336 



the standard of modern usages and feelings. What is now 

 regarded as a shame was then accounted an honour. The 

 Northman who went upon an expedition in his vessel, acquired 

 a large tract of land, or returned with gold and silver, after 

 having killed many warriors in battle, was quite sure 

 that the daughters of the highest nobles in the land would 

 gladly give him their hand ; but they never liked to marry a 

 man who remained at home all his life. There is a curious 

 story in one of the old Icelandic sagas which affords a very 

 good idea of the state of society in the olden time. When 

 King Olaf Tryggveson was stopping in England, after having 

 been converted to Christianity, he bought a beautiful shield 

 from a clergyman of the name Thangbrand. The clergyman, 

 instead of purchasing holy books with the money, bought a 

 handsome Irish girl, who some time before had been taken 

 prisoner and made a slave. Not long afterwards the clergy- 

 man was obliged to leave England and proceed to Germany 

 in company with a bishop Adelbert ; nevertheless he carried 

 the Irish girl along with him. In Germany, one of the fol- 

 lowers of the Emperor becoming enamoured of her, attempted 

 to take her from the priest, upon which the latter drew his 

 sword and killed his rival. The priest, being expelled by the 

 Emperor from his dominions, returned to England, where 

 King Olaf Tryggveson received him with great kindness, and 

 made him his chaplain. 



When this was tolerated among the clergy, what was to be 

 expected from the common people ? It is true enough, that 

 the Danes robbed and killed Irishmen, but they were, perhaps, 

 not so much to blame as the native Irish, who constantly 

 assailed each other, each tribe making incursions into the terri- 

 tory of its neighbour. If we take a view of the different coun- 

 tries of Europe, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy, we shall 

 find that people of the same era called Christian were addicted 

 to plunder and assassination as well as the Pagan Norsemen; 

 nor were such practices considered in the least degree extra- 



