Section 33 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the Search for the Poles This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org The World's Story, Volume 8 Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the Search for the Poles Edited by Eva March Tappen, Section 33 The Defeat of the Jomsberg Vikings, 983 by Nyander N. Kronholm Some of the most daring of the Vikings, from the little community of men near the mouth of their odor and named it Jomsberg. The leader of this wild and fearless band was Styr Björn Starke. He was a nephew of King Eric of Sweden, and when only 12 years old he had demanded of the king a share in the kingdom. The people had voted against him, but his uncle gave him a great fleet that he might go forth on marauding expeditions. In 983, with the promised support of Harold Bluetooth of Denmark he swept up the Baltic and into Lake Maladen, the editor. Eric the Victorious, who at this time was reigning in Uppsala, was a great and renowned king. Skoglar Toste, a freeholder and celebrated Viking in West Gothen had a daughter named Sigrid, much famed for her beauty, but very proud and haughty. King Eric chose her for his queen and gained much support in the country from her relations particularly from Torgne the Wise, who was judged in upland. When King Eric Hörn that Styr Björn with his great fleet had entered Lake Maladen he sent out a summons throughout the kingdom for all the men at arms to meet in Uppsala. He then blocked the entrance of Flood Sound so that Styr Björn could not sail out of the lake toward Uppsala. As soon as the latter had arrived he made his men go on shore and burned all his ships to the end that his supporters might fight with more courage, having no hopes of safety by flight. Scarcely was this done when Harold Bluetooth ordered his men on board his ships, put out to sea and sail home to Denmark leaving Styr Björn in the trap. This proceeding he and his men were obliged to witness from the shore having no means of preventing or punishing Harold's treachery. He however did not lose courage but made his men cut a broad road through the forest to the great plains of Fyrisfala near Uppsala. On this plane he marshaled his army having many brave sheaves in it amongst others his uncle Jarl Ulf and Björn Bredviking and Icelander. Eric the Victorious marshaled his men on the other side and Torgne the Judge was his chief man both in word and deed. The battle was violent and long. Torgne had caused chariots to be made with lances projecting in front and sickles and scythe fastened on either side which were drawn by condemned criminals into the enemy's ranks and caused great havoc but Styr Björn had such superior number that in spite of this he was able to make a stout resistance and so they fought the whole day without either being able to gain the victory. During the night many people from the neighborhood joined Eric so that his army was not less than on the first day but the Joms Viking was such brave men that they kept up the fight the whole of the second day and at its conclusion no one could yet determine who would be victorious. The sheaves suffered sacrifices during the night to propitiate the guards Styr Björn sacrificed a thaw and it was said that a red bearded man who was thought to be thaw showed himself to Styr Björn announcing his defeat. Eric on his side went up to the temple in Uppsala and sacrificed to Odin promising himself to the guard at the expiration of ten years if he would only this time grant him the victory. It is said that a one-eyed man in blue cloak with a wide hat on his head then showed himself to Eric and gave him a lance which he should hurl against Styr Björn's troops saying you now all belong to Odin and this man was thought to have been Odin himself. The third day a much severer conflict ensued numerous reinforcements as before having joined King Eric from the neighborhood on the preceding night but a universal panic presently overtook Styr Björn's men they fancied the air was full of light arrows hovering over their heads which blinded and confused them and were thought to be sent by Odin a sand hill in the neighborhood also slid down upon them causing much confusion when Styr Björn at last saw that all was tending to his fall and defeat in anguish and despair he stuck his banner fast into the ground and shouted with a terrible voice to the remainder of his troops that it was better to die with glory than to fly with shame he then cast himself wildly among his enemy and so fell pierced with many wounds the great part of his men followed him and few fled or surrendered themselves prisoners when the battle was done King Eric mounted on one of the mounds and promised a great reward to him who could sing a drapa on this battle on this Torvald Jaltesson an Icelander presented himself and sang for the king and the army a glorious song of victory and received as a reward two precious gold chains and yet this Torvald neither before nor afterwards ever concerned himself with poetry after this Eric's son who was only two years old was carried before the troops and was proclaimed and received homage as his father's successor and sovereign of the whole kingdom as he was on account of his tender age on this occasion carried in arms he was called Olaf Skotkonung or Olaf Lapking Stjubja left a son called Torkils Barkalake whose son was named Ulf and was the father of Sven Ulfsson from whom a whole line of Danish kings descend this battle took place in the year 983 AD and from it King Eric received the surname the victorious End of section 33 This recording is in the public domain Section 34 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the Poles This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by April 6090, California, United States of America The World's Story, Volume 8 Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the Poles Edited by Eva March Tappen Section 34, Sigrid the Hottie About 988 to 1,000 The Woers of Sigrid From the Heimstrinkla Sigrid was a woman of the greatest understanding and, too, very clever in many things In the morning there was also the most excellent entertainment but then it went on as usual when people have drunk too much that next day they take care not to exceed The queen was very gay and she and the king talked of many things with each other among other things she valued her property and the dominions she had in Sweden were less than his kingdom and property in Norway With that observation the king was no wise pleased and he found no pleasure in anything after that but made himself ready for his journey in an ill humor On the other hand the queen was remarkably gay and made him many presents and followed him out to the road Now Harold returned about harvest to Norway and was at home all winter but was very silent and cast down In summer he went once more to the Baltic with his ships and steered to Sweden He sent a message to Queen Sigrid that he wished to have a meeting with her and she rode down to meet him They talked together and he soon brought out the proposal that she should marry him She replied that this was foolish talk for him who was so well married already that he might think himself well off Harold says, Asta is a good and clever woman but she is not so well born as I am They exchanged but few words more before the queen rode away King Harold was always dull in apprehension and prepared himself again to bride up the country to meet Queen Sigrid Many of his people dissuaded him but nevertheless he set off with a great attendance and came to the house in which the queen dwelt The same evening came another king called Visivald from Russia likewise to pay his addresses to Queen Sigrid Lodging was given to both the kings and to all their people in a great old room of an outbuilding and all the furniture was of the same character but there was no want of drink in the evening and that so strong that all were drunk and the watch both inside and outside fell with fast asleep Then Queen Sigrid ordered an attack on them in the night both with fire and sword The house was burnt with all who were in it and those who slipped out were put to the sword Sigrid said that she would make these small kings tired of coming to court her She was afterwards called Sigrid the Hottie Queen Sigrid and the Ring by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Queen Sigrid in Sweden who had for surname the Hottie sat in her mansion and during the same winter messengers went between King Olaf and Sigrid to propose his courtship to her and she had no objection and the matter was fully and fast resolved upon Thereupon King Olaf sent to Queen Sigrid the Great Gold Ring he had taken from the temple door of Lade which was considered a distinguished ornament The meeting for concluding the business was appointed to be in spring on the frontier at the Gotha River Now the ring which King Olaf had sent Queen Sigrid was highly prized by all men Yet the Queen's goldsmiths, two brothers who took the ring in their hands and weighed it spoke quietly to each other about it and in a manner that made the Queen call them to her and ask what they smiled at but they would not say a word She commanded them to say what it was they had discovered Then they said the ring is false Upon this she ordered the ring to be broken in pieces and it was found to be copper inside Then the Queen was enraged and said that Olaf would deceive her in more ways than this one Early in spring King Olaf went eastwards to Congel to the meeting with Queen Sigrid and when they met the business was considered about which the winter before they had held communication namely their marriage and the business seemed likely to be concluded but when Olaf insisted that Sigrid should let herself be baptized she answered thus I must not part from the faith which I have held and my forefathers before me and on the other hand I shall make no objection to your believing in the God that pleases you best Then King Olaf was enraged and answered in a passion Why should I care to have thee an old faded woman and a heathen jade and therewith struck her in the face with his glove which he held in his hand rose up and they parted Sigrid said this may some day be thy death The King sent off to Vaikon the Queen to Sweden from the Hame's sprinkler Queen Sigrid the haughty sat proud and aloft in her chamber that looked over Meadow and Croft Hearts dearest why dust thou sorrow so The floor with tassels of fur was best front filling the room with their fragrance sent She heard the bird sing she saw the sunshine the air of summer was sweeter than wine like a sword without scabbard the bright river lay between her own kingdom and nor away but Olaf the King had sued for her hand the sword would be sheathed her maidens were seated around her knee working bright figures in tapestry and one was singing the ancient rune a brunhilda's love and the wrath of Godrun and threw it and round it and over it all sounded incessant the waterfall the Queen in her hand held a ring of gold from the door of Laid's temple old King Olaf had sent her this wedding gift but her thoughts as arrows were keen and swift she had given the ring to her goldsmith's twain who smiled as they handed it back again and sacred the Queen in her haughty way said why do you smile my goldsmith say and they answered oh Queen if the truth must be told the ring is of copper and not of gold the lightning flashed over her forehead and cheek she only murmured she did not speak if in his gifts he can faithless be there will be no gold in his love for me a footstep was heard on the outer stair and in strode King Olaf with royal air he kissed the Queen's hand and he whispered of love and swore to be true as the stars are above but she smiled with contempt as she answered oh King will you swear it as Odin once swore on the ring