 Section 51 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the Search for the Poles. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Sonja The World Story Volume 8 Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the Search for the Poles. Edited by Eva Marge Tappen. Section 51. The Letter of King Canute. 10.27 In the early part of the 11th century, Canute, king of Denmark, made himself also ruler of England and of Norway. He fought his way to the throne most unscrupulously, but once well established, he showed himself genuinely eager to rule justly and kindly. As the years passed, he began to be troubled, lest his crimes should forbid him entrance to heaven, and in penance he undertook a pilgrimage to Rome. The following extract is part of a letter which he sent home to the people of England. The Editor. Canute. King of all Denmark, England and Norway and part of Sweden. To Eggelnoth the Metropolitan. To Archbishop Alfred. To all the bishops and chiefs, and to all the nation of the English, both nobles and commoners, greeting. I write to inform you that I have lately been at Rome to pray for the remission of my sins, and for the safety of my kingdoms, and for the nations that are subject to my scepter. It is long since I bound myself by vow to make this pilgrimage, but I had been hitherto prevented by affairs of state, and other impediments. Now, however, I return humble thanks to the Almighty God, that he has allowed me to visit the tombs of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul, and every holy place within and without the city of Rome, and to honour and venerate them in person. And this I have done, because I had learned from my teachers, that the Apostles and Peter received from the Lord the great power of binding and loosing, with the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. On this account I thought it highly useful to solicit his patronage with God. Be it moreover known to you that there was, at the Festival of Easter, a great assemblage of noble personages, with the Lord, the Pope John, and the Emperor Conrad, namely, all the chiefs of the nations from Mount Gargano to the nearest sea, who all received me honourably, and made me valuable presence. But particularly the Emperor, who gave me many gold and silver vases, with rich mantles and garments. I therefore took the opportunity to treat with the Pope, the Emperor and the Princess, on the grievances of my people, both English and Danes, that they might enjoy more equal law, and more secure safeguard in their way to Rome, nor be detained at so many barriers, nor her rest by unjust executions. My demands were granted both by the Emperor and by King Rudolf, who ruled most of the passages. And it was enacted by all the princes, that my men, whether pilgrims or merchants, should for the future go to Rome and return in full security, without the attention at the barriers, or the payment of unlawful tolls. I next complained to the Pope and expressed my displeasure that such enormous sums should be extorted from my archbishops, when according to custom they visited the apostolic sea to obtain the pallium. A decree was made that this grievance should cease. Whatever I demanded for the benefit of my people, either of the Pope or the Emperor or the Princess, through whose dominion sliced the road to Rome, was granted willingly, and confirmed by their oaths in the presence of four archbishops, twenty bishops and a multitude of dukes and nobles. Therefore I return sincere thanks to God, that I have successfully performed whatever I had intended, and have fully satisfied all my wishes. I am now on my road to Denmark, for the purpose of concluding peace with those nations, who, had it been in their power, would have deprived us both of our crown and our life. But God has destroyed their means, and will, I trust, of His goodness preserve us and humble all our enemies. When I shall have concluded peace with the neighbouring nations, and settled the concerns of my eastern dominions, it is my intention to return to England, as soon as the fine weather will permit me to sail. But I have sent you this letter beforehand, that all the people of my kingdom may rejoice at my prosperity. For you all know that I never spared, nor will spare myself, or my labours, when my object is the welfare of my subjects. This recording is in the public domain. Voldemar Otter Dag and the Hansa, 1361 by Helen Zimmerman The Hansa Orhanciatic League was a great trading company formed by a union of 70 or 80 cities in northern Germany. It became so powerful that it monopolized the trade of the greater part of Europe. Kings were often obliged to bow to its authority, and recognize whatever laws it chose to make. It was especially strong in the lands around the Baltic, and at Visby, on the Swedish island of Gotland, it had a great store of well. Voldemar was determined to drive away the foreigners and break down their power, the editor. In the year of Christ, 1361, King Voldemar of Denmark collected a great army, and said to them that he would lead them whether there was gold and silver enough, and where the pigs eat out of silver troughs. And he led them to Gotland, and made many knights in that land, and struck down many people, because the peasants were unarmed and unused to warfare. He set his face at once toward Visby. They came out of the town towards him, and gave themselves up to the mercy of the king, since they well saw that resistance was impossible. In this manner he obtained the land, and took from the burgers of the town great treasures in gold and silver, after which he went his ways. Thus the contemporary chronicler of the Franciscans of St. Catherine at Lubic. By a skilful coup d'héman, Voldemar had indeed made himself master of Gotland, then under Swedish suzerainty, and of the wealthy city of Visby. His aim had been booty, and he had it in rich measure in the shape of gold, of fur, and silver vessels. Legend tells that the year previous to the attack, Voldemar had visited Gotland disguised as a merchant, securing the love of a goldsmith's daughter, whose father held an influential position in Visby, and who, in her loving trustfulness, revealed to him the strength and weakness of the island in town, thus helping him to secure the spot that was rightly regarded as the key to the three northern realms. The inhabitants, unprepared, unarmed, had been unable to offer much resistance. It was a terribly bloody fight, this that raged outside the walls of Visby. The sight of it is marked to this day by a cross erected on the spot where 1,800 Gotlanders fell. Before the gates of Visby the Goths fell under the hands of the Danes, runs the inscription. As was the custom among the conquerors of olden days, Voldemar, it is related, entered the city, not by means of the gates that had been forcibly surrendered to him, but by a breach he specially had made for this purpose in the town walls. The gap, too, is shown to this hour. When he had plundered to his heart's content, aided in his finding of the treasure by his lady Love, after he had added to his titles of King of the Danes and Slavs, that of King of Gothland, Voldemar proceeded to return home in his richly laden ships, but it was decreed that he should not bring his booty to port. A great storm arose in mid-ocean. It was with difficulty that the king escaped with his life, his ships were sunk, his coveted hordes buried in the waves. There are still shown at Visby the two fine, twelve-sectioned rose windows of St. Nicholas's church, in which, according to tradition, there once burned two mighty carbuncles that served as beacons to light the semen safely into harbour in the days of the town's prosperity. These stones, it is said, were torn from their place and carried off by Voldemar. The Gothland mariner still avares that on certain clear nights he can see the great carbuncles of St. Nicholas's church gleaming from out the deep. As for Voldemar's lady Love, whom it is said he abandoned as soon as his purpose was attained, she was seized on by the infuriated townspeople and buried alive in one of the territs of the city walls, known to this day as the Virgin Tower. It is difficult to decide whether Voldemar foresaw the full danger and bearing of his high-handed step, whether he knew what it meant to plunder a city like Visby, one of the strongest arms of the Hansa. He had certainly thrown the gauntlet down to the towns. He was quickly to learn that the power which some years ago had successfully beaten his predecessors had but grown in strength since that date. On the first news of Voldemar's treachery the Baltic cities laid an embargo on all Danish goods and then called together a hasty council in which it was decreed that until further notice all intercourse with Denmark should be forbidden on pain of death and loss of property. Then they put themselves into communication with Norway and Sweden in order in the event of a war to secure the alliance of these countries an assistance that was the more readily promised because their sovereigns were at feud with Voldemar. To defray the war costs it was determined to levy a poundage tax on all Hanseatic exported goods. A fleet was got ready with all possible speed and when everything was in order the towns sent a herald to Voldemar with a formal declaration of war. In May 1362 their ships appeared in the sound and brilliant success at first attended their arms. Copenhagen was plundered and its church bells carried to Lubeck as the victor's booty. At Skania the cities looked to meet their northern allies in order in conjunction with them to take possession of the Danish strongholds on the mainland. Here however disappointment awaited them. Whether lack of money or fear had deterred the northern kings from keeping their word is unknown. At any rate they did not put an appearance with their armies. The burgomaster of Lubeck, Johan Wittenborg, who commanded the Hanseatic fleet saw himself forced to use the men he had on board for the land attack. He held himself the more justified in doing this since he deemed he had so thoroughly routed the Danes that from the side of the sea there was nothing to be feared. This decision was rash and Wittenborg was to atone for it with his life. Already it seemed as if the stronghold Helsingborgs was in his hand. He had been besieging at sixteen days with great catapults, when Voldemar suddenly appeared with his fleet upon the Skania coast, surprised the Hanse vessels that had been left with but a feeble crew and carried off twelve of the best ships and most of their provisions and weapons. The consequence was that Wittenborg saw himself obliged to return with the remnant of his army to Lubeck. He found the city embittered against him in the highest degree for his defeat, though it saw that the main guilt of the disastrous end of the war lay with the faithless northern kings. The stern, free city deemed it right, not only towards itself but also to its sister towns, to punish heavily the unsuccessful leader. Wittenborg had hardly landed ere he was arrested, chained, and thrown into a dungeon. Here he dragged out a weary year of imprisonment. Lubeck was a stern mistress who knew no mercy and can brook no ill success. In her dictionary, as in that of youth according to Richelieu in Bulwer's play, there might be no such word as fail. Wittenborg had, of course, been at once deprived of his burgo-magisterial honors. A year after his defeat his head publicly fell under the executioner's axe in the marketplace of Lubeck. Beryl in the councilor's church was denied him. He was laid to rest in the cloisters of the Dominicans, the spot where all criminals were interred in Lubeck during the