.— OF hrorek's assauw. It happened on Ascension-day that King Olaf went to high mass, and the bishop went in procession around the church, and conducted the king ; and when they came back to the church the bishop led the king to his seat on the north side of the choir. There Hrorek sat next to the king, and concealed his countenance in his upper cloak. When Olaf had seated himself Hrorek laid his hand on the king's shoulder, and felt it. "Thou hast fine clothes on, cousin, today," said he. King Olaf replies, "It is a festival to-day, in remem- brance that Jesus Christ ascended to heaven from earth/' King Hrorek says, "I understand nothing about it, as to hold in my mind what ye tell me about Christ. Much of what ye tell me appears to me incredible, al- though many wonderful things may have come to pass in old times." When the mass was finished Olaf stood up, held his hands up over his head, and bowed down before the al- tar, so that his cloak hung down behind his shoulders. Then King Hrorek started up hastily and sharply, and struck at the king with a long knife of the kind called ryting; but the blow was received in the upper cloak at the shoulder, because the king was bending himself forwards. The clothes were much cut, but the king was not wounded. When the king perceived the attack he sprang upon the floor ; and Hrorek struck at him again with the knife, but did not reach him, and said, "Art thou flying, Olaf, from me, a blind man?" The king ordered his men to seize him and lead him out of the church, which was done. After this attempt many hastened to King Olaf, and advised that King Hrorek should be killed. "It is," said they, "tempting your luck in the highest degree, king, to keep him with you, and pro- tect him, whatever mischief he may undertake ; for night and day he thinks upon taking your life. And if you send him away, we know no one who can watch him so that he will not in all probability escape; and if once he gets loose he will assemble a great multitude, and do much evil." The king replies, "You say truly that many a one has suffered death for less offence than Hrorek's; but wil- lingly I would not darken the victory I gained over the Upland kings, when in one morning hour I took five kings prisoners, and got all their kingdoms : but yet, as they were my relations, I should not be their murderer but upon need. As yet I can scarcely see whether Hrorek puts me in the necessity of killing him or not." It was to feel if King Olaf had armour on or not that Hrorek had laid his hand on the king's shoulder. — ^KING HROREK^S JOURNEY TO ICEI^AND. Hiere was an Iceland man, by name Thorarin Nefiulf- son, who had his relations in the north of the country. He was not of high bjrth, but particularly prudent, elo- quent, and agreeable in conversation with people of dis- tinction. He was also a far-travelled man, who had been long in foreign parts. Thorarin was a remarkably ugly man, principally because he had very ungainly limbs. He had great ugly hands, and his feet were still uglier. Thorarin was in Tunsberg when this event hap- pened which has just been related, and he was known to King Olaf by their having had conversations together. Thorarin was just then done with rigging out a mer- chant vessel which he owned, and with which he intended to go to Iceland in summer. King Olaf had Thorarin with him as a guest for some days, and conversed much with him; and Thorarin even slept in the king's lodg- ings. One morning early the king awoke while the others were still sleeping. The sun had newly risen in the sky, and there was much light within. The king saw that Thorarin had stretched out one of his feet from under the bed-clothes, and he looked at the foot a while. In the meantime the others in the lodging awoke; and the king said to Thorarin, "I have been awake for a while, and have seen a sight which was worth seeing; and that is a man's foot so ugly that I do not think an uglier can be found in this merchant town." Thereupon he told the others to look at it, and see if it was not so; and all agreed with the king. When Thorarin observed what they were talking about, he said, "There are few things for which you cannot find a match, and that may be the case here." The king says, "I would rather say that such another ugly foot cannot be found in the town, and I would^ lay any wager upon it." Then said Thorarin, "I am willing to bet that I shall find an uglier foot still in the town." The king — ^"Then he who wins shall have the right to get any demand from the other he chooses to make." "Be it so," said Thorarin. Thereupon he stretches out his other foot from under the bed-clothes, and it was in no way handsomer than the other, and moreover, wanted the little toe. "There," said Thorarin, "see now, king, my other foot, which is so much uglier; and, be- sides, has no little toe. Now I have won." The king replies, "That other foot was so much uglier than this one by having five ugly toes upon it, and this has only four; and now I have won the choice of asking something from thee." "The sovereign's decision must be right," says Thor- arin; "but what does the king require of me?" "To take Hrorek," said the king, "to Greenland, and deliver him to Leif Eirikson." Thorarin replies, "I have never been in Greenland." The king — "Thou, who art a far-travelled man, wilt now have an opportunity of seeing Greenland, if thou hast never been there before." At first Thorarin did not say much about it; but as the king insisted on his wish he did not entirely decline, but said, "I will let you hear, king, what my desire would have been had I gained the wager. It would have been to be received into your body of court-men ; and if you will grant me that, I will be the more zealous now in fulfilling your pleasure." The king gave his consent, and Thorarin was made one of the court-men. Then Thorarin rigged out his vessel, and when he was ready he took on board King Hrorek. When Thorarin took leave of King Olaf, he said, "Should it now turn out, king, as is not improbable, and often happens, that we cannot effect the voyage to Greenland, but must run for Iceland or other countries, how shall I get rid of this king in a way that will be satisfactory to you ?" The king — ^"If thou OMnest to Iceland, deliver him into the hands of Gudmund Eyolfson, or of Skapte, the lagman, or of some other chief who will receive my tdcens and message of friendship. But if thou comest to other countries nearer to this, do so with him that thou canst know with certainty that King Hrorek never again shall appear in Norway ; but do so only when thou seest no other way of doing whatsoever." When Thorarin was ready for sea, and got a wind, he sailed outside of all the rocks and islands, and when he was to the north of the Naze set right out into the ocean. He did not immediately get a good wind, but he avoided coming near the land. He sailed until he made land which he knew, in the south part of Iceland, and sailed west around the land out into the Greenland ocean. There he encountered neavy storms, and drove long about upon the ocean ; but when summer was coming to an end he landed again in Iceland in Breidafjocd. Thorgils Arason* was the first man oi any consequence who came to him. Thorarin brings him the king's salutation, mes- sage, and tokens, with which was the desire about King Hrorek's reception. Thorgils received these in a friendly way, and invited King Hrorek to his house, where he stayed all winter. But he did not like being there, and begged that Thorgils would let him go to Gudmund; saying he had heard some time or other that there in Gudmund's house, was the most sumptuous way of liv- ing in Icdand, and that it was intended he should be in Gudmund's hands. Thorgils let him have his desire, and conducted him with some men to Gudmund at Modruveller. Gudmund received Hrorek kindly on ac- count of the king's message, and he stayed there the next winter. He did not like being there either; and then Gudmund gave him a habitation upon a small farm called Kalfskin, where there were but few neighbours. There Hrordc passed the third winter, and said that since he had laid down his kingdom he thought himself most com- fortably situated here ; for here he was most respected by all. The summer after Hrorek fell sick, and died; and it is said he is the only king whose bones rest in Iceland. Thorarin Nefiulfson was afterwards for a long time upcMi voyages; but sometimes he was with King Olaf. >Thorgil* was the son of Are ICareon, who Ttaited America (Vlndland). ThorKtlB. who was Btill allre in the year , was noted for his Iclndness toward all persecuted persons. . — ^BATTLE IN UI.FREKS-FJORD. The summer that Thorarin went with Hrorek to Ice- land, Hjalte Skeggjason went also to Iceland, and King Olaf gave him many friendly gifts with him when they parted. The same summer Eyvind Urarhom went on an expedition to the West sea, and came in autumn to Ireland, to the Irish king Konofogor.* In autumn Einar earl of Orkney and this Irish king met in Ulfreks-fjord, and there was a great battle, in which Konofogor gained the victory, having many more people. The earl fled with a single ship, and came back about autumn to Ork- ney, after losing most of his men and all the booty they had made. The earl was much displeased with his ex- pedition, and threw the blame upon the Northmen, who had been in the battle on the side of the Irish king, for making him lose the victory. . — OLAF PREPARES I^OR HIS BRIDAI, JOURNEY. Now we beg^n again our story where we let it slip— - at King Olaf's travelling to his bridal, to receive his betrothed Ingegerd the king's daughter. The king had a great body of men with him, and so chosen a body that all the great people he could lay hold of followed him; and every man of consequence had a chosen band of men with him distinguished by birth or other qualifications. The whole were well appointed, and equipped in ships, weapons, and clothes. They steered the fleet eastwards to Konungahella ; but when they arrived there they heard ^Konofogor's Irlsb name was Connor. nothing of the Swedish king and none of his men had come there. King Olaf remained a long time in sum- mer () at Konungahella, and endeavored carefully to make out what people said of the Swedish king's move- ments, or what were his designs ; but no person could tell him anything for certain about it. Then he sent men up to Gautland to Earl Ragnvald, to ask him if he knew how it came to pass that the Swedish king did not come to the meeting agreed on. The earl replies, that he did not know. "But as soon," said he, "as I hear, I shall send some of my men to King Olaf, to let him know if there be any other cause for the delay than the multitude of affairs; as it often happens that the Swedish king's movements are delayed by this more than he could have expected." .— OF THE SWEDISH king's CHILDREN. This Swedish king, Olaf Eirikson, had first a concu- Wne who was called Edla, a daughter of an earl of Vind- land, who had been captured in war, and therefore was called the king's slave-girl. Their children were Emund, Astrid, Holmfrid. . . . They had, besides, a son, who was born the day before St Jacob's-day. When the boy was to be christened the bishop called him Jacob, which the Swedes did not like, as there never had been a Swedish king called Jacob. All King Olaf's children were handsome in appearance, and clever from child- hood. The queen was proud, and did not behave well towards her step-children ; therefore the king sent his son Emund to Vindland, to be fostered by his mother's rela- tions, where he for a long time neglected his Christianity. The king's daughter, Astrid, was brought up in West Gautland, in the house of a worthy man called Egil. She was a very lovely girl: her words came well into her conversation; she was merry, but modest, and very gen- erous. When she was grown up she was often in her father's houses and every man thought well of her. King Olaf was haughty and harsh in his speech. He took very ill the uproar and clamour the country people had raised against him at the Upsala Thing, as they had threatened him with violence, for which he laid the chief blame on Earl Ragnvald. He made no preparation for the bridal, according to the agreement to marry his daughter Ingegerd to Olaf the king of Norway, and to meet him on the borders for that purpose. As the sum- mer advanced many of his men were anxious to know what the king's intentions were; whether to keep to the agreement with King Olaf, or break his word, and with it the peace of the country. But no one was so bold as to ask the king, although they ccxnplained of it to In- gegerd, and besought her to find out what the king in- tended. She replied, "I have no inclination to speak to the king again about the matters between him and King Olaf ; for he answered me ill enough once before when I brought forward Olaf's name." In the meantime In- gegerd, the king's daughter, took it to heart, became mel- ancholy and sorrowful, and yet very curious to know what the king intended. She had much suspicion that he would not keep his word and promise to King Olaf; for Ke a{q)eared quite enraged whenever Olaf the Thick's name was in any way mentioned. .— OF THE SWEDISH KING OLAP's HUNTING. One morning early the king rode out with his dogs and falcons, and his men around hin\ When they let slip the falcons the king's falcon killed two black-cocks in one flight, and three in another. The dogs ran and brought the birds when they had fallen to the ground. The king ran after them^ took the game from them him- self, was delighted with his sport, and said, "It will be long before the most of you have such success." They agreed in this; adding, that in their opinion no king had such luck in hunting as he had. Then the king rode home with his followers in high spirits. Ingegerd, the king's daughter, was just going out of her lodging when the king came riding into the yard, and she turned round and saluted him. He saluted her in return, laughing; produced the birds, and told her the success of his chase. "Dost thou know of any king," said he, "who made so great a capture in so short a time?" "It is indeed," replied she, "a good morning's hunting, to have got five black-cocks ; but it was a still better when, in one morning, the king of Norway, Olaf, took five kings, and subdued all their kingdoms." When the king heard this he sprang from his horse, turned to Ingegerd, and said, "Thou shalt know, In- gegerd, that however great thy love may be for this man, thou shalt never get him, nor he get thee. I will marry thee to some chief with whom I can be in friendship; but never can I be a friend of the man who has robbed me of my kingdom, and done me great mischief by ma- rauding and killing through the land." With that their conversation broke off, and each went away. . — OLA^ THE NORWAY KING'S COUNSELS. Ing^fcrd, the king's daughter, had now full certainty of King Olaf's intention, and immediately sent men to West Gautland to Earl Ragnvald, and let him know how it stood with the Swedish king, and that the agreement made with the king of Norway was broken; and advis- ing the earl and people of West Gautland to be upon their guard, as no peace from the people of Norway was to be expected. When the earl got this news he sent a mes- sage through all his kingdom, and told the people to be cautious, and prepared in case of war or pillage from the side of Norway. He also sent men to King Olaf the Thick, and let him know the message he had received, and likewise that he wished for himself to hold peace and friendship with King Olaf; and