6 OCTOBER 1917, Page 10

AN EARLY CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR.

[To THE Enrroa or nlE " Smorsron.") Sut,—It is related in Miss E. Hull's Northmcn in Britain that, when Magnus Barelegs fought the battle of Anglesea against the Earls of Chester and Salop, he had with him there the sou of Earl Erland, afterwards Magnus the Saint, who sat down on the fore-deck with his Psalter open before him and would not take arms. The King asked him why he had not armed. He said he had no quarrel with any one there and would not fight. Then the King said angrily : "If you dare not fight, go down below and do not lie among other people's feet, for I do not believe it is from religious motives that you refuse to fight for us." But the had sat on quietly, taking no elielter, and singing during the battle, but getting no hurt, thmigh many of the King's men were sorely