Middle Ages. The spot where, down to our own era, all criminals passing that way to execution, received from the pious monks a soothing drink as last farewell to life. Further, Wittenborg's name is absent from the record of the burgomasters, an omission in this place which doubtless has the same meaning as the absence of Marino Fagliari's portrait among the long row of doges in the Venetian palace. The election of a burgomaster as leader of the troops is quite in character with the spirit of those times. Such trade warriors are not uncommon in the history of the Hansa. Within the roomy stone hall that served as entry in storeroom to those ancient dwelling houses it was usual to see helmets, armor, and sword hanging up above stores of codfish, barrels of herrings, casks of beer, bails of cloth, or what not besides. To this day the stranger is shown in the marketplace at Lubeck, the stone on which Wittenborg sat before his execution, and in the collection of antiquities is the chair of torture in which he was born thither. So sternly did the Hansa punish. Voldemar compared the Hansa to a flock of cackling geese and continued his attacks, but before long the geese could dictate their own terms and Voldemar was obliged to agree to whatever terms they chose to name. End of Section 52. This recording is in the public domain. Denmark Part 2. Folk Stories and Legends. Historical Note The Scandinavian countries are rich in folk stories and legends. These range all the way from the primitive tales of the mulbowers of a wit which is absurd and impossible but exceedingly amusing. To the semi-historical legends circling about the exploits of their sovereigns the rulers of the Northland have never kept themselves far removed from their people and these legends manifest a charming simplicity on the part of the rulers together with an equally charming respect and devotion on the part of the subjects. End of Section 53. This recording is in the public domain. Section 54 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the Poles. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Thomas Peter. The World Story Volume 8. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the Poles. Edited by Eva March Tappen. Section 54. King Volmer and Elsie. By John J. Whittier. After the Danish of Christian winter. Atadag or Atadag. Another day. Was the favourite saying of Waldemar III. Volmer or Waldemar. King of Denmark from 1340 to 1375. The editor. Where over heathen doom-rings and grey stones of the hork and its little Christian city stands the church of Vordingborg. In merry mood King Volmer sat, forgetful of his power, as idle as the goose of gold that brooded on his tower. Outspake the king to Henrik, his young and faithful squire, darest trust thy little Elsie, the maid of thy desire. Of all the men in Denmark she loveth only me, as true to me as Elsie, as thy lily is to thee. Loud laughed the king. Tomorrow shall bring another day, when I myself will test her. She will not say me nay. There at the lords and gallants that round about him stood, wagged all their heads in concert and smiled as courtiers should. The greylark sings o'er Vordingborg and on the ancient town from the tall tower of Voldemort the golden goose looks down. The yellow grain is waving in the pleasant wind of morn. The wood resounds with cry of hounds and blare of hunters horn. In the garden of her father little Elsie sits and spins and singing with the early birds her daily task begins. Gay tulips bloom and sweet mint curls around her garden bower, but she is sweeter than the mint and fairer than the flower. About her form her curdle blue clings lovingly and whiter snow her loose sleeves only leave her small round wrists in sight. Below the modest petticoat can only half conceal the motion of the lightest foot that ever turned a wheel. The cat sits purring at her side bees hum in sunshine warm but look she starts she lifts her face she shades it with her arm and hawk a train of horsemen with sound of dog and horn come leaping o'er the ditches come trampling down the corn. Merrily rang the bridal rains and scarf and plume streamed gay as fast beside her father's gate the riders held their way and one was brave in scarlet cloak with a golden spur on heel and as he checked his foaming steed the maiden checked her wheel. All hail among thy roses the fairest rose to me for weary months in secret my heart has longed for thee. What noble knight was this? What words from modest maiden's ear? She dropped a lowly courtesy of bashfulness and fear. She lifted up her spinning wheel she feign would seek the door trembling in every limb her cheek with blushes crimson door. Nay fear me not the rider said I offer heart and hand bear witness these good Danish knights who round about me stand. I grant you time to think of this to answer as you may for tomorrow little Elsie shall bring another day. He spake the old fray slyly as glancing round his train he saw his merry followers seek to hide their smiles in vain. The snow of pearls are scattering your curls of golden hair I'll line with furs the velvet of the curdle that you wear All precious gems shall twang your neck and in a chariot gay you shall ride my little Elsie behind four steeds of grey and harps shall sound and flutes shall play and brazen lambs shall glow on marble floors your feet shall weave the dances to and fro at frosty even tide for us the blazing hearth shall shine while at our ease we play at drafts and drink the blood red wine. Then Elsie raised her head and met her wore face to face a roguish smile shone in her eye and on her lip found place back from her low white forehead the curls of gold she threw and lifted up her eyes to his steady and clear and blue I am a lowly peasant and you a gallant knight I will not trust a love that soon may cool and turn to slight if you would wed me henceforth be a peasant not a lord I bid you hang upon the wall your tried and trusty sword to please you Elsie I will lay King Dinadel away and in its place will swing the scythe and mow your father's hay nay but your gallant scarlet cloak my eyes can never bear a vaadmal cloak so plain and gray is all that you must wear well vaadmal will I wear for you the rider gaily spoke and on the Lord's high altar I'll lay my scarlet cloak but mark she said no stately horse my peasant love must ride a yoke of steers before the plough is all that he must guide the knight looked down upon his steed well let him wonder free no other man must ride the horse that has been backed by me henceforth I'll tread the furrow and to my oxen tuck if only little Elsie beside my plough will walk you must take from out your cellar cask of wine and flask and can the only mead I brew you may serve a peasant man most willingly fair Elsie I'll drink that mead of thine and leave my minstrel's thirsty throat to drain my generous wine now break your shield asunder and shatter sign and a boss I'll meet for peasant wedded arms your nightly knee across and pull me down your castle from top to basement wall and let your plough trace furrows in the ruins of your hall then smiled he with a lofty pride right well at last he knew the maiden of the spinning wheel was to her troth plight true ah roguish little Elsie you act your part full well you know that I must bear my shield and in my castle dwell the lions ramping on that shield between the hearts of flame keep watch your Denmark's honour and guard her ancient name for know that I am Volmer I dwell in yonder towers who plows them plows up Denmark this goodly home of ours I tempt no more fair Elsie your heart I know is true but guard that all are maidens with good and pure as you well have you pleased your monarch and he shall well repay God's peace farewell tomorrow will bring another day he lifted up his bridal hand he spurred his good steed then and like a whirl blast swept away with all his gallant men the steel hoofs beat the rocky path again on winds of morn the wood resounds with cry of hounds and blare of hunters horn thou true and ever faithful the listening Henry cried and leaping over the green head she stood by Elsie's side none saw the font embracing save shining from afar the golden goose that watched them from the tower of Voldemort oh darling girls of Denmark of all the flowers that throng her veils of spring the fairest I sing for you my song no praise is your so bravely rewards the singer's skill thank God of maids like Elsie the land has plenty still End of Section 54 this recording is in the public domain Section 55 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the poles read for LibriVox.org by Nima The King of Denmark's Ride by Caroline Norton Word was brought to the Danish king hurry that the love of his heart lay suffering and pine for the comfort his voice would bring oh ride as though you were flying better he loves each golden curl on the brow of that Scandinavian girl than his rich crown jewels of ruby and pearl and his rose of the Isles is dying 30 nobles saddled with speed each one mounting a gallon steed which he kept for a battle and days of need oh ride as though you were flying spurs were struck in the foaming flank worn out chargers staggered and sank bridles were slackened and girths were burst but ride as they would the king rode first for his rose of the Isles lay dying his nobles are beaten one by one hurry they have fainted and faltered and homework gone his little fair page now follows alone for strength and for courage trying the king looked back at that faithful child one was the face that answering smiled they passed the drawbridge with clattering din and he dropped and only the king rode in where his rose of the Isles lay dying the king blew a blast on his bugle horn silence no answer came but faint and forlorn and echo returned on the cold gray morn like the breath of a spirit sighing the castle portal stood grimly wide none welcomed the king from that weary ride for dead in the light of the dawning day the pale sweet face of the welcome or lay who had yearned for his voice while dying the panting steed with a drooping crest stood weary the king returned from her chamber of rest the thick sobs choking in his breast and that dumb companion eyeing tears gushed forth which he strove to check he bowed his head on his charger's neck oh steed that every nerve did strain dear steed our ride hath been in vain to the halls where my love lay dying end of section 55 this recording is in the public domain section 56 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the polls this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the world's story volume 8, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the polls edited by Eva March-Tappen, section 56 MOBOR stories the MOBORs are quaint and primitive people who live in a remote corner of Udland among the odd stories that are told of them are the following the editor the legs, once some MOBORs were in a great dilemma certain of them sat down in a circle on the ground but when they wanted to get up again could not make out which pair of legs belonged to each of them so thinking they could never rise they remained calmly sitting at last they called a passerby and asked how each of them should find his own legs he first pointed out his legs to each and told them to draw them up and rise but as this did not avail he formed another expedient and took his stick and beat first one then another then the third and then the fourth over the legs that succeeded for as soon as they felt the blows on their legs they quickly recognized which belonged to each and drew them up the headless man one day some MOBORs went into the wood to cut down some trees when they had cut into a tree so far that