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and many。 He is still reckoned a grand hero of the North； though his
_vates_ now is only Snorro Sturleson of Iceland。 Tryggveson had indeed
many adventures in the world。 His poor mother； Astrid； was obliged to fly；
on murder of her husband by Gunhild；to fly for life； three months before
he； her little Olaf； was born。 She lay concealed in reedy islands； fled
through trackless forests； reached her father's with the little baby in her
arms； and lay deep…hidden there； tended only by her father himself；
Gunhild's pursuit being so incessant； and keen as with sleuth…hounds。 Poor
Astrid had to fly again； deviously to Sweden； to Esthland （Esthonia）； to
Russia。 In Esthland she was sold as a slave； quite parted from her boy；
who also was sold； and again sold； but did at last fall in with a kinsman
high in the Russian service； did from him find redemption and help； and so
rose； in a distinguished manner； to manhood； victorious self…help； and
recovery of his kingdom at last。 He even met his mother again； he as king
of Norway； she as one wonderfully lifted out of darkness into new life and
happiness still in store。
Grown to manhood； Tryggveson；now become acquainted with his
birth； and with his； alas； hopeless claims；left Russia for the one
profession open to him； that of sea…robbery； and did feats without number
in that questionable line in many seas and scenes；in England latterly； and
most conspicuously of all。 In one of his courses thither； after long labors in
the Hebrides； Man； Wales； and down the western shores to the very Land's
End and farther； he paused at the Scilly Islands for a little while。 He was
told of a wonderful Christian hermit living strangely in these sea…solitudes；
had the curiosity to seek him out； examine； question； and discourse with
him； and； after some reflection； accepted Christian baptism from the
venerable man。 In Snorro the story is involved in miracle； rumor； and fable；
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but the fact itself seems certain； and is very interesting； the great； wild；
noble soul of fierce Olaf opening to this wonderful gospel of tidings from
beyond the world； tidings which infinitely transcended all else he had ever
heard or dreamt of！ It seems certain he was baptized here； date not fixable；
shortly before poor heart…broken Dunstan's death； or shortly after； most
English churches； monasteries especially； lying burnt； under continual
visitation of the Danes。 Olaf such baptism notwithstanding； did not quit
his viking profession； indeed； what other was there for him in the world as
yet？
We mentioned his occasional copartneries with Svein of the Double…
beard； now become King of Denmark； but the greatest of these； and the
alone interesting at this time； is their joint invasion of England； and
Tryggveson's exploits and fortunes there some years after that adventure
of baptism in the Scilly Isles。 Svein and he 〃were above a year in England
together；〃 this time： they steered up the Thames with three hundred ships
and many fighters； siege； or at least furious assault； of London was their
first or main enterprise； but it did not succeed。 The Saxon Chronicle gives
date to it； A。D。 994； and names expressly； as Svein's co…partner； 〃Olaus；
king of Norway；〃which he was as yet far from being； but in regard to the
Year of Grace the Saxon Chronicle is to be held indisputable； and； indeed；
has the field to itself in this matter。 Famed Olaf Tryggveson； seen visibly
at the siege of London； year 994； it throws a kind of momentary light to us
over that disastrous whirlpool of miseries and confusions； all dark and
painful to the fancy otherwise！ This big voyage and furious siege of
London is Svein Double…beard's first real attempt to fulfil that vow of his
at Father Blue…tooth's 〃funeral ale；〃 and conquer England；which it is a
pity he could not yet do。 Had London now fallen to him； it is pretty
evident all England must have followed； and poor England； with Svein as
king over it； been delivered from immeasurable woes； which had to last
some two…and…twenty years farther； before this result could be arrived at。
But finding London impregnable for the moment （no ship able to get
athwart the bridge； and many Danes perishing in the attempt to do it by
swimming）； Svein and Olaf turned to other enterprises； all England in a
manner lying open to them； turn which way they liked。 They burnt and
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
plundered over Kent； over Hampshire； Sussex； they stormed far and wide；
world lying all before them where to choose。 Wretched Ethelred； as the
one invention he could fall upon； offered them Danegelt （16；000 pounds
of silver this year； but it rose in other years as high as 48；000 pounds）； the
desperate Ethelred； a clear method of quenching fire by pouring oil on it！
Svein and Olaf accepted； withdrew to Southampton；Olaf at least did；till
the money was got ready。 Strange to think of； fierce Svein of the Double…
beard； and conquest of England by him； this had at last become the one
salutary result which remained for that distracted； down…trodden； now
utterly chaotic and anarchic country。 A conquering Svein； followed by an
ably and earnestly administrative； as well as conquering； Knut （whom
Dahlmann compares to Charlemagne）； were thus by the mysterious
destinies appointed the effective saviors of England。
Tryggveson； on this occasion； was a good while at Southampton； and
roamed extensively about； easily victorious over everything； if resistance
were attempted； but finding little or none； and acting now in a peaceable
or even friendly capacity。 In the Southampton country he came in contact
with the then Bishop of Winchester； afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury；
excellent Elphegus； still dimly decipherable to us as a man of great natural
discernment； piety； and inborn veracity； a hero…soul； probably of real
brotherhood with Olaf's own。 He even made court visits to King Ethelred；
one visit to him at Andover of a very serious nature。 By Elphegus； as we
can discover； he was introduced into the real depths of the Christian faith。
Elphegus； with due solemnity of apparatus； in presence of the