rather from the popular voice than by the decision of
ecclesiastical authority. As his story shows, he merited the title by
shedding his blood not so much in defence of the Christian Faith as
in behalf of the virtues of a Christian life, whose brilliancy
excited the jealous anger of his enemies.

St. Magnus was the son of Erlin, Earl of Orkney. He was distinguished
from childhood by an uprightness of life which indicated his future
sanctity. Erlin was opposed by Magnus Barefoot, King of Norway, who
made him prisoner and seized his possessions, carrying off the young
Magnus to act as his personal attendant. After ravaging the Western
Isles the Norwegian king encountered, off the Island of Anglesey, the
forces of the Norman Earls of Chester and Shrewsbury, and defeated
them with much slaughter. The young Magnus {64} refused to take any
part in the unjust warfare, and remained in his ship engaged in
prayer throughout the battle. He was soon after able to escape to the
court of Malcolm III, where he remained for some time in safety.

Magnus bitterly lamented for the rest of his days the excesses into
which he had fallen in the life of constant warfare and strife which
had been his lot with the Norwegians; whatever their guilt may have
been, it was his constant endeavour to atone for them by penance and
prayer.

The family possessions in the Orkneys were regained on the death of
Barefoot, but fresh contests were stirred up when Haco, cousin of St.
Magnus, laid claim to them for himself. To avoid bloodshed St. Magnus
agreed to a meeting with Haco in the island of Egilshay that thus the
dispute might be settled in a friendly manner. Haco, however, was a
traitor; and caused his own forces to be drawn round the unarmed
Magnus to compass his destruction. The latter, made aware of the
treachery, and unable to make any defence, prepared for his conflict
by a night of prayer in {65} the church, and the reception of the
Sacraments. Then, when morning dawned, he advanced courageously to
confront his murderers, and met a barbarous death with Christian
fortitude. The only Catholic cathedral in Scotland which remains
entire still shelters the body of a saint. It may be that God has
spared it to restore it to Catholic worship through the merits of St.
Magnus. The feast, known in the Middle Ages as "Magnusmas," was
restored by Pope Leo XIII. His fair was formerly held at
Watten-Wester in Caithness. A holy well at Birsay, in Orkney, bear