and the King oh speak not of Odin to me the wife of King Olaf he Christian must be looking straight at the King with her level brows she said I keep true to my faith and my vows then the face of King Olaf was darkened with gloom he rose in his anger and strode through the room why then should I care to have thee he said a faded old woman a heathen as jade his zeal was stronger than fear or love and he struck the Queen in the face with his glove then forth from the chamber in anger he fled and the wooden stairway shook with his tread Queen Sigrid the Hottie said under her breath this insult King Olaf shall be thy death hearts dearest why dust thou sorrow so the revenge of Sigrid the Hottie from him sprinkler the Danish King Sven Forkt and Beard was married to Sigrid the Hottie Sigrid was King Olaf Triggas Vissens greatest enemy the cause of which as before said was that King Olaf had broken off with her and had struck her in the face she urged King Sven much to give battle to King Olaf Triggas Vissens saying that he had reason enough as Olaf had married his sister, Thyrie without his leave and that your predecessors would not have submitted to such persuasion Sigrid had often in her mouth and at last she brought it so far that Sven resolved firmly on doing so early in spring King Sven sent messengers eastward to Sweden to his brother La Ola the Swedish King and to Earl Eric and informed them that King Olaf of Norway was levying men for an expedition and intended in summer to go to Vendland to this news the Danish King added an invitation to the Swedish King and Earl Eric to meet King Sven with an army but all together they might make an attack on King Olaf Triggas Vissens the Swedish King and Earl Eric were ready enough for this and immediately assembled a great fleet and an army through all Sweden with which they sailed southwards to Denmark and arrived there before King Olaf Triggas Vissens had sailed to the eastward Haldor the Unchristian tells of this in his laiok, Earl Eric the king's subduer raised a host of warriors on the Swedish coast the brave went southwards to the fight who loved the sword's thorns gleaming light the brave who filled the wild wolf's mouth followed bold Eric to the south the brave who sportened blood each one with a bold Earl to see is gone the Swedish King and Earl Eric sailed to meet the Danish King they had all went together in immense force at the same time the Earl Sven sent a message to Sweden for an army he sent Earl Sigvald to Vendlin to spy out King Olaf Triggasens proceedings and to bring it about by cunning devices that King Sven and King Olaf should fall in with each other so Sigvald sets out to go to Vendlin first he came to Jomsberg and then he sought out King Olaf Triggasen there was much friendship in their conversation and the Earl got himself into favor with the king Astrid the Earl's wife King Brusilov's daughter was a great friend of King Olaf Triggasen particularly on account of the connection which had been between them when Olaf was married to her sister Jera Earl Sigvald was a prudent, ready-minded man and as he had got a voice in King Olaf's council he put him off much from sailing homewards finding various reasons for delay Olaf's people were in the highest degree satisfied with this for the men were anxious to get home and they lay ready to sail waiting only for a wind at last Earl Sigvald got a secret message from Denmark that the Swedish king's army was arrived from the east and the Earl Eriks was also ready and that all these chiefs had resolved to sail eastwards to Vendlin and wait for King Olaf at an island which is called Svald they also desired the Earl to contrive matters so that they should meet King Olaf there there came first a flying report to Vendlin that the Danish king Svend had fitted out an army and it was soon whispered that he intended to attack King Olaf but Earl Sigvald says to King Olaf it never can be King Svend's intention to venture with the Danish force alone to give battle to thee with such a powerful army with the suspicion that evil is on foot I will follow thee with my force at that time it was considered a great matter to have Johnsburg Vikings with an army and I will give thee eleven manned ships the king accepted this offer and as the light breeze of wind that came from was favourable he ordered the ships to get under way and the warhorns to sound the departure the sails were hoisted and all the small vessels sailing fastest got out to sea before the others the Earl who sailed nearest to the king's ship called to those on board to tell the king to sail in his field tracks for I know where the water is deepest between the islands and in the sounds and these large ships require the deepest then the Earl sailed first with his eleven ships and the king followed with his large ships also eleven in number but the whole of the rest of the fleet sailed out to sea now an Earl Siegwald came sailing close under the island's fault a skiff rode out to inform the Earl that the Danish king's army was lying in the harbour before them then the Earl ordered the sails of his vessel to be struck and they rode in under the island Haldor the young Christian says from out the south bold, tragry son with one in seventy ships came on to die his sword in bloody fight against the Danish foreman's might but the false Earl came betrayed and the treacherous Siegwald it is said deserted from King Olaf's fleet and basically fled the Danes to meet it is said here that King Olaf and Earl Siegwald had seventy sail of vessels and one more when they sailed from the south the Danish king's fend the Swedish King Olaf and Earl Erich were there with all their forces the weather being fine and clear sunshine all these chiefs with a great suite went out on the island to see the vessels sailing out at sea and many of them crowded together and they saw among them one large and glancing ship the two kings said that is a large and very beautiful vessel that will be the long serpent Earl Erich replied that is not the long serpent and he was right for it was a ship belonging to Eindrich of Grimsar soon after they saw another vessel sailing along much larger than the first then says King Sven Olaf Trigvison must be afraid for he does not venture to sail with the figurehead of the dragon upon his ship says Earl Erich that is not the king's ship yet for I know that ship by the coloured stripes of cloth in her sail that is Erling Skeetlison let him sail for it is better for us that this ship is away from Olaf's fleet so well equipped as she is soon after they saw and knew Earl Sigvald's ships which turned in and laid themselves under the island then they saw three large ships coming along under sail and one of them very large King Sven ordered his men to go to their ships for there comes the long serpent Earl Erich says many other great and stately vessels have they besides the long serpent let us wait a little then said many Earl Erich will not fight and avenge his father and it is a shame that it should be told that we lay here with so great a force and allowed King Olaf to sail out to sea before our eyes but when they had spoken thus for a short time they saw four ships come sailing along of which one had a large dragon head richly gilt then King Sven stood up and said that dragon shall carry me this evening high for I shall steer it then said many the serpent is indeed a wonderfully large and beautiful vessel and it shows great mind to have built such a ship Earl Erich said so loud that several persons heard him if King Olaf had no other vessels that one King Sven would never take it from him with a Danish force alone thereafter all the people rushed on board their ships took down the tents and in all haste made ready for battle while the chiefs were speaking among themselves as above related they saw three very large ships coming sailing along and at last after them a fourth and that was the long serpent of the large ships which had gone before had taken for the long serpent the first was the crane the one after that was the short serpent and when they really saw the long serpent all new and nobody had a word to say against it that it must be Olaf Trigvissen who was sailing in such a vessel and they went to their ships to arm for the fight an agreement had been concluded among the chiefs King Sven King Olaf the Swede and Earl Erich that they should divide Norway among them in three parts in case they succeeded against Olaf Trigvissen but that he of the chiefs who should first board the serpent should have her and all the booty found in her and each should have the ships he cleared for himself Earl Erich had a large ship of war which he used upon his Viking expeditions and there was an iron beard or comb above on both side of the stern and below it a thick iron plate as broad as the combs which went down quite to the gunway when Earl Sigvalt with his vessels rode in under the island Thurkhold Drydrill of the Crane and the other ship commanders who sailed with him saw that he turned his ships toward the aisle and there upon let fall the sails and rode after him calling out and asking why he sailed that way the Earl answered that he was waiting for King Olaf as he feared there were enemies in the way they lay upon their oars until Thurkhold Nevia came up with a short serpent and the three ships which followed him when they told them the same they too struck sail and let the ships drive waiting for King Olaf but when the king sailed in towards the aisle the whole enemies fleet came rowing within them out to the sound when they saw this they begged the king to hold on his way and not risk battle with so great a force the king replied high on the quarter where he stood strike the sails never shall men of mine think of flight I never fled from battle let God dispose of my life the flight I shall never take it was done as the king commanded how Fred tells of it thus and far and wide the saying bold of the brave warrior shall be told the king in many a fray well tried to his brave champions round him cried my men shall never learn from me from the dark weapon clouds to flee nor were the brave words spoken then forgotten by his faithful men King Olaf ordered the war horns to sound for all his ships to close up to each other the kings ship lay in the middle of the line and on one side lay the short serpent and on the other the crane and as they made fast the stems together the long serpents stem and the short serpents were fast together but when the king saw it he called out to his men and ordered them to lay the larger ship more in advance so that its stern should not lie so far behind in the fleet then says Olaf the red if the long serpent is to lie is much more ahead of the other ships as she is longer than they we shall have hard work of it here on the forecastle the king replies I did not think I had a forecastle man afraid as well as red footnote bragging of rod and a footnote says Olaf defend now the quarter-deck as I shall the forecastle the king had a bow in his hands and laid an arrow on the string and aimed it at Olaf Olaf said shoot another way king where it is more needful my work is thy gain Olaf stood on the serpents' quarter-deck high over the others he had a gilt shield and a helmet inlaid with gold over his armor he had a short red coat and was easy to be distinguished from other men when king Olaf saw that the scattered forces of the enemy gathered themselves together under the banners of their ships he asked who is the chief of the force right opposite to us he was answered that it was king's fend with the Danish army the king replies we are not afraid of these soft Danes for there is no bravery in them but who are the troops on the right of the Danes he was answered that it was king Olaf with the Swedish forces better it were says king Olaf for these Swedes to be