they thought it could be pulled to the ground they discovered that they had forgotten to bring a rope with them the wisest of them then proposed that one of them should be lifted up in the tree and put his neck in a cleft in such a manner that the others by pulling him by the legs should cause the tree to fall this advice was followed one of them courageously put his neck in the cleft and the remainder pulled him by the legs with all their strength but the enterprise completely failed at the first pull the body fell to the ground and the head remained lying in the cleft where no one could see it they were greatly astonished at seeing the headless man and could not imagine how he'd got into the wood and up the tree without a head on his body however there was now nothing to be done they drove the body home to the wife and asked if he like the others had had his head on him when he went out yes by my soul he had his head on him said the wife for certainly he ate his cabbage soup with it this morning before he went out the salt herrings one year when herrings were rather dear it was difficult for them old boars to procure this food which they liked so much to eat they consulted together how to arrange in such a manner that in future they should not be obliged to buy them at so high a rate every year one of them who wished to be thought the most witty wisely resolved that as fresh herrings could breed in water salt herrings must also be able to do so he therefore advised them that once for all they should buy a barrel of salted herrings in our hoose and throw them in the village pond that later on when these had bred they might every year be able to catch in their nets as many as they needed this advice pleased them all so well that some of them directly set out bought the herrings and threw them into the pond that they might breed there for years to come when the following year they came with their nets to fish for salted herrings they could not for all their pains get hold of a single one after a long time they caught a large fat eel in their net as soon as they saw it they immediately concluded that this was the thief who had eaten their salted herrings and so they agreed that it should suffer the hardest and most painful death but they could not resolve on what sort of punishment to give it some of them would have it burnt others hanged some would flog it to death others cut it to pieces finally an old mole bore came forth who himself had once been about to be drowned and as he had not found it to his taste to stay so long a time in salt water he thought it must be the same with the eel he therefore advised his countrymen to put out on the wild sea with it and drown it there this advice they held to be good therefore they took the eel got into a boat and rode far out on the sea with it that it might not be able again to swim to shore when they had got as far out as seemed right to them they put the eel into the water the eel which had so long been on dry land against its will rejoiced it coming to its native home and wriggled its tail as soon as it reached the water when the old mole bore saw this he said to the others do you see how pitifully he rides yes death is hard to put up with the bell once a wag made the mole bores believe that enemies were in the kingdom and that they would soon come to conquer their country they therefore resolved to save what they could from their hands that which they were proudest of and wanted to save first was the church bell they then worked so long at it that they got it down from the tower but they took counsel for a long time as to how they should hide it so that the enemy could not find it at last they dragged it with all their force to a large boat rode far away to sea with it and threw it into the water when it was thrown down they began to consider and said to one another now it is certainly hidden from the enemy but how are we to find it again when he is gone one of them who thought himself wiser than the others sprang up and said that is no matter we can put a mark near it he immediately took a knife out of his pocket cut a large nick in the side of the boat from which they had thrown the bell and said here it was that we threw it out when this was done they rode to shore quite calm and glad persuaded that they would be able to seek their bell again according to this mark when the enemy had gone end of section 56 this recording is in the public domain section 57 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the Poles read for LibriVox.org Denmark part 3 scenes from Danish history historical note the union of Kalmar in 1397 made Margaret, daughter of Valdemar Alderdeg ruler of Norway, Sweden and Denmark in 1523 Sweden under Gustavus Vassa won her independence but before many years had passed Sweden and Denmark were again at war Jewel and Tordenskjold gained famous victories for Denmark but when Charles XII of Sweden besieged Copenhagen the Danes were ready to make a treaty in 1660 the Danish people were devoted to their king and felt that the nobles were gaining entirely too much power the result was that Denmark suddenly became an absolute monarchy in the early part of the 19th century there was trouble with England because of her determination to exercise the right of search and again a few years later because of the complications brought about by the Napoleonic Wars during this second struggle Copenhagen was bombarded by the English in 1848 the provinces of Schleswig-Holstein in the south of Denmark rebelled and were aided by the king of Prussia in 1864 a second rebellion took place and the Germans overran the country the result was that Schleswig-Holstein fell into the hands of Prussia in 1906 the aged king Christian died a few months before this event a separation took place between Norway and Sweden and Christians' second son Charles ascended the Norwegian throne as Haken VII the record of the alliances and positions of the children of Christians the 9th is a remarkable one his son Frederick became king of Denmark his daughter Alexandra became queen of England a second daughter Dagmar became Tsarina of Russia and his son George became king of Greece and of section 57 this recording is in the public domain section 58 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the Poles this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Colleen McMahon the world's story volume 8 Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the Poles edited by Eva March-Tappen section 58 the mad man of the north overcomes Copenhagen, 1700 by François-Marie-Arué Voltaire Peter the Great was determined to have a seaport on the east side of the Baltic the territory belonged to Sweden but the ruler of the Swedes was a youth of 18 and Peter thought that there would be no great difficulty in overpowering him the elector of Saxony and the king of Denmark became Peter's allies much to the surprise of everyone Charles XII the young king of Sweden suddenly showed himself to be a commander of rare abilities his first campaign was aimed at Copenhagen the editor he, Charles XII started for his first campaign on the 8th of May new style in the year 1700 he left Stockholm never to return an immense crowd of people went with him as far as Carl Scroon praying for him and weeping and praising him before he left Stockholm he established a council of defense composed of senators this commission was to have charge of all the concern of the fleet the troops and fortifications the senate was to provisionally regulate all other internal affairs having thus arranged all securely within his dominions he concentrated entirely on the war his fleet consisted of 43 vessels that in which he embarked, called the King Charles was the largest they had ever seen and carried 120 guns Count Piper, his prime minister and general Rennschild embarked with him he joined the squadron of the allies the Danish fleet refused an engagement and gave the United fleets the opportunity of coming so near Copenhagen that they could throw some bombs into the town there was no doubt that it was the King himself who then proposed to General Rennschild that they should disembark and besiege Copenhagen by land while it was invested by sea Rennschild was astonished at a proposal which displayed in a young and inexperienced prince as much skill as courage soon all was ready for the disembarkment orders were given for the embarkation of 3,000 men who were stationed on the coast of Sweden and who were added to the men they had on board was his large ship and embarked on a lighter frigate then they sent 300 grenadiers and small vessels along the coast among these vessels were small flat bottom boats which carried the faggots, chevaux de frieze and the weapons of the pioneers 500 picked men followed in other shallops then came the King's men of war with two English and two Dutch frigates whose cannon were to cover the landing of the troops Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark situated in the island of Zeeland in the midst of a beautiful plain which has the sound on the northwest and the Baltic on the east where the king of Sweden then had his position at the unexpected movement of the vessels which threatened invasion the inhabitants dismayed by the inactivity of their own fleet and by the motion of the Swedish ships looked round in terror to see on what point the storm would burst Charles's fleet stopped before Hummelbeck 7 miles from Copenhagen the Americans immediately drew up their cavalry on this spot the infantry were placed behind deep entrenchments and all the artillery forthcoming was directed against the Swedes the king then left his frigate to embark on the first boat at the head of his guards the ambassador of France was constantly at his elbow Sir said the king to him in Latin for he never would speak French you have no quarrel with the Danes and must now oblige me by retiring Sir answered the Count de Guise card in French the king my master has commanded me to attend your majesty and I flatter myself that you will not banish me from your court which has never been so brilliant as today with these words he gave his hand to the king who leapt into the boat followed by Count Piper and the ambassador they advanced supported by the broad sides of the vessels which were covering the descent the small boats were within a hundred yards of the shore when Charles, impatient of the delay in landing threw himself from the boat into the sea sword in hand and with the water up to his waist and in spite of a shower of musket shot discharged by the Danes his ministers, the ambassador of France and officers and soldiers followed his example the king who had never before heard a discharge of loaded muskets asked Major Stewart who stood next to him what that whistling was in his ears it is the sound of the muskets they are firing at you said the major that shall henceforth be my band at that very moment the major who had explained the noise to him was shot in the shoulder and a lieutenant fell dead at the other side of the king troops attacked in entrenchments are generally beaten because the attacking party has an impetus which defenders cannot have besides waiting for the enemy in one's lines is often a confession of inferiority after a faint resistance the Danish horse and foot fled as soon as the king had seized their entrenchments he fell on his knees to thank God for the first success of his arms he immediately had redoubts formed in the direction of the town and himself marked out the line of the encampment at the same time he sent his fleet back to Skania a part of Sweden not far from Copenhagen to get reinforcements of 9000 men everything conspired to second Charles's