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82 IL CONVERSION OF SWEDEN (A.D. 8301130).
Benzelius filius: Monumenta Hist. Vet., p. 20, Upsaliae,
1709).
The independence of Hamburg, which Emund had
desired, came from another quarter. The other prince-
bishops of Germany combined against Adalbert, and the
Vends attacked him and his people, and obliged him, in
1066 A.D., to flee for his life, and restored paganism for a
time in Bremen. He had to take refuge at Goslar, where
he died i6th March, 1072 A.D. This heathen reaction
naturally co-operated with that in Sweden, and Christians
were persecuted in both countries. Among the Swedish
martyrs of this period, the most celebrated is St. Eskil, I2th
June, who preached in Sodermanland, and ranks as the
first bishop of Strengnas. His see was, however, at Fors,
some miles away, now a part of the modern Eskilstuna
(the Sheffield of Sweden), which takes its name from the
saint. He was an Englishman, and was not only invited
by St. Sigfrid, but, it is said, ordained by him. This
might well be the case in the confusion that filled the
German archbishopric after 1066 A.D. The zeal of Eskil
led him to encounter Blot-Sven when he came to sacrifice
at Strengnas. He prayed to God for a sign from heaven,
and a great storm of thunder, hail, snow and rain over
whelmed the assembly, and overturned the altar. This
enraged the heathen, who murdered him. His martyrdom
is celebrated on the i2th June, but the year is uncertain.
The old see of Skara also had as its bishops at the close
of the eleventh century, three Englishmen in succession
Rodulward, Ricolf and Edward. Of the latter we are told
that, having a wife and family in England, he managed to
collect enough money from the revenues of his see, and
to return home again with a competency.
The neighbouring see of Vesteras, in Vestmanland, also
claims another English saint, the monk and abbot, David,
as its founder. He was martyred, it is supposed, in the
year 1082 A.D. Last of this company comes St. Botvid,
the first native Swedish missionary, who was baptized in
England, and from whom Botkyrka takes its name.
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