He had the foundations laid for the large Christ church, which was to be a stone church; but in his time there was little done to it.Besides, he completed the old Christ church, which was of wood.King Olaf also had a great feasting-house built in Nidaros, and in many other merchant towns, where before there were only private feasts; and in his time no one could drink in Norway but in these houses, adorned for the purpose with branches and leaves, and which stood under the king's protection.The great guild-bell in Throndhjem, which was called the pride of the town, tolled to call together to these guilds.The guild-brethren built Margaret's church in Nidaros of stone.In King Olaf's time there were general entertainments and hand-in-hand feasts.At this time also much unusual splendour and foreign customs and fashions in the cut of clothes were introduced; as, for instance, costly hose plaited about the legs.Some had gold rings about the legs, and also used coats which had lists down the sides, and arms five ells long, and so narrow that they must be drawn up with ties, and lay in folds all the way up to the shoulders.The shoes were high, and all edged with silk, or even with gold.Many other kinds of wonderful ornaments were used at that time.
ENDNOTES:
(1) We may understand the arrangement by supposing the fire in the middle of the room, the smoke escaping by a hole in the roof, and a long bench on each side of the fire; one bench occupied by the high-seat of the king and great guests, the other by the rest of the guests; and the cup handed across the fire, which appears to have had a religious meaning previous to the introduction of Christianity.-- L.
3.FASHION OF KING OLAF'S COURT.
King Olaf used the fashion, which was introduced from the courts of foreign kings, of letting his grand-butler stand at the end of the table, and fill the table-cups for himself and the other distinguished guests who sat at the table.He had also torch-bearers, who held as many candles at the table as there were guests of distinction present.There was also a marshal's bench outside of the table-circle, where the marshal and other persons of distinction sat with their faces towards the high-seat.King Harald, and the kings before him, used to drink out of deer-horn;and the ale was handed from the high-seat to the otherside over the fire, and he drank to the memory of any one he thought of.
So says Stuf the skald: --
"He who in battle is the first, And now in peace is best to trust, A welcome, hearty and sincere, Gave to me on my coming here.
He whom the ravens watch with care, He who the gold rings does not spare, A golden horn full to the brink Gave me himself at Haug to drink."4.ARRANGEMENT OF KING OLAF'S COURT.
King Olaf had 120 courtmen-at-arms, and 60 pursuivants, besides 60 house-servants, who provided what was wanted for the king's house wherever it might be, or did other work required for the king.When the bondes asked why he kept a greater retinue than the law allowed, or former kings kept when they went in guest-quarters or feasts which the bondes had to provide for them, the king answered, "It does not happen that I rule the kingdom better, or produce greater respect for me than ye had for my father, although I have one-half more people than he had.I do not by any means do it merely to plague you, or to make your condition harder than formerly."5.KING SVEIN ULFSON'S DEATH.
King Svein Ulfson died ten years after the fall of both the Haralds (A.D.1076).After him his son, Harald Hein, was king for three years (A.D.1077-1080); then Canute the Holy for seven years (A.D.1081-1087); afterwards Olaf, King Svein's third son, for eight years (A.D.1088-1095).Then Eirik the Good, Svein's fourth son, for eight winters (A.D.1096-1103).Olaf, the king of Norway, was married to Ingerid, a daughter of Svein, the Danish king; and Olaf, the Danish King Svein's son, married Ingegerd, a daughter of King Harald, and sister of King Olaf of Norway.King Olaf Haraldson, who was called by some Olaf Kyrre, but by many Olaf the Bonde, had a son by Thora, Joan's daughter, who was called Magnus, and was one of the handsomest lads that could be seen, and was promising in every respect.He was brought up in the king's court.
6.MIRACLES OF KING OLAF THE SAINT.
King Olaf had a church of stone built in Nidaros, on the spot where King Olaf's body had first been buried, and the altar was placed directly over the spot where the king's grave had been.
This church was consecrated and called Christ Church; and King Olaf's shrine was removed to it, and was placed before the altar, and many miracles took place there.The following summer, on the same day of the year as the church was consecrated, which was the day before Olafsmas, there was a great assemblage of people, and then a blind man was restored to sight.And on the mass-day itself, when the shrine and the holy relics were taken out and carried, and the shrine itself, according to custom, was taken and set down in the churchyard, a man who had long been dumb recovered his speech again, and sang with flowing tongue praise-hymns to God, and to the honour of King Olaf the Saint.The third miracle was of a woman who had come from Svithjod, and had suffered much distress on this pilgrimage from her blindness; but trusting in God's mercy, had come travelling to this solemnity.
She was led blind into the church to hear mass this day; but before the service was ended she saw with both eyes, and got her sight fully and clearly, although she had been blind fourteen years.She returned with great joy, praising God and King Olaf the Saint.
7.OF THE SHRINE OF KING OLAF THE SAINT.