therefore he begged him not to pillage in his kingdom. When this message came to King Olaf it made him both angry and sorry; and for some days nobody got a word from him. He then held a House-Thing with his men, and in it Bjorn arose, and first took the word. He began his speech by telling that he had proceeded eastward last winter to es- tablish a peace, and he told how kindly Earl Ragnvald had received him; and, on the other hand, how crossly and heavily the Swedish king had accepted the pro- posal "And the agreement," said he, "which was made, was made more by means of the strength of the people, the power of Thorgny, and the aid of the earl, than by the king's good-will. Now, on these grounds, we know for certain that it is the king who has caused the breach of the agreement; therefore we ought by no means to make the earl suffer, for it is proved that he is King Olaf's firm friend." The king wished now to hear from the chiefs and other leaders of troops what course he should adc^. "Whether shall we go against Gautland, and maraud there with such men as we have got; or is there any other course that appears to you more advis- kWe?" He spoke both long and well. Thereafter many powerful men spoke, and all were at last agreed in dissuading from hostilities. They argued thus : — ^"Although we are a numerous body of men who are assembled here, yet they are all only people of weight and power; but, for a war expedition, young men who are in quest of property and consideration are more suit- able. It is also the custom of people of weight and power, when they go into battle or strife, to have many people with them whom they can send out before them for their defence; for the men do not fight worse who have little property, but even better than those who are brought up in the midst of wealth." After these con- siderations the king resolved to dismiss this army from any expediticwi, and to g^ve every man leave to return home; but proclaimed, at the same time, that next sum- mer the people over the whole country would be called out in a general levy, to march immediately against the Swedish king, and punish him for his want of faith. All thought well of this plan. Then the king returned nwth- wards to Viken, and took his abode at Sarpsborg in au- tumn, and ordered all things necessary for winter pro- vision to be collected there; and he remained there all winter () with a great retinue. . — SIGVAT THE skald's JOURNEY EASTWARDS. People talked variously about Earl Ragnvald; some said he was King Olaf's sincere friend; others did not think this likely, and thought it stood in his power to warn the Swedish king to keep his word, and the agree- ment concluded on between him and King Olaf . Sigvat the poet often expressed himself in conversation as Earl Ragnvald's great friend, and often spoke of him to King Olaf; and he offered to the king to travel to Earl Ragn- vald's and spy after the Swedish king's doings, and to attempt, if possible, to get the settlement of the agree- ment. The king thought well of this plan; for he oft, and with pleasure, spoke to his confidential friends about Ingegerd, the king's daughter. Early in winter () Sigvat the skald, with two companions, left Sarpsborg, and proceeded eastwards over the moors to Gautland. Before Sigvat and King Olaf parted he composed these verses : — "Sti happy in thy hall* O king ! The farewell word Is spoken now — Till I come back, and good news The word Uiat to the heart lies bring : nearest : The skald will bid thee now fare- ' And yet, O king ! before I go, well, One word on what I hold the dearest* Till he brings news well worth to I fain would say, 'O ! may Ood sare tell. To thee the bravest of the brsTe, He wishes to the helmed hero The land which is thy right by Health, and long life, and a full flow birth !' — Of honour, riches, and success — This is my dearest wish on earth." And, parting, ends his song with this. ^ Then they proceeded eastwards towards Eid, and had difficulty in crossing the river in a little cobble; but they escaped, though with danger: and Sigvat sang: — "On shore tbe crazy boat I drew. To see us In this cobble sailing. Wet to the skin, and frightened too ; And all our sca-sklll unavailing. For truly there was danger then : But better did it end, you see. The mocking hill elves laughed again. Than any of us could foresee." Then they went through the Eid forest, and Sigvat sang:— "A hundred miles through Bid's old With many a grumble, many a wood, groan. And devil an alehouse, bad or good, — A hundred miles we trudged right A hundred miles, and tree and sky on ; Were all that met the weary eye. And every king's man of us bore On each foot-sole a bleeding sore." They came then through Gautland, and in the evening reached a farm-house called Hof. The door was bolted so that they could not come in; and the servants told them it was a fast-day, and they could not get admittance. Sigvat sang: — "Now up to Hof in haste I hie. My trouble with few words was And round the house and yard I pry. paid — Doors are fast locked — ^but yet "TIs holy time,' the house-folks said. within, Heathens ! to shove me thus away ! Methinks. I hear some stir and din. I' the foul fiend's claws may you I peep, with nose close to the ground, all lay." Below the door, but small cheer found. Then they came to another farm, where the good- wife was standing at the door, and told them not to come in, for they were busy with a sacrifice to the elves. Sigvat sang of it thus: — " *My poor lad, enter not, I pray !* The ugly witch drove me away. Thus to me did the old wife say ; Like scared wolf sneaking from his 'For all of us are heathens here, prey. And I for Odin's wrath do fear.' When she told me that there within Was sacrifice to foul Odin." Another evening they came to three bondes, all of them ? SAGA OP OLAP HARALDSON of the name of Olfver, who drove them away. Sigvat sang: — "Three of one nune, TraTellers may come To their great ehame. Prom oar Tiking-home, The trareller late Unbidden guests DroTe from their gate I At these Olyers' feasts." They went on farther that evening, and came to a fourth bonde, who was considered the most hospitable man in the country ; but he drove them away also. Then Sigvat sang: — "Then on I went to seek night's rest Bad is the best, and the skald's From one who was said to be the praise best. Cannot be giren to churls like these. The kindest host in the land around, I almost wished that Asia's son And there I hoped to have quarters In the Bid forest had been one, found. When we, his men, were even put But, faith, 'twas HtUe use to try ; Lodging to crare in a heathen's hut. For not so much as raise an eye I knew not where the earl to find ; Would this huge wielder of the Four times driven off by men unkind, spade : I wandered now the whole night o'er. If he's the best, it must be said Driven like a dog from door to door." Now when they came to Earl Ragnvald's the earl said they must have had a severe journey. Then Sigvat sang: — "The message-bearers of the king That we cared much to lag behind. From Norway came his words to But Bid forest safe we found, bring; From robbers free to the eastern And truly for their master they bound : Hard work have done before to-day. This praise to thee, great earl, is We did not loiter on the road, due — But on we pushed for thy abode : The skald says only what is true." Thy folk, in sooth, were not so kind Earl Ragnvald gave Sigvat a gold arm-ring, and a woman said "he had not made the journey with his black eyes for nothing." Sigvat sang: — "Hy coal-black eyes Thy eyes to see. Dost thou despise? O'er Iceland's main. They have lighted me O'er hill and plain : Across the sea Where Nanna's lad would fear to be To gain this golden prise: They have lighted me." They have lighted me, Sigvat was long entertained kindly and well in the house of Earl Ragnvald. The earl heard by letters, sent by Ingegerd the king's daughter, that ambassadors from King Jarisleif were come from Russia to King Olaf of Svithjod to ask his daughter Ingegerd in marriage, and that King Olaf had given them hopes that he would agree to it. About the same time King Olaf's daughter Astrid came to Earl Ragnvald's court, and a great feast was made for her. Sigvat soon became acquainted by con- versation with the king's daughter, and she knew him by name and family, for Ottar the skald, Sigvat's sister's son, had long intimate acquaintance with King Olaf, the Swedish king. Among other things talked of. Earl Ragn- vald asked Sigvat if the king of Norway would not marry the king's daughter Astrid. "If he would do that," said he, "I think we need not ask the Swedish king for his consent." Astrid, the king's daughter, said exactly the same. Soon after Sigvat returns home, and comes to King Olaf at Sarpsborg a little before Yule. When Sigvat came home to King Olaf he went into the hall, and, loccing around on the walls, he sang : — "When our men Uieir arms are tak- Shields, helms, and pansera,^ all in Ing row, The raven's wings with greed are Stripped in the field from lifeless shaking ; foe. When they come back to drink in In truth no royal nail comes near hall Thy splendid nail in precious gear." Brave spoil they bring to deck the wall- Afterwards Sigvat told of his journey, and sang these verses : — "The king's court-guards desire to With Joyless weather, wind and rain, hear And pinching cold, and feet in pain-— About our Journey and our cheer, With sleep, fatigue, and want op- Our ships in autumn reach the pressed, sound. No songs had we — we scarce had Bat long the way to Swedish ground. rest." >The Pantzer — a complete suit of plate-armour. And when he came into conversation with the king he sang : — "When first I met the earl I told In Rasnyald'e house shall find a How our king loved a friend so bold ; home — How in his heart he loved a man At Ragnyald's court be still wel- With hand to do, and head to plan. come. Thou generous king ! with zeal and When first I came the people's mind care Incensed by Eirik's son I find ; I sought to advance thy great affair ; And he refused thy wish to meet. For messengers from Russian land Alleging treachery and deceit Had come to ask Ingegerd's hand. But I explained how it was here. The earl, thy friend, bids thee, who For earl and king, advantage clear art With thee to hold the strictest peace. So mild and generous of heart. And make all force and foray cease. His servants all who here may come The earl is wise, and understands To cherish in thy royal home ; The need of peace for both the And thine who may come to the east lands ; In Ragnvald's hall shall find a And he entreats thee not to break feast— The present peace for vengeance's sake!" He immediately tells King Olaf the news he had heard ; and at first the king was much cast down when he heard of King Jarisleif's suit, and he said he expected nothing but evil from King Olaf ; but wished he might be able to return it in such a way as Olaf should remember. A while afterwards the king asks Sigvat about various news from Gautland. Sigvat spoke a great deal about Astrid, the king's daughter; how beautiful she was, how agree- able in her conversation ; and that all declared she was in no respect behind her sister Ingegerd. The king listened with pleasure to this. Then Sigvat told him the con- versation he and Astrid had had between themselves, and the king was delighted at the idea. "The Swedish king," said he, "will scarcely think that I will dare to marry a daughter of his without his consent." But this speech of his was not known generally. King Olaf and Sigvat the skald often spoke about it. The king inquired par- ticularly of Sigvat what he knew about Earl Ragnvald, and "if he be truly our friend," said the king. Sigvat said that the earl was King Olaf's best friend, and sang these verses: — "The mighty Olaf should not cease Of all who dwell hy the Bast Sea With him to hold good terms and So friendly no man is as he : peace; At all their Things he takes thy For this good earl unwearied shows part» He is thy friend where all are foes. And is thy firm friend, hand and heart." . — RAGNVALD AND ASTRID's JOURNEY. After Yule (), Thord Skotakol, a sister's son of Sigvat, attended by one of Sigvat's footboys, who had been with Sigvat the autumn before in Gautland, went quite secretly from the court, and proceeded to Gautland. When they came to Earl Ragnvald's court, they pro- duced the tokens which Olaf himself had sent to the earl, that he might place confidence in Thord. Without de- lay the earl made himself ready for a journey, as did Astrid, the king's daughter; and the earl took with him men, who were chosen both from among his court- men and the sons of great bondes, and who were carefully equipped in all things, clothes, weapons, and horses. Then they rode northwards to Sarpsborg, and came there at Candlemas. .— OF KING OI^^S MARRIAGE. King Olaf had put all things in order in the best style. There were all sorts of liquors of the best that could be got, and all other preparations of the same quality. Many people of consequence were summoned in from their residences. When the earl arrived with his retinue the king received him particularly well ; and the earl was shown to a large, good, and remarkably well-furnished house for his lodging; and serving-men and others were appointed to wait on him; and nothing was wanting, in any respect, that could grace a feast Now when the entertainment had lasted some days, the king, the earl, and Astrid had a conference together; and the result of it was, that Earl Ragnvald contracted Astrid, daughter of the Swedish king Olaf , to Olaf king of Norway, with the same dowry which had before been settled that her sister Ingegerd should have from home. King Olaf, on his part, should give Astrid the same bride-gift that had been intended for her sister Ingegerd. Thereupon an eke was made to the feast, and King Olaf and Queen Astrid's wedding was drunk in great festivity. Earl Ragnvald then returned to Gautland, and the king gave the earl many great and good gifts at parting; and they parted the dearest of friends, which they continued to be while they lived. . THE AGREEMENT BROKEN BY OI.AF. The spring () thereafter came ambassadors from King Jarisleif in Novgorod to Svithjod, to treat more par- ticularly about the promise given by King Olaf the pre- ceding summer to marry his daughter Ingegerd to King Jarisleif. King Olaf talked about the business with In- gegerd, and told her it was his pleasure that she should marry King Jarisleif. She replied, "If I marry King Jarisleif, I must have as my bride-gift the town and earl- dom of Ladoga." The Russian ambassadors agreed to this, on the part of their sovereign. Then said Ingegercl, "If I go east to Russia, I must choose the man in Svithjod whom I think most suitable to accompany me; and I must stipulate that he shall not have any less title, or in any respect less dignity, privilege, and consideration there, than he has here." This the king and the ambas- sadors agreed to, and gave their hands upon it in con- firmation of the condition. "And who,'* asked the king, "is the man thou wilt take with thee as thy attendent ?