sitting at home killing their sacrifices then to be venturing under our weapons from the long serpent but who owns the large ships on our board side of the Dane that is Earl Eric Peckinson say they the king replies he me thinks has good reason for meeting us and we may expect the sharpest conflict with these men for they are Norsemen like ourselves the kings now laid out their oars and prepared to attack kings fend laid his ship against the long serpent outside of him Olaf the swede laid himself and set his ship's stem against the outermost ship of king Olaf's line and on the other side lay Earl Eric then a hard combat began Earl Sigvald held back with the oars on his ships and did not join the fray so says scowled Thorstensen who at that time was with Earl Eric I followed Sigvald in my youth and gallant Eric and in truth though now I am growing stiff and old in the spear song I once was bold were arrows whistled on the shore of swalder fjord my shield I bore and stood amidst the loudest clash when swords on shields made fearful crash and Halfred also sings thus in truth I think the gallant king midst such a foreman's gathering would be the better of some score of his type draw them lads or more for many a chief has run away and left our brave king in the fray two great kings' power to withstand and one great Earl's with his small band the king who dares such mighty deed a hero for his scald would need this battle was one of the severest told him and many were the people slain the forecastle men of the long serpent the short serpent and the crane through grappling and stem chains into king's fend's ship and use their weapons well against the people standing below them for they cleared the decks of all the ships they could lay fast hold of and king's fend and all the men who escaped fled to other vessels and laid themselves out of bow-shot it went with this force just as king Olof Trigveson had foreseen then king Olof the sweet laid himself in their place but when he came near the great ships it went with him as with them for he lost many men and some ships and was obliged to get away but Earl Eric laid the iron beard side by side with the outermost of king Olof's ships thinned it of men cut the cables and let it dry then he lay alongside of the next and fought until he had cleared it of men also now all the people who were in the smaller ships began to run into the larger and the Earl cut them loose as fast as he cleared them of men the Danes and Swedes laid themselves now out of shooting distance all around Olof's ship but Earl Eric lay always close alongside of the ships and used his swords and battle axes and as fast as people fell in his vessel others Danes and Swedes came in their place so says Haldor sharp was the clang of shield and sword and shrill the song of spears on board and whistling arrows thickly flew against the Serpent's gallant crew and still fresh foeman it is said Earl Eric to her long side led whole armies of his Danes and Swedes wielding on high their blue sword blades then the fight became most severe and many people fell but at last it came to this that all King Olof Trigmason's ships were cleared of men except the Long Serpent on board of which all who could still carry their arms were gathered then iron beard lay side by side with the Serpent and the fight went on with battle axe and sword so says Haldor hard pressed on every side by foes the Serpent reels beneath the blows crash go the shield around the bow breast plates and breasts pierced through and through in the sword storm the home the sides the iron beard lay alongside the King's Long Serpent under the sea fate gave the Earl the victory Earl Eric was in the forehold of his ship where a cover of shields had been set up in the fight both hewing weapons sword and axe and the thrust of spears had been used and all that could be used as weapon for casting was cast some used bows some through spears with the hand so many weapons were cast into the Serpent and so thick flew spears and arrows that the shields could scarcely receive them for on all sides the Serpent was surrounded by warships then King Olaf's men became so mad with rage that they ran on board of enemies' ships to get at the people with stroke of sword and kill them but many did not lay themselves so near the Serpent in order to escape the close encounter with battle axe or sword and thus the most of Olaf's men went overboard and sank under their weapons thinking they were fighting on plain ground so says Halfred the daring lads shrieked not from death or were bored they'd leap and sink beneath the Serpents keel all armed they'd leap and down they'd sink five fathoms deep the foe was daunted at their cheers the king who still the Serpent steers in such a strait beset with foes wanted but some more lads like those Einar, tempest clever one of the sharpest of bow shooters stood by the mast and shot with his bow Einar shot an arrow at Earl Eric which hit the tiller end just above the Earl's head so hard that it entered the wood up to the arrow shaft the Earl looked that way and asked if they knew who had shot and at the same moment another arrow flew between his hand and his side and into the stuffing of the chief's stool so that the barb stood far out on the other side then said the earl to a man called Finn but some say he was of Finn, Laplander, Grace and was a superior archer shoot that tall man by the mast Finn shot and the arrow hit the middle of Einar's bow just at the moment that Einar was drawing in and the bow was split in two parts what is that? cried King Olaf that broke with such a noise Norway king, from thy hands cried Einar no, not quite so much as that says the king take my bow and shoot flinging the bow to him Einar took the bow and drew it over the head of the arrow two week, two week he said for the bow of a mighty king and throwing the bow aside he took sword and shield and fought valiantly the king stood on the gangways of the long serpent and shot the greater part of the day sometimes with the bow sometimes with the spear and always throwing two spears at once he looked down over the ship's side his men struck briskly with their swords and yet wounded but seldom then he called aloud why do ye strike so gently that ye seldom cuts one among the people answered the swords are blunt and full of notches then the king went down into the forehold opened the chest under the throne and took out many sharp swords which he handed to his men but as he stretched down his right hand with them some observed that blood was running down under his steel glove but no one knew where he was wounded Destra was the defense in the serpent and there was the heaviest destruction of men done by the forecastle crew and those of the forehold for in both places the men were chosen men and the ship was highest but in the middle of the ship the people were thin now an Earl Eric saw there were but few people remaining beside the ship's mast he determined to board the serpent with four others then came the king's brother-in-law there was against him and there was the most severe combat and at last the Earl was forced to leap back on board the iron beard again and some who accompanied him were killed and others wounded Thord Olvisian alludes to this on Odin's deck all wet with blood the helm adorned hero stood the men were all standing on her gained clearing all round with sword deep stained the high field peaks shall fall airmen forget this to recall now the fight became hot indeed and many men fell on board the serpent and the men on board of her began to be thinned off and the defense to be weaker the Earl resolved to board the serpent again and again he met with a warm reception when the forecastle men of the serpent saw what he was doing they went aft and made a desperate fight but so many men of the serpent had fallen that the ship's sides were in many places quite bare of defenders and the Earl's men poured in all around into the vessel and all the men who were still able to defend the ship crowded aft to the king and arrayed themselves for his defense so says Halder the Unchristian air cheers on his men on to the charge again the gallant few of Olaf's crew must refuge take on the quarter-deck around the king they stand in ring their shields enclosed the king from foes and the few who still remain fight madly but in vain air cheers on his men on to the charge again Colbjorn the Marshal who had on clothes and arms like the kings and was a remarkably stout and handsome man went up to the king on the quarter-deck the battle was still going on fiercely even in the forehold but as many of the Earl's men had now got into the serpent as could find room and his ships lay all round her and few were the people left in the serpent for defense against so great a force and in a short time most of the serpent's men fell brave and stout though they were King Olaf and Colbjorn the Marshal both sprang overboard each on his own side of the ship but the Earl's men had laid out boats around the serpent and killed those who leaped overboard now when the king had sprung overboard they tried to seize him with their hands and bring him to Earl Eric but King Olaf threw his shield over his head and sank beneath the waters Colbjorn held his shield behind him to protect himself from the spears cast at him from the ships which lay round the serpent and he fell so upon his shield that it came under him so that he could not sink so quickly he was thus taken and brought into a boat and they supposed he was the king he was brought before the Earl and when the Earl saw it was Colbjorn and knocked the king he gave him his life at the same moment all of King Olaf's men who were in life sprang overboard from the serpent and Thorkolnivia the king's brother was the last of all men who sprang overboard it is thus told concerning the king by Halfred the serpent and the crane lay wrecks upon the mane on his sword he cast a glance with it he saw no chains to his marshal who of your many a war chance had come over he spoke a word then drew in breath and sprang to his deep sea death Earl Sigvald as before related came from Vendlin in company with King Olaf with ten ships but the eleventh ship was manned with the men of Aestrid the king's daughter the wife of Earl Sigvald now when King Olaf sprang overboard the whole army raised of shout of victory and then Earl Sigvald and his man put their oars in the water and rode towards the battle Haldor the Unchristian tells of it thus first the Vendlin vessels came into the fight with little fame the fight still lingered on the wave the hope was gone with Olaf brave war like a full fed ravenous beast still oaked her grim jaws for the feast the few who stood now quickly fled when the shout told Olaf is dead but the Vendlin cutter in which Aestrid's men were rode back to Vendlin and the report went immediately abroad and was told by many that King Olaf had cast off his coat of mail under water and had swam diving under the long ships until he came to the Vendlin cutter and that Aestrid's men had conveyed him to Vendlin and many tales have been made since about the adventures of Olaf the King Alfred speaks thus about it does Olaf live or is he dead has he the hungry ravens fed I scarcely know what I should say for many tell the tale each way this I can say nor fear to lie that he was wounded grievously so wounded in his bloody strife he scarce could come away with life but however this may have been King Olaf triggered a sin never came back again to his kingdom of Norway end of section 34 this recording is in the public domain section 35 of Norway Sweden, Denmark, Iceland Greenland and the search for the polls read for LibriVox.org Sweden Part 2 Tales from Swedish History historical note Sweden was restless under the Union of Kalmar and in 1520 the Danish King Christian II invaded the