energetic efforts the 9000 men were on the shore ready to embark and the very next day a favourable wind brought them to him all this happened within sight of the Danish fleet which had not dared to advance Copenhagen in consternation sent deputies to the king to ask him not to bombard the town he received them on horseback at the head of his regiment of guards and the deputies fell on their knees before him he demanded of the town $400,000 with all sorts of provisions for the camp for which he gave his word of honour to pay they brought him the provisions because they dared not refuse but did not expect that the conquerors would condescend to pay for them and those who brought them were astonished to find that they were paid generously by the humblest soldier in the army the Swedish troops had long been accustomed to the strict discipline which contributed not a little to their victories but the young king increased its severity a soldier would not have dared to refuse payment for what he bought much less maraud or even go out of the camp he even easily brought his troops to keep his rule after a victory the dead should not be stripped without his permission priors were setting camp twice a day at seven in the morning and five in the afternoon and he never failed to be present at them himself and give his soldiers an example of piety as well as of valor his camp which was far better governed than Copenhagen had everything in abundance and the country folk preferred to sell their goods to their enemies the Swedes than to their own countrymen who did not pay so good a price for them so it happened that the townsmen were often obliged to fetch goods which were unattainable in their own markets from the king of Sweden's camp the king of Denmark was then in Holstein wither he seems to have marched only to raise the siege of toning he saw the Baltic covered with his enemy's ships and a young conqueror already master of zealand and ready to take possession of the capital he published a declaration that whoever took up arms against the Swedes should gain his liberty this declaration had great influence in a country which had once enjoyed freedom but where all the peasants and many even of the townsmen were then serfs Charles sent word to the king of Denmark that he must make up his mind either to do justice to the Duke of Holstein or have his kingdom laid waste with fire and sword the Danes were indeed fortunate in dealing with a conqueror who prided himself on his justice a congress was summoned to meet in the town of Tevendal the Swedish king would not allow diplomacy on the part of the ministers to lengthen the proceedings he wanted the treaty settled with the same rapidity with which he'd invaded zealand as a matter of fact it was concluded on the 5th of August to the advantage of the Duke of Holstein who was indemnified for all the expenses of the war and freed from oppression the king of Sweden would make no claims on his own behalf being satisfied with having helped his ally and humbled his enemy thus Charles the 12th at 18 years old began and ended this war in less than six weeks end of section 58 this recording is in the public domain 1677 to 1730 by Johannes A. Vald during the latter part of the 17th century and the early part of the 18th Denmark struggled with Sweden over the ownership of the Scania provinces one famous admiral in this contest was Niels Jull an even more famous vice admiral was Vessel to whom the name Tordenskold or the thundershield was given by the king the editor King Christian stood by the lofty mast in mist and smoke his sword was hammering so fast through gothic helm and brain it passed then sank each hostile hulk and mast in mist and smoke fly shouted day fly he who can who braves of Denmark's Christian the stroke Niels Jull gave he to Tempest roar now is the hour he hoisted his blood red flag once more and smote upon the foe full sore and shouted loud through the Tempest roar now is the hour fly shouted day for shelter fly of Denmark Jull who can defy the power North Sea a glimpse of vessel rent thy murky sky then champions to thine arms were sent terror and death glared where he went from the waves was heard away that rent thy murky sky from Denmark thunders Tordenskold let each to heaven commend his soul and fly path of the dain to fame and might dark rolling wave receive thy friend who scorning flight goes to meet danger with despite proudly as thou the Tempest might dark rolling wave and amid pleasures and alarms war and victory be thine arms my grave end of section 59 this recording is in the public domain section 60 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the polls this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Patrick Seaman the world's story, volume 8 Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the polls edited by Ava March Tabhan section 60 stories of Tordenskold the great Danish Admiral early 18th century Tordenskold as a fisherman by M. Pearson Thompson Peter Vessel, Tordenskold, is the Nelson of Denmark this man, besides being a great Admiral was the most genial character and a striking and original personality many true tales are told about this hero which the young Danish lads never tire of hearing there's a favorite one which tells of the ingenious way by which he discovered the weak points in his enemy's stronghold dressing himself as a fisherman he accompanied two other fishers in a little rowing boat to the enemy shores taking a basket of fish he mounted the hill to the fort saying he had just brought the fish for the commandant he is allowed to pass into the fort with his fish and pretending, stupidly, kept losing his way gaining knowledge thereby till he reached the commandant's residence gaining permission from the latter to supply the garrison with fish he inquired for how many men he should provide let me see you said the commandant after himself, a hundred guns two hundred men he may bring fish for a hundred men Tordenskold then left the fort having obtained all the information he required and returned to his boat at this moment the captain of one of the ships lying in the bay arrived on shore and the pretended fisherman at once accosted him asking for permission to serve his men with fish this being granted he had once rode to the ship where he soon disposed of his fish in traversing with the sailors he gained the information that in two days time there would be a great festivity held on shore at which most of them would be present with his valuable knowledge he returned to his own shore from the Swedish coast and laid plans which gave Denmark a victory and proved fatal to the Swedes the fight with the Swedish frigate by R.A. Davenport while he was cruising in 1714 under Dutch colours an incident occurred which manifested at once his enchephity and his chivalric disposition he fell in with the Swedish frigate of greatly superior force which had hoisted the English flag the Swedish commander hailed in order to bring two but instead of obeying Wessel answered with a broadside a furious contest took place which was suspended by the night and renewed on the return of day at length he was informed that there is only powder and that's left for four broadsides he immediately sent off a boat under a flag of truce with the following message to his opponent I was ready to board you and I might come to close quarters with such a gallant fellow as you are but the sea is so rough that cannot affect my purpose I can fire but four broadsides let me some powder and we will begin again if you will not grant my request give me your word that you will continue about here and I will go to peculiar ammunition to this the Swedish replied I have not more powder than I want for my own use but I invite the gallant Wessel to come on board for he wished to drink his health the invitation was accepted and the two captains pledged each other in a bumper on taking leave Wessel exclaimed salute your bonnie lass's hot cotton bird for me to which antagonists responded yes and do you do the same on my part to yours at Copenhagen the vessels then parted these circumstances becoming known Wessel was ordered to the Danish capital his conduct was there investigated by a court of inquiry and a favorable verdict was the result the King's Snuff Box by R. A. Davenport on the surrender of Strasund the Danish sovereign made his entry into the place Wessel was honored with an audience by his royal master presented to him a Snuff Box set with diamonds while he was offering the contents of the box to some officers of rank when he had taken on board the vessel gave a sudden march and the box slipped from his hand and fell into the sea it was mid-December and the fields of ice were floating around the ship but he unhesitatingly jumped into the water and dived after the valued gift the lookers on were astounded by his disappearance and no one expected to behold him again he however speedily rose, unhurt but the royal deposit for which he had rashly missed his life was irrecoverable for this loss Wessel was soon and amply indemnified, mad as under such circumstances with the diving to recover the box the King could not be but gratified that his present was held in such high estimation in a second interview with Wessel he said to him I ennoble you, confer on you the name of Tordenskjold Thundershield and grant you a coat of arm suitable to the honorable name which you have so well earned you are the thunder which crushes the sweets and the shield which covers the navy of my kingdom Tordenskjold returned to Copenhagen with the monarch who also appointed him as an inspector of the Danish fleets the capture of Marstrand by R. A. Davenport orders were now sent to him by the Danish monarch to attack the fortress of Marstrand which is situated a few miles north of the Gjørta on a small island of the entrance of the hockey fjord but joining the town and commanding it is the citadel of Carlstead he appeared before the town with his fleet on the 24th of July and began by landing 600 men on the island of Ku which lies opposite to Marstrand by this step he precluded the garrison from receiving succor or retreating a Swedish flotilla consisting of 17 sail was then in the harbor on the day after his arrival Tordenskjold bombarded and cannonated the flotilla with such vigor that he forced his way into the port the enemy then abandoned their vessels having first burnt or sunk some of them the retreat was ever so precipitated that they could not destroy the whole several fell into the power of the victors among which were a 44 gun frigate two 16 guns loops and a prom the panic of the Swedes was so great that they abandoned the town of Marstrand and retired into the citadel of Carlstead here they might have defended themselves for some time could their governor Colonel Dankfurt have mustered up sufficient courage but he soon found a reason or a pretext for capitulating on the second day of the siege a bomb having fallen into and blown up a powder magazine he entered into a parley which ended in his consenting to surrender five hours were allowed him evacuating the fort either from carelessness or some lingering idea that he ought not readily to succumb he allowed for the stipulated time to go by without performing his agreement Totenskjöld was not to be trifled with and he took a step which undeadly bordered upon rashness by a narrow post turn gate he contrived to make his way into the fortress accompanied only by a handful of men who ceded to the house of Dankfurt and demanded in a menacing voice why the swede had not kept his word overawed by his resolute opponent the governor submitted and delivered up the citadel the bastardly conduct naturally