*' "That man," she replied, "is my relation Earl Ragn- vald." The king replies, "I have resolved to reward Earl Ragnvald in a different manner for his treason against his master in going to Norway with my daughter, and giving her as a concubine to that fellow, who he knew was my greatest enemy. I shall hang him up this sum- mer,*' Then Ingegerd begged her father to be true to the promise he had made her, and had confirmed by giving his hand upon it. By her entreaties it was at last agreed that the king should promise to let Earl Ragnvald go in peace from Svithjod, but that he should never again ap- pear in the king's presence, or ccMne back to Svithjod while Olaf reigned. Ingegerd then sent messengers to the earl to bring him these tidings, and to appoint a place of meeting. The earl immediately prepared for his jour- ney ; rode up to East Gautland ; procured there a vessel, and, with his retinue, joined Ingegerd, and they pro- ceeded together eastward to Russia. There Ingegerd was married to King Jarisleif ; and their children were Valdemar, Vissivald, and Holte the Bold. Queen In- gegerd gave Earl Ragnvald the town of Ladoga, and earldom belonging to it. Earl Ragnvald was there a long time, and was a celebrated man. His sons and Ingebjorg's were Earl Ulf and Earl Eilif. . — HISTORY OF THE LAGMAN EMUND. There was a man called Emund of Skara, who was lagman of West Gautland, and was a man of great under- standing and eloquence, and of liigh birth, great connec- tion, and very wealthy ; but was considered deceitful, and not to be trusted. He was the most powerful man in West Gautland after the earl was gone. The same spring () that Earl Ragnvald left Gautland the Gautland people held a Thing among themselves, and often ex- pressed their anxiety to each other about what the Swed- ish king might do. They heard he was incensed because they had rather held in friendship with the king of Nor- way than striven against him; and he was also enraged against those who had attended his daughter Astrid to Norway. Some proposed to seek help and support from the king of Norway, and to offer him their services ; others dissuaded from this measure, as West Gautland had no strength to oppose to the Swedes. "And the king of Norway," said they, "is far from us, the chief strength of his country very distant ; and therefore let us first send men to the Swedish king to attempt to come to scmie re- conciliation with him. If that fail, we can still turn to the king of Norway." Then the bondes asked Emund to undertake this mission, to which he agreed; and he proceeded with thirty men to East Gautland, where there were many of his relaticwis and friends, who received him hospitably. He conversed there with the most pru- dent men about this difficult business; and they were all unanimous on one point, — ^that the king's treatment of them was against law and reascwi. From thence Emund went into Svithjod, and conversed with many men of consequence, who all expressed themselves in the same way. Emund continued his journey thus, until one day, towards evening, he arrived at Upsala, where he and his retinue took a good lodging, and stayed there all night. The next day Emund w^aited upon the king, who was just then sitting in the Thing surrounded by many peo- ple. Emund went before him, bent his knee, and saluted him. The king looked at him> saluted him, and asked him what news he brought. Emund replies, "There is little news among us Gaut- landers ; but it appears to* us a piece of remarkable news that the proud, stupid Atte, in Vermaland, whom we look upon as a great sportsman, went up to the forest in win- ter with his snow-shoes and his bow. After he had got as many furs in the mountains as filled his hand-sledge so full that he could scarcely drag it, he returned home from the woods. But on the way he saw a squirrel in the trees, and shot at it, but did not hit ; at which he was so angry, that he left the sledge to run after the squirrel : but still the squirrel sprang where the wood was thickest, sometimes among the roots of the trees, sometimes in the branches, sometimes among the arms that stretch from tree to tree. When Atte shot at it the arrows flew too high or too low, and the squirrel never jumped so that Atte could get a fair aim at him. He was so eager upon this chase that he ran the whole day after the squirrel, and yet could not get hold of it. It was now getting dark ; so he threw himself down upon the snow, as he was wont, and lay there all night in a heavy snow-storm. Next day Atte got up to look after his sledge, but never did he find it again ; and so he returned hcwne. And this is the only news, king, I have to tell." The king says, "This is news of but little importance, if it be all thou hast to tell." Emund replies, "Lately something happened which may well be called news. Gaute Tofason went with five war- ships out of the Gaut river, and when he was lying at the Eikrey Isles there came five large Danish merchant- ships there, Gaute and his men immediately took four of the great vessels, and made a great booty without the loss of a man ; but the fifth vessel slipped out to sea, and sailed away. Gaute gave chase with one ship, and at first came nearer to them; but as the wind increased, the Danes got away. Then Gaute wanted to turn back ; but a storm came on so that he lost his ship at Hlesey, with all the goods, and the greater part of his crew. In the meantime his people were waiting for him at the Eikrey Isles ; but the Danes came over in fifteen merchant-ships, killed them all, and took all the booty they had made. So but little luck had they with their greed of plunder." The king replied, "That is great news, and worth be- ing told ; but what now is thy errand here ?" Emund replies, "I travel, sire, to obtain your judg- ment in a difficult case, in which our law and the Upsala law do not agree." The king asks, "What is thy appeal case?" Emund replies, "There were two noble-born men of equal birth, but unequal in property and disposition. They quarrelled about some land, and did each other much damage; but most was done to him who was the more powerful of the two. This quarrel, however, was set- tled, and judged of at a General Thing; and the judg- ment was, that the most powerful should pay a compen- sation. But at the first payment, instead of paying a goose, he paid a gosling; for an old swine he paid a suck- ing pig; and for a mark of stamped gold only a half- mark, and for the other half-mark nothing but clay and dirt ; and, moreover, threatened, in the most violent way, the people whom he forced to receive such goods in pay- ment Now, sire, what is your judgment?" The king replies, "He shall pay the full equivalent whom the judgment ordered to do so, and that faithfully ; and further, threefold to his king : and if payment be not made within a year and a day, he shall be cut off from all his property, his goods confiscated, and half go the king's house, and half to the other party." Emund took witnesses to this judgment among the most considerable of the men who were present, accord- ing to the laws which were held in the Upsala Thing. He then saluted the king, and went his way; an other men brought their cases before the king, and he sat late in the day upon the cases of the people. Now when the king came to table, he asked where Lagman Emund was. It was answered, he was home at his lodgings. "Then," said the king, "go after him, and tell him to be my guest to-day." Thereafter the dishes were borne in ; then came the musicians with harps, fiddles, and musical instruments ; and lastly, the cup-bearers. The king was particularly merry, and had many great people at table with him, so that he thought little of Emund. The king drank the whole day, and slept all the night after; but in the morning the king awoke, and recollected what Emimd had said the day before: and when he had put on his clothes, he let his wise men be summoned to him; for he had always twelve of the wisest men who sat in judg- ment with him, and treated the more difficult cases ; and that was no easy business, for the king was ill-pleased if the judgment was not according to justice, and yet it was of no use to contradict him. In this meeting the king ordered Lagman Emund to be called before them. The messenger returned, and said, "Sire, Lagman Emund rode away yesterday as soon as he had dined." "Then," said the king, "tell me, ye good chiefs, what may have been the meaning of that law-case which Emund laid be- fore us yesterday?" They replied, "You must have considered it yourself, if you think there was any other meaning under it than what he said." The king replied, "By the two noble-bom men whom he spoke of, who were at variance, and of whom one was more powerful than the other, and who did each other damage, he must have meant us and Olaf the Thick." They answered, "It is, sire, as you say." The king — "Our case was judged at the Upsala Thing. But what was his meaning when he said that bad pay- ment was made; namely, a gosHng for a goose, a pig for a swine, and clay and dirt for half of the money instead of gold?" Arnvid the Blind replied, "Sire, red gold and clay are things very unlike; but the difference is still greater be- tween king and slave. You promised Olaf the Thick your daughter Ingegerd, who, in all branches of her descent, is born of kings, and of the Upland Swedish race of kings, which is the most noble in the North ; for it is traced up to the gods themselves. But now Olaf has got Astrid ; and although she is a king's child, her mother was but a slave-woman, and, besides, of Vindish race. Great diflFerence, indeed, must there be between these kings, when the one takes thankfully such a match ; and now it is evident, as might be expected, that no Northman is to be placed by the side of the Upsala kings. Let us all give thanks that it has so turned out ; for the gods have long protected their descendants, although many now neglect this faith." There were three brothers: — AmVid the Blind, who had a great understanding, but was so weak-sighted that he was scarcely fit for war; the second was Thorvid the Stammerer, who could not utter two words together at one time, but was remarkably bold and courageous; the third was Freyvid the Deaf, who was hard of hearing. All these brothers were rich and powerful men, of noble birth, great wisdomi, and all very dear to the king. Then said King Olaf, "What means that which EmuncI said about Atte the Dull?" None made any reply, but the one looked at the other. "Speak freely," said the king. Then said Thorvid the Stammerer, "Atte— quarrel- some — greedy — ^jealous — deceitful— dull." Then said the king, "To whom are these words of re- proach and mockery applied?" Fre)rvid the Deaf replied, "We will speak more clearly if we have your permission." The king — "Speak freely, Freyvid, what you will." Frejrvid took up the word, and spoke. "My brother Thorvid, who is considered to be the wisest of us broth- ers, holds the words 'quarrelsome, greedy, jealous, dull,' to be cme and the same thing; for it applies to him who is weary of peace, longs for small things without attaining them, while he lets great and useful things pass away as they came. I am deaf; yet so loud have many spokei> out, that I can perceive that all men, both great and small, take it ill that you have not kept your promise to the king of Norway; and, worse than that, that you broke the decision of the community as it was delivered at Up- sala Thing. You need not fear either the king of Nor- way, or the king of Denmark, or any other, so long as the Swedish army will follow you ; but if the people of the country unanimously turn against you, we, your friends, see no counsel that can be of advantage to you." The king asks, "Who is the chief who dares to betray the country and me?" Freyvid replies, "All Swedes desire to have the ancient laws, and their full rights. Look but here, sire, how many chiefs are sitting in council with you. I think, in truth, we are but six whom you call your coun- cillors : all the others, so far as I know, have ridden forth through the districts to hold Things with the people ; and we will not conceal it from you, that the message-token has gone forth to assemble a Retribution-thing.^ All of us brothers have been invited to take part in the decisions of this council, but none of us will bear the name of trai- tor to the sovereign ; for that our father never was." Then the king said, "What council shall we take in this dangerous affair that is in our hands? Good chiefs give me council, that I may keep my kingdom, and the heritage of my forefathers ; for I cannot enter into strife against the whole Swedish force." Amvid the Blind replies, "Sire, it is my advice that you ride down to Aros with such men as will follow you ; take your ship there, and go out into the Maeler lake; summon all people to meet you ; proceed no longer with haughtiness, but promise every man the law and rights of old established in the country ; keep back in this way the message-token, for it cannot as yet, in so short a time, have travelled far through the land. Send, then, those of your men in whom you have the most confidence to those who have this business on hand, and try if this uproar can be appeased." The king says that he will adopt this advice. "I will," says he, "that ye brothers undertake this business; for trust to you the most among my men." iRefslthtns — a Thing for ponisbment bj penalty or deaUi for crimes and mledemeanours. — L. Thorvid the Stammerer said, "I remain behind. Let Jacob, your son, go with them, for that is necessary." Then said Freyvid, "Let us do as Thorvid says: he will not leave you, and I and Arnvid must travel." This counsel was followed. Olaf went to his ships, and set out into the Maelar lake, and many people came to . him. The brothers Arnvid and Freyvid rode out to Ull- araker, and had with them the king's son Jacob ; but they kept it a secret that he was there. The brothers ob- served that there was a great concourse and war-gather- ing, for the bondes held the Thing night and day. When Arnvid and Freyvid met their relations and friends, they said they would join with the people; and many agreed to leave the management of the business in the hands of the brothers. But all, as one man, declared they would no longer have King Olaf over them, and no longer suffer his unlawful proceedings, and over-weening pride which would not listen to any man's remonstrances, even when the great chiefs spoke the truth to him. When Freyvid observed the heat of the people, he saw in what a bad sit- uation the king's cause was. He summoned the chiefs of the land to a meeting with him, and addressed them thus : — "It appears to me, that if we are to depose Olaf Eirikson from his kingdom, we Swedes of the Uplands should be the leading men in it ; for so it has always been, that the counsel which the Upland chiefs have resolved among themselves has always been followed by the men of the rest of the country. Our forefathers did not need to take advice from the West Gautlanders about the gov- ernment of the Swedes. Now we will not be so degen- crate as to need Emund to give us counsel; but let us, friends and relations, unite ourselves for the purpose of coming to a determination." All agreed to this, and thought it was well said. Thereafter the people joined this union which the Upland chiefs made among them- selves, and Freyvid and Amvid were chiefs of the whole assemblage. When Emund heard this he suspected how the matter would end, and went to both the brothers to have a conversation with thenk Then Freyvid asked Emund, "Who, in your opinion, should we take for king, in case Olaf Eirikson's days are at an end ?" Emund — ^"He whom we think best suited to it, whether he be of the race of chiefs or not." Freyvid answers, "We Uplanders will not, in our time, have the kingdom go out of the old race of our ancestors, which has given us kings for a long course of generations^ so long as we have so good a choice as now. King Olaf has two sons, one of whom we