country the Swedes under Gustavus Vassa rose against him against themselves from Denmark Gustavus was elected king and established the Vassa line of rulers during the 30 years war Gustavus Aldophus became the leader of the Protestant forces but was slain at the battle of Lutsen he was succeeded by his daughter Christina who finally resigned the throne and left the country during the 17th century one war was hardly concluded before it was followed by another in 1679 Charles XII came to the throne and by his extraordinary military genius made Sweden for a time one of the great powers of Europe his overreaching ambition at length proved his ruin after draining the country of fighting men and of money to carry on his interminable wars he was killed in 1710 during an invasion of Norway his sister succeeded him but the real sovereignty lay in the hands of the nobles and their dissensions were constant in 1810 the Swedish Riksdag parliament chose Bernadotte one of Napoleon's marshals as the heir to the throne and in 1818 he became king of Sweden in the settlement of the complications that came about through the Napoleonic wars Denmark was required to yield Norway to Sweden Norway was never content under the Union and in 1905 she forced Sweden to renounce all authority over her much to the sorrow of the aged king Oscar II a descendant of Bernadotte two years later king Oscar died and was succeeded by his son Gustavus Adolfos V end of section 35 this recording is in the public domain section 36 of Norway Sweden, Denmark Iceland, Greenland and the search for the polls this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Hopeful Swann the world story volume 8 Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the polls edited by Eva March Tappen section 36 the bloodbath of Stockholm 1520 by William Wigery Thomas jr. to a swede the whole province of Del Carlia is sacred soil for this was seen of the wonderings adventures and hair breath escapes of the great Gustavus Vasa here he first induced his countrymen to rise and throw off the Danish joke and here he gained his first victories the brilliant Carrier of Gustavus was preceded by the bloodiest drama in Swedish history late in the autumn of 1520 Christian the second the Dane was crowned king of Sweden in the church of Gustavus at Stockholm the coronation was followed by festivities of more than usual brilliancy for three days they were feasting and rejoicing without interruption at the palace and tournaments were raided by brave knights in the presence of the fair dames of the court king Christian himself was in a special good humor he struck hands with many of the brazed and kissed them on the fourth day when the festivities were at their height many of the first nobles of the kingdom together with the chief borgers of Stockholm and some of the most distinguished relates of the church were suddenly summoned into the great hall of the palace here to their utter astonishment a charge of heresy was raised against them and on this flimsy pretext the nobles and borgers were thrown into the dungeons of the tower and a clergy imprisoned in a room by themselves the next morning Thursday November 8 the trumpeters made proclamation throughout the city that no one on pain of death should go out of his house to the signal was given soldiers were drawn up along all the streets cannon were hauled into a position around the palace and their muscles pointed down the principal avenues at noon the gates of the palace were thrown open and they marched forth sorrowful procession the best men of Sweden surrounded by soldiers and executioners first came the bishops Vincentius and Matthias clad in the ceremonial robes of the church next senators in the regalia of office followed by the mayors and council and chief citizens of Stockholm they were conducted to the great marketplace hard by here the soldiers formed a hollow square around the doomed man a forest of steel spears and halberds glistened above the close ranks of the troops then a Danish counselor calls upon the populace not to be alarmed at what was about to take place since these prisoners had sinned against the church at this bishop Vincentius raised his voice and cried out this is not true I demand a legal trial the king is a traitor to the Swedes and God will punish him many others began to speak in the same way and some prayed piteously that they might at least be permitted to receive the last sacrament but all in vain their voices were drowned in the clamour of the mercenaries king christian who it is said saw all that was taking place from a window of the council house now gave orders that the execution should begin bishop Matthias was first led forth as he knelt with hands pressed together and uplifted as in prayer his own brother and his chancellor sprang forward to take a last farewell but at that very moment the headsman swung his broad sword the bishop's head fell and rolled on the ground toward his friends while his blood spurted from the headless trunk next bishop Vincentius was beheaded and then the blows of the executioner's sword fell thick and fast upon the necks of the kneeling victims twelve senators and nobles were thus murdered three mayors and fourteen of the council of Stockholm and then in rapid succession many of the most respected citizens one of the bystanders bursting into tears at the horrid spectacle was instantly seized his head cut off and his body cast upon the great pile of dead some citizens were seized at their homes dragged by the soldiery to the market and executed 82 of the first men of the kingdom the flower of Swedish nobility and of the burglar class were thus lain on that black Thursday the 8th of November 1520 this is the darkest day the beautiful capital of Sweden ever saw its streets ran red with the blood of its most loved citizens and to this hour no swede can speak without emotion of Stockholm's bloodbath that night the houses of the murdered men were plundered and their wives and daughters insulted during the following days these horrible murders were continued some bogers were hung or suffered a more cruel death in their houses the heads of the slain were transfixed upon poles except the head of bishop Mattias which was laid between his feet the bodies were left in the marketplace and torn by dogs on Saturday the corpses were carried out of the city an old engraving represents them being hauled away upon low one horse sleds the decapitated trunks being thrown on held their skelter and the heads piled in barrels one of which stands on the fore part of each sled a great funeral pyre was erected on the rocky high to the south of the city where now Caderina Kyrka raises its lofty doom and here as the victims had been executed on a charge of heresy their bodies were burned furthermore the corpses of the Patriot leaders, Stensture and his son were dragged from their graves and thrown upon the burning pile many noble swedish ladies were carried to Copenhagen and thrown into the dungeons of the blue tower a melancholy prison house where numbers sickened and died among them the mothers and sisters of Gustavs Vasa the king soon dispatched the miseries into the country by whom the bloodbath was continued even the learned Heming God now 80 years of age was not spared in December Christian returned to Denmark and his way there across Sweden was stained with blood at Lindköping he celebrated Christmas by breaking upon the wheel two of Sturres trusty servants in Jönköping he beheaded Lindon Ribin and his two little boys eight and six years of age the elder son was first decapitated when the younger saw the breath-flowing blood die his brothers' clothes he said to the headsman dear man don't let my shirt get all bloody like brothers for mother will whip me if you do this childish prattle touched the heart of even the grim headsman flinging away he swore he cried sooner shall my own shirt be stained with blood than I make bloody yours my boy but the barbarous king beckoned to a more hardened butcher who first cut off the head of the lad and then that of the executioner who had showed mercy at Mydala Kloster on Candelmas day the abbot and monks were torn from the altar where they were administering the sacrament and after being well beaten were bound and cast into the lake the monks sank at once but the abbot having burst his bounds was able to keep on the surface whereupon a long spear was thrust into his back and he was pressed on the water till it drowned some 600 of the best men in Sweden were thus murdered before the bath of blood came to an end little wonder that Christian is always called the tyrant by the Swedes no sane man acts without some object in view Christian's object could not have been simply or chiefly the exercise of devilish cruelty notwithstanding the fiendish ingenuity with which he went about this business his real purpose was undoubtedly to cripple and if possible annihilate the patriotic party in Sweden with this party he had been forced to go to war for the Swedish crown and in this war he had been humiliated since with all his forces by land and sea he was unable to take stock home within whose wars that brave and noble woman Christina made a most gallant and successful defense by deceit and lying promises Christian at last induced the brave defenders to open the gates of stock home and receive him as king to his coronation were purposely invited the chief patriots of Sweden the charge of heresy against them was trumped up as the most convenient pretext and the bloodbath arranged that the king might at one blow get rid of his chief opponents in the land and by the manner of their taking off intimidate all others from raising hand or voice against his power in Sweden but this very bloodbath cost Christian his Swedish crown end of section 36 this recording is in the public domain section 37 of Norway Sweden, Denmark Iceland, Greenland and the search for the poles this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Max Kjölinge the world's story volume 8 Norway, Sweden Denmark, Iceland Greenland and the search for the poles edited by Eva March Tappan section 37 Gustavus Vasa the savior of Sweden 1520 by William Wigery Thomas Jr among the noblemen who are beheaded on that bloody November day was one Erik Johansson he surely was a man stout of heart for even as he knelt with the executioner behind him a messenger came offering him pardon but brave Erik replied my comrades are honorable gentlemen I will in God's name die the death with them the next moment his head fell upon the paving of the marketplace Erik's son, Gustavus had also been summoned to attend the coronation and complete amnesty was promised to him but wiser than his father he stayed away the news of the bloodbath soon reached Gustavus in his hiding place at the castle of Gripsholm and he instantly crossed the Malar lake and fled to the remote province of Dalakarlia there is no more romantic chapter in Swedish history than that which recounts the adventures of Gustavus in the Dales everywhere throughout the province you come upon traces of this patriot leader disguising himself in a homespun suit of vadmal chopping his hair squarely off so that it hung at even lengths all around his head up to the manor of the district donning a round hat and throwing a narrow Swedish axe over his shoulder young Gustavus started forth one bleak November morning in the year of grace 1520 on his perilous mission he was about 24 years of age yet for more than two years he had been a prisoner or a fugitive now he was an outlaw a price was set upon his head and Danish spies and informers were following like bloodhounds on his track on the southern shore of Lake Runn is still standing the barn of Rankyttan its walls built of massive logs roughly squared by the axe in this barn Gustavus worked for good men aren't passion threshing