excited a suspicion in the Swedish government that he had been guilty of treachery and accordingly on his arrival in Sweden he was loaded with irons and committed to jail to be tried for his life such was the rage of the populace against him that as he passed through the streets on his way to the prison, the crowd and even the women pelted him with stones in such a manner that the guards could scarcely succeed in saving his life the result of his trial I have not been able to discover while the vanquished governor was thus exposed to the violence of popular odium and the danger of having his existence ignominiously terminated the victor was being loaded with honors by the gratitude of his sovereign Totenskjöld was raised to the rank of vice admiral appointed Chamberlain to the king endowed with a large estate and presented by the king himself with a massy gold medal struck to commemorate the conquest and the portrait of the monarch sent in diamonds and there were only three other superior officers who were allowed to wear a similar portrait as a memorial of their services no was this all he was soon after nominated a member of the board of Baralti and in his presence the name of the marstrand was given by the Danish monarch to a ship of the line at the moment it was launched end of section 60 this recording is in the public domain section 61 of Norway Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the Poles this is a Libervox recording all Libervox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit Libervox.org recording by Colleen McMahon the world's story, volume 8 Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the Poles edited by Eva March-Tappen section 61 the fall of Queen Caroline Matilda 1772 by G. Hesikiel from the memoirs of Baron Simelon Christian VII the truth was so feeble in mind that it was an easy matter for his wife Queen Caroline Matilda daughter of George II of England and his minister of state Count Strunzi to get full control into their own hands Strunzi brought about many needful reforms but more rapidly than they were acceptable to the country moreover his skeptical opinions aroused the clergy against him with the aid of the Queen Dowager Giuliana Maria the conspiracy against the king and other crimes and executed a few days later Queen Caroline Matilda left Denmark forever the editor it was almost midnight when the English minister left the palace with his ladies furious at knowing that the Christiansborg was entirely in the hands of the Queen's declared enemies he was more than ever certain that a plot existed and that the denouement was close at hand and he told Raniera that he would see Count Strunzi's shoulder about it the next day she entered fully into his feelings of uneasiness but neither of them had the least idea that that very night the threatening clouds would burst into an overwhelming storm by two o'clock in the morning the ball was at an end and by three all was silent in the fine state apartments of the Christiansborg for about an hour an intense stoneness reigned over the cold winter night and then a sharp ear would have perceived the measured sound of horse hooves clinking of weapons it was a squadron of the Zeeland Dragoons Colonel von Eichstätt's regiment under command of Lieutenant Schloman which silently and quietly took possession of every entrance to the palace having received the strictest orders to let no one in or out at the same time by the light of a single candle the leaders of the conspiracy assembled on the upper story of the Christiansborg in the bedroom of the widowed queen Giuliana Maria that mother with a mocking smile on her lips was watching Count van Rotsel who was in full uniform and though wrapped in his military cloak shivered not from cold alone his conscience spoke more loudly than ever but it was too late to draw back Prince Frederick who looked both shy and stupid sat staring straight before him Colonel Kohler his athletic form drawn up to his full height tried to utter a few blustering words Colonel von Eichstätt played the part of the dispassionate business-like soldier he had indeed no personal feeling against either the queen or struancy and there is reason to believe that he was fully persuaded he was only doing his duty it was curious to watch Goldberg who was the soul of the conspiracy both before and afterwards he appeared a man of little influence but at this moment he had thrown off his hypocritical garb and took the place of leader giving his commands with energy triumph already sparkling in his eyes there was something of the Puritan about the man no one ever found out with him where hypocrisy ended and conviction began he threw out some words about God's victory over Belial and it was said that he murmured a prayer before they separated and now the conspirators are descending the stairs lighted by a former valet Jessup who carried a lamp stepping carefully and avoiding the least sound slipping one behind the other through the broad passages dark corridors to the apartments of the king they first entered the bedroom belonging to the king's body servant Brygel and waking him ordered him to lead them to the king the man tremblingly obeyed but they found the antechamber contrary to the usual custom locked the conspirators hesitated but Goldberg ordered Brygel to lead them round to the small door and the ghostly procession put itself again in motion Brygel went in front then came Goldberg carrying a candle in each hand followed by the queen mother Prince Frederick, Count Ransow, Eichstätt and Kohler Jessen either from fear or prudence had left them What do you want? Who are you? screamed to the king waking suddenly as the conspirators entered his room Count Ransow had undertaken to speak to the king who always looked on him as his best friend but he stood unable to utter a word Kohler seized him by the shoulders and pushed him violently forward at length he stammered out in a horse voice sire your majesty's mother and brother are here in presence of Eichstätt, Kohler, Goldberg and myself to save you and the country the widowed queen repeated Ransow's words and so did Prince Frederick while the king almost fainting looked around him with a wild terrified expression give me some water he gasped at length and when he had drunk some he added Ransow said that Eichstätt is here let him speak Eichstätt then came forward and repeated Ransow's words but added the people are an insurrection for the queen and strength he have conspired against your majesty as soon as Christian the seventh heard the name of his beloved queen he declared Eichstätt was a liar and that he did not believe him but the queen mother and Goldberg talked to him until they had entirely confused his weak brain and at length he was persuaded to put his signature to two orders which they had already prepared the first appointed Eichstätt to the post of general commandant Eichstätt and Culler and the second empowered Eichstätt and Culler to take any measures they thought needful to save the king and the country Prince Frederick witnessed the king's signature and Eichstätt and Culler then left the king was made to get up and was dressed by Brygel and accompanied by the queen mother the prince Ransow and Goldberg was taken to Prince Frederick's apartment here he was forced to write the following letter to his wife Queen Caroline Matilda as you have not been willing to follow it is not my fault if I am obliged to have you escorted to Kronberg armed with this ill written missive the grand chamberlain Count Ransow hurried to the queen's apartment to carry out his jailer's office the unfortunate king then signed mechanically and listlessly a number of warrants laid before him by Goldberg and containing the names of Count Strunzi Count Brandt Councillor Strunzi Lieutenant Strunzi Colonel von Falkenshould Major General Good General von Galler and his wife Lieutenant Colonel von Hasselberg Baron von Bülow one of the equaries Rear Admiral Hansen Councillor Villa Hand and other less distinguished people meantime Eichstätt at the head of a squadron of dragoons had visited all the guard houses and showing the king's signature had announced his own appointment as commandant of Copenhagen he strengthened the guard of the palace and closed all the gates Colonel von Coller followed by Captain von Milleville and Lieutenants von Eiben and Frank and accompanied by 12 soldiers went to the rooms occupied by Strunzi in the entrance hall of the palace before entering Coller said to the officers give me your word of honor gentlemen that you will shoot the scoundrel on the spot if he resists and tries to escape the officers promised on their word of honor but they had no need to use their weapons against Strunzi for the ruined minister made no attempt to kill himself after a few confused words he obeyed Coller's order to get up and threw on a few clothes and a firmantle he tried to hide a small case in his pocket but Coller tore it from him it was found on examination to contain poisoned pills after his imperfect toilet Strunzi seemed to recover a little courage and presence of mind he drew himself up appealed to his position as minister and protested against this act of violence but Coller placing the point against his breast threatened to run him through it once if he opposed the king's warrant Strunzi attempted no further resistance he tried in vain to recover his composure but terror over mastered him unconsciously he allowed them to bind his hands and feet and in this condition the man who but yesterday was the all-powerful minister was conveyed to a closed carriage escorted by a strong guard of cavalry and taken to the citadel my god what is my offense were the only words he uttered at the same time the other arrests were carried out without exciting any attention only Count Enneval Brant opposed his captors with all the energy of despair and continuing to do so after he was disarmed they secured him with cords almost at that very moment that the unhappy Strunzi tied hand and foot was carried down the grand staircase of the palace Count Rensau followed by the three lieutenants Beek, Oldenburg and Bug entered the antechamber of Queen Caroline Matilda great beads of perspiration stood on his forehead from anguish and the three young officers chosen by Collar to attend him watched him contemptuously as he knocked at the locked door of the queen's bedroom Queen Matilda awoke and could be heard calling her attendance Rensau trembled as he heard her voice and his fear was more creditable than the courage shown by the three lieutenants what is the matter they heard the queen exclaim and the same question was repeated in a tone of anger at last the attendants told her that Count Rensau and three officers were in the antechamber and demanded entrance in the king's name Caroline Matilda sprang up and threw a dressing gown round her run and fetch Count Strunzi she said to her women they have just carried him out of the palace with his hands and feet bound answered one of them betrayed lost shrieked the queen allowed Rensau knocked again let the traitors in commanded Queen Caroline Matilda the folding doors were thrown open and Count Rensau stood in the presence of his queen she advanced towards him what is your desire Rensau made a deep bow and asked pardon for the intrusion but he came by his majesty's command he then read aloud the note which we've already seen and handed it to the queen she glanced over it and threw it contemptuously on the ground setting her foot upon it this only shows your treachery and the king's weakness she exclaimed with flashing eyes Rensau angry at the contemptuous way in which the queen treated him said menacingly that