will choose for king, al- though there is a great difference between them. The one is noble-bom, and of Swedish race on both sides ; the other is a slave-woman's son, and of Vindish race on the mother's side." This decision was received with loud applause, and all would have Jacob for king. Then said Emund, "Ye Upland Swedes have the power this time to determinate the matter ; but I will tell you what will happen : — some of those who now will listen to nothing but that the kingdom remain in the old race will live to see the day when they will wish the kingdcwn in another race, as being of more advantage" Thereupon the brothers Fre)rvid and Amvid led the king's son Jacob into the Thing, and saluted him with the title of king; and the Swedes gave him the name of Onund, which he afterwards retained as long as he lived. He was then ten or twelve years old. Thereafter King Onund took a court, and chose chiefs to be around him ; and they had as many attendants in their suite as were thought necessary, so that he gave the whole assemblage of bondes leave to return home. After that ambassadors went between the two kings ; and at last they had a meet- ing, and came to an agreement. Olaf was to remain king over the country as long as he lived ; but should hold peace and be reconciled with King Olaf of Norway, and also with all who had taken part in this business. Onund should also be king, and have a part of the land, such as the father and son should agree upon ; but should be bound to support the bondes in case King Qlaf did anything which the bondes would not suffer. . — MJSETING Ot RECONCILIATION BETWEEN THE KINGS, AND THEIR GAME AT DICE. Thereafter ambassadors were sent to Norway to King Olaf, with the errand that he should come with his retinue to a meeting at Konungahella with the Swedish kings, and that the Swedish kings would there confirm their reconciliation. When King Olaf heard this mes- sage, he was willing, now as formerly, to enter into the agreement, and proceeded to the appointed place. There the Swedish kings also came; and the relations, when they met, bound themselves mutually to peace and agreement Olaf the Swedish king was then remark- ably mild in manner, and agreeable to talk with. Thor- stein Frode relates of this meeting, that there was an in- habited district in Rising which had sometimes belonged to Norway, and sometimes to Gautland. The kings came to the agreement between themselves that they would cast lots by the dice to determine who should have this property, and that he who threw the highest should have the district The Swedish king threw two sixes, and said King Olaf need scarcely throw. He replied, while shak- ing the dice in his hand, "Although there be two sixes on the dice, it would be easy, sire, for God Almighty to let them turn up in my favour." Then he threw, and had sixes also. Now the Swedish king threw again, and had again two sixes. Olaf king of Norway then threw, and had six upon one dice, and the other split in two, so as to make seven eyes in all upon it; and the district was adjudged to the king of Norway. We have heard noth- ing else of any interest that took place at this meeting; and the kings separated the dearest of friends with each other. .— OF OLAI^ OP NORWAY, AFTER THE MEETING. After the events now related Olaf returned with his people to Viken. He went first to Tunsberg, and re- mained there a short time, and then proceeded to the north of the country. In harvest-time he sailed north to Throndhjem, and had winter provision laid in there, and remained there all winter (). Olaf Haraldson was now sole and supreme king of Norway, and the whole of that sovereignty, as Harald Harfager had possessed it, and had the advantage over that monarch of being the only king in the land. By a peaceful agreement he had also recovered that part of the country which Olaf the Swedish king had before occupied; and that part of the country which the Danish king had got he retook by force, and ruled over it as elsewhere in the country. The Danish king Canute ruled at that time both over Denmark and England; but he himself was in England for the most part, and set chiefs over the country in Denmark, without at that time making any claim upon Norway. . — HISTORY Ot THE EARI.S Ot ORKNEY. It is related that in the days of Harald Harfager, the king of Norway, the islands of Orkney, which before had been only a resort for vikings, were settled. The first earl in the Orkney Islands was called Sigurd, who was a son of Eystein .Glumra, and brother of Ragnvald earl of More. After Sigurd his son Guthorm was earl for one year. After him Torf-Einar, a son of Ragntald, took the earldom, and was long earl, and was a man of great power. Halfdan Haleg, a son of Harald Harfager, assaulted Torf-Einar, and drove him from the Orkney Islands; but Einar came back and killed Halfdan in the island Ronaldsha. Thereafter King Harald came with an army to the Orkney Islands. Einar fled to Scotland, and King Harald made the people of the Orkney Islands give up their udal properties, and hold them under oath from him. Thereafter the king and earl were reconciled, so that the earl became the king's man, and took the country as a fief from him; but that it should pay no scat or feu-duty, as it was at that time much plundered by vikings. The earl paid the king sixty marks of gold; and then King Harald went to plunder in Scotland, as related in the Glym Drapa, After Torf-Einar, his sons Arnkel, Er- lend, and Thorfin Hausakljufer^ ruled over these lands. In their days came Eirik Blood-axe from Norway, and subdued these earls. Arnkel and Erlend fell in a war ex- pedition ; but Thorfin ruled the countrj^ long, and became an old man. His sons were Arnfin, Havard, Hlodver, Liot, and Skule. Their mother was Grelad, a daughter of Earl Dungad of Caithness. Her mother was Groa, a daughter of Thorstein Raud. In the latter days of Earl Thorfin came Eirik Blood-axe's sons, who had fled from Earl Hakon out of Norway, and committed great excesses in Orkney. Earl Thorfin died on a bed of sickness, and his sons after him ruled over the country, and there are many stories concerning them. Hlodver lived the long- est of them, and ruled alone over this country. His son was Sigurd the Thick, who took the earldom after him, and became a powerful man and a great warrior. In his days came Olaf Trygvason from his viking expedition in the Western ocean, with his troops, landed in Orkney and took Earl Sigurd prisoner in South Ronaldsha, where he lay with one ship. King Olaf allowed the earl to ran- ^HausakUufer— ihe tplltter of skulls.— L. som his life by letting himself be baptized, adopting the true faith, becoming his man, and introducing Christianity into all the Orkney Islands. As a hostage, King Olaf iock his son, who was called Hunde or Whelp. Then Olaf went to Norway, and became king; and Hunde was several years with King Olaf in Norway, and died there. After his death Earl Sigurd showed no obedience or fealty to King Olaf. He married a daughter of the Scottish king Malcolm, and their son was called Thorfin. Earl Sigurd had, besides, older sons; namely, Sumarlide, Bruse, and Einar Rangmund. Four or five years after Olaf Trygvason's fall Earl Sigurd went to Ireland, leav- ing his eldest sons to rule the country, and sending Thorfin to his mother's father, the Scottish king. On this expe- dition Earl Sigurd fell in Brian's battle.^ When the news was received in Orkney, the bro.thers Sumarlide, Bruse, and Einar were chosen earls, and the country was divided into three parts among them. Thorfin Sigurd- son was five years old when Earl Sigurd fell. When the Scottish king heard of the earl's death he gave his rela- tion Thorfin Caithness and Sutherland, with the title of earl, and appointed good men to rule the land for him. Earl Thorfin was ripe in all ways as soon as he was grown up : he was stout and strong, but ugly; and as soon as he was a grown man it was easy to see that he was a severe and cruel, but a very clever man. So says Amor, the earls' skald : — 'Brian's battle Is supposed to have taken place on the d April , at Clontarf, near Dublin ; and is Icnown in Irisb history as the battle of Clontarf, and was one of the bloodiest of the age. It was fought between a viking called Sigtryg and Brian king of Munster, who gained the victory, but lost his life.— L. "Under the rim of heaven no other, In hattle had a hraver hand. So young in years aa EInar'a brother* Or stouter, to defend the land." .— OF THE EARLS EINAR AND BRUSE. The brothers Einar and Bruse were very unlike in dis- position. Bruse was a soft-minded, peaceable man, — sociable, eloquent, and of good understanding. Einar was obstinate, taciturn, and dull ; but ambitious, greedy of money, and withal a great warrior. Sumarlide, the eld- est of the brothers, was in disposition like Bruse, and lived not long, but died in his bed. After his death Thorfin claimed his share of the Orkney Islands. Einar replied, that Thorfin had the dominions which their father Sigurd had possessed, namely, Caithness and Sutherland, which he insisted were much larger than a third part of Orkney ; therefore he would not consent to Thorfin's hav- ing any share. Bruse, on the other hand, was willing, he said, to divide with him. "I do not desire," he said, "more than the third part of the land, and which of right belongs to me." Then Einar took possession of two parts of the country, by which he became a powerful man, sur- rounded by many followers. He was often in summer out on marauding expeditions, and called out great num- bers of the people to join him; but it went always un- pleasantly with the division of the booty made on his viking cruises. Then the bondes grew weary of all these burdens ; but Earl Einar held fast by them with severity, calling in all services laid upon the people, and allowing no opposition from any man ; for he was excessively proud and overbearing. And now there came dearth and scarcity in his lands, in consequence of the services and money outlay exacted from the bondes ; while in the part of the country belonging to Bruse there were peace and plenty, and therefore he was the best beloved by the bondes. . — OF THORKEL AMUNDASON. There was a rich and powerful man who was called Amunde, who dwelt in Hrossey at Sandvik, in Hlaupan- danes. His son, called Thorkel, was one of the ablest men in the islands. Amunde was a man of the best un- derstandipg, and most respected in Orkney. One spring Earl Einar proclaimed a levy for an expedition, as usual. The bondes murmured greatly against it, and applied to Amunde with the entreaty that he would intercede with the earl for them. He replied, that the earl was not a man who would listen to other people, and insisted that it was of no use to make any entreaty to the earl about it. "As things now stand, there is a good understanding between me and the earl ; but, in my opinion, there would be much danger of our quarrelling, on account of our different dispositions and views on both sides; therefore I will have nothing to do with it." They then applied to Thorkel, who was also very loath to interfere, but pron> ised at last to do so, in consequence of the great entreaty of the people. Amunde thought he had given his promise too hastily. Now when the earl held a Thing, Thorkel spoke on account of the people, and entreated the earl to spare the people from such heavy burdens, recounting their necessitous condition. The earl replies favourably, saying that he would take Thorkel's advice. "I had in- tended to go out from the country with six ships, but now I will only take three with me; but thou must not come again, Thorkel, with any such request." The bondes thanked Thorkel for his assistance, and the earl set out on a viking cruise, and came back in autumn. The spring after, the earl made the same levy as usual, and held a Thing with the bondes. Then Thorkel again made a speech, in which he entreated the earl to spare the people. The earl now was angry, and said the lot of the bondes should be made worse in consequence of his intercession; and worked himself up into such a rage, that he vowed they should not both come next spring to the Thing in a whole skin. Then the thing was closed. When' Amunde heard what the earl and Thorkel had said at the Thing, he told Thorkel to leave the country, and he went over to Caithness to, Earl Thorfin. Thorkel was afterwards a long time there, and brought up the earl in his youth, and was on that account called Thorkel the Fosterer; and he became a very celebrated man. . — THE AGREEMENT OF THE EARI.S. There were many powerful men who fled from their udal properties in Orkney on account of Earl Einar's, violence, and the most fled over to Caithness* to Earl Thorfin ; but some fled from the Orkney Islands to Nor- way, and some to other countries. When Earl Thorfin was grown up he sent a message to his brother Einar, and demanded the part of the dominion which he thought belonged to him in Orkney; namely, a third of the islands. Einar was nowise inclined to diminish his pos- sessions. When Thorfin found this he collected a war- force in Caithness, and proceeded to the islands. As soon as Earl Einar heard of this he collected people, and resolved to defend his country. Earl Bruse also col- lected men, and went out to meet them, and bring about scHne agreement between them. An agreement was at last concluded, that Thorfin should have a third part of the islands, as of right belonging to him, but that Bruse and Einar should lay their two parts together, and Einar alone should rule over them; but if the one died before the other, the longest liver should inherit the whole. This agreement seemed reasonable, as Bruse had a son called Ragnvald, but Einar had no son. Earl Thorfin^ set men to rule over his land in Orkney, but he himself was generally in Caithness. Earl Einar was generally on viking expeditions to Ireland, Scotland, and Bretland. — EYVIND URARHORN's MURDER. One summer () that Earl Einar marauded in Ireland, he fought in Ulfreks-fjord with the Irish king Konofogor, as has been related before, and suffered there a great defeat. The summer after this () Eyvind Urarhom was coming from the west from Ireland, in- tending to go to Norway ; but the weather was boisterous, and the current against him, so he ran into Osmundwall, and lay there wind-bound for some time. When Earl Einar heard of this, he hastened thither with many peo- pie, tock Eyvind prisoner, and ordered him to be put to death, but spared the lives of most of his people. In autumn they proceeded to Norway to King Olaf, and told him Eyvind was killed. The king said little about it, but one could see that he considered it a great and vexa- tious loss; for he did not usually say much if anything turned out contrary to his wishes. Earl Thorfin sent Thorkel Fosterer to the islands to gather in his scat. Now, as Einar gave Thorkel the greatest blame for the dispute in which Thorfin had made claim to the islands, Thorkel came suddenly back to Caithness from Orkney, and told Earl Thorfin that he had learnt that Earl Einar would have murdered him if his friends and relations had not given him notice to escape. "Now," says he, "it is come so far between the earl and me, that either some- thing decisive between us must take place if we meet, or I must remove to such a distance that his power will not reach me." The earl encouraged Thorkel much to go east to Norway to King Olaf. "Thou wilt be highly re- spected," says he, "wherever thou comest among hon- ourable men ; and I know so well thy disposition and the earl's, that it will not be long