he denies me all by heart, each year a bit from Haldor, the axe.' So Thiodolf went and told Brand Snorri's son." "Ah!" said the king, "no the king wished to have his axe. He wonder then thou knowest it so well; but stretched out the axe at once, and still said thou shalt have thy meed of memory. Stay never a word. Thiodolf carried it to the with us as long as thou likest." In nothing king, and told him what had passed. 'It more did the sullen Haldor show the trust looks,' said the king, 'as if this man really worthiness of his race than that Harold him- were more open-handed than most men. self, with whom he was at daggers drawn, See how rich I get.* Go once more and and whom he now no longer feared, could say that I will have the kirtle he stands in!' find no fault with the story of his adventur-Thiodolf: 'It beseems me not, Lord, to go ous life as told by his old henchman out in on such an errand, maybe he will think that Iceland at the Althing. I am making game of him.' 'Go thou shalt,'

The following little story of the king's said the king. So Thiodolf went and told dealing with an Icelander of another stamp Brand the king would have his kirtle. Then is worth telling, because it shows in shorter Brand broke off his work and stripped off space perhaps than many other stories of his kirtle, but still said nothing. He tore like kind, the unbounded liberality and open-one sleeve off it and kept it, but the kirtle handedness which made a long chapter in he threw to Thiodolf, who bore it to the the gospel of that age,-"One summer king. The king looked at it and said, 'This there came from Iceland Brand the son man is both wise and high-minded; 'tis easy of Vermund of Waterfirth. He was called to see that he tore off the sleeve to show Brand of the open hand, and that was a true that I have only one hand to be ever taking byname. Brand ran with his ship right up but never giving, but now go and fetch him. to Nidarós. Thiodolf Harold's Skald was So it was done, Brand came, and the king Brand's friend, and had often told the king made him good cheer and gave him great of his liberality and highmindedness. So gifts." when Brand came to the town, Thiodolf told the king he was come, and spoke again of his many friendships in Iceland, and of his great gifts. We'll soon put that to the proof,' said the king,' whether he is so openhanded as thou sayest. Go and ask him to give me his cloak." Thiodolf went and found Brand in a store-room, where he stood sen; Copenhagen, 1846.

Not less pleasant and lively was the way in which Harold came to know Stuf, one of

This no doubt is the meaning of the words "ok heldr fènar nú," which Grímur Thomsen, who has done too little in this way, translates "se kun, hvor jeg beriges," in his excellent little book, Udvalgte Sagastykker. Fordanskede af Mag, Grímur Thom

66

the wittiest of his skalds. Stuf was the sang a short song, and when it was over grandson of the famous woman, the heroine the king begged him to sing another; and of the Laxdale Saga, Gudrun, Osvif's daugh- so they went on, Stuf singing and the ter, the wife of four husbands, who behaved king listening; at last the king said, "How worst to him she loved best, Kjartan the son many songs hast thou now sung?" "That of Olaf the Peacock. His father was Thord I thought you would reckon," said Stuf. Cat, whom Snorri the priest fostered. Stuf "So I have," said the king. "There were was witty and learned, but like many bards thirty of them, but why singest thou ditties he was blind. He left Iceland and came to and short pieces (flokka) and not dirges Norway in Harold's time, and took up his which are longer?" "As for that," said abode with a well-to-do freeman in the Up- Stuf, "I know more dirges than ditties, and lands. One day as men stood out of doors yet I have not sung half my ditties." "Thou they saw a gallant company riding up to the art a learned man indeed," said the king, house, and the freeman said, "I know not" but for whose ear art thy dirges meant whether King Harold is looked for in these when thou singest only ditties to me?" parts, but this band looks like his following," "For thee, too," answered Stuf. "When and as it drew near they saw it was indeed so?" asked the king. "When we next the king. The farmer went up to the king meet," he said. "Why then rather than and greeted him, and began to excuse him- now?" asked the king. "Because in all self for not being able to treat him so well fun and amusement that belongs to me I as he would have done if he had known he wished you should like me more the longer was coming. "How couldst thou know," you knew me." 'Well, first of all we will said the king," that we were coming? we go to sleep," said Harold. ride up and down the land on our business, now here now there. My own men shall look after our horses, and I will go in-doors." The king was in one of his best moods, and the farmer showed him the way in, and sate him down in the seat of honour. "Go in and out goodman!" said the king, "just as thou likest. Don't put thyself out about us." "Thanks," said the farmer, and went out, and then the king began to look about him, and saw a tall man sitting on the other bench, and asked him what his name might be. "My name is Stuf" (Stump), said the man. "A very queer name, scarcely a name at all," answered the king, "but whose son art thou?" "I am Cat's son," he said. "One just as odd as the other," said the king. "Pray what cat was that?" "Guess for thyself, king," said Stuf, and laughed loud. "What art thou laughing at now? asked the king. "Guess again," said Stuf. Methinks 'tis hard," said the king, "to guess thy thoughts, but I rather think thou wast wishing to ask what son my father was, and why thou laughedst was because thou durst not ask me that outright." "Rightly guessed," said Stuf. Then the king went on, "Sit a little further on the bench near to me,' and let us have a talk." He did so, and the king found him anything but a fool, and when the goodman came back and feared the king found it dull, the king said he was so pleased with his guest, that he shall sit over against me this evening when we drink and pledge me in the horn. When they went to bed the king said he and Stuf should sleep in the same room, that he might amuse him. So Stuf and the king went into the room, and when the king was in bed, Stuf

