The Norwegian Invasion of Scotland in 1263; A Translation from Det Norske Folkshistorie; Communicated to the Archaeological Society of Glasgow (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1862 edition. Excerpt: ...is more likely, falsification. It is more likely to have stood originally Diurness. Who this Olaf Arnfinnsson was, nothing else is known, for the ballad does not give particulars regarding him; we only see that he must have been the king's favourite--perhaps one of his relatives--whose position was not of such significance as to occasion the mention of him in an historical record, but who, on the other hand, may have acted an important part, in the eyes of the common people, from whose ballads we must conclude, the more we examine them, that his sickness and death were considered an unlucky omen, and were put in immediate connection with the king's own demise, which happened not long afterwards. He must have been held in repute for bravery and energy, as the king esteemed him so much. It is said, at an earlier period, that the king, before setting out from Norway, looked "over all the company," and not observing Olaf he inquired where he was, and why he did not accompany them, when "the little page" answered, " Olaf came the very hour you called your men to battle." It is quite possible that the whole of this little episode might not perhaps have been known to the whole fleet, but was confined to a few of the ships. There is, however, scarcely room for doubt that it was a real occurrence, and was at least subsequently considered ominous. During the two days' stay at Loch Eribol another unpleasant affair also took place. The king had been hearing mass on Sunday, the 28th, which was Simon and Jude's day, when his people brought a few Scots whom they had taken captive. He gave them all their liberty, and sent them up to the heights in the neighbourhood, under the promise that they should come back again with a...