before ye come to extremi- ties." Thereupon Thorkel made himself ready, and pro- ceeded in autumn to Norway, and then to King Olaf, with whom he stayed the whole winter (), and was in high favour. The king often entered into conversa- tion with him, and he thought, what was true, that Thor- kel was a high-minded man, of good understanding. In his conversations with Thorkel, the king found a great difference in his description of the two earls; for Thorkel was a great friend of Earl Thorfin, but had much to say against Einar. Early in spring () the king sent a ship west over the sea to Earl Thorfin, with the invita- tion to come cast and visit him in Norway. The earl did not decline the invitation, for it was accompanied by assurances of friendship. . — ^^ARI^ dinar's murder. Earl Thorfin went east to Norway, and came to King Olaf, from whom he received a kind reception, and stayed till late in the summer. When he was preparing to re- turn westwards again, King Olaf made him a present of a large and fully-rigged long-ship. Thorkel the Fosterer joined company with the earl, who gave him the ship which he brought with him from the West. The king and the earl took leave of each other tenderly. In au- tumn Earl Thorfin came to Orkney, and when Earl Einar heard of it he went on board his ships with a numerous band of men. Earl Bruse came up to his two brothers, and endeavoured to mediate between them, and a peace was concluded and confirmed by oath. Thorkel Fos- terer was to be in peace and friendship with Earl Einar ; and it was agreed that each of them should give a feast to the other, and that the earl should first be Thorkel's guest at Sandwick. When the earl came to the feast he was entertained in the best manner ; but the earl was not cheerful. There was a great room, in which there were doors at each end. The day the earl should depart Thor- kel was to accompany him to the other feast ; and Thorkel sent men before, who should examine the road they had to travel that day. The spies came back, and said to Thorkel they had discovered three ambushes. "And we think," said they, "there is deceit on foot." When Thorkel heard this he lengthened out his preparations for the journey, and gathered people about him. The earl told him to get ready, as it was time to be on horse- back. Thorkel answered, that he had many things to put in order first, and went out and in frequently. There was a fire upon the floor. At last he went in at one door, followed by an Iceland man from East fjord, called Hal- vard, who locked the door after him. Thorkel went in between the fire and the place where the earl was sitting. The earl asked, "Art thou ready at last, Thorkel?" Thorkel answers, "Now I am ready;" and struck the earl upon the head so that he fell upon the floor. Then said the Icelander, "I never saw people so foolish as not to drag the earl out of the fire ;" and took a stick, which he set under the earl's neck, and put him upright on the bench. Thorkel and his two comrades then went in all haste out of the other door opposite to that by which they went in, and Thorkers men were standing without fully armed. The earl's men now went in, and took hold of the earl. He was already dead, so nobody thought of avenging him : and also the whole was done so quickly ; for nobody expected such a deed from Thorkel, and all supposed that there really was, as before related, a friendship fixed between the earl and Thorkel. The most who were within were unarmed, and they were partly Thorkel's good friends; and to this may be added, that fate had decreed a longer life to Thorkel. When Thor- kel came out he had not fewer men with him than the earl's troop. Thorkel went to his ship, and the earl's men went their way. The same day Thorkel sailed out eastwards into the sea. This happened after winter ; but he came safely to Norway, went as fast as he could to Olaf , and was well received by him. The king expressed his satisfaction at this deed, and Thorkel was with him all winter (). . — AGRK^MENT BETWEEN KING OLAF AND EARI. BRUSE. After Earl Einar's fall Bruse tok the part of the coun- try which he had possessed ; for it was known to many men on what conditions Einar and Bruse had entered into a partnership. Although Thorfin thought it would be more just that each of them had half of the islands, Bruse retained the two-thirds of the country that win- ter (). In spring, however, Thorfin produced his claim, and demanded the half of the country; but Bruse would not consent. They held Things and meetings about the business; and although their friends endeav- oured to settle it, Thorfin would not be content with less than the half of the islands, and insisted that Bruse, with his disposition, would have enough even with a third part. Bruse replies, "When I took my heritage after my father I was well satisfied with a third part of the coun- try, and there was nobody to dispute it with me ; and now I have succeeded to another third in heritage after my brother, according to a lawful agreement between us; and although I am not powerful enough to maintain a feud against thee, my brother, I will seek some other way, rather than willingly renounce my property." With this their meeting ended. But Bruse saw that he had no strength to contend against Thorfin, because Thorfin had both a greater dominion and also could have aid from his mother's brother, the Scottish king. He resolved, there- fore, to go out of the country ; and he went eastward to King Olaf, and had with him his scki Ragnvald, then ten years old. When the earl came to the king he was well received. The earl now declared his errand, and told the king the circumstances of the whole dispute between him and his brother, and asked help to defend his king- dom of Orkney ; promising, in return, the fullest friend- ship towards King Olaf. In his answer, the king began with showing how Harald Harfager had appropriated to himself all udal rights in Orkney, and that the earls, since that time, have ccMistantly held the country as a fief, not as their udal property. "As a sufficient proof of which," said he, **when Eirik Blood-axe and his sons were in Orkney the earls were subject to them ; and also when my relation Olaf Trygvason came there thy father, Earl Sigurd, became his man. Now I have taken heritage after King Olaf, and I will give thee the condition to become my man, and then I will give thee the islands as a fief; and we shall try if I cannot give thee aid that will be more to the purpose than Thorfin can get from the Scottish king. If thou wilt not accept of these terms, then will I win back my udal property there in the West, as our forefathers and relations of old possessed it." The earl carefully considered this speech, laid it before his friends, and demanded their advice if he should agree to it, and enter into such terms with King Olaf and be- come his vassal. "But I do not see what my lot will be at my departure if I say no; for the king has clearly enough declared his claim upon Orkney; and from his great power, and our being in his hands, it is easy for him to make our destiny what he pleases." Although the earl saw that there was much to be con- sidered for and against it, he chose the condition to de- liver himself and his dominion into the king's power. Thereupon the king tocJc the earl's power, and the gov- ernment over all the earl's lands, and the earl became his vassal under oath of fealty. — THE earl's agreement to the king's terms. Thorfin the earl heard that his brother Bruse had gone cast to King Olaf to seek support from him ; but as Thor- fin had been on a visit to King Olaf before, and had con- cluded a friendship with him, he thought his case would stand well with the king, and that many would support it ; but he believed that many more would do so if he went there himself. Earl Thorfin resolved, therefore, to go east himself without delay; and he thought there would be so little difference between the time of his arrival and Bruse's, that Bruse's errand could not be accomplished before he came to King Olaf. But it went otherwise than Earl Thorfin had expected ; for when he came to the king the agreement between the king and Bruse was al- ready concluded and settled, and Earl Thorfin did not know a word about Bruse*s having surrendered his udal domains until he came to King Olaf. As soon as Earl Thorfin and King Olaf met, the king made the same de- mand upon the kingdom of Orkney that he had done to Earl Bruse, and required that Thorfin should voluntarily deliver over to the king that part of the country which he had possessed hitherto. The earl answered in a friendly and respectful way, that the king's friendship lay near to his heart : "And if you think, sire, that my help against other chiefs can be of use, you have already every claini to it; but I cannot be your vassel for service, as I am an earl of the Scottish king, and owe fealty to him." As the king found that the earl, by his answer, declined fulfilling the demand he had made, he said, "Earl, if thou wilt not become my vassal, there is another condition; namely, that I will place over the Orkney Islands the man I please, and require thy oath that thou wilt make no claim upon these lands, but allow whoever I place over them to sit in peace. If thou wilt not accept of either of these conditions, he who is to rule over these lands may expect hostility from thee, and thou must not think it strange if like meet like in this business." The earl begged of the king some time to consider the matter. The king did so, and gave the earl time to take the counsel of his friends on the choosing one or other of these conditions. Then the earl requested a delay un- til next summer, that he might go over the sea to the west, for his proper counsellors were all at hcwne, and he him- self was but a child in respect of age; but the king re- quired that he should now make his election of one or other of the conditions. Thorkel Fosterer was then with the king, and he privately sent a person to Earl Thorfin, and told him, whatever his intentions might be, not to think of leaving Olaf without being reconciled with him, as he stood entirely in Olaf's power. From such hints the earl saw there was no other way than to let the king have his own will. It was no doubt a hard condition to have no hope of ever regaining his paternal heritage, and moreover to bind himself by oath to allow those to enjoy in peace his dcxnain who had no hereditary right to it; but seeing it was uncertain how he could get away, he resolved to submit to the king and become his vassal, as Bruse had done. The king observed that Thorfin was more high-minded, and less disposed to suffer subjection than Bruse, and therefore he trusted less to Thorfin than to Bruse ; and he considered also that Thorfin would trust to the aid of the Scottish king, if he broke the agreement. The king also had discernment enough to perceive that Bruse, although slow to enter into an agreement, would promise nothing but what he intended to keep; but as to Thorfin, when he had once made up his mind he went readily into every proposal, and made no attempt to ob- tain any alteration of the king's first conditions: there- fore the king had his suspicions that the earl would in- fringe the agreement, . — EARt THORFIN^S DEPARTURE, AND RECONCII.IA- TION WITH THORKEI.. When the king had carefully considered the whole mat- ter by himself, he ordered the signal to sound for a Gen- eral Thing, to which he called in the earls. Then said the king, "I will now make known to the public our agree- ment with the Orkney earls. They have now acknowl- edged my right of property to Orkney and Shetland, and have both become my vassals, all which they have con- firmed by oath; and now I will invest them with these lands as a fief: namely, Bruse with one third part and Thorfin with one third, as they formerly enjoyed them; but the other third which Einar Rangmund had, I adjudge as fallen to my domain, because he killed Eyvind Urar- hom, my court-man, partner, and dear friend; and that part of the land I will manage as I think proper. I have also my earls, to tell you it is my pleasure that ye enter into an agreement with Thorkel Amundason for the mur- der of your brother Einar, for I will take that business, if ye agree thereto, within my own jurisdiction.'* The earls agreed to this, as to everything else that the king proposed. Thorkel came forward, and surrendered to the king's judgment of the case, and the Thing con- cluded. King Olaf awarded as great a penalty for Earl Einar's murder as for three lendermen; but as Einar himself was the cause of the act, one third of the mulct fell to the ground. Thereafter Earl Thorfin asked the king's leave to depart, and as soon as he obtained it made ready for sea with all speed. It hajq)ened one day, when all was ready for the voyage, the earl sat in his ship drinking; and Thorkel Amundason came unexpectedly to him, laid his head upon the earl's knee, and bade him do with him what he pleased. The earl asked why he did SO. "We are, you know, reconciled men, according to the king's decision; so stand up, Thorkel." Thorkd rejdied, "The agreement which the king made as between me and Bruse stands good ; but what regards the agreement with thee thou alone must determine. Al- though the king made conditions for my property and safe residence in Orkney, yet I know so well thy disposition that there is no going to the islands for me, unless I go there in peace with thee. Earl Thorfin; and therefore. I am willing to promise never to return to Orkney, what- ever the king may desire." The earl remained silent ; and first, after a long pause, he said, "If thou wilt rather, Thorkel, that I shall judge between us than trust to the king's judgment, then let the beginning of our reconciliation be, that you go with me to the Orkney Islands, live with me, and never leave me but with my will, and be bound to defend my land, and execute all that I want done, as long as we both are in life." Thorkel replies, "This shall be entirely at thy pleas- ure, earl, as well as ever)rthing else in my power." Then Thorkel went on, and solemnly ratified this agreement. The earl said he would talk afterwards about the mulct of money, but took Thorkel's oath upon the conditions. Thorkel immediately made ready to accompany the earl on his voyage. The earl set off as soon as all was ready, and never again were King Olaf and Thorfin together. . — %K«L, brush's departure. Earl Bruse remained behind, and took his time to get ready. Before his departure the king sent for him, and said, "It appears to me, earl, that in thee I have a man on the west side of the sea on whose fidelity I can depend ; therefore I intend to give thee the two parts of the coun- try which thou formerly hadst to rule over ; for I will not that thou shouldst be a less powerful man after entering into my service than before : but I will secure thy fidel- ity by keeping thy son Ragnvald with me. I see well enough that with two parts of the country and my help, thou wilt be able to defend what is thy own against thy brother Thorfin." Bruse was thankful for getting two thirds instead of one third of the country, and soon after he set out, and came about autumn to Orkney ; but Ragn- vald, Bruse's son, remained behind in the East with King Olaf. Ragnvald was one of the handsomest men that could be seen, — his hair long, and yellow as silk; and he soon grew up, stout and tall, and he was a very able and superb man, both of great understanding and polite man- ners. He was long with King Olaf. Otter Svarte speaks of these affairs in the poem he composed about King Olaf:— "From Shetland, far off in iht cold These isles of tiie West midst the North sea, ocean's wild roar. Come chiefs who desire to be sub- Scarcely heard the voice of their ject to thee : sovereign before ; No king so well known for his will. Our bravest of sovereigns before and his might, oould scarce bring To defend his own people from These islesmen so proud to acknowl- scaith or unright edge their king." .