201 BESIEGED BY THE SWEDES. 



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

 refuge on /'*/// /////A- -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 ILikan, 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 immediately undertook the commission, and lin- 

 king, accepting the proffered terms, erected the strong- 

 hold." Erom its commanding position and massive walls, 

 it was in the olden time considered all but impregnable, 

 and as with the Castle of Elfshorg, 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 mastery. But it is said that " though 

 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 1 .">(!< 5 more especially. 

 Eric XIV., of Sweden, had entrusted the sie-e of this 

 fortress then in possession of the Danes to Nils I We, 

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

 the night of the 21st of .March batteries \\ere established 

 on the lull Fontin, which is near to it. The hea\\ 

 artillery consisted of (> whole Catowers, 7 half Catower-, 

 and several heavy ('ulverins. On the :!.">rd of March 

 lire was opened with a salvo of '.)() cannon-shot, which 

 had the eli'ect of knocking dov\ n the parapet of the 

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

 tint J5o\e summoned the governor the brave Jens 

 Ulfstam to capitulate, \\liich demand liming been 

 negatived, lie kept up a terrible lire against the place. 