Next morning, when the king was going away, Stuf said, "Grant me a boon, king." "What is it?" "Pass thy word before I ask it." "That is not much in my way," said the king, "but for the sake of the mirth and merriment we have had together I will run the risk." Then Stuf said, "The reason of my journey is this, I have a dead man's heritage to claim east in the Bay,' and I wish you to give me your letters patent sealed with your seal, so that I may get the money without trouble." "I will do that willingly, said the king. "Ah!" said Stuf, "but I have another boon to ask." "What is it?" "Pass your word before I ask." "Why," said the king," thou art a strange fellow, and no man has ever so bandied words with me before, but still I will run the risk.""I wish to make a song on you."" But," said the king, "hast thou any kinship with Skalds?" There have been skalds in my house," said Stuf; "Glum, Geir's son, was my father's grandfather." "Thou art a good skald, indeed," said the king, "if thou canst 'make' no worse than Glum." My songs are not worse than his," said Stuf." Well," said the king, "'tis like enough thou canst make,' thou art so learned a man, and so I will give thee leave to make something about me." Again Stuf said, "Wilt thou grant me a boon?" "What wilt thou ask now ?" says the king. "Pass thy word to me before I say it." "That shan't be," said the king; "far too long hast thou gone on saying the same thing; tell me now on the spot.” I will be made thy Hird-man."" "Twas well now," said the king, "that I did not give my word; for I must first take counsel with the rest of my Hird, and hear what they say. But

.

come north to me to Nidarós." So Stuf dynasty, for his mother was a daughter of fared east to the Bay, and soon got the heri- Malcolm Melbrigd's son Maormor of Moray tage which he claimed, when he showed the and king of Scotland, and grandson of Ruairi king's seal and letters. After that Stuf the first Maormor of whom we hear. In struck north to seek the king, and Harold 1029 Malcolm Melbrigd's son died. He made him welcome, and with the consent was succeeded by a usurper, whom the of the men of the Hird, Stuf went into the Northern sagas called Karl, Hound's son,' king's band, and stayed with him some time. but who is better known as the Malcolm He made a dirge on King Harold's death, Kenneth's son of the South Scottish annalists. which is called Stufa, or Stuf's Dirge. It With him Thorfinn could not live on good is expressly said in the Saga of Harold's life terms, the less because one of the first acts that Stuf's poem was based on what he had of the new king was to claim tribute from heard of his early adventures from Harold's Thorfinn for Caithness. This county the own lips, and those of others who had been Orkney earl thought fell to him by right with him in the East. He sung how the of his mother, and he would not hear of whole land of Jewry had come into his pow- tribute. Then followed bitter and bloody · er unwasted either by fire or sword, and how strife, which, after many hairbreadth escapes the Captain offered at the Holy Sepulchre on either side, ended in a decisive battle on and other halidoms in the Holy Land un- the banks of the Oikel, at Torfness, in which told wealth in gold and gems. How he put Karl-Malcolm was utterly routed. The down wrong and robbery in the land, and South Scottish annalists say Malcolm was cut off thieves and robbers, and how he fared slain at Glammis by some conspirators, but to Jordan and bathed there as is palmers' with them all the opponents of the dynasty which ultimately won the day were rebels or conspirators. However that might be Malcolm fell in 1034, either at or shortly after the battle of Torfness, and Thorfinn, now completely triumphant followed the foe all the way to Fife, burning and wasting and slaughtering as he went. Duncan Malcolm Kenneth's son's nephew, now called king of Scotland by his party, seems never to have been acknowledged in the north of the country. Under the English king he had Cumberland as a fief, and he was married to a kinswoman of Earl Sigurd, Björn's son, the Siward of Shakespeare. The death of Thorfinn's brother Brusi, who was joint-earl with him according to Saint Olaf's settlement of their claims, rendered the great earl still more mighty in the north. But just as he thought himself absolute lord of Orkney and his conquests, a dangerous rival came upon him just as Harold Sigurdson came on Magnus.

