298 KOYAL WOOINGS. 



Affairs matrimonial were also, at times, arranged 



here between the Scandinavian potentates, though not 



always, as it would seem, with such courtesy as is 



practised at the present day. In the year 997, so we arc 



informed, Olof Tryggweson, the famous king of Norway, 



the same who, some years previously, had by no very 



gentle means introduced Christianity into that country, 



was desirous, for political reasons, to form an alliance with 



Sigrid, commonly called Storr&da, or the arrogant, the 



Dowager Queen of Sweden, then some fifty years of age. 



After sundry negotiations, by deputy, the high contracting 



parties agreed to meet in Kungahall, where for a time 



everything went on prosperously, and the marriage AV:C; 



finally settled But "the course of true love never does 



run smooth," and the truth of the adage was exemplified 



in this instance; for when King Olof solicited his heathen 



bride to be -baptized, the queen flatly refused to fore-o 



the faith of her kindred and country, but told him that 



he himself was fully at liberty to worship whatever God 



he pleased. When this question of faith was raised, Olof 



waxed very wroth, and forgetting all courtly manners 



and what was due to the sex, struck her majesty in 



the face \\ith the glove he held in his hand, exclaiming. 



"Why should I marry thee, tlmu wi/eu-faced heathen 



beauty?" "That blow shall one day cause thy death," 



replied the deeply insulted woman, and the threat \\as 



soon accomplished; for in the hopes of finding an oppor- 



tunity to revenue herself. 1 he despised Sigrid irave her hand 



shortly afterwards to the Danish kin-, Sven Tweskn . 



or of the two-pointed heard. This monarch, in con- 



junction with her m\n son Olof Skotkonung,* the then 



rei^n'mi,' king of Sweden, and -larl Kric, who, for political 



, :, 1-ill.V ill MTUS, >l..f "- l-'-t.-<l to til.- tlll-nll'-. ;,..,! 

 CMtlc.l Stolen,,,! ,:<!, illl|.lvill.' Ill-' NlM-.-lill^' Kill-. 



