PRE-NORSE RECORDS. 7 



that the merciless ferocity with which the Norsemen 

 pursued the ecclesiastical establishments of Britain and 

 Ireland, was of a retaliatory character. It has been shown 

 that they never interfered with the Christian religion until 

 the persecution by Charlemagne of the pagan Saxons, and 

 the destruction of their temples and idols, had aroused 

 within the breasts of Odin's followers a feeling of implac- 

 able hatred towards the Christian name. The " great and 

 good prince " Charlemagne had ordained that the Saxons 

 should choose between Christianity and death a form 

 of conversion, which, in subsequent years, was imitated 

 by the Northmen themselves in dealing with their pagan 

 countrymen. In pursuance of this militant spirit, the 

 Royal missionary is stated to have beheaded no less than 

 4,500 recalcitrant Saxons in one day, thinking, perhaps, 

 to obtain the favour of Heaven by so meritorious an act. 

 Such was Christianity as exemplified by this pious 

 Emperor of the West, and such was the spirit in which 

 " conversions " were effected in those days. The smoking 

 ruins of many a sacred building ; the expiring groans of 

 many a devoted monk ; the despairing shrieks of many a 

 violated nun ; these were the prices paid for the summary 

 methods of converting the heathen which Charlemagne, 

 the pillar of Christianity, adopted. And it is not too 

 much to assume that the Outer Hebrides paid a portion 

 of the prices in the destruction of the Columban churches, 

 and the slaughter of the officiating clergy. But the 

 probable disposal of the native Christians, some to the 

 slave marts of Norway, and others to the condition of 

 thraldom which their conquerors doubtless imposed upon 

 them, may have led to the seeds of their religion being 

 planted in new soil. In process of time, these seeds may 

 have brought forth part of the fruit which so abundantly 

 ripened towards the close of the tenth century. 



About the end of the eighth century, the Scandinavians 

 made their first recorded appearance on the coast of 

 Ireland. The Irish Annals indicate that immediately 

 before this event, which marked an epoch of great impor- 