grain till a servant may discover the corner of a golden broided collar sticking out above his homespun coat youth is not always an advantage and perhaps if Gustavus had been older the girl would not have been sufficiently interested to make the discovery that betrayed him so Gustavus must continue his wanderings on the western shore of the lake is a long low peasants house built of hewn timber with overhanging second story and low roof you can see the house plainly from the car window as you speed by standing on a promontory surrounded by a grove of birches this is the cottage of Orernas here Gustavus had taken refuge and here the brave woman Barbra Stikstotter in the darkness of night she rode down with a towel from a window in the loft to the snow covered ground outside when a trusty servant standing ready with horse and sleigh drove him to a place of safety and when in the early dawn her treacherous husband returned with a Danish bailiff and a posse of 20 men he found his bird have flown the chronicler sageley adds it is said that ardent passion never forgave his wife this deed and really there seems to be no good reason why he should at Isala on the banks of a river tributary to Lake Run the noble outlaw took refuge in the hut of Sven Elfsson the woods ranger and just as he was warming himself before the oven in which the busy housewife was baking bread the Danish spies burst into the room they began to cast suspicious glances at Gustavus notwithstanding his homespun suit where at the good woman struck him smartly over the shoulders with her bread spade crying out what are you standing here and gaping at have you never seen folks before out with you into the barn never could the spy suppose that peasant woman could treat a noble youth like this so they went their way soon the dain seemed to have completely encompassed Gustavus in their toils so Sven the ranger bedded him into load of straw and drove him farther into the forest quickly they were surrounded by bailiff's pos what have you in that straw nothing we'll see so the soldiers ran the straw through and through with their spears but they discovered nothing and Sven drove on now the soldiers came hastening after him again drops of blood died the December snow all along his route one of the spears had wounded Gustavus in the leg but this the quick peasant had seen before the bailiff's gang and drawing out his sheath knife had cut his horses leg closed down to the hoof so this accounted for the blood and the snow and Sven drove on again in peace and so after many wanderings being hidden at one time under a fallen pine in the forest and at another on a wooden height in the midst of a vast swamp our fugitive at last made his way to Lake Siljan the Eye of Dalane and reached Mora village here he was concealed just outside the little town in the cottage of Tomte Mats Larsson and here he was saved once again from his pursuers this time by the red-wit life margit at noon of a christmas holiday when the wintery sun shone low and the north wind blew the good people of the dales came pouring forth from Mora church after service as was their want but now the noble figure of young Gustavus suddenly appears upon a snow-covered mound by the roadside here he spoke to his countrymen here he recited their wrongs and here he begged them to rise up like men and free their country when he spoke with a bloodbath and his father's death he shed tears but the people were tired of feuds and strife they wished to live in peace so they entreated Gustavus to leave them and seek only to save his own life these sturdy peasants were Gustavus' last hope wherever he had wandered before in small land and Östgötland he had consoled himself amid all reverses with the thought that here in the heart of Dalarne among its brave and liberty loving people he could recruit the nucleus of an army to save his fatherland hither he had made his way with incredible toil and suffering hunted like a wild beast and at the risk of his life now they too had failed him in despair he fastened his long swedish snow skates to his feet and disappeared in the forest day after day he toyed long through the wilderness up the valley of Östradal Elf sad and dejected but he must hurry on for a double price had been set on his head and the hirelings of Denmark were in hot pursuit warily he forces his way north through the vast forest he sees the majestic mountains of the norwegian fjeld rise before him for his poor oppressed downtrodden native land he had now no hope and outlaw and exile he will seek an asylum among the eternal hills of Norway but Hark he hears a sound behind him turning he sees two swift skidrunners speeding along his track where they danish minions come dragging back to an ignominious death when safety was in sight here they speak come back Gustavus they cry we dollar carlians have repented we will fight like men for fatherland come back and lead us should he return the fate of Sweden the outcome of the 30 years war the fate of Europe the salvation of the Protestant faith all hung upon the decision of that fair-haired full-bearded young swede as he stood leaning on his staff on that winter's day amid the snow in the northern forest yes he returns joyfully with his two friends he hurries back down the valley to Mora here the peasants of the east and west dales chose him lord and chieftain of a dalane and the whole realm of Sweden 16 stalwart lads were at once placed around him as a bodyguard and soon 200 men enrolled themselves on his command Gustavus himself was everywhere encouraging the people and gaining recruits and the old men observed that whenever he spoke the north wind blew and this they had of old for a sign that God would give success early in February Gustavus had 400 peasants enrolled on his banner with this little force he appears suddenly at Kopbarberg takes prisoner the royal bailiff of the mines seizes the money that had been paid in rent and taxes and possesses himself of the goods and wares of the danish and german merchants he divides the money and goods among his followers and disappears as swiftly as he came in this first expedition Gustavus showed the instincts of a successful commander he struck for the sinews of war and dealt them out to his men with ungrudging hand but he soon returns with an army of 1500 it was Sunday he speaks to the people from outside the church even as he had done at Mora his words were convincing his little army potent the miners of Kopbarberg swear him fealty and take the oath of allegiance Gustavus now leaves his growing army in charge of his lieutenant Peter Svensson and travels to the neighbouring provinces of Helsingland and Jesterikland to arouse the populace but the news of the revolution in Dalarne had reached Stockholm and the leaders of the danish party marched forth with an army of 6000 to quell the insurrection Svensson met them with 5000 men of the dales at Brunbeck's ferry on the Dal River near the southern border of the province the leaders of the royal party were surprised at the numbers of the insurgents and at the strength for the dalesmen shot arrows clear across the broad river into the danish camp how can so large a force be supplied with provisions from this wild country asked one of the danish commanders and when some Swedish gentleman told him that the Dalekarians were content to drink water and in case of need could eat bread made from the bark of trees he sagely remarked a people who eat wood and drink water the devil himself cannot subdue much less any other so the danish force began to break camp for a retreat but in the meanwhile Svensson had secretly crossed Dal River by a ferry 6 miles lower downstream and fell upon the danish army in the act of evacuating its position the Dalekarians were armed only with bows and arrows axes and clubs but so fierce was their onset and so terribly did they use these homemade arms that they drove a part of the enemy into the river where they drowned and put the rest to utter rout following their flying and shattered columns far down into west maland so says the old song we drove the danes out of Sweden there were yet two more years of fighting as sieges but Gustavus marched on with his patriot army from victory to victory on June the 6th in 1523 he was unanimously elected king of Sweden by the rickstag then Stockholm surrendered and on midsummer's eve June 23rd in 1523 King Gustavus Vasa then but 27 years of age made his triumphal entry into his capital he rode a horse rich like a person and was surrounded by knights and young nobles all mounted and wearing brilliant armor and was followed by a vast multitude of the populace the procession rode first to the cathedral where Gustavus kneeling before the high altar returned thanks to the almighty god who had so miraculously led him on and given him and his people the might to complete the deliverance of their country so was Sweden freed forever from the danish yoke so was founded the great Vasa line of kings end of section 37 this recording is in the public domain recording by Max Schölinger section 38 of Norway, Sweden Denmark, Iceland Greenland and the search for the poles this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Max Schölinger the world's story volume 8 Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland Greenland and the search for the poles edited by Eva Marchtappan section 38 the marriage of Gustavus Vasa 1523 by Wilhelm Jensen much sorrow and woe had been poured out over Sweden by the hand of Christian of Denmark great joy and consolation had come through Gustav Ericsson Gustavus Vasa while the earth had completed its course around the sun and now autumn was come again warm sunny northern autumn beneath the blue sky the golden balls upon the cathedral spires of Uppsala shone far into the distance they gleamed above the wild green forest past rocks and brushwood past the golden brown tops of the beaches upon the royal mounds of old Uppsala even to the shining tranquil sea heaven and earth seemed steeped in blue and golden light and joy shone from the blue eyes of the men women and maidens in Uppsala for half a league beyond the city the broad highway was lined with eager crowds from westman land and Södermann land they came from the Svea land and father still from the icy lakes of Norrland and Norrbotten expectantly all eyes gazed southward for from thence he was to come he whose name none need mention who spoke of his deeds no longer now the lord and captain of Sweden but its king Gustavus Vasa for a week past the diet had been assembled at Stringnes and two days ago it had chosen Gustavus Vasa king of Sweden and now he appeared his eyes were a gently looked and his new subjects had ever seen there the warmth, the brightness the sunny joyousness of the autumn day lay upon him in regal attire his ermine cloak sweeping the flanks of the horse that bore him so proudly he rode beside the milk white pulphy of Carina Stenbock the royal bride of Sweden she too bowed graciously to right and left she wore no ermine cloak but the jubilant throng was enraptured with a beauty with a golden hair that streamed from under the circlet on a brow falling in streams of brightness over her neck and shoulders suddenly the smile vanished from Carina's lips and the thoughtful strangely serious expression took its place she lifted her hand something was fluttering toward her a white butterfly with red spots upon his wings fearlessly he rested upon her hand as upon the edge of a flower and spread his wings the women and the crowd saw it and hailed the happy omen the royal butterfly had come down from the mountains to greet Sweden's queen why does Sweden's queen gaze upon the white butterfly so absently so lost in dreams that she fails to see the people's joy at the peaceful omen is her ear listening westward through the still air does she hear