Magnus the Good 243 



Danish history as Sveud Estrid's sou, after his mother, 

 because she was of the old royal liue of the Skjoldnngs, 

 the time-honoured race that had given kings to Den- 

 mark. This Svend was the founder of a new dynasty, 

 the Estridsons. For, the year following his investiture 

 as earl-regent of Denmark, and vassal to King Magnus 

 he deemed himself strong enough to assert his indepen- 

 dence, and to take the royal title. Magnus collected a 

 fleet and army to chastise him, but he escaped to 

 Scania, and thence into Sweden. The King of Norway 

 inflicted severe punishment upon the adherents of the 

 pretender. 



We see Magnus also upon the German continent, 

 first attacking and destroying the Viking stronghold, 

 Jomsburg ; and afterwards marching further inland to 

 meet a large army of pagan ' Vends ' {i.e. Slavs). The 

 army opposed to that of the Norse king proved to be 

 so much larger than his own that many of Magnus's 

 followers were for persuading him to turn back; but 

 he was very unwilling to do this, for he had never yet 

 shunned an engagement against any odds. At night 

 (when he had ordered his troops and expected to 

 meet the enemy the next day) he lay down in some 

 perplexity and anxiety to sleep. It was Michaelmas 

 Eve. In the night, so runs the graceful legend, his 

 father, St. Olaf, appeared to Magnus in his sleep, and 

 admonished him not to be afraid with a Christian army 

 to attack an army of heathens however great. ' For I,' 

 he said, ' shall be with thee in battle. Prepare to give 

 battle to the Vends when thou hearest my trumpet.' 



The king awoke, and told his dream to those about 

 him. The day was just breaking. At that moment 



