education from him； with a view to Priesthood on the part of Sverrir。 But；
not liking that career； Sverrir had fled and smuggled himself over to the
Birkebeins； who； noticing the learned tongue； and other miraculous
qualities of the man； proposed to make him Captain of them； and even
threatened to kill him if he would not accept；which thus at the sword's
point； as Sverrir says； he was obliged to do。 It was after this that he
thought of becoming son of Wry…Mouth and other higher things。
His Birkebeins and he had certainly a talent of campaigning which has
hardly ever been equalled。 They fought like devils against any odds of
number； and before battle they have been known to march six days
together without food； except； perhaps； the inner barks of trees； and in
such clothing and shoeing as mere birch bark：at one time； somewhere in
the Dovrefjeld； there was serious counsel held among them whether they
should not all； as one man； leap down into the frozen gulfs and precipices；
or at once massacre one another wholly； and so finish。 Of their conduct in
battle； fiercer than that of _Baresarks_； where was there ever seen the
parallel？ In truth they are a dim strange object to one； in that black time；
wondrously bringing light into it withal； and proved to be； under such
unexpected circumstances； the beginning of better days！
Of Sverrir's public speeches there still exist authentic specimens；
wonderful indeed； and much characteristic of such a Sverrir。 A comb…
maker King； evidently meaning several good and solid things； and
effecting them too； athwart such an element of Norwegian chaos…come…
99
… Page 100…
EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
again。 His descendants and successors were a comparatively respectable
kin。 The last and greatest of them I shall mention is Hakon VII。； or Hakon
the Old； whose fame is still lively among us； from the Battle of Largs at
least。
100
… Page 101…
EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
CHAPTER XV。
HAKON THE OLD AT LARGS。
In the Norse annals our famous Battle of Largs makes small figure； or
almost none at all among Hakon's battles and feats。 They do say indeed；
these Norse annalists； that the King of Scotland； Alexander III。 （who had
such a fate among the crags about Kinghorn in time coming）； was very
anxious to purchase from King Hakon his sovereignty of the Western Isles；
but that Hakon pointedly refused； and at length； being again importuned
and bothered on the business； decided on giving a refusal that could not be
mistaken。 Decided； namely； to go with a big expedition； and look
thoroughly into that wing of his Dominions； where no doubt much has
fallen awry since Magnus Barefoot's grand visit thither； and seems to be
inviting the cupidity of bad neighbors！ 〃All this we will put right again；〃
thinks Hakon； 〃and gird it up into a safe and defensive posture。〃 Hakon
sailed accordingly； with a strong fleet； adjusting and rectifying among his
Hebrides as he went long； and landing withal on the Scotch coast to
plunder and punish as he thought fit。 The Scots say he had claimed of
them Arran； Bute； and the Two Cumbraes （〃given my ancestors by Donald
Bain；〃 said Hakon； to the amazement of the Scots） 〃as part of the Sudoer〃
（Southern Isles）： so far from selling that fine kingdom！and that it was
after taking both Arran and Bute that he made his descent at Largs。
Of Largs there is no mention whatever in Norse books。 But beyond
any doubt； such is the other evidence； Hakon did land there； land and fight；
not conquering； probably rather beaten； and very certainly 〃retiring to his
ships；〃 as in either case he behooved to do！ It is further certain he was
dreadfully maltreated by the weather on those wild coasts； and altogether
credible； as the Scotch records bear； that he was so at Largs very specially。
The Norse Records or Sagas say merely； he lost many of his ships by the
tempests； and many of his men by land fighting in various parts；tacitly
including Largs； no doubt； which was the last of these misfortunes to him。
〃In the battle here he lost 15；000 men； say the Scots； we 5；000〃！ Divide
101
… Page 102…
EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
these numbers by ten； and the excellently brief and lucid Scottish
summary by Buchanan may be taken as the approximately true and
exact。＇19＇ Date of the battle is A。D。 1263。
To this day； on a little plain to the south of the village； now town； of
Largs； in Ayrshire； there are seen stone cairns and monumental heaps； and；
until within a century ago； one huge； solitary； upright stone； still mutely
testifying to a battle there；altogether clearly； to this battle of King
Hakon's； who by the Norse records； too； was in these neighborhoods at
that same date； and evidently in an aggressive； high kind of humor。 For
〃while his ships and army were doubling the Mull of Cantire； he had his
own boat set on wheels； and therein； splendidly enough； had himself
drawn across the Promontory at a flatter part；〃 no doubt with horns
sounding； banners waving。 〃All to the left of me is mine and Norway's；〃
exclaimed Hakon in his triumphant boat progress； which such disasters
soon followed。
Hakon gathered his wrecks together； and sorrowfully made for Orkney。
It is possible enough； as our Guide Books now say； he may have gone by
Iona； Mull； and the narrow seas inside of Skye； and that the _Kyle…Akin_；
favorably known to sea…bathers in that region； may actually mean the Kyle
（narrow strait） of Hakon； where Hakon may have dropped anchor； and
rested for a little while in smooth water and beautiful environment； safe
from equinoctial storms。 But poor Hakon's heart was now broken。 He went
to Orkney； died there in the winter； never beholding Norway more。
He it was who got Iceland； which had been a Republic for four
centuries； united to his kingdom of Norway： a long and intricate
operation；much presided over by our Snorro Sturleson； so often quoted
here； who indeed lost his life （by assassination from his sons…in…law） and
out of great wealth sank at once into poverty of zero；one midnight in his
own cellar； in the course of that bad business。 Hakon was a great Politician
in his time； and succeeded in many things before he lost Largs。 Snorro's
death by murder had happened about twenty years before Hakon's by
broken heart。 He is called Hakon the Old； though one finds his age was but
fifty…nine； probably a longish life for a Norway King。 Snorro's narrative
ceases when Snorro himself was born； that is to say； at the threshold of
102
… Page 103…
EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
King Sverrir； of whose exploits and doubtful birth it is guessed by some
that Snorro willingly forbore to speak in the hearing of such a Hakon。
103
… Page 104…
EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
CHAPTER XVI。
EPILOGUE。
Haarfagr's kindred lasted some three centuries in Norway； Sverrir's
lasted into its third century there； how long after this； among the
neighboring kinships； I did not inquire。 For； by regal affinities；
consanguinities； and unexpected chances and changes； the three
Scandinavian kingdoms fell all peaceably together under Queen Margaret；
of the Calmar Union （A。D。 1397）； and Norway； incorporated now with
Denmark； needed no more kings。
The History of these Haarfagrs has awakened in me many thoughts： Of
Despotism and Democracy； arbitrary government by one and self…
government （which means no government； or anarchy） by all； of
Dictatorship with many faults； and Universal Suffrage with little
possibility of any virtue。 For the contrast between Olaf Tryggveson； and a
Universal…Suffrage Parliament or an 〃Imperial〃 Copper Captain has； in
these nine centuries； grown to be very great。 And the eternal Providence
that guides all this； and produces alike these entities with their epochs； is
not its course still through the great deep？ Does not it still speak to us； if
we have ears？ Here； clothed in stormy enough passions and instincts；
unconscious of any aim but their own satisfaction； is the blessed beginning
of Human Order； Regulation； and real Government； there； clothed in a
highly different； but again suitable garniture of passions； instincts； and
equally unconscious as to real aim； is the accursed…looking ending
（temporary en