she had to submit to the king's commands the king answered Caroline Matilda proudly knows nothing of this command which has been extorted from his weak mind by the most shameless treachery I demand obedience I the queen my orders permit no delay giving free vent to his anger to conceal his uneasiness till I have seen the king I will obey no orders to the king I insist on it said the queen with determination at the same time she made a step towards the door Rensau threw himself in her way I will use force he said threateningly laying his hand on his sword wretch screamed the queen angrily is that the language of a servant to his sovereign go you are the most despicable of men may shame and scorn rest on you forever stand aside I am not afraid of you trembling with rage the incensed nobleman stepped back and gave the officers a sign Lieutenant Oldenburg laid hands on the queen but she thrust him aside and rushed through a side door onto the corridor screaming aloud for help no one heard her her women shrieked the unhappy queen sprang onto a balustrade and tried to throw herself through the window Lieutenant Beek caught her around the waist and drew her back she struggled with him and with all the strength of despair she dragged him by the hair to the ground by the help of his comrade but she defended herself from him and thus this poor young creature this unhappy queen struggled half naked with these ruffians until she sank at length senseless to the ground whilst her women lifted the miserable princess onto her bed and used means to restore her to consciousness minister Count Wander Osten entered the room this wily diplomatist had not joined the conspiracy though he was well aware of its existence and now that it was successful he chased into a bay around Sel Summons who had in despair sent for him the quiet and graceful remonstrances of Count Wander Osten soothed and subdued the queen and she agreed to obey and started once for Kronberg she begged to take her children with her but it was easy for the cunning diplomatist to prove to the queen that she might endanger her son's right of succession if she took him with her and thus give her enemies a great advantage the poor mother yielded with a sigh and consented to start with the baby princess only whom she was still nursing Count Wander Osten was perfectly aware that he was doing the conspirators the greatest service by persuading the queen to leave for Kronberg for as long as Caroline Matilda remained at Copenhagen their success must be doubtful and he took care later to demand his reward from the new powers for coming to their aid at this critical moment the queen was dressed a lady in waiting Mademoiselle von Mosting was summoned and two coaches were brought round to the inner courtyard of the palace as she descended the staircase Count Rantzau offered her his arm away with you traitor, I loathe you exclaimed the queen turning deadly pale he stepped back and is said never to have known a peaceful moment from that hour till his death everywhere he saw the flaming eyes of the sovereign whom he'd betrayed in the first coach Major von Castinchold of the Zeeland Dragoons took the place opposite the queen with his sword drawn showing her by this manner the most marked respect in the second coach was little princess Luisa Augusta with her nurse and thus, guarded by a strong squadron of dragoons Caroline Matilda was hurried away from her capital to the gloomy fortress of Kronberg it was about eight o'clock in the morning when they started as yet no one in Copenhagen knew what had happened but the rolling of carriages through the streets at that early hour the prisoners were each taken to the citadel on a separate carriage and the passing to and fro of the cavalry escorts had attracted attention the more so as the conspirators for some little time had thrown out dark hints of a plot against the life of the king it was nine o'clock before Sir Robert learned the events of the previous night through a faithful servant of the queen's household who had managed to escape when all the rest of her servants as well as those of Baron Strunzi had been arrested he sought refuge with the English minister Sir Robert he knew nothing of the queen's departure hurried off at once with his secretary and a servant to the palace he found the streets full of anxious groups discussing with the greatest excitement the events of the night the full details of which were gradually becoming known and loudly cheering for Christian VII some few voices were raised for the widowed queen and Prince Frederick and everywhere the hatred of Strunzi and the foreigners was most apparent the English minister could not gain admittance to the palace but he learned there the departure of the queen he hurried to Rentsal to Osten everywhere he was refused admission no one cared to face the representative of the English court and constantly increasing crowds the people of Copenhagen streamed towards the Christiansborg about ten o'clock the king led by his brother appeared on a balcony he waved his handkerchief to the people which was the signal for a mighty shout at this the poor silly king he was so delighted that he joined in and at the top of his voice shouted hurrah for Christian VII her motherly feelings deeply touched the terrible princess of Wulfenbuttel in morning dress stood at a window looking out on the crowds and rejoicing at the success of her wicked schemes end of section 61 this recording is in public domain section 62 of Norway, Sweden Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the Poles this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Devorah Allen the world's story volume 8 Norway, Sweden, Denmark Iceland, Greenland and the search for the Poles edited by Eva March-Tappen section 62 Hans Christian Andersen as a boy by himself in the year 1805 there lived at Odenza in a small mean room a young married couple who were extremely attached to each other he was a shoemaker scarcely 22 years old a man of a richly gifted and truly poetical mind his wife, a few years older than himself was ignorant of life and of the world but possessed a heart full of love the young man had himself made his shoemaking bench and the bedstead with which he began housekeeping this bedstead he had made out of the wooden frame which had borne only a short time before the coffin of the deceased Count Trompa as he lay in state and the remnants of the black cloth on the woodwork kept the fact still in remembrance instead of a noble corpse surrounded by crepe and wax lights here lay, on the 2nd of April 1805 a living and weeping child that was myself, Hans Christian Andersen during the first day of my existence my father is said to have sat by the bed and read aloud in Holberg but I cried all the time will thou go to sleep or listen quietly it is reported that my father asked in joke but I still cried on and even in the church when I was taken to be baptized I cried so loudly Hans Christian Andersen said the young one screams like a cat which words my mother never forgot a poor immigrant Gommar, who stood as godfather consoled her in the meantime by saying that the louder I cried as a child all the more beautifully should I sing when I grew older our little room which was almost filled with the shoemakers bench the bed and my crib was the abode of my childhood the walls however which was a cupboard containing books and songs the little kitchen was full of shining plates and metal pans and by means of a ladder it was possible to go out on the roof where in the gutters between it and the neighbor's house there stood a great chest filled with soil my mother's sole garden and where she grew her vegetables in my story of the snow queen that garden still blooms I was the only child and was extremely spoiled I heard from my mother how very much happier I was than she had been and that I was brought up like a nobleman's child she as a child had been driven out by her parents to beg and once when she was not able to do it she had sat for a whole day under a bridge and wept I have drawn her character in two different aspects in old Dominica in the improvisatory and in the mother of Christian in only a fiddler my father gratified me in all my wishes I possessed his whole heart he lived for me on Sundays he made me perspective glasses theaters and pictures which could be changed he read to me from Holberg's plays and the Arabian tales it was only in such moments as these that I can remember to have seen him really cheerful for he never felt himself happy in his life and as a handicraftsman his parents had been country people in good circumstances but upon whom misfortunes had fallen the cattle had died the farmhouse had been burned down and lastly the husband had lost his reason on this the wife had removed with him to Odinza and there put her son whose mind was full of intelligence apprenticed to a shoemaker it could not be otherwise although it was his ardent wish to attend the grammar school where he might learn Latin a few well-to-do citizens had at one time spoken of this of clubbing together to raise a sufficient sum to pay for his board in education and thus give him a start in life but it never went beyond words my poor father saw his dearest wish unfulfilled and he never lost the remembrance of it I recollect that once as a child I saw tears in his eyes and it was when a youth from the grammar school came to our house to be measured for a new pair of boots and showed us his books and told us what he learned that was the path upon which I ought to have gone said my father kissed me passionately and was silent the whole evening he very seldom associated with his equals he went out into the woods on Sundays when he took me with him he did not talk much when he was out but would sit silently sunk in deep thought whilst I ran about and strung strawberries on a bent or bound garlands only twice in the year and that in the month of May when the woods were arrayed in their earliest green did my mother go with us and then she wore a cotton gown which she put on only on those occasions and when she took of the Lord's supper and which as long as I can remember was her holiday gown she always took home with her from the wood a great many fresh beach bows which were then planted behind the polished stone later in the year sprigs of St. John's wort were stuck into the chinks of the beams and we considered their growth as omens whether our lives would be long or short green branches and pictures ornamented our little room which my mother always kept neat and clean she took great pride in always having the bed linen and the curtains very white Odenza was in my childhood quite another town from what it is now when it has shot ahead of Copenhagen with its water carried through the town and I know not what else then it was a hundred years behind the times many customs and manners prevailed which long since disappeared from the capital when the guilds removed their signs they went in procession with flying banners and with lemons dressed in ribbons on their swords a harlequin with bells and a wooden sword ran at the head one of them an old fellow Hans Strew made a great hit by his merry chatter in his face which was painted black except the nose that kept its genuine red color my mother was so pleased with him he tried to find out if he was in any way related to us but I remember very well that I, with all the pride of an aristocrat protested against any relationship with the fool the first Monday in Lent the butchers used to lead through the streets a fat ox adorned with wreaths of flowers and ridden by a boy in a white shirt and wearing wings the sailors also passed through the streets with