faintly in the distance the roaring of the trollhetta no it is too far she hears only the rustling in the beach tops on Odin's hill they too send their greeting to Carina's mute eyes gently their branches sway against the sky Carina started the drums beat a flourish they were entering Uppsala the bergo master of the city surrounded by its senators and dignitaries welcomed the king of Sweden in a solemn oration to wish to let listen with exemplary patience although we breathed more freely when the speech reached its end the procession moved on known to all the streets through which it passed were converted into a forest the ground covered with the carpet of rushes and pine boughs now the cathedral in its gigantic proportions rose before them under the portal the archbishop of Uppsala in full canonicals and surrounded by his clergy awaited them in spite of his trailing omen the king sprang lightly from his horse and lifted Carina from hers both bowed before the archbishop who lifted his hands in blessing and preceding them walked toward the altar the interior of the church was not ornamented its marvelous beauty and purity of form the gothic pillars tall and slender like clustering sheaves rose to a dizzy height sustaining the noble arch the central nave through the tinted windows streamed a tender, mellowed light mingling strangely with the light of innumerable candles that surrounded the altar and gleamed upon his gold embroidered cloth the immediate retinue of the royal pair filled a large portion of the vast space behind them thronged the multitude pouring into the church or climbing recklessly to the high windows hoping to catch at least from the outside a glimpse of what was going on within there King Jösta and Carina Stenbock were to be married by the primate of Sweden just as the solemn ceremony was about to begin a man was seen forcing his way through the crowd he whispered some words to the king who, with a short excuse followed the messenger and disappeared the people gazed after him in astonishment as he left this beautiful bride standing between her father and her blind mother and an excited humble voice ran through the church but in a few moments the king reappeared with beaming face he approached the archbishop and said permit me most reverent lord to speak before you in this holy place it will not be profaned by my words for, like yours they come from god he rapidly ascended the altar steps and spoke in a voice that rang loud and clear through the vast cathedral arches heaven sends two greetings to the people of sweden Stockholm is ours this morning at sunrise the danish commanders rendered the keys like one great cry of joy it burst from a thousand lips the last longed for end was reached sweden was free the stormy rejoicings of the multitude were not to be restrained each embraced and kissed his neighbour from a thousand voices the cry surged upward and echoed back from the arched roof long lived king Gustavus sweden is free and so it will continue Gustav Varsus' voice rang out above the tumult for I have another message to deliver to the people of sweden the ambassador whom I sent to the emperor Charles V has returned the emperor renounces the cause of his brother-in-law Christian of Denmark and offers to sweden his friendship and recognition the danish people have risen against the king and put him under the ban Carine's eyes shone with a new light when the king closed her hand and leading her to the altar she whispered and thus the second condition is fulfilled Carine before you become mine sweden is free she did not look into his face as she answered yes all the conditions are fulfilled sweden is free and you are its queen a quiver ran through the young girl's frame a feeling at once of pride and awe and firmly she stepped upon the velvet carpet in the name of almighty god I greet you Gustavus king of sweden whom the nobles and commons of the land has chosen as their king generations of kings have come and gone upon this spot the priests of another faith place the crown upon the brow of the ynglings who deemed themselves the sons of Odin the mighty but they fell like the leaves in autumn and their memory has passed away here the proud folk gungs received the crown from the hands of holy men and were anointed with holy oil from Rome but like the foam of the sea the traces have vanished many came after them with great names and proud hearts from near and from far they were anointed with the crown but where is their record it is not the drop of oil from human hands that makes small things great and exalts the lowly it is the spirit of the living god which must uphold the mightiest among men less their memory perish from among the righteous thus I greet you Gustavus Vasa in the ancient city of kings and I joyfully lift up my hands to the great king over us all and give him thanks thus began the venerable bishop of Uppsala solemnly and powerfully his words roll over the thousands of bowed heads as the wind stirs the sails of a ship so they stirred the heart of each Swedish hero who heard in them the promise of a great and glorious future most deeply of all Karina Steenbach who looked up with admiration to the majestic figure at her side to the man she heard praised as an instrument of heaven whom his people worshipped and who had chosen her from among all others to help him to complete his work after the struggle for peace after the victory by the sword to establish the supremacy of right and liberty yes, proud and happy at last Karina looked upon the ermine that fell from the shoulders of a royal bridegroom it seemed as though she heard from above a rustling like that of the beach tops on Odin's hill to help others and to serve a worthy end how far are the wise than she had imagined events that shaped themselves how far more perfectly than realising those high endeavours which the sunbeams above the slumbering world had revealed to her soul and this duty was her choice a proud and willing choice and proudly, joyfully Karina's eyes during the archbishop's sermon looked on high and at the listening crowd that thronged about the altar the almighty God bless you and keep you king and queen of Sweden may he rule your heart for your own happiness and for the welfare of your country may he lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace like a plain citizen Gustavus Vasa bent down and kissed his wife end of section 38 this recording is in the public domain recording by Max Scherlea section 39 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the poles this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the world's story volume 8 Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the poles edited by Eva March Tappen section 39 Gustavus Adolphus at Lutsen 1632 by Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller during the 30 years war in Germany the Protestants had long hoped that Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden would become their leader but he felt that he must first care about the needs of his country at length however the time came when he saw that his own land was in danger then he led his army into Germany and there he was joined by the Allied forces of the Protestant princes at Lutsen he met the troops of the Austrian emperor under Wallenstein on the outcome of this battle depended the fate of Protestant Germany the editor at last the fateful morning dawn but an impenetrable fog which spread over the plain delayed the attack till noon kneeling in front of his lines the king offered up his devotions and the whole army at the same moment dropping on their knees burst into a moving hymn accompanied by the military music the king then mounted his horse and clad only in a leaven doublet and so too for a wound he had formally prevented his wearing armor rode along the ranks to animate the courage of his troops with a joyful confidence which however the foreboding presentiment of his own bosom contradicted God with us was the war cry of the Swedes Jezumaria that of the imperialists about 11 the fog began to disperse and the enemy became visible at the same moment Lutsen was seen in flames and on fire by command of the Duke to prevent his being outflanked on that side the charge was now sounded the cavalry rushed upon the enemy and the infantry advanced against the trenches received by a tremendous fire of musketry and heavy artillery these intrepid battalions maintained the attack with undaunted courage till the enemy's musketeers abandoned their posts the battery carried and turned against the enemy they pressed forward with irresistible impetuosity the first of the five imperial brigades was immediately routed the second soon after and the third put to flight but here the genius of Balenstein opposed itself to their progress with the rapidity of lightning he was on the spot to rally his discomfited troops and his powerful word was to stop the flight of the fugitives supported by three regiments of cavalry the vanquished brigades forming anew faced the enemy and pressed vigorously into the broken ranks of the Swedes a murderous conflict ensued the nearness of the enemy left no room for firearms the fury of the attack no time for loading man was matched to man the useless musket exchanged for the sword gave way to desperation overpowered by numbers the weary Swedes at last were tied beyond the trenches and the captured battery is again lost by the retreat a thousand mangled bodies already screwed the plane and as yet not a single step of ground had been won in the meantime the king's right wing led by himself had fallen upon the enemy's left the first impetuous shock of the heavy Finland disperse the lightly mounted poles and croats who were posted here and their disorderly flight spread terror and confusion among the rest of the cavalry at this moment notice was brought the king that his infantry were retreating over the trenches and also that his left wing exposed to a severe fire from the enemy's cannon posted at the windmills was beginning to give way with rapid decision he committed pursuit of the enemy's left while he flew at the head of the regiment of Steinbach to repair the disorder of his right wing his noble charger bore him with the velocity of lightning across the trenches but the squadrons that followed could not come on with the same speed in only a few horsemen among whom was Francis Albert Duke of Sax, Lawn Berg were able to keep up with the king quickly to the place where his infantry were most closely pressed and while he was reconordering the enemy's line for an exposed point of attack the shortness of his sight unfortunately led him too close to their ranks Imperial Gay Fraterre corporal remarking that everyone respectfully made way for him as he rode along immediately ordered a musketeer to take aim at him fired him yonder said he thought that must be a man of consequence the soldier fired and the king's left arm was shattered at that moment his squadron came hurrying up and a confused cry of the king bleeds the king is shot, spread terror and consternation through all the ranks it is nothing follow me, cried the king collecting his whole strength but overcome by pain and nearly fainting he requested the Duke of Lawn Berg in French out of the tumult while the Duke proceeded toward the right wing with the king making a long circuit to keep this discouraging sight from the disordered infantry his majesty received a second shot through the back which deprived him of his remaining strength brother said he with a dying voice I have enough, look only to your own life at the same moment he fell from his horse pierced by several more shots and abandoned by all his attendants he breathed his last amid the plundering hands of the Croats his charger flying without its rider and covered with blood soon made known to the Swedish cavalry the fall