wont.

But though there was often mirth and jollity in Harold's hall, and most of all when wit met wit, and he stood by as judge over the strife of words, we may be sure he was not idle in the darkest period of his history, that, namely, which reaches from Finn Arn's son's flight, in 1051, to when Hacon Ivar's son claimed the hand of Ragnhilda, now no longer a child, in 1061. Every year at least we know that he went out on his summer cruise against Sweyn, but besides these annual attacks he found time in 1053 to sail against the Wends, on the east coast of the Baltic. In 1054 events happened in Scotland which turned Harold's eye thither, and he plumed his wings for a wider flight. We are so apt to take our history of this time from Shakespeare that it is worth while to state the real facts. At this time Macbeth was king of Scotland, and had been king for nearly fifteen years. The later South Scottish annalists, whom Shakespeare followed, represent the North Scottish princes as rebels of transitory sway; but they were not rebels in that sense of the word. In fact they were the more national dynasty of the two. The South Scots leant on England on condition of knowledging the supremacy of her kings, but the North Scots, led by the great Maormors of Moray, leant on the support of the Northmen settled in Orkney, in Caithness, and the Hebrides. The mightiest man in North Britain at that day was unquestionably Thorfinn, the great Orkney Jarl, who owned only a nominal dependence on the kings of Norway, and was in other respects every inch a king. He was early allied to the old North Scottish

The reader will remember that tall, fairfaced man, the fairest of men, who followed Saint Olaf to Sticklestad,brought Harold out of the fight and followed him to Russia. Earl Rognvald, or Ronald, was the son of Brusi, and Thorfinn's nephew, and he was something more. Saint Olaf's settlement gave Brusi two-thirds of the Orkneys, and Thorfinn only one-third; but Brusi was a quiet easy man, and Thorfinn soon had all the islands under his rule, only undertaking to defend both his brother's share and his own. Earl

* One way of reconciling the discrepancy of these

names is by supposing that the Northmen in derision only called Malcolm "Karl Hound's son," that is, "The Churl," the low-born King, "the son of the Dog," whom Thorfinn hunted to death.

there found shelter with his kinsman Sigurd. first Earl of Huntingdon, and then Earl of

King Sweyn. Trouble might always be looked for from that quarter, yet both Thorfinn and his kinsman and ally Macbeth found time for a pilgrimage to Rome about 1050, for in that year Marianus Scotus writes: "King Macbeth of Scotland gave alms to the poor in Rome, by sowing (seminando) and scattering his money through