music and flags and streamers flying two of the boldest wrestling on a plank placed between two boats and the one that did not tumble into the water was the hero but what especially was fixed in my memory and is very often revived by being spoken about was the stay of the Spaniards in Funen in 1808 Denmark was in alliance with the Napoleon who had declared war against Sweden and before anybody was aware of it a French army and Spanish auxiliary troops under command of Marshal Bernadotte Prince of Pontacorvo entered Funen in order to pass over into Sweden I was at that time not more than three years old but I remember very well those dark brown men bustling in the streets and the cannon that were fired in the marketplace and before the bishop's residence I saw the foreign soldiers stretching themselves on the sidewalks and on bundles of straw in the half burned St. John's church the castle of Colding was burnt and Pontacorvo came to Odense where his wife and son Oscar were staying the schoolhouse is all about were changed into guard rooms and the mass was celebrated under the large trees in the fields and on the road the French soldiers were said to be haughty and arrogant the Spanish, good-natured and friendly a fierce hatred existed between them the poor Spaniards excited most interest my father had not many friends in his leisure hours he used to take me with him out into the woods it was a great desire for country life and it happened just at this time that a shoemaker was required at a manor house who would set up his bench in the neighboring village and there have a house free of rent a little garden and pasture for a cow by permanent work from the manor and these additional helps one could manage nicely my mother and father were very eager to have the place and my father got a trial job to sew a pair of dancing shoes a piece of silk would send him to furnish himself all our talk for a couple of days turned upon those shoes I longed so much for the little garden where we could have flowers and shrubs and I would sit in the sunshine and listen to the cuckoo I prayed very fervently to God that he would grant us our wishes and I thought that no greater happiness could be bestowed upon us the shoes were at last finished we looked on them with a solemn feeling for they were to decide our future and went off and we waited for him with faces beaming with joy he came home pale and angry the gracious lady he said had not even tried the shoes on only looked at them sourly and said that the silk was spoiled and that he could not get the place if you have spoiled your silk, said my father I can be reconciled to spoiling my leather too so he took a knife and cut off the soles there was no more hope of our getting into the country we mingled our tears together and I thought that God could easily have granted our wish if he had done so I had no doubt been a peasant all my life my whole future would have been different from what it has been I have often since thought and said to myself do you think that our Lord for your sake and for your future has let your parents lose their days of happiness my father's rambles in the wood became more frequent he had no rest the sense of the war in Germany which he read with eager curiosity occupied him completely Napoleon was his hero his rise from obscurity was the most beautiful example to him at that time Denmark was in league with France nothing was talked of but war my father entered the service as a soldier in hope of returning home a lieutenant my mother wept the neighbors shrugged their shoulders and said that it was folly to go out to be shot there was no occasion for it the morning on which the corps were to march I heard my father singing and talking merrily but his heart was deeply agitated I observed that by the passionate manner in which he kissed me when he took his leave I lay sick of the measles and alone in the room when the drums beat and my mother accompanied my father weeping to the city gate as soon as they were gone my old grandmother came in she looked at me with her mild eyes it was a good thing if I died but that God's will was always the best that was the first day of real sorrow that I remember the regiment advanced no farther than Holstein peace was concluded and the voluntary soldier returned to his workstool everything fell into its old course I played again with my dolls acted comedies always in German because I'd only seen them in this language but my German was a sort of gibberish made up and in which there occurred only one real German word and that was basin a word which I had picked up out of the various dialects which my father brought home from Holstein thou hast indeed some benefit from my travels said he in joke God knows whether thou wilt get as far but that must be thy care think about it Hans Christian end of section 62 section 63 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the Poles read for liverybox.org by Alan Mapstone Iceland Part 1 in Saga Times historical note Iceland has been called the island of fire and the name is most appropriate for not only was the country formed by the action of fire but it is today the home of volcanoes geysers, hot springs lava, ashes scoriae and earthquakes intermingled with glaciers fields of snow and ice covered mountains Iceland was visited by the Celts in the 8th century but the first permanent settlement was made in 874 by a Norwegian chief named Ingolf Harold Fairhair was then on the throne of Norway and his subjects were so indignant at his severity that colony after colony left the country and made homes for themselves on the Icelandic shores after about half a century a sort of union was formed by the various settlements and until 1261 the island was a republic this was the golden age of Iceland and the little country flourished commercially and intellectually during this period Greenland was discovered and settled and the continent of America was visited sea volume 12 the great voyage of leaf Ericsson how much knowledge Columbus may have gained from the Icelandic records is still a question about the year 1000 Christianity was introduced chiefly at the point of the sword by the energetic sovereign King Olaf of Norway the national assembly the Althing met in the open air at Thingvala and here it continued to meet up to the year 1800 when it removed to Reykjavik end of section 63 this recording is in the public domain section 64 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the poles this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Thomas Peter the world's story volume 8 Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the poles edited by Eva Mach Tabin section 64 how the sagas came to be written by Sabine Beringould Iceland never was and it is not now a much peopled island the farmhouses are for the most part far apart and the farms are of very considerable extent because owing to the severity of the climate very little passage is obtained over a wide extent of a country for the sheep and cattle the population lives around the coast on the fjords or creeks of the sea or on the rivers that flow into these fjords the centre of the island is occupied by a vast waste of ice-covered mountain and desert, black as ink strewn with volcanic ash and sand or else with a region of erupted lava that is impassable because in cooling it has exploded and forms a country of bristling spikes and gulfs and sharp edges very much like the wreck of a huge ginger beer bottle factory what are now farmhouses were the halls and mansions of families of noble descent indeed the original settlers in Iceland were the nobles of Norway who left their native land to avoid the tyranny of herald fairhair who tried to crush their power so as to make himself a despotic king in the land these Norse nobles came in their boats to Iceland bringing with them their wives their children, their thralls or slaves and their cattle and they settled all round the coast the present Icelanders are descended from these first colonists now the history of Iceland for a few hundred years consists of nothing but the history of the quarrels of these great families Iceland was without any political organisation but it had an elected lawman or judge and every year the heads of the families rode to Thingvala a plane in the south west where they brought their complaints carried on their lawsuits and had them settled by the judge there was no army, no navy no government in Iceland for a long time also no foreign wars and no internal revolutions these noble families settled in the valleys and upon the fjords thought a good deal of themselves and they carefully preserved at first orally then in writing the record of their pedigrees and also the tradition of the famous deeds of their great men in summer there is no night in winter no day in winter there is little or nothing to be done but sit over the fire sing songs and tell yarns now in winter the Icelanders told the tales of the brave men of old and their families and so the tradition was handed on from father to son the same stories told every winter till all the particulars became well known at the same time there can be no doubt that little embellishments were added some exaggerations were indulged in and here and there the grand deed of some other men was grafted into the story of the family hero about 200 or 250 years after the death of Greta his history was committed to writing and then it became fixed nothing further was added to it and we have a story after having travelled down over 200 years as a tradition that was plenty of time for additions and commendations and the hobgoblin and ghost stories that came into his life are some of these embellishments but the main facts of his life are true history we are able to decide this by comparing his story with those of other families in the same part of the island and to see whether they agree as to dates and as to the circumstances narrated in them end of section 64 this recording is in the public domain section 65 of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the Poles this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the Royal Story Volume 8 Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the search for the Poles section 64 Part 6 Part 5 The dress of the Northmen from the falsity of material was restricted within certain limits but beyond this it varied as much as taste in dress does in the present day the source from which information can be obtained is the stag as themselves and as the reference to dress therein is necessarily of a casual character. Only a patchwork description can be afforded, but like patches, it can be joined into a hole to form a picture, although of a very character. Next to the skin, a skirt or a circle, that is a shirt, was worn, and this was made of linen for the richer people and coarse woolen for the poorer class. It was drawn on over the head and the opening at the neck must not be too large, otherwise it might be the cause of divorce. It was fastened at the neck with a clasp or stud. The shirt tail should not be seen, says the wrong gospel. Or the saga on manners and gives an injunction, cut your shirt by a good bit shorter than your curdle as no respectable man wears flax or hemp. Inside drawers or breaches of linen were used and were generally slept in. When these were dispensed with and only one pair of leg coverings used, they were tied over the foot and Gothic prisoners of war are so depicted in the Kalana Triana in Rome. The cut of trousers, they were often wide in the leg, but it was considered that when narrow they afforded a smarter appearance. Hose were thought a more stately dress. They were long stockings over which