— OF THE EARI.S THORFIN AND BRUSE. The brothers Thorfin and Bruse came west to Orkney ; and Bruse took the two parts of the country under his rule, and Thorfin the third part. Thorfin was usually in Caithness and elsewhere in Scotland; but placed men of his own over the islands. It was left to Bruse alone to defend the islands, which at that time were severely scourged by vikings; for the Northmen and Danes went much on viking cruises in the West sea, and frequently touched at Orkney on the way to or from the West, and plundered, and took provisions and cattle from the coast. Bruse often complained of his brother Thorfin, that he made no equipment of war for the defence of Orkney and Shetland, yet levied his share of the scat and duties. Then Thorfin offered to him to exchange, and that Bruse should have one third and Thorfin two thirds of the land, but should undertake the defence of the land, for the whole. Although this exchange did not take place imme- diately, it is related in the saga of the earls that it was agreed upon at last ; and that Thorfin had two parts and Bruse only one, when Canute the Great subdued Nor- way and King Olaf fled the country. Earl Thorfin Sigurdson has been the ablest earl of these islands, and has had the greatest dominion of all the Orkney earls; for he had under him Orkney, Shetland, and the Hebudes, besides very great possessions in Scotland and Ireland. Amor, the earls' skald, tells of his possessions : — "From Thurso-skerry to Dublin, All people love his sway. All people hold with good Thorfin — And the generous chief obey.'* Thorfin was a very great warrior. He came to the earldom at five years of age, ruled more than sixty years, and died in his bed about the last days of Harald Sigurd- son. But Bruse died in the days of Canute the Great, a short time after the fall of Saint Olaf. . — OF HAREK OF THJOTTA. Having now gone through this second story, we shall return to that which we left, — at King Olaf Haraldson having concluded peace with King Olaf the Swedish king, and having the same summer gone north to Throndhjem (). He had then been king in Nor- way five years (-). In harvest time he pre- pared to take his winter residence at Nidaros, and he re- mained all winter there (). Thorkel the Fosterer, Amunde's son, as before related, was all that winter with him. King Olaf inquired very carefully how it stood with Christianity throughout the land, and learnt that it was not observed at all to the north of Halogaland, and was far from being observed as it should be in Naumudal, and the interior of Throndhjem. There was a man by name Harek, a son of Ejrvind Skaldaspiller, who dwelt in an island called Thjotta in Halogaland. Eyvind had not been a rich man, but was of high family and high mind. In Thjotta, at first, there dwelt many small bondes; but Harek began with buying a farm not very large and lived on it, and in a few years he had got all the bondes that were there before out of the way ; so that he had the whole island, and built a large head-mansion. He soon became very rich; for he was a very prudent man, and very successful. He had long been greatly re- spected by the chiefs ; and being related to the kings of Norway, had been raised by them to high dignities. Harek's father's mother, Gunhild, was a daughter of Earl Halfdan, and Ingebjorg, Harald Harfager's daugh- ter. At the time the circumstance happened which we are going to relate he was somewhat advanced in years. Harek was the most respected man in Halogaland, and for a long time had the Lapland trade, and did the king's business in Lapland; sometimes alone, sometimes with others joined to him. He had not himself been to wait on King Olaf, but messages had passed between them, and all was on the most friendly footing. This winter (Q) that Olaf was in Nidaros, messengers passed between the king and Harek of Thjotta. Then the king made it known that he intended going north to Haloga- land, and as far north as the land's end ; but the people of Halogaland expected no good from this expedition. . — OF THE PEOPI^ Ot HAI.OGAI.AND. Olaf rigged out five ships in spring (), and had with him about men. When he was ready for sea he set northwards along the land; and when he came to Naumudal district he summoned the bondes to a Thing, and at every Thing was accepted as king. He also made the laws to be read there as elsewhere, by which the peo- ple are commanded to observe Christianity ; and he threat- ened every man with loss of life, and limbs, and property, who would not subject himself to Christian law. He inflicted severe punishments on many men, great as well as small, and left no district until the people had consented to adopt the holy faith. The most of the men of power and of the g^eat bondes made feasts for the king, and so he proceeded all the way north to Halogaland. Harek of Thjotta also made a feast for the king, at which there was a great multitude of guests, and the feast was very splendid. Harek was made lenderman, and got the same privileges he had enjoyed under the former chiefs of the country. .— OF ASMUND GRANKEI.SON. There was a man called Grankel, or Granketil, who was a rich bonde, and at this time rather advanced in age. In his youth he had been on viking cruises, and had been a powerful fighter ; for he possessed great readi- ness in all sorts of bodily exercises. His son Asmund was equal to his father in all these, and in some, indeed, he excelled him. There were many who said that with respect to comeliness, streng^, and bodily expertness, he might be considered the third remarkably distinguished for these that Norway had ever produced. The first was Hakon Athelstan's foster-son; the second, Olaf Tryg- vason. Grankel invited King Olaf to a feast, which was very magnificent; and at parting Grankel presented the king with many honourable gifts and tokens of friendship. The king invited Asmund, with many persuasions, to fol- low him ; and as Asmund could not decline the honours oflfered him, he got ready to travel with the king, became his man, and stood in high favour with him. The king remained in Halogaland the greater part of the summer, went to all the Things, and baptized all the people. Thorer Hund dwelt at that time in the island Bjarkey. He was the most powerful man in the North, and also be- came one of Olaf's lendermen. Many sons of great ^AGA OF OLAF hArALDSO^ bondes resolved also to follow King Olaf from Haloga- land. Towards the end of summer King Olaf left the North, and sailed back to Throndhjem, and landed at Nidaros, where he passed the winter (). It was then that Thorkel the Fosterer came from the West from Orkney, after killing Einar Rangmund, as before related. This autumn com was dear in Throndhjem, after a long course of good seasons, and the farther north the dearer was the corn ; but there was com enough in the East coun- try, and in the Uplands, and it was of great help to the people of Throndhjem that many had old com remaining beside them. . — OF THE SACRIFICES OF THE THRONDHJEM PEOPLE. In autumn the news was brought to King Olaf that the bondes had had a great feast on the first winter-day's eve, at which there was a numerous attendance and much drinking; and it was told the king that all the remem- brance-cups to the Asas, or old gods, were blessed accord- ing to the old heathen forms ; and it was added, that cattle and horses had been slain, and the altars sprinkled with their blood, and the sacrifices accompanied with the prayer that was made to obtain good seasons. It was also re- ported, that all men saw clearly that the gods were of- fended at the Halogaland people turning Christian. Now when the king heard this news he sent men into the Throndhjem country, and ordered several bondes, whose names he gave, to appear before him. There was a man called Olver of Eggja, so called after his farm on which he lived. He was powerful, of great family, and the head-man of those who on account of the bondes ap- peared before the king. Now, when they came to the king, he told them these accusations; to which Olver, on behalf of the bondes, replied, that they had had no other feasts that harvest than their usual entertainments, and social meetings, and friendly drinking parties. "But as to what may have been told you of the words which may have fallen from us Throndhjem people in our drink- ing parties, men of understanding would take good care not to use such language; but I cannot hinder drunken or foolish people's talk." Olver was a man of clever speech, and bold in what he said, and defended the bondes against such accusations. In the end, the king said the people of the interior of Thorndhjem must themselves give the best testimony to their being in the right faith. The bondes got leave to return home, and set off as soon as they were ready. . — OF THE SACRIFICES BY THE PEOPLE OF THE INTE- RIOR OF THE THRONDHJEM DISTRICT. Afterwards, when winter was advanced, it was told the king that the people of the interior of Throndhjem had assembled in great number at Maerin, and that there was a great sacrifice in the middle of winter, at which they sacrificed offerings for peace and a good season. Now when the king knew this on good authority to be true, he sent men and messages into the interior, and sum- moned the bondes whom he thought of most understand- ing into the town. The bondes held a council among themselves about this message; and all those who had been upon the same occasion in the beginning of winter were now very unwilling to make the journey. Olver, however, at the desire of all the bondes, allowed himself to be persuaded. When he came to the town he went immediately before the king, and they talked together. The king made the same accusation against the bondes, that they had held a mid-winter sacrifice. Olver replies, that this accusation against tlie bondes was false. "We had," said he, "Yule feasts and drinking feasts wide around in the districts ; and the bondes do not prepare their feasts so sparingly, sire, that there is not much left over, which people consume long afterwards. At Maerin there is a great farm, with a large house on it, and a great neighbourhood all around it, and it is the great delight of the people to drink many together in company." The king said little in reply, but looked angry, as he thought he knew the truth of the matter better than it was now represented. He ordered the bondes to return home. "I shall some time or other," said he, "come to the truth of what you are now concealing, and in such a way that ye shall not be able to contradict it. But, however, that may be, do not try such things again." The bondes returned home, and told the result of their journey, and that the king was altogether enraged. . — MURDER OF OI pl'-nder ttiv ^hi^^' p,i^<^ii,rr 'liy. *l'I\cse \ ' lUgs barroued th" shores of h!>-,;aNd and- SoHianH, ■ntftkirifjr '•'.''' '.i: atlioLr, '\\) 'Ti coast Sl Mlc.iV i>r^, Hlid-Ji<\sidCt^ tttkiilg SUtjll \ \ h i.'ty - t^'-\ \', t ;!•"■. t(» !' I d. raf;. d. (>lT WMncjj win lu .*^^; ,, , M'M.'^t'Mr- :;cdd *'>'.r :ar-ori bi.r i;:or«j fr'^'iiK uf. v U<.\)i as bla\es. ' iN - T ' <'l ( ^ I' •^ \ ;o ;> V.) t '- ltd!!" "When we came o'er the weto, you Four marks to thee, — cub, when we came o'er the wave, A sword too, fine and braye. To me one ring, to thee two rings. Now God knows well, the mighty Canute gave : And skalds can tell. One mark to me. What Justice here would crave.** Sigvat the skald was very intimate with King Canute's messengers, and asked them many questions. They answered all his inquiries about their conversation with King Olaf, and the result of their message. They said the king listened unwillingly to their proposals. "And we do not know," say they, "to what he is trusting when he refuses becoming King Canute's vassal, and going to him, which would be the best thing he could do ; for King Canute is so mild that however much a chief may have done against him, he is pardoned if he only show himself obedient. It is but lately that two kings came to him from the North, from Fife in Scotland, and he gave up his wrath against them, and allowed them to retain all the lands they had possessed before, and gave them be- sides very valuable gifts." Then Sigvat sang: — "From the North land, the midst of May he, our gallant Norse king, Fife, never Two kings came begging peace and Be brought, like these, his head te life ; offer Craving from Canute life and As ransom to a living man peace, — For the broad lands his sword has May Olaf 's good luck never cease ! won." King Canute's ambassadors proceeded on their way back, and had a favourable breeze across the sea. They came to King Canute, and told him the result of their errand, and King Olaf 's last words. King Canute replies, "King Olaf guesses wrong, if he thinks I shall eat up all the kail in England; for I will let him see that there is something else than kail under my ribs, and cold kail it shall be for him." The same summer () Aslak and Skjalg, the sons of Erling of Jadar, came from Norway to King Canute, and were well received; for Aslak was married to Sigrid, a daughter of Earl Svein Hakonson, and she and Earl Hakon Eirikson were brothers' children. King Canute gave these brothers great fiefs over there, and they stood in great favour. . — KING OLAF'S AI.UANCE WITH ONUND THE KING OF SVITHJOD. King Olaf summoned to him all the lendermen, and had a great many people about him this summer (), for a report was abroad that King Canute would come from England. PeoiJe had heard from merchant ves- sels that Canute was assembling a great army in England. When summer was advanced, some affirmed and others denied that the army would come. King Olaf was all summer in Viken, and had spies out to learn if Canute was come to Denmark. In autumn () he sent messengers eastward to Svithjod to his brother-in-law King Onund, and let him know King Canute's demand upon Norway; adding, that, in his opinion, if Canute subdued Norway, King Onund would not long enjoy the Swedish dominions in peace. He thought it advisable, therefore, that they should unite for their defence. "And then," said he, "we will have strength enough to hold out against Canute." King Onund received King Olaf s message favourably, and replied to it, that he for his part would make common cause with King Olaf, so that each of them should stand by the one who first required help with all the strength of his kingdom. In these messages between them it was also determined that they should have a meeting, and consult with each other. The following winter () King Onund intended to travel across West Gautland, and King Olaf made preparations for taking his winter abode at Sarpsborg. . — KING CAlf^UTE'S AMBASSADORS TO ONUND Ot SVITHJOD. In autumn King Canute the Great came to Denmark, and remained there all winter () with a numerous army. It was told him that ambassadors with messages had been passing between the Swedish and Norwegian kings, and that some great plans must be concerting be- tween them. In winter King Canute sent messengers to Svithjod, to King Onund, with great gifts and messages of friendship. He also told Onund that he might sit altogether quiet in this strife