Rognvald was a mighty warrior, as we have seen. He was now his father's heir to the two-thirds allotted by Saint Olaf, strong in Northumberland, who was near akin to the settlement and friendship of the King, and strong as being the foster-brother of Magnus. Magnus, who, besides his love for Rognvald, wished to recover the supremacy of the Crown over these Islands, gave Rognvald the two-thirds as a fief, and sent him back with three well-manned ships. Just as he came new trouble had broken out with the Scots. Thorfinn was in need of the streets." help from such a warrior as his nephew. It was the case of Magnus and Harold over again, only in reverse; and the uncle gave up two-thirds of his rule to the nephew on condition that he should aid him in the war. So the two together went sea-roving, and Thorfinn's sway was soon spread over the whole west of Scotland down to Galloway, as well as over great part of Ireland. Cumberland, too, King Duncan's English fief, felt their fury, and so successful were they that Thorfinn might well call himself Lord of Scotland. This was in 1040, and just about that time an event happened which still further strengthened him, and in which he no doubt had a hand. In that year Duncan was slain by Magbjodr or Macbeth, Maormor of Moray, the son of Finnlaich, the son of Ruairi, and therefore a second cousin of Thorfinn's mother. Thus it was that the older dynasty again overthrew the younger one, and thus it was that by the help of Thorfinn and his Northmen, Macbeth ruled in Scotland for seventeen years. As for Thorfinn, he held no fewer than nine earldoms in Scotland, all the Orkneys, Hebrides, and a great part of Ireland, from the Giant's Causeway nearly to Dublin; for Dublin itself does not seem to have fallen into his hands. No doubt he thought an alliance with the great Norwegian House of the Arnmodlings would add further strength to his dynasty; and so, just about the time that Duncan fell, he wooed and wedded Ingibjorga, the sister of Finn Arni's son. That was why when Kalf fled the land he steered straight for his brother-in-law in the Orkneys. It would be out of place to stop to tell of the quarrels which afterwards arose between Thorfinn and Rognvald. It is enough to say that the nephew was worsted and slain by the uncle, that Thorfinn in vain tried to make his peace with King Magnus, shortly after Harold Sigurdson's return; but that he was more successful with Harold, to whom the earl, now again (1053) threatened with trouble, in all likelihood swore an oath of fealty. The son of "the murdered Duncan" had fled to Cumberland, and N-5

VOL. XL.

But in 1054 the storm which had been gathering across the English border burst on Thorfinn and Macbeth. The great rival of Earl Sigurd in his influence with King Edward had been Earl Godwin, who, half Saxon half Northman, tried to keep the balance between both the Northern and Saxon element of the population in his hands. With him, as we have seen, King Sweyn's brothers Björn and Asbjörn found shelter, and Björn was captain of the famous northern or Danish militia called the Thingmannalid. One of Godwin's sons named Sweyn had been cast into exile for a deed of shame. His lands had been given to his brother Harold and Björn Ulf's son, and when he returned to claim them, though neither would give up his land, Björn offered to go with the culprit to the king and try to make peace. On the way Sweyn fell on his companion and treacherously slew him at Bosanham or Bosham in Sussex. But though Sweyn had again to fly for this dastardly deed, the Danish rule and party were so hated that not only was joy felt at Björn's death, but the Thingmannalid itself was shortly afterwards abolished by the advice of Godwin, who knew his own power would increase, as the Confessor's strength, which lay mainly in that famous body guard, was weakened. With it all the Danes fell into disgrace, and Asbjörn had to fly the land, for Godwin who ruled the land had now taken part against them. This was between 1049-51, and Earl Sigurd, who, with Earl Leofric of Mercia, was Godwin's rival, had hard work as King Sweyn's kinsman to hold his own. But in 1053 Earl Godwin died suddenly, and Sigurd's power was at once strengthened. He was not slow in using it. In 1054 Sigurd crossed the Border, and defeated Macbeth in a bloody battle on the Seven Sleepers' Day, July 27th. No fewer that 3000 Scots are said to have fallen, and with them, as it seems, Dolgfinn, one of Thorfinn's sons. Sigurd advanced as far as Dundee, when news came that trouble had arisen in Northumberland, and that his son Asbjörn was slain. turned back, but the Lothians and Fife were

