CONCERNING S. HALWARD THE MARTYR
IN NORWAY.
CommentaryHarwaldus or Halfwardus, a Norwegian Martyr (S.)
BHL Number: 3750
G. H.
[1] Before we say anything concerning this Saint, the history of his life and passion seems to be premised, in this manner once described at Utrecht. Saint Halward, sprung of noble birth was illustrious: whose father Vebron, Sprung of noble family, but his mother was called Thorni. Of which Thorni the mother, as is reported, was the daughter of Gutbrand the Count, who also Gutbrand begot Ascha the mother of holy Olaf. But the boy Halward grew in the paternal house beloved by all. piously educated, He was moreover first devoted to the Christian religion, obedient to his parents, benevolent toward his kinsfolk, chaste in body, prevailing in honesty, a cultivator of justice. And when S. Halward had come into adolescence, he began to be a helper of his father in procuring family affairs. It is reported also, which is held by all, that from his earliest he had made for himself two weights, by which (lest he should ever commit fraud) he weighed less for himself, but more for his brother. And when for the sake of trading he came to Gotland, and had begun to exercise his affairs there; there came a certain native of that land a very rich man, Botwid by name. He when he had seen unknown men, approaching them, asked who they were and whence. To whom they indicated all things in order. But he when he had beheld S. Halward, said: Who is this youth? But they indicated his name and family. Which when the aforesaid man had heard, he said: I see your countenance singular, and before all standing here honorable. Certainly I know, that of a great prodigy something future shines in you, whence I invite you with your fellow-tribesmen to refection. Which S. Halward gratefully accepted. But he receiving them, all humanity being exhibited, prepared a banquet, and procured all the things which he had for sale, and gave back much more; and the time of sailing coming he gave him all things necessary, and permitted him to depart in peace: and thus the Saint with all safe with his companions returned to his country.
[2] But after a little time, the spring time being at hand, S. Halward going out of the house of his father, that for doing his affairs he might visit the neighboring parts, came to a lake, Dram by name, through which he was to go: and drawing a small skiff from the seaweed, he ascended it. And suddenly there came a pregnant woman, trembling and palpitating, begging that he would carry her with him. And being asked who she was, He receives a pregnant woman into the boat, and whither she wished, the name being indicated she affirmed that she wished to cross the sea: and therefore when she saw a man hastening on that journey, lest more tardy she should perish, therefore she had quickly run up. And the woman being bidden sat in the stern, but he took up the journey by sailing. And suddenly he saw at the shore to which the woman had come, three men swiftly running up: who at once taking another skiff after them more swiftly sail. Then S. Halward said: Do you recognize these? She said, I recognize them. And he, As I see they seek you, tell me what you have done? She answered: It is true that they persecute me; but what they impute to me I did not: for they lay upon me the cause of theft. But he: Can you purge yourself of this with burning iron? But she: I can and I am prepared, if they will spare me.
[3] and he tries to defend her against the assailants. But those men swiftly pursuing them said: Why, Halward, such a youth, born of such noble parents, have you undertaken to protect so evil a woman? Render her back that she may die, since she is worthy. To whom Halward said: What indeed
evil has she done? Who said, She has stolen the property of our brother, breaking into his house. To whom he said: And how did she break into the house? They say to him: She drew out the little ring from the post, which held the bolt. But he: This is not the work of a woman, but of a very strong man. Or is anyone found, who had seen her do this, or in her house have you found the stolen things? But if it is uncertain, why will she die? Is it not more just, if she can, that she purge herself of the crime? But if not, let what by the laws is just be done concerning her, or I will give a ransom for her, only that her being pregnant and having an infant in the womb you do not kill. It behoves you therefore to be calmed, nor to do anything rashly. Then they on the contrary raging at this cried out. But a certain one of them snatching a bow bent it. The body of the slain one, And an arrow strongly shot is fixed in the breast of the Martyr: he being destroyed they also kill the woman and buried her on the shore: floats with a stone. but they tied a stone to his neck and submerged him in the sea: but through divine grace and the merits of the Martyr, his body long after, swimming with the stone over the sea, was found.
[4] Thus far the MS. Legendary of Utrecht of the Church of S. Salvator, on this 14 May: on which day in the Doctrinal of the Clergy, together with the Martyrology of the Saints printed at Lübeck in the year 1490, these things are read: On the same day Blessed Halward the Martyr. Which plainly the same are read in the Martyrology of the Church of Cologne printed in the said year 1490 also. In the MS. Florarium of the Saints he is celebrated with these words: Likewise Saint Halward the Martyr. There is read besides a memory of Halphardus the Martyr in Hermann Greven, in the Auctary of Usuard printed at Cologne in the year 1515 and 1521. Again on the day 15 May the cult of Harwaldus the Martyr is indicated in the said Florarium. When in Greven these things are read: Of Halpwardus the Martyr, according to others on the preceding day. Olaus Worm in book 2 of the Danish Calendars, published at Copenhagen in the year 1643, chapter 1 and following makes mention of the solemn veneration of S. Haluard in the month of May: and chapter 5 page 99 deduces these things of Haluard: Haluard Socha, but Socha to the Norwegians notes a celebrated assembly and dedication-feast. And these things concerning the ancient cult of S. Halward.
[5] The country of this Saint seems to be Norway, of which the King was the indicated S. Olaf, the cousin of S. Halward: and plainly neighboring to that same Norway is the region Gothia, his country Norway. and subject to this in the Baltic sea is Gothland, although that same Gothia also seems called Gothland, as Frisia is vulgarly called Frisland. In the Southern part of the diocese of Stavanger among the Norwegians is the parish of Andernes situated in the province of Mandal, in whose cemetery a great stone erected is seen, indicated by Olaus Worm in book 6 of the Danish and Norwegian Monuments page 506: in which these things in ancient Norwegian characters are sculptured: Arinterus built this temple over the son of holy Olaf his kinsman. Olaus adds it is not clear, who that son is, in whose memory this temple was built. What if it were S. Halward his cousin, by posterity held a son? To learned men in that region we wish this proposed. There are seen there near the sea very many lakes, in some of which the Saint could have been slain, and then his body cast into the sea. But S. Olaf the King is venerated on the day 29 July, slain in the year 1028.