of their king they rushed madly forward to rescue his sacred remains from the hands of the enemy a murderous conflict ensued over the body till his mangled remains were buried beneath a heap of slain the mournful tidings soon ran through the Swedish army but instead of destroying the courage of those brave troops it but excited it into a new a wild and consuming flame life had lessened in value now that the most sacred life of all was gone death had no terrace for the lowly since the anointed head was not spared with the fury of lions the upland small and thin land east and west garthland regiments rushed a second time upon the left wing of the enemy already making but feeble resistance to general Horn was now entirely beaten from the field Bernard Duke of Saxe Weimar gave to the bereaved Swedes a noble leader in his own person and the spirit of Gustavus that his victorious squadrons anew the left wing quickly formed again and vigorously pressed the right of the imperialists the artillery at the windmills which had maintained so murderous a fire upon the Swedes was captured and turned against the enemy the center also of the Swedish infantry commanded by the Duke and Nipp Hausen advanced a second time against the trenches which they successfully passed and re-turt the battery of seven cannons the attack was now renewed with redoubled fury upon the heavy battalions of the enemy's center their resistance became gradually less and chance conspired with Swedish valor to complete the defeat the imperial powder wagons took fire and with a tremendous explosion grenades and bombs filled the air the enemy now in confusion thought they were attacked in the rear while the Swedish brigades pressed them in front their courage began to fail them their left wing was already beaten their right wavering and their artillery in the enemy's hands the battle seemed to be almost decided another moment would decide the fate of the day when Pappenheim appeared on the field with his croissiers and dragoons all the advantages already gained were lost and the battle was to be fought anew the order which recalled that general to Lutsen had reached him in Halle while his troops were still plundering the town it was impossible to collect the scattered infantry with that rapidity which the urgency of the order and Pappenheim's impatience required without waiting for it therefore he ordered eight regiments of cavalry to mount and at their head he galloped at full speed for Lutsen to share in the battle he arrived in time to witness the flight of the imperial right wing which Gustavus Horn was driving from the field and to be at first involved in their route but with rapid presence of mind he rallied the flying troops and led them once more against the enemy carried away by his wild bravery and his determination to encounter the king who he suppose was at the head of this wing he burst furiously upon the Swedish ranks which exhausted by victory and inferior in numbers were after a noble resistance overpowered by this fresh body of enemies Pappenheim's unexpected appearance revived the drooping courage of the imperialists and the Duke of Freeland quickly availed himself of the favorable moment to reform his line the closely sered battalions of the Swedes were after a tremendous conflict again driven across the trenches and the battery which had been twice lost again rescued from their hands the whole yellow regiment the finest of all that distinguished themselves in this dreadful day lay dead on the field covering the ground almost in the same excellent order which went alive they maintained with such unyielding courage the same fate befell another regiment of blues which count Pico Lomini attacked with the imperial cavalry and cut down after a desperate contest seven times did this intrepid general renew the attack seven horses were shot under him and he himself was pierced with six musket balls yet he would not leave the field until he was carried along in the general route of the whole army Valenstein himself was seen writing through his ranks with cool intrepidity amidst the shower balls assisting the distressed encouraging the valiant with praise and the wavering by his fearful glance around and close by him his men were falling thick and his own mantle was perforated by several shots but avenging destiny this day protected that breast for which another weapon was reserved on the same field where the noble Gustavus expired Valenstein was not allowed to terminate his guilty career less fortunate was Papenheim the teleman of the army the bravest soldier of Austria and the church an ardent desire to encounter the king in person carried this daring leader into the thickest of the fight where he thought his noble opponent was most surely to be met Gustavus had also expressed a wish to meet his brave antagonist but these hostile wishes remained ungratified death first brought together these two great heroes to Muscovals pierced the breast of Papenheim and his men forcibly carried him from the field while they were conveying him to the rear a murmur reached him that he whom he had sought lay dead upon the plane when the truth of the report was confirmed to him his look became brighter his dying eye sparkle with a last gleam of joy till the Duke of Freeland said he that I lie without hope of life but that I die happy since I know that the implacable enemy of my religion has fallen on the same day with Papenheim the good fortune of the imperialists departed the cavalry of the left wing already beaten and only rallied by his exertions no sooner missed their victorious leader than they gave up everything for lost and abandoned the field of battle in spiritless despair the right wing fell into the same confusion with the exception of a few regiments which the bravery of their colonels got cert see colorado and piccolo mini compelled to keep their ground the Swedish infantry with prompt determination profited by the enemy's confusion to fill up the gaps which death have made in the front line they form both lines into one and with it made the final and decisive charge a third time they crossed the trenches and a third time they captured the battery the sun was setting when the two lines closed the strife grew hotter as it drew to an end the last efforts of strength were mutually exerted and skill encouraged to their utmost to repair in these precious moments the fortune of the day it was in vain despair endows everyone with superhuman strength no one can conquer no one will give way the art of war seemed to exhaust others on one side only to unfold some new and untrived masterpiece of skill on the other night and darkness at last put an end to the fight before the fury of the combatants was exhausted and the contest only ceased when no one could any longer find an antagonist both armies separated as if by tacit agreement the trumpets sounded and each party claiming the victory quitted the field the artillery on both sides as the horses could not be found remained all night upon the field at once the reward and the evidence of victory to him who should hold it Valenstein and his haze to leave life-seek and Saxony forgot to remove his part not long after the battle was ended Poppenheim's infantry who had been unable to follow the rapid movements of their general and who amounted to six regiments marched on the field but the work was done for hours earlier so considerable a reinforcement which perhaps have decided the day in favor of the imperialists and even now by remaining on the field they might have saved the Duke's artillery and made a prize of that of the Swedes but they had received no orders to act and uncertain as to the issue of the battle they retired to life-seek where they hoped to join the main body the Duke of Freeland had retreated and was followed on the morrow but it remains of his army without artillery without colors and almost without arms the Duke of Weimar it appears after the toils of this bloody day allowed the Swedish army some repose between Lutsen and Bisonfels near enough to the field of battle to oppose any attempt the enemy might make to recover it of the two armies more than 9,000 men lay dead a still greater number were wounded and among the imperialists scares the man escaped from the field uninjured the entire plane from Lutsen to the canal was strewed with the wounded, the dying and the dead many of the principal nobility have fallen on both sides even the abbot of Fulda who had mingled in the combat as a spectator paid for his curiosity and his ill time zeal with his life history says nothing of prisoners are further proof who neither gave nor took quarter but it was a dear conquest a dear triumph it was not till the fury of the conquest was over that the full weight of the loss sustained was felt and the shout of triumph died away into a silent gloomy despair he who had led them to the church returned not with them there he lies upon the field which he had won mingled with the dead bodies of the common crowd after a long and almost fruitless search the corpse of the king was discovered not far from the great stone which for a hundred years before had stood between Lutsen and the canal and which from the memorable disaster of that day still bears the name of the stone of the Swedes covered with blood and wounds so as scarcely to be recognized trampled beneath the horses hoofs stripped by the rude hands of plunders of its ornaments and clothes the body was drawn from beneath a heap of dead conveyed to bison bells and there delivered up to the lamentations of his soldiers and the last embraces of his queen the first tribute had been paid to revenge and blood had atoned for the blood of the monarch but now affection assumed its rights and tears of grief must flow for the man the universal sorrow absorbs all individual woes the general still still divide by the unexpected blows did speechless emotion less around his beer and no one trusted himself enough to contemplate the full extent of their loss end of section 39 this recording is in the public domain section 40 of Norway, Sweden Denmark, Iceland Greenland and the search for the Poles read for LibriVox.org by Alan Mapstone the battle song of Gustavus Adolphus by Michael Altenburg fear not oh little flock the foe who madly see your overthrow dread not his rage and power what though your courage sometimes faints his seeming triumph oh god saints last but a little hour be of good cheer your cause belongs to him who can avenge your wrongs leave it to him our lord though hidden now from all our eyes he sees the Gideon who shall rise to save us and his word as true as god's own word is true not earth or hell with all their crew against us shall prevail a jest and by word are they grown god is with us we are his own our victory cannot fail amen lord jesus grant our prayer great captain now thine arm make bear fight for us once again so shall the saints and martyrs raise a mighty chorus to thy praise world without end amen end of section 40 this recording is in the public domain section 41 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark Iceland and Greenland and the search for the polls this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the world's story volume 8 Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland Greenland and the search for the polls edited by Eva March Tappan section 41 the crossing of the little belt 1658 by Zetopelius in 1658 Sweden was at war with Denmark the Swedish king Charles the Tenth had captured a fortress on that point of Denmark which is separated from the island of Funen by the little belt Count Bertelskild has been blamed by the king and to prove that good fortune still attends him he has declared that he will ride over the little belt though the ice has broken up and the channel is still open the editor Count you speak boldly