He

lost to Macbeth, and Sigurd gave them to hurt. It was too late to help Thorfinn or Malcolm as Duncan's beir.* Shortly after save Macbeth, but it is memorable as being Sigurd died, 1055, and was buried, strange- the first hostile act of Harold against Engly enough, in a church dedicated by himself land. Earlier, in 1043, he had sent an emto St. Olaf, at Galmanho. So far had the bassy to Edward and offered him peace and saint's vision been verified in twenty-five friendship, which the weak Saxon king willyears. His successor in the earldom of ingly accepted; now he had drawn the Northumberland was Tostig, Godwin's son. sword it is true only to sheathe it again. But the war between Malcolm and Macbeth | But it was a token that the days were comstill lasted, and the North Scottish Maor- ing when the scabbard would be thrown mor was driven farther and farther North, away in a death struggle between the two till in 1057 he lost his life and kingdom at kingdoms. Lumphanan in Mar, in August or Septem- We must now return to Norway. There, ber. His followers made his son Lulach while these things were passing abroad, the their king, but he too was slain soon after feud with Sweyn still lasted, nor were things at Esse in Strathbolgie, March 1058, and quite quiet at home. But Harold could Malcolm Canmore, or Bighead, seized all still find time for a voyage round the North that part of Scotland which Macbeth had Cape to Bjarmaland, with the view no doubt ruled. Thorfinn suffered, we may be sure, of seeing how things went on in Helgeland with his ally, whose force was backed so and Finnmark, and showing the master's strongly by England. We may readily eye in that outlying part of his realm. In understand, therefore, why he should turn to 1061 he ran his greatest risk from the Danes, Harold, whom for this once he was willing for Harold having ventured with a small to acknowledge as his liege lord in the hope fleet into Limfirth in Jutland was shut of help. Thus it was that a Norwegian up in it as in a trap by Sweyn's ships, who fleet led by Magnus, Harold's eldest son blockaded the narrow gut at its mouth. But by Thora, showed itself in British waters. the old sea-rover was equal to the danger. Magnus was but a youth, but older heads Instead of trying to force his way out he led the host, which wasted the English ran his ships right up into the very bight of shores, and returned without doing much the firth. There there was but a narrow strip of sandy shore between him and the North Sea. Over this he drew his lightened ships in one dark night, and next morn was sailing on the west coast of Jutland, while his foes were waiting for him on the east. As he had in his youth escaped over the Greek Emperor's chain, so in his older days he got clear from King Sweyn and his ships.

* Munch (N. H. ii. 266, note) has unravelled this tangled skein. The Saxon chronicle under the year 1054, Tighernach's Annals, O'Connor, ii. 299, and the Annals of Ulster, mention the battle. The last speak of "Dolfinn Finntor's son" as having fallen. Finntor is plainly a perversion of Thorfinn, and Dolgfinn is an Orkney name. Henry of Hunt ingdon, p. 760, Bromton (Twysden, p. 946), makes Sigurd send his son to Scotland before him to subdue it. When he fell, the father, with thorough Viking spirit, asked on what part of his body he had got his death-wound. "On the breast."""Tis well," was Sigurd's answer; "else he had been unworthy of me. Fordun, v. 7, has confused the whole story, by making Sigurd slay Macbeth, and that is how Sigurd (Siward) has come into Shakespeare's tragedy. But Macbeth, as we shall see, fled on that day to fight on another, when he really fell.

Sigurd bitterly lamented that he should die of a cow-sickness (issue of blood), and died clad in all his war gear. His banner, "Ravenlandeye," that is, "Rafn Landeyda," "the raven waster of lands," he bequeathed to York Minister, where it was long kept.

But while all these things were happening Ragnhilda had grown to womanhood, and Harold's promise to Hacon Ivar's son was unfulfilled. Now Hacon pressed his suit, but Harold answered that his word indeed was pledged to give Ragnhilda to Hacon, but it could only be with her own good-will. That Hacon must first secure. When Hacon pressed his suit, the haughty maiden answered, "Now I feel well that King Magnus my father is dead and buried, when I am to be forced to wed a boor's son, however handThe true chronology of these events is to be found in Marianus Scotus (Munch ii. 266-7). This is and brave he may happen to be. Were his summary. Duncan reigned five years from St. King Magnus alive he would never give me Andrew's Day, 1035, and so on till the Eve of the to any but one of princely birth, and I too Feast of the Virgin's birth, August 14, 1040. will have none other for my husband." HaThen Macbeth seventeen years till the same feast, con went to Harold and said that as Ragnilda August 14, 1057. Then Lulach till St. Patrick's Day, 17th March, 1058, and then Malcolm twenty must have a title, and the king was bound years. In this summary there is a confusion be- to keep his word, he ought to make him an tween the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, August earl, to which rank he had every claim. 15th, and the birth of the Virgin Mary, September" Saint Olaf my brother," answered the 8th, so that we do not know whether Macbeth fell king, "and Magnus the Good too, laid down on the 14th of August or the 7th of September the rule never to have more than one earl at

1057.

some