Chapter I: Preface

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Mr. Worsaae informs us in his Introduction that the following pages were not written solely for the learned. They were designed as a popular contribution to a branch of historical and antiquarian knowledge, which, though highly interesting both to Scandinavians and Englishmen, has been hitherto very imperfectly investigated. The English reader will find in Mr. Worsaae’s work not only many facts concerning the early history of this country that are either entirely new to him, or placed at least in a wholly novel light, but he will also meet with many _names_ whose form may appear foreign and unfamiliar. It may, therefore, be desirable that on the English reader’s introduction to a more intimate acquaintance with that Scandinavian race which has more claims than he had, perhaps, imagined, not only to be regarded as the founders of some of his native customs and institutions, but even to be reckoned among his forefathers, he should be enabled to pronounce their principal names correctly. With this view the following brief remarks are subjoined;—

The double _a_ (_aa_), frequently occurring in proper names, must be sounded like the English diphthong _aw_, as in Blaatand, Haarfager.

The _ö_, or _oe_, is pronounced like the French diphthong _eu_.

The _u_, as in German and Italian, is equivalent to _oo_ in the English words _cool_, _troop_, &c.; as in Ulf, Huskarl, &c.

_C_ has invariably the sound of _k_ (with which, indeed, it is frequently interchanged). The names of Cetel, Oscytel, &c., are to be pronounced Ketel, Oskytel. Where _c_ or _k_ precedes another consonant, it retains, as in German, its distinct and proper power. In order to represent this power, Latin and English writers have sometimes substituted the syllable _ca_ for the initial _c_ or _k_; as, for instance, in the name of Canute (_Dan._, Cnut or Knud). This has led to the very common error of pronouncing the name as if it consisted of two syllables, with an accent upon the first; as Cán-ute, instead of Cănúte.

_J_ has the sound of the English _y_; as in Jarl (_Yarl_, earl), Jorvik (_Yor-vik_, York).

The consonants _th_ (the Icelandic Þ[1]) are pronounced like a single _t_. The word _Thing_ (assizes, &c.), which the reader will so frequently meet, is sounded like _Ting_. The proper pronunciation is preserved in the word _Hus-ting_, but by altering the spelling. Thus, Thor, Thorkil, &c., must be pronounced _Tor_, _Torkil_.

Footnote 1:

The letter ð has the power of _dh_, or _dth_.

Lastly, the Vikings (_Isl._, Vikingr, a sea-rover, pirate), who played so great a part during the Danish conquests, were not Ví-kings, but Vik-ings (Veék-ings); so called either from the Icelandic _Vik_ (_Dan._, Vig), a bay of the sea, or from _Vig_, battle, slaughter.

London, Dec. 15th, 1851.

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AUTHOR’S PREFACE.

In the spring of 1846, his late Majesty Christian VIII. of Denmark determined that an inquiry should be made respecting the monuments and memorials of the Danes and Norwegians which might be still extant in Scotland and the British Islands. His Majesty was the more confirmed in this design as two distinguished British noblemen, his Grace the Duke of Sutherland, and his brother Lord Francis Egerton (now Earl of Ellesmere), had repeatedly stated in their letters to the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries that, if a Danish archæologist visited Scotland, he should receive all possible assistance, especially in Sutherland, a district so rich in Scandinavian antiquities.

His Majesty did me the honour to intrust this task to me: and the President of the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries, and of the Royal Committee for the preservation of the national monuments—our present most gracious sovereign Frederick VII.—having, with a lively zeal for the promotion of the inquiry, furnished me with several letters of introduction, I travelled during a twelvemonth (1846-1847) in Scotland, Ireland, and England; where, partly through the personal kindness of the Duke of Sutherland and of the Earl of Ellesmere, and partly by means of their influential names, I invariably met with the best reception and the most valuable assistance in my researches.

The present work contains part of the results of that journey. My aim in it has been to convey a juster and less prejudiced notion than prevails at present respecting the Danish and Norwegian conquests; which, though of such special importance to England, Scotland, and Ireland, have hitherto been constantly viewed in an utterly false and partial light. Whilst writing the work in Denmark, I have but too frequently felt the want of constant access to the well-stored libraries of England; although those literary gentlemen in Great Britain to whom I have written for information, have received my applications with their usual readiness and friendship[2].

Footnote 2:

Amongst the many gentlemen to whom I owe my thanks, I must
particularly name: Sir H. Dryden, Bart., of Canons Ashby; C. Roach
Smith, Esq., F.S.A., London; E. Hawkins, Esq., British Museum; J. M.
Kemble, Esq.; Professor Cosmo Innes, Edinburgh; Dr. Traill, _ibid._;
C. Neaves, Esq., _ibid._; R. Chalmers, Esq., of Auldbar Castle; Rev.
J. H. Todd, D.D., Trinity College, Dublin; Professor C. Graves; and
Dr. G. Petrie, likewise of Dublin.