between him and Olaf the Thick; "for thou, Onund,** says he, "and thy kingdom, shall be in peace as far as I am concerned." When the ambassadors came to King Onund they presented the gifts which King Canute sent him, together with the friendly message. King Onund did not hear their speech very willingly, and the ambassadors could observe that King Onund was most inclined to a friendship with King Olaf. They returned accordingly, and told King Canute the result of their errand, and told him not to depend much upon the friendship of King Onund. . — THE EXPEDITION TO BJARMAt,AND. This winter () King Olaf sat in Sarpsborg, and was surrounded by a very great army of people. He sent the Halogalander Karle to the north country upon his business. Karle went first to the Uplands, then across the Dovrefield, and came down to Nidaros, where he received as much money as he had the king's order for, together with a good ship, such as he thought suitable for the voyage which the king had ordered him upon; and that was to proceed north to Bjarmaland. It was settled that the king should be in partnership with Karle, and each of them have the half of the profit. Early in spring Karle directed his course to Halogaland, where his brother Gunstein prepared to accompany him, having his own merchant goods with him. There were about twenty-five men in the ship; and in spring they sailed north to Finmark. When Thorer Hund heard this, he sent a man to the brothers with the verbal message that he intended in summer to go to Bjarmaland, and that he would sail with them, and that they should divide what booty they made equally between them. Karle sent him back the message that Thorer must have twenty-five men as they had, and they were willing to divide the booty that might be taken equally, but not the merchant goods which each had for himself. When Thorer's messenger came back he had put a stout long-ship he owned into the water, and rigged it, and he had put eighty men on board of his house-servants. Thorer alone had the command over this crew, and he alone had all the goods they might / Saga of olaf haraldsoM acquire on the cruise. When Thorer was ready for sea he set out northwards along the coast, and found Karle a little north of Sandver. They then proceeded with good wind. Gunstein said to his brother, as soon as they met Thorer, that in his opinion Thorer was strongly manned. "I think/' said he, "we had better turn back than sail so entirely in Thorer's power, for I do not trust him." Karle replies, "I will not turn back, although if I had known when we were at home on Langey Isle that Thorer Hund would join us on this vorage with so large a crew as he has, I would have taken more hands with us." The brothers spoke about it to Thorer, and asked what was the meaning of his taking more people with him than was agreed upon between them. He replies, "We have a large ship which requires many hands, and methinks there cannot be too many brave lads for so dangerous a cruise." They went in summer as fast in general as the vessels could go. When the wind was light the ship of the brothers sailed fastest, and they separated; but when the wind freshened Thorer overtook them. They were seldom together, but always in sight of each other. When they came to Bjarmaland they went straight to the mer- chant town, and the market began. All who had money to pay with got filled up with goods. Thorer also got a number of furs, and of beaver and sable skins. Karle had a considerable sum of money with him, with which he purchased skins and furs. When the fair was at an end they went out of the Vina river, and then the truce of the country people was also at an end. When they came out of the river they held a seaman's council, and Thorer asked the crews if they would like to go on the land and get booty. They replied, that they would like it well enough, if they saw the booty before their eyes. Thorer replies, that there was booty to be got, if the voyage proved fortunate; but that in all probability there would be danger in the attempt. All said they would try, if there was any chance of booty. Thorer explained, that it was so established in this land, that when a rich man died all his movable goods were divided between the dead man and his heirs. He got the half part, or the third part, or sometimes less, and that part was carried out into the forest and buried, — sometimes under a mound, sometimes in the earth, and sometimes even a house was built over it. He tells them at the same time to get ready for this expedition at the fall of day. It was resolved that one should not desert the other, and none should hold back when the com- mander ordered them to come on board again. They now left people behind to take care of the ships, and went on land, where they found flat fields at first, and then great forests. Thorer went first, and the brothers Karle and Gimstein in rear. Thorer commanded the people to observe the utmost silence. "And let us peel the bark off the trees," says he, "so that one tree-mark can be seen from the other." They came to a large cleared opening, where there was a high fence upon which there was a gate that was locked. Six men of the country people held watch every night at this fence, two at a time keep- ing guard, each two for a third part of the night. When Gcogle SAGA OF OLAF HARALDSOM Thorer and his men came to the fence the guard had gone home, and those who should relieve them had not yet come upon g^ard. Thorer went to the fence, stuck his axe up in it above his head, hauled himself up by it, and so came over the fence, and inside the gate. Karle had also come over the fence, and to the inside of the gate ; so that both came at once to the port, took the bar away, and opened the port; and then the people got in within the fence. Then said Thorer, "Within this fence there is a mound in which gold, and silver, and earth are all mixed together : seize that. But within here stands the Bjarmaland people's god Jomala: let no one be so presumptuous as to rob him." Thereupon they went to the mound and took as much of the money as they could carry away in their clothes, with which, as might be expected, much earth was mixed. Thereafter Thorer said that the people now should retreat. **And ye brothers, Karle and Gun- stein," says he, "do ye lead the way, and I will go last." They all went accordingly out of the gate: but Thorer went back to Jomala, and took a silver bowl that stood upon his knee full of silver money. He put the silver in his purse, and put his arm within the handle of the bowl, and so went out of the gate. The whole troop had come without the fence; but when they perceived that Thorer had stayed behind, Karle returned to trace him, and when they met upon the path Thorer had the silver bowl with him. Thereupon Karle immediately ran to Jomala ; and observing he had a thick gold ornament hanging around his neck, he lifted his axe, cut the string with which the ornament was tied behind his neck, and the stroke was so Strong that the head of Jomala rang with such a great sound that they were all astonished. Karle seized the ornament, and they all hastened away. But the moment the sound was made the watchmen came forward upon the cleared space, and blew their horns. Immediately the sound of the loor^ was heard all around from every quarter, calling the people together. They hastened to the forest, and rushed into it; and heard the shouts and cries on the other side of the Bjarmaland people in pursuit. Thorer Hund went the last of the whole troop; and before him went two men carrying a great sack between them, in which was something that was like ashes. Thorer took this in his hand, and strewed it upon the footpath, and sometimes over the people. They came thus out of the woods, and upon the fields, but heard incessantly the Bjarmaland people pursuing with shouts and dreadful yells. The army of the Bjarmaland people rushed out after them upon the field, and on both sides of them ; but neither the people nor their weapons came so near as to do them any harm : from which they perceived that the Bjarmaland people did not see them. Now when they reached their ships Karle and his brother went on board ; for they were the foremost, and Thorer was far behind on the land. As soon as Karle and his men were on board they struck their tents, cast loose their land ropes, hoisted their sails, and their ship in all haste went to sea. Thorer and his people, on the other hand, did not get on so quickly, as their vessel was heavier to manage; so that when they got under sail, Karle and his people were far iLudr — tbe loor — Is a long tube or roll of birch-bark naed aa a horn by tha hardboya in the mountalna in Norway. — L. oflf from land. Both vessels sailed across the White sea (Gandvik). The nights were clear, so that both ships sailed night and day ; until one day, towards the time the day turns to shorten, Karle and his people took up the land near an island, let down the sail, cast anchor, and waited until the slack-tide set in, for th«re was a strong rost before them. Now Thorer came up, and lay at anchor there also. Thorer and his people then put out a boat, went into it, and rowed to Karle's ship. Thorer came on board, and the brothers saluted him. Thorer told Karle to give him the ornament. "I think," said he, "that I have best earned the ornaments that have been taken, for methinks ye have to thank me for getting away without any loss of men ; and also I think thou, Karle, set us in the greatest fright." Karle replies, "King Olaf has the half part of all the goods I gather on this voyage, and I intend the ornament for him. Go to him, if you like, and it is possible he will give thee the ornament, although I took it from Jomala." Then Thorer insisted that they should go upon the island, and divide the booty. Gunstein says, "It is now the turn of the tide, and it is time to sail." Whereupon they began to raise their anchor. When Thorer saw that, he returned to his boat and rowed to his own ship. Karle and his men had hoisted sail, and were come a long way before Thorer got under way. They now sailed so that the brothers were always in advance, and both vessels made all the haste they could. They sailed thus until they came to Geirsver, which is the first roadstead of the traders to the North. They both came there towards evening, and lay in the harbour near the landing-place. Thorer's ship lay inside, and the brothers' the outside vessel in the port! When Thorer had set up his tents he went on shore, and many of his men with him. They went to Karle's ship, which was well provided. Thorer hailed the ship, and told the com- manders to come on shore; on which the brothers, and some men with them, went on the land. Now Thorer b^ran the same discourse, and told them to bring the goods they got in booty to the land to have them divided. The brothers thought that was not necessary, until they had arrived at their own neighbourhood. Thorer said it was unusual not to divide booty but at their own home, and thus to be left to the honour of other people. They spoke some words about it, but could not agree. Then Thorer turned away; but had not gone far before he came back, and tells his comrades to wait there. There- upon he calls to Karle, and says he wants to speak with him alone. Karle went to meet him ; and when he came near, Thorer struck at him with a spear, so that it went through him. "There," said Thorer, "now thou hast learnt to know a Bjarkey Island man. I thought thou shouldst feel Asbjom's spear." Karle died instantly, and Thorer with his people went immediately on board their ship. When Gunstein and his men saw Karle fall they ran instantly to him, took his body and carried it on board their ship, struck their tents, and cast oflf from the pier, and left the land. When Thorer and his men saw this, they took down their tents and made preparations to fol- low. But as they were hoisting the sail the fastenings to the mast broke in two, and the sail fell down across the ship, which caused a great delay before they could hoist the sail again. Gunstein had already got a long way ahead before Thorer's ship fetched way, and now they used both sails and oars. Gunstein did the same. On both sides they made great way day and night; but so that they did not gain much on each other, although when they came to the small sounds among the islands Gun- stein's vessel was lighter in turning. But Thorer's ship made way upon them, so that when they came up to Leng- juvik, Gtmstein turned towards the land, and with all his men ran up into the country, and left his ship. A little after Thorer came there with his ship, sprang upon the land after them, and pursued them. There was a woman who helped Gunstein to conceal himself, and it is told that she was much acquainted with witchcraft. Thorer and his men returned to the vessels, and took all the goods out of Gunstein's vessel, and put on board stones in place of the cargo, and then hauled the ship out into the fjord, cut a hole in its bottom, and sank it to the bottom. There- after Thorer, with his people, returned hc«ne to Bjarkey Isle. Gunstein and his people proceeded in small boats at first, and lay concealed by day, until they had passed Bjarkey, and had got beyond Thorer's district. Gunstein went home first to Langey Isle for a short time, and then proceeded south, without any halt, until he came south to Throndhjem, and there found King Olaf, to whom he told all that had happened on this Bjarmaland expedition. The king was ill-pleased with the voyage, but told Gun- Stein to remain with him, promising to assist him when opportunity offered. Gunstein took the invitation with thanks, and stayed with King Olaf. . — MEETING OF KING OLAF AND KING ONUND. King Olaf was, as before related, in Sarpsborg the winter () that King Canute was in Denmark. The Swedish king Onund rode across West Gautland the same winter, and had thirty hundred () men with him. Men and messages passed between them ; and they agreed to meet in spring at Konungahella. The meeting had been postponed, because they wished to know before they met what King Canute intended doing. As it was now approaching towards winter, King Canute made ready to go over to England with his forces, and left his son Hardaknut to rule in Denmark, and with him Earl Ulf, a son of Thorgils Sprakaleg. Ulf was married to Astrid, King Svein's daughter, and sister of Canute the Great. Their son Svein was afterwards king of Den- mark. Earl Ulf was a very distinguished man. When the kings Olaf and Onund heard that Canute the Great had gone west to England, they hastened to hold their conference, and met at Konungahella, on the Gaut river. They had a joyful meeting, and had many friendly con- versations, of which something might become known to the public; but they also spake often a great deal between themselves, with none but themselves two present, of which only some things afterwards were carried into effect, and thus became known to every one. At parting the kings presented each other with gifts, and parted the best of friends. King Onund went up into Gautland, and Olaf northwards to Viken, and afterwards to Agder, and thence northwards along the coast, but lay a long time at Egersund waiting a wind. Here he heard that Erling Skjalgson, and the inhabitants of Jadar with him, had assembled a large force. One day the king's people were talking among themselves whether the wind was south or south-west, and whether with that wind they could sail past Jadar or not. The most said it was im- possible to fetch round. Then answers Haldor Brynjolf- son, "I