short breaches were drawn. The hose were sometimes of cloth, skins or leather. And as they covered the foot were like a long boot reaching to the thighs and spurs were attached to the heels. Shoes were generally worn and were made high up the ankle or low on the foot according to the wearer's pleasure. They were sometimes ornamented with fringe or tassels in King Olaf's time it is mentioned in Bjorn. It de la Campers saga that it was the custom to wear straps which were drawn from the shoe about the leg up to the knee and that only men of the more distinguished class wore them. The other dress was a curtail or frock made like a shirt. It was drawn in at the waist with a guillard or belt which was often of a costly character embroidered with golden precious stones. From it hung a knife and a purse. The frock was fastened with a clasp at the neck. Gloves were used chiefly of deer skin often embroidered with gold. Mittens were much worn. They were of woolen cloth lined with down. Over the curtail a cape or short cloak was worn and this article of dress varied greatly in cut and color. The cape most invoked was called skikya and appears to have been without sleeves or arm holes. It was fastened across the breast with clasp or buckles or was tied. This article of dress is frequently mentioned in the sagas as being selected for a present and was then usually of scarlet cloth with gold fringe or costly fur. Hats were made of felt and so wide in the brim that they covered the face and these were white or gray. Hats however were in use called Russian or Danish hats, but it is not clear what peculiar shape they possessed. Worsted or silk caps of the night cap cut were common. They were also made of bear or sheepskin. The traya or jacket was introduced later and this fashion came first from Germany and found its way to the north. Cuffle was a sort of overcoat furnished with a hood and sleeves and was worn by both men and women. Heckler resembled the cuffl and was often of costly stuff. It is not clear that it differed in cut from the cowl of the monks. The felter was an overcoat much in use. It was made very large and lined for warmth often both sides with sheepskins. Sometimes it was lined with cloth of different colors. Its value was according to its size. Its usual length was six feet and three feet broad. It was large enough to be drawn over the head when sitting and to cover the body when lying down. The breadth is given as quoted, but as in the Gragas it is stated that it should be capable of being folded 13 times across. The price varied with the number of folds. There is a contradiction. The felter was a garment for severe weather. The color of clothes was the natural color of the wool or dyed blue or scarlet. The women of saga time were adepts as diers. White woolen cloth was generally worn by the thralls. The dress of the Vikings is described in the sagas of as bright colors as a salmon fly for Norwegian rivers. Eagle Scala Grimson is described as writing to the thing with a flock of men with bright shields. He wore a blue cloak, had a golden helmet, a shield inlaid with gold and a spear, the shaft of which was ornamented with gold beaten into it. He was girded with a costly sword. In the saga of Nyall and his sons, Kara So Munson is described as standing by the mast of his ship with a helmet of gold and a gold inlaid spear. He wore a curdle of silk and his hair was full and fair. Also in the same saga when Nyall's son set out to slay three and four blood feud, Scarfedin and his brothers are mentioned as well as Kara So Munson. Scarfedin went first wearing a blue curdle, bearing a shield and with his axe on his shoulder, then came Helga in a red curdle with a helmet on his head and a red shield on which a stag was painted. Kara So Munson wore a silk jacket. His helmet and shield were gilt and upon the latter was depicted a line. Thrayin was killed by a blow from Scarfedin's axe which cut down his skull through the teeth. Another picture of Scarfedin is when he attended the all things. He wore blue curdles, striped breeches, high heel black shoes and a silver belt around his waist. He had the battle axe in his hand with which he had slain Thrayin and a light shield. He wore a silk cap and his hair hung down behind his ears. Another bright coloring is that of Olaf Pah or the peacock when he visited his grandfather, Merck Yarton, King of Ireland. Olaf was forward in his ship and was thus clad. He had breast armor, a gold and laid helmet on his head. He was girt with a sword, the hilt of which was ornamented with gold nails. In his hand he had a long spear, the shaft of which was carved. He carried a red shield on which was a gilded line. When the Irish saw this armor, they fled to a village. Another sketch from the sagas is that of Bola Bolasin on his return from Miclegarde or Constantinople as related in the Lax dealer's saga. Bola was such a dandy that he would not use any other clothes except scarlet and fur. His arms were inlaid with gold. He rode with 12 men dressed in scarlet on gilded saddles. He was himself clothed in the dress of costly furs, given him by the King of Miclegarde. His sword, bodbiter or footbiter was by his side. It's scabbard and hilt were decorated with gold. His helmet was of the same metal. He bore a red shield on which was a nightly device. And in his hand he carried a dagger as was the fashion in foreign lands. Ornaments too fast in the dress were used by men as clasps, studs and buckles of silver gold or a mixture of both metals. Rings of silver or gold were in common use. There were finger rings, neck rings and armlets. The patterns were rough but never in bad taste. And those of Byzantine model were ingenious in pattern. And at the present day, there's nothing better in gold ornaments either in taste or design. A gold armlet was the usual reward for a scald when he had sung a song in honor of a king or chief. Amulets were worn and much faith in their virtues was entertained. A change of fashion came with the 12th century. Snorri, sterile-syndric cords that foreign customs and fashions were then introduced. Breaches with tux in them were worn. And gold rings on the leg. Curdles were used with clasps of the sides and sleeves 10 feet long. And so tight that they had to be drawn up to the shoulder and fastened. Shoes were used so high that they had to be tied to the leg. They were embroidered with silk and gold. It is not improbable. That preposterous fashions were then invoked. There's less evidence of the dress of women in the sagas than of men. The innermost garment was of linen or silk and was called sirker. It was very little different from that of the men's sirker except that it was wider at the breast. Women wore socks and shoes. Their curdles were long and wide. And were furnished with long sleeves. Although unmarried women often had no sleeves to their dresses, belts were worn around the waist often of gold or silver. And to them were attached to purse to hold rings and other small matters of value. The house mother's bunch of keys hung from her belt. The curdle was sometimes called nam, curdle from nam, a sort of stuff which was laced or bound by the belt tied to the waist. An overdress was used called blea, a sort of apron which was used as such as well as on state occasions. It was dyed or of a colored pattern and decorated with fringe or edging. The curdle was not so high as to hide the neck and breast but for this another garment was used called smoker, a kind of neckerchief or cravat. It was often the case that the neck was uncovered and ornamented with necklaces or chains. A sort of loose dress was used called sloater with a long skirt or train. The word is from sloat or the mark made by dragging an article over snow or sand. Although used by women, it was also used by kings when they gave audience. From the sagas it is clear that a bodice was worn above the curdle in the lax dealer's saga when Gudrun's third husband Bola was killed in a blood feud at a satyr hut. The pursuers met Gudrun after the deed outside the hut. She is described as dressed in a narrow curdle with a tight fitting bodice of figured stuff. She wore a large ornament on her head and had about her a white cloth with blue stripes and fringe at the ends. Helga Haag Benson went to her and taking the cloth wiped her husband's blood off his spear with it. This cloth appears to have been worn like a plaid. Halder told Helga, Hard Benson that such conduct was bad and cruel but Gudrun only smiled. She had already determined on Helga, Hard Benson's death and he knew it under the four corners of that cloak is my fate, said Helga. He was killed with a sword, bodbiter by Bola Gudrun's son in the Continuance of the Blood feud. In the yaw's saga, Halgerda, the Jezebel of this traditionary history is often mentioned with regard to her dress. She was very tall and handsome and like other people, a nickname was given her according to the fashion of the saga time. She was called Halgerda Langbrock, long breeches. Her hair was abundant and fair and so long that it covered her. She was fostered by a man called the Yostov from the Hebrides. The evidence is conflicting whether he was a thrall or not. He'd killed many men and led to Halgerda's mind being merciless as we shall see by her conduct. She was married by her father to her first husband against her will, her objection being solely that the match was a bad one. She consulted her foster father, the Yostov. When the wedding was over and the guests were riding home, one of them asked his son what he thought of the wedding. She, Halgerda, laughed at everything was the answer. I do not like such laughter, said the father. The first quarrel that took place between the newly married pair precipitated what had already been determined on. Thorvald, her husband, was murdered with an ax by the Yostov. When Gloom, her second husband, came to court her, she was dressed in a costly woven cape underneath which she had a scarlet kirtle. She wore a silver belt and her hair fell on each side of her head down her breast and was fastened to the silver belt. Gloom's fate was similar to Thorvald's with the consequence that the Yostov was slain by Frott, Halgerda's uncle. When Gunnar, her third husband, paid his court to her, she was dressed in a red kirtle with a rich border. Her hair was abundant and fair and fell to her lap. After her marriage, she was the cause of the death of many men and involved Gunnar, the gentleman of the saga and a feud that led to his death solely because she had quarreled with Nial's wife, Bergthorah, at a feast on a small question of precedence. She refused to give place to anyone and said she would not be shoved into a corner. To revenge this slight, she sent a thrall to steal food so as to put her husband in a difficulty. Theft was impossible to so noble and true a man when Gunnar was attacked in his house and his bowstring was cut by his spear, Halgerda, refused to give him a lock of her hair to mend it because he had once smacked her face. She told him it was indifferent to her, how soon he was killed. After this deed of blood, wrong, vague, Gunnar's mother drove Halgerda away. You have caused my son's death, she said and shall not remain here. Of ornaments for women, many specimens exist in museums, finger rings, armlets, neck rings, diadems, clasp, buckles, brooches, bracelets and ornaments that hung from the head or breast. There were also beads of amber or metal. It is clear from the foregoing that both men and women of saga time were fond of dress and show. A learned professor states that the Norman love of splendor was an inheritance from the old saga time. In section 65, this recording is in the public domain.