201 BESIEGED BY THE SWEDES. 



to elude the hangman," so runs the legend, " had taken 

 refuge on Fdstnings -Holm, the island whereon the 

 fortress, is built, then covered with wood. One fine 

 day a venerable old man appeared to the culprit, and 

 directed him to proceed to Ilukan, the then King of 

 Norway, and to exhort his Majesty forthwith to build a 

 fortress on the spot, with the assurance that if he could 

 procure a dog strong enough to bear the corner-stone of 

 the structure it should never be taken by the sword. The 

 outlaw immediatelv undertook the commission, and the 

 king, accepting the proffered terms, erected the strong- 

 hold." From its commanding position and massive walls, 

 it was in the olden time considered all but impregnable, 

 and as with the Castle of Elfsborg, is famous in Scandi- 

 navian story for the many bloody conflicts that have taken 

 place amongst the great northern potentates when con- 

 tending for its masterv. But it is said that " thou2,h 

 frequently attacked by one or other of them, it has never 

 yet, in accordance with the legend, been captured by 

 actual force." 



Some incidents relating to its several sieges are, 

 perhaps, worth recording, that of 1566 more especially. 

 Eric XIV., of Sweden, had entrusted the siege of this 

 fortress — then in possession of the Danes — to Nils Boye, 

 one of the best and most valiant of his generals. On 

 the night of the 21st of March batteries were established 

 on the hill Fontin, Avhicli is near to it. The heavy 

 artillery consisted of 6 whole Catovvers, 7 half Catowers, 

 and several heavy Culverins. On the 23rd of March 

 fire was opened with a salvo of 90 cannon-shot, which 

 had the effect of knocking down the parapet of the 

 outer wall. It was not, however, vmtil after this salute 

 that Boye summoned the governor — the brave Jens 

 Ulfstam — to capitulate, which demand having been 

 negatived, he kept up a terrible fire against the place. 