am of opinion that we would go round Jadar with this wind fast enough if Erling Skjalgson had prepared a feast for us at Sole." Then King Olaf ordered the tents to be struck, and the vessels to be hauled out, which was done. They sailed the same day past Jadar with the best wind, and in the evening reached Hirtingsey, from whence the king proceeded to Hordaland, and was entertained there in guest-quarters. . — ^thoralf's murd^. The same summer () a ship sailed from Norway to the Farey Islands, with messengers carrying a verbal message from King Olaf, that one of his court-men, Leif Ossurson, or Lagman Gille, or Thoralf of Dimun, should come over to him from the Farey Islands. Now when this message came to the Farey Islands, and was deliv- ered to those whom it concerned, they held a meeting among themselves, to consider what might lie under this message, and they were all of opinion that the king wanted to inquire into the real state of the event which some said had taken place upon the islands ; namely, the failure and disaK)earance of the former messengers of the king, and the. loss of the two ships, of which not a man had been saved. It was resolved that Thortilf should undertake the journey. He got himself ready, and rigged out a merchant-vessel belonging to himself, manned with ten or twelve men. When it was ready, waiting a wind, it happened, at Austrey, in the house of Thrand of Gata, that he went one fine day into the room where his brother's two sons, Sigurd and Thord, sons of Thorlak, were lying upon the benches in the room. Gaut the Red was also there, who was one of their relations and a man of dis- tinction. Sigurd was the oldest, and their leader in all things. Thord had a distinguished name, and was called Thord the Low, although in reality he was uncommonly tall, and yet in proportion more strong than large. Then Thrand said, "How many things are changed in the course of a man's life! When we were young, it was rare for young people who were able to do anything to sit or lie still upon a fine day, and our forefathers would scarcely have believed that Thoralf of Dimun would be bolder and more active than ye are. I believe the vessel I have standing here in the boat-house will be so old that it will rot under its coat of tar. Here are all the houses full of wool, which is neither used nor sold. It should not be so if I were a few winters younger." Sigurd sprang up, called upon Gaut and Thord, and said he would not endure Thrand's scoflfs. They went out to the house- servants, and launched the vessel upon the water, brought down a cargo, and loaded the ship. They had no want of a cargo at home, and the vessel's rigging was in good order, so that in a few days they were ready for sea. There were ten or twelve men in the vessel. Thoralf's ship and theirs had the same wind, and they were gen- erally in sight of each other. They came to the land at Herna in the evening, and Sigurd with his vessel lay outside on the strand, but so that there was not much distance between the two ships. It happened towards evening, when it was dark, that just as Thoralf and his people were preparing to go to bed, Thoralf and another went on shore for a certain purpose. When they were ready, they prepared to return on board. The man who had accompanied Thoralf related afterwards this story, — that a cloth was thrown over his head, and that he was lifted up from the ground, and he heard a great bustle. He was taken away, and thrown head foremost down ; but there was sea under him, and he sank under the water. When he got to land, he went to the place where he and Thoralf had been parted, and there he found Thoralf with his head cloven down to his shoulders, and dead. When the ship's people heard of it they carried the body out to the ship, and let it remain there all night. King Olaf was at that time in guest-quarters at Lygra, and thither they sent a message. Now a Thing was called by message- tdcen, and the king came to the Thing. He had also ordered the Farey people of both vessels to be summoned, and they appeared at the Thing. Now when the Thing was seated, the king stood up and said, "Here an event has happened which (and it is well that it is so) is very seldom heard of. Here has a good man been put to death, without any cause. Is there any man upon the Thing who can say who has done it ?" Nobody could answer. "Then," said the king, "I cannot conceal my suspicion that this deed has been done by the Farey people them- selves. It appears to me that it has been done in this way, — ^that Sigurd Thorlakson has killed the man, and Thord the Low has cast his comrade into the sea. I think, too, that the motives to this must have been to hinder Thoralf from telling about the misdeed of which he had information ; namely, the murder which I suspect was committed upon my messengers." When he had ended his speech, Sigurd Thorlakson stood up, and desired to be heard. "I have never before," said he, "spoken at a Thing, and I do not expect to be looked upon as a man of ready words. But I think there is sufficient necessity before me to reply something to this. I will venture to make a guess that the speech the king has made comes from some man's tongue who is of far less understanding and goodness than he is, and has evi- dently proceeded from those who are our enemies. It is speaking improbabilities to say that I could be Thoralf's murderer ; for he was my foster-brother and good friend. Had the case been otherwise, and had there been anything outstanding between me and Thoralf, yet I am surely bom with sufficient understanding to have done this deed in the Farey Islands, rather than here between your hands, sire. But I am ready to clear myself, and my whole ship's crew, of this act, and to make oath according to what stands in your laws. Or, if ye find it more satis- factory, I offer to clear myself by the ordeal of hot iron ; and I wish, sire, that you may be present yourself at the proof." When Sigurd had ceased to speak there were many who supported his case, and begged the king that Sigurd might be allowed to clear himself of this accusation. They thought that Sigurd had spoken well, and that the accusa- tion against him might be untrue. The king replies, "It may be with regard to this man very differently, and if he is belied in any respect he must be a good man ; and if not, he is the boldest I have ever met with : and I believe this is the case, and that he will bear witness to it himself.'* At the desire of the people, the king took Sigurd's obli- gation to take the iron ordeal : he should come the follow- ing day to Lygra, where the bishop should preside at the ordeal; and so the Thing closed. The king went back to Lygra, and Sigurd and his ccmirades to their ship. As soon as it began to be dark at night Sigurd said to his ship's people, "To say the truth, we have come into a great misfortune ; for a great lie is got up against us, and this king is a deceitful, crafty man. Our fate is easy to be foreseen where he rules; for first he made Thoralf be slain, and then made us the misdoers, without benefit of redemption by fine. For him it is an easy matter to man- age the iron ordeal, so that I fear he will come ill off who tries it against him. Now there is coming a brisk moun- tain breeze, blowing right out of the sound and off the land ; and it is my advice that we hoist our sail, and set out to sea. Let Thrand himself come with his wool to market another summer; but if I get away, it is my opinion I shall never think of coming to Norway agpin." His comrades thought the advice good, hoisted their sail, and in the night-time took to the open sea with all speed. They did not stop until they came to Farey, and home to Gata. Thrand was ill-pleased with their voyage, and they did not answer him in a very friendly way ; but they remained at home, however, with Thrand. The morning after, King Olaf heard of Sigurd's departure, and heavy reports went round about this case; and there were many who believed that the accusation against Sigurd was true, although they had denied and opposed it before the king. King Olaf spoke but little about the matter, but seemed to know of a certainty that the sus- picion he had taken up was founded in truth. The king afterwards proceeded in his progress, taking up his abode where it was provided for him. . — OF THE ICELANDERS. King Olaf called before him the men who had come from Iceland, Thorod Snorrason, Geller Thorkelson, Stein Skaptason, and Egil Halson, and spoke to them thus : — "Ye have spoken to me much in summer about making yourselves ready to return to Iceland, and I have never given you a distinct answer. Now I will tell you what my intention is. Thee, Geller, I propose to allow to return, if thou wilt carry my message there ; but none of the other Icelanders who are now here may go to Iceland before I have heard how the message which thou, Geller, shalt iMring thither has been received." When the king had made this resolution known, it appeared to those who had a great desire to return, and were thus forbidden, that they were unreasonably and hardly dealt with, and that they were placed in the condi- tion of unfree men. In the meantime Geller got ready for his journey, and sailed in summer () to Iceland, tak- ing with him the message he was to bring before the Thing the following summer (). The king's message was, that he required the Icelanders to adopt the laws which he had set in Ncwway, also to pay him thane-tax and nose- tax;* namely, a penny for every nose, and the penny at the rate of ten pennies to the yard of wadmal.* At the same time he promised them his friendship if they accepted, and threatened them with all his vengeance if they refused his proposals. The people sat long in deliberation on this business; but at last they were unanimous in refusing all the taxes and burdens which were demanded of them. That sum- mer Geller returned back from Iceland to Norway to King Olaf, and found him in autumn in the east in Viken, just as he had come from- Gautland; of which I shall speak hereafter in this story of King Olaf. Towards the end of autumn King Olaf repaired north to Throndhjem, and went with his people to Nidaros, where he ordered a 'Nefgildl (nef = no«e), a nose-tax or poll-tax payable to the king. This ancient "nose-tsx" was also Imposed by the Norsemen on conquered countries, the penalty for defaulters being the loss of their nose. 'Wadmal was the coarse woollen cloth made In Iceland, and so irenerally used for clothing that it was a measure of yalue In the North, like money, for other commodities. — L. Winter residence to be prepared for him. The winter () that he passed here in the merchant-town of Nidaros was the thirteenth year of his reign. . OF THE JAMTALAND PEOPLE. There was once a man called Ketil Jamte, a son of Earl Onund of Sparby, in the Throndhjem district. He fled over the ridge of mountains from Eystein Illrade, cleared the forest, and settled the country now called the province of Jamtaland. A great many people joined him from the Throndhjem land, on account of the disturbances there; for this King Eystein had laid taxes on the Throndhjem people, and set his dog, called Saur, to be king over them. Thorer Helsing was KetiFs grandson, and he colonised the province called Helsingjaland, which is named after him. When Harald Harfager subdued the kingdom by force, many people fled out of the country from him, both Throndhjem people and Naumudal people, and thus new settlements were added to Jamtaland; and some settlers went everi eastwards to Helsingjaland and down to the Baltic coast, and all became subjects of the Swedish king. While Hakon Athelstan's foster-son was over Norway there was peace, and merchant traffic from Throndhjem to Jamtaland ; and, as he was an excellent king, the Jamta- landers came from the east to him, paid him scat, and he gave them laws- and administered justice. They would rather submit to his government than to the Swedish king's, because they were of Norwegian race ; and all the Helsingjaland people, who had their descent from the north side of the mountain ridge, did the same. This con- tinued long after those times, until Olaf the Thick and the Swedish king Olaf quarrelled about the boundaries. Then the Jamtaland and Helsingj aland people went back to the Swedish king; and then the forest of Eid was the eastern boundary of the land, and the mountain ridge, or keel of the country, the northern : and the Swedish king took scat of Helsingjaland, and also of Jamtaland. Now, thought the king of Norway, Olaf, in consequence of the agreement between him and the Swedish king, the scat of Jamtaland should be paid differently than before ; although it had long been established that the Jamtaland people paid their scat to the Swedish king, and that he appointed officers over the country. The Swedes would listen to nothing, but that all the land to the east of the keel of the country belonged to the Swedish king. Now this went so, as it often happens, that although the kings were brothers-in-law and relations, each would hold fast the dominions which he thought he had a right to. King Olaf had sent a message round in Jamtaland, declaring it to be his will that the Jamtaland people should be subject to him, threatening them with violence if they refused; but the Jamtaland people preferred being subjects of the Swedish king. . — STEIN^S STORY. The Icelanders, Thorod Snorrason and Stein Skapta- son, were lU-pleased at not being allowed to do as they liked. Stein was a remarkably handsome man, dexterous at all feats, a great poet, splendid in his apparel, and very ambitious of distinction. His father, Skapte, had com- posed a poem on King Olaf, which he had taught Stein, with the intention that he should bring it to King Olaf. Stein could not now restrain himself from making the king reproaches in word and speech, both in verse and prose. Both he and Thorod were imprudent in their con- versation, and said the king would be looked upon as a worse man than those who, under faith and law, had sent their sons to him, as he now treated them as men without liberty. The king was angry at this. One day Stein stood before the king, and asked if he would listen to the poem which his father Skapte had composed about him. The king replies, "Thou must first repeat that, Stein, which thou hast composed about me." Stein replies, that it was not the case that he had composed any. "I am no skald, sire," said he; "and if I even could compose any- thing, it, and all that concerns me, would appear to thee of little value." Stein then went out, but thought he perceived what the king alluded to. Thorgeir, one of the king's land-bailiflFs, who managed one of his farms in Orkadal, happened to be present, and heard the conver- sation of the king and Stein, and soon afterwards Thor- geir returned home. One night Stein left the city, and his footboy with him. They went up Gaularas and into Orkadal. One evening they came to one of the king's farms which Thorgeir had the management of, and Thor- geir invited Stein to pass the night there, and asked where he was travelling to. Stein b^ged the loan of a horse and sledge, for he saw they were just driving Jiome com. Thorgeir replies, "I do not exactly see how it stands with thy journey, and if thou art travelling with the king's leave. The other day, methinks, the words were not very sweet that passed between the king and thee." Stein said, "If it be so that I am not my own master for the king, yet I will not submit to such treatment from his slaves;" and, drawing his sword, he killed the land- bailiff. Then he