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for some generations； held the Baltic in terror； and plundered far beyond
the Belt；in the ocean itself； in Flanders and the opulent trading havens
there；above all； in opulent anarchic England； which； for forty years from
about this time； was the pirates' Goshen； and yielded； regularly every
summer； slaves； Danegelt； and miscellaneous plunder； like no other
country Jomsburg or the viking…world had ever known。 Palnatoke； Bue；
and the other quasi…heroic heads of this establishment are still remembered
in the northern parts。 _Palnatoke_ is the title of a tragedy by
Oehlenschlager； which had its run of immortality in Copenhagen some
sixty or seventy years ago。
I judge the institution to have been in its floweriest state； probably now
in Hakon Jarl's time。 Hakon Jarl and these pirates； robbing Hakon's
subjects and merchants that frequented him； were naturally in quarrel； and
frequent fightings had fallen out； not generally to the profit of the
Jomsburgers； who at last determined on revenge； and the rooting out of
this obstructive Hakon Jarl。 They assembled in force at the Cape of Stad；
in the Firda Fylke； and the fight was dreadful in the extreme； noise of it
filling all the north for long afterwards。 Hakon； fighting like a lion； could
scarcely hold his own；Death or Victory； the word on both sides； when
suddenly； the heavens grew black； and there broke out a terrific storm of
thunder and hail； appalling to the human mind；universe swallowed
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
wholly in black night； only the momentary forked…blazes； the thunder…
pealing as of Ragnarok； and the battering hail…torrents； hailstones about
the size of an egg。 Thor with his hammer evidently acting； but in behalf of
whom？ The Jomsburgers in the hideous darkness； broken only by flashing
thunder…bolts； had a dismal apprehension that it was probably not on their
behalf （Thor having a sense of justice in him）； and before the storm ended；
thirty…five of their seventy ships sheered away； leaving gallant Bue； with
the other thirty…five； to follow as they liked； who reproachfully hailed
these fugitives； and continued the now hopeless battle。 Bue's nose and lips
were smashed or cut away； Bue managed； half…articulately； to exclaim；
〃Ha！ the maids （'mays'） of Funen will never kiss me more。 Overboard； all
ye Bue's men！〃 And taking his two sea…chests； with all the gold he had
gained in such life…struggle from of old； sprang overboard accordingly；
and finished the affair。 Hakon Jarl's renown rose naturally to the
transcendent pitch after this exploit。 His people； I suppose chiefly the
Christian part of them； whispered one to another； with a shudder； 〃That in
the blackest of the thunder…storm； he had taken his youngest little boy； and
made away with him； sacrificed him to Thor or some devil； and gained his
victory by art…magic； or something worse。〃 Jarl Eric； Hakon's eldest son；
without suspicion of art…magic； but already a distinguished viking； became
thrice distinguished by his style of sea…fighting in this battle； and
awakened great expectations in the viking public； of him we shall hear
again。
The Jomsburgers； one might fancy； after this sad clap went visibly
down in the world； but the fact is not altogether so。 Old King Blue…tooth
was now dead； died of a wound got in battle with his unnatural （so…called
〃natural〃） son and successor； Otto Svein of the Forked Beard； afterwards
king and conqueror of England for a little while； and seldom； perhaps
never； had vikingism been in such flower as now。 This man's name is Sven
in Swedish； Svend in German； and means boy or lad；the English
〃swain。〃 It was at old 〃Father Bluetooth's funeral…ale〃 （drunken burial…
feast）； that Svein； carousing with his Jomsburg chiefs and other choice
spirits； generally of the robber class； all risen into height of highest robber
enthusiasm； pledged the vow to one another； Svein that he would conquer
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
England （which； in a sense； he； after long struggling； did）； and the
Jomsburgers that they would ruin and root out Hakon Jarl （which； as we
have just seen； they could by no means do）； and other guests other foolish
things which proved equally unfeasible。 Sea…robber volunteers so
especially abounding in that time； one perceives how easily the
Jomsburgers could recruit themselves； build or refit new robber fleets；
man them with the pick of crews； and steer for opulent； fruitful England；
where； under Ethelred the Unready； was such a field for profitable
enterprise as the viking public never had before or since。
An idle question sometimes rises on me；idle enough； for it never can
be answered in the affirmative or the negative； Whether it was not these
same refitted Jomsburgers who appeared some while after this at Red
Head Point； on the shore of Angus； and sustained a new severe beating； in
what the Scotch still faintly remember as their 〃Battle of Loncarty〃？
Beyond doubt a powerful Norse…pirate armament dropt anchor at the Red
Head； to the alarm of peaceable mortals； about that time。 It was thought
and hoped to be on its way for England； but it visibly hung on for several
days； deliberating （as was thought） whether they would do this poorer
coast the honor to land on it before going farther。 Did land； and vigorously
plunder and burn south…westward as far as Perth； laid siege to Perth； but
brought out King Kenneth on them； and produced that 〃Battle of
Loncarty〃 which still dwells in vague memory among the Scots。 Perhaps it
might be the Jomsburgers； perhaps also not； for there were many pirate
associations； lasting not from century to century like the Jomsburgers； but
only for very limited periods； or from year to year； indeed； it was mainly
by such that the splendid thief…harvest of England was reaped in this
disastrous time。 No Scottish chronicler gives the least of exact date to their
famed victory of