how will you prove your presumption of good fortune by riding first over the ice of the king smiled and turned to wrangle that man is of the stock with which to thrash the youth members I need such men full hearty fellow muttered wrangle well Count Bertelskild continued the king I will believe you if tomorrow you ride across the belt and before night bring me a prisoner from Funen it shall be done your majesty answered Bertelskild in short and measured tones and undisturbed by wrangles sarcastic smile for nobody was ignorant of the fact that the ice of the eastern part of little belt had broken up and the bay near middle fart consequently rendered impossible but the king's mind was termed so longingly in that direction that everything which flattered his hope was seized upon with the greatest eagerness perhaps there was also a certain similarity of temperament which moved him to listen to Bertelskild's boldness and a deeper pleasure at least it is certain that he himself like this poor favorite of fortune was found venturing everything on a single card to win or lose the review was ended the king rode away and the troops separated to their quarters to warm their stiffened limbs the barracks could not contain all at once fires were kindled in the fields and the canteen went to its rounds and they could find no roof to cover their heads other soldiers came flocking finally they took possession of the church war and the cold season respected nothing the soldiers were seen lying with their bottles in the aisles of the church and around the altar and wild and rivaled songs sounded within the walls which lately accrued to the tones of sacred hymns from the windows of which he had an open view over the coast and the ice beyond from time to time the king interrupted his deliberations with his officers went impatiently to the window and looked at the darkening surroundings where it was still possible to distinguish in the distance the blue open channel near the shore of union the thermometer had not yet been invented but the cloudy sky and the appearance of the snow sufficiently indicated to him that the fall still continued to mock his expectations suddenly the king broke off a conversation with Dahlberg and sent for Barrett to the school Count said he roughly tell me frankly and without fear are you in league with the devil do not be afraid I will give you absolution I do not understand your majesty I wish to learn from you the art of riding across the open sea to middle part nothing is easier will your majesty be pleased to cast a glance through the window the king looked out the sky lately covered with clouds had quickly cleared and everything betokened a severe cold which indeed came the same night Charles Gustavus clapped Barrett to school lightly upon the shoulder Count said he the news is worth the parish in Finland if you accomplish what you have undertaken it shall be done your majesty when on the following morning the sun rose over the leafless beaches of Funen the entire little belt littered with the lustre of new ice the Swedes flocked to the shore to persuade themselves of the power of the winter night to build bridges and of the favor of fortune and building them at just the right moment the king was in a good humor all the three crowns of the north seemed to him to glitter in the horizon the cold continued to be extremely severe already in the morning the ice was strong enough to bear footmen toward night Barrett is curled began his bold attempt he laid aside his heavy armor and put on a light jacket instead of the large brown horse he generally wrote he chose a small and lean but sinewy runner of the Erland breed two attendants on skates followed him each pushing a sledge before him then the expedition set off in view of almost the entire Swedish army at first where the ice was stronger Barrett is curled rode very slowly in order not to fatigue his small Erlander but the nearer he approached to the more dangerous part of the belt the channel the more he increased his speed so that the attendants on their lights skates had hard work to keep up with him near and near drew the snow covered coast of Funen the ice cracked and bent under the horses feet again and again a hoof struck through the clear thin ice sputtering the water high into the air but the audacious soldier dashed onward with quickened speed a moment more and Barrett is scurled stood safe on Funen and at the same instant his horse fell never to rise again the sun went down frosty and yellow behind the coast of Slavsglig and the early winter twilight began to dark and time was precious Barrett is scurled had landed near a village south of Middlefart a crowd of Danes men women and children had collected upon the beach curious to know what the adventurous rider had to tell probably they considered him a messenger from the Swedish king no one divine the real cause of this unusual visit Barrett is scurled looked behind him the attendants with the sledges were still a good distance away he approached the crowd inquiring here and there for the road to Odense letting them understand that he was sent to make peace filled all with joy they crowded in there simply around the stranger near the ice just then according to previous orders one of the attendants arrived left his sledge and an extra pair of skates which he had carried with him and immediately started on his return Barrett is scurled inquired if it were possible to reach Middlefart across the ice meanwhile fastening on the skates the peasants in their joy offered to lend him a horse in the place of the one that had fallen everything seemed friendly and well then Barrett's girl suddenly seized a boy of five years around the waist threw him into the sled pushed it out before him on the ice and hastened on his light skates with the speed of the wind away with his booty it was all done in a moment the peasants amazed and benumbed scarcely believe their own eyes before they heard the shrieks of the boy already far out on the ice a woman rushed forward there was the mother of the captured boy she tore her hair and was the first to leap after them on the ice she slipped fell rose again fell once more rose for the second time and leaped after the robber too she sank down fainting some young men followed her example in vain the robber was already out of sight in the increasing twilight and it was impossible to overtake him with rage and curses at the swedes the pursuers returned with the unhappy mother meanwhile Barrett scurled with the boy in the sledge reached the opposite shore in safety the rays of the rising moon had favored his perilous journey on the Swedish side he was already given up as lost darker grew the twilight and darker grew the king he repented his foolhardiness he needed so urgently every brave arm and what was most important of all the whole army would foresee its own fate in Barrett's scurls whether success or defeat if the proposed expedition were attempted but Barrett's scurl came I've ridden across the belt your Majesty although I have returned on my skates here is my living witness from Funen and the captured boy was brought forward with his nose red from the cold and munching a piece of wheat bread which had been given him to stop his crying being unfastened from his neck a gold chain to which was attached a medallion set with jewels and containing the portrait of Queen Christina general said he take this as a souvenir of your exploit hereafter you shall wear the escutcheon of Funen in your coat of arms and hereafter the king added with proud confidence we will visit our brother Frederick in Copenhagen the morning of the 29th of January dawned the cold was more severe than ever at daybreak the whole army was at the shore ready for the start the ice had been tested and found strong yet the cautious Dahlberg did not trust it fully on the places which were most dangerous by reason of the current he had spread straw poured upon it water which immediately froze and laid down planks the ever memorable expedition sung a hundred years later by Gyllenborg was begun the cavalry and the cannon started to burst from Halse over the small Isle of Brandser toward a bay on the coast of Funen south of Inverness then came the right wing under wrangle and taut next the left wing under the king and barrens the infantry marched north of the other forces it was a strange march over the wide blue ice silent earnest as if crossing an open grave when they approached the channel the troops dismounted and led the horses by the reins a little apart from but once past this dangerous spot they threw themselves into their saddles and rushed with loud chews against the enemy waiting on the coast about 4,000 Danish soldiers 1500 peasants at work sawing the ice and several thousand spectators stood upon the coast of Funen praying fervently that the Swedish army might sink like Pharaoh of old into the depths of the sea but the Swedes came safely over with their superior force with the rapid attack of the male clad horsemen and the disheartened Danish soldiers were overwhelmed and many of them taken prisoners Charles Gustavus who followed saw the contest but not the sudden victory of his men followed me he exclaimed and with his wing made a detour to the right in order to land at another point and attack the Danes in the rear the whole wing rushed with them take care of Bertas Skrull clad Dahlberg to the general wing hurried by galloping at the head of his troops go slowly separate your men you are riding too close together but Bertas Skrull was conscious only of the distant coast and of new exploits there under the eyes of the king with closed ranks the two former squadrons dashed forward over the channel when quickly the frail bridge cracked burst with a terrible report and the proud on rushing squadron sank so suddenly so unexpectedly amidst their cheers came their destruction that horses and men were seen only for a moment struggling with the rising waves before they were all carried away by the current and disappeared in the depths those squadrons were lost beyond rescue the carriages of the king and the French ambassador with their horses shared the fate of the horsemen Charles Gustavus saw his men perish before his eyes and he could not help them the crown of Denmark back in the game the king looked away when blue grave made his detour and reached land in safety with the rest of his wing here the battle was already ended Funen was conquered, Zeeland trembled and King Frederick sent messenger after messenger to ask for peace for the old kingdom of Denmark tottered under his feet but the Swedish lion accomplished his lead Dahlberg strove zealously therefore though Wrangel and the traitor Corfis Yule fell eager to oppose it after some uncertainty the king resolved to adopt Dahlberg's boldly laid plans the 6th of February before daybreak the cavalry moved forward from Svendborg over the island Ta Singa to Langaland it was a setting gloomy march says Frick's cell by the tramping of horses the snow on the ice was melted so that the way resembled an open stream through this the soldiers were obliged to wade in water almost a foot deep to feel the frail ice break under their feet some lost their way bewildered and disappeared in the depths but resistless as an avalanche the force swept on from Langaland to Laaland to Falster from Falster to Zeeland the faith of the sea betrayed its own children the lovely Danish islands and carried like another Yule fell the enemy willingly on his back the 12th of February 1658 the Swedish army landed on the coast of Zeeland near Vordingborg the heroic achievement was ready to be engraved forever in the memories of the centuries the piece that Ross Guilder was its result Schoenen, Haaland and Black Inge its most precious gain end of section 41 this recording is in the public domain