However, as my work contains the first fully detailed examination of the subject _from the Danish side_, I hope that, notwithstanding all its deficiencies and faults, it may prove of some interest in England, and serve to excite further investigation, which would doubtless throw a clearer light upon a very remote, but not on that account less remarkable, period in the history of England and the North.

J. J. A. WORSAAE.

Copenhagen, April, 1851.

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CONTENTS.

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INTRODUCTION.

SECTION I.

Scandinavia’s greatest Memorials.—Those of Denmark and Norway at Sea.—Of Sweden on Land.—The Influence of Climate

SECTION II.

The Great Memorials of Sweden in their Relation to those of Denmark and Norway.—Danish-Norwegian Memorials in the British Isles

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THE DANES IN ENGLAND.

SECTION I.

Nature of the Country.—Earlier Inhabitants: Britons, Romans, and Anglo-Saxons

SECTION II.

The Danish Expeditions.—The Danish Conquest

SECTION III.

The Thames.—London

SECTION IV.

Watlinga-Stræt.—South England.—Legends about the Danes.—The Graves of Canute the Great and Hardicanute

SECTION V.

The Wash.—The Five Burghs.—The Humber.—York.—Northumberland.—Stamford Bridge

SECTION VI.

Danish-Norwegian Memorials in the North of England.—Coins.—The Raven.—The Danish Flag

SECTION VII.

Danish-Norwegian Names of Places

SECTION VIII.

Resemblance of the People to the Danes and Norwegians.—Proper Names.—Popular Language.—Songs and Legends

SECTION IX.

The Outrages of the Danes.—The Danes and Normans.—Influence of the Danes in England

SECTION X.

Commerce and Navigation

SECTION XI.

Art and Literature

SECTION XII.

Ecclesiastical and Secular Aristocracy

SECTION XIII.

The Danelag.—Holmgang, or Duel.—Jury.—The Feeling of Freedom

SECTION XIV.

General View.—Anglo-Saxon and Danish-Norman England.—Sympathies for Denmark.—The Dane in England

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THE NORWEGIANS IN SCOTLAND.

SECTION I.

Nature of Scotland.—The Highlands and Lowlands.—Population.—Original Inhabitants

SECTION II.

The Anglo-Saxons.—The Danes and Norwegians.—Effects of their Expeditions

SECTION III.

The Lowlands.—Population.—Language.—Norwegian-Danish Names of Places

SECTION IV.

Traditions concerning “the Danes.”—The Southern and Northern Lowlands.—Danish Memorials.—Burghead

SECTION V.

The Orkneys and Shetland Isles.—Natural Features.—Population.—Oppression

SECTION VI.

Shetland.—The People.—Songs.—Sword-Dance.—Language.—Names of Places.—Tingwall.—Burg of Mousa.—Tumuli.—Bauta Stones

SECTION VII.

The Orkneys.—“Þingavöllr.”—Monuments of the Olden Time.—Kirkwall.—St. Magnus Church

SECTION VIII.

Pentland Firth.—The Highlands.—Caithness.—Sutherland.—Dingwall.—Fear of the Danes

SECTION IX.

The Hebrides.—The Northern Isles.—Lewis and Harris (Næs).—Skye.—Ossian’s Songs.—Iona

SECTION X.

The Sudreyjar, or Southern Isles.—Cantire.—Islay.—Man.—Names of Places.—Runic Stones.—Kings.—Battle of Largs.—“Lords of the Isles.”—Tynwald in Man

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THE NORWEGIANS IN IRELAND.

SECTION I.

Nature and Population of Ireland.—The “Danish” Conquests.—Traditions about the “Danes.”—Political Movements

SECTION II.

Irish and Scandinavian Records.—Finn Lochlannoch.—Dubh-Lochlannoch.—The Names of the Provinces

SECTION III.

Norwegian Kings.—Limerick.—Cork.—Waterford.—Reginald’s Tower.—Dublin.—Thengmotha.—Oxmantown

SECTION IV.

Norwegian Names of Places.—Near Dublin.—Norwegian Burial—Places.—Norwegian Weapons and Ornaments

SECTION V.

Ancient Irish Christianity and Civilization.—Trade.—No Irish, but Norwegian Coins.—Sigtryg Silkeskjæg.—Norwegian Coiners

SECTION VI.

The Battle of Clontarf.—Power of the Ostmen after the Battle.—Their Churches and Bishops.—Their Land and Sea Forces.—The English Conquest.—Remains of the Ostmen.—Their Importance for Ireland

SECTION VII.

Conclusion.—Warlike and Peaceful Colonizations Resemblances and Differences.—Before and Now

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APPENDIX I. Document of Edward I.

APPENDIX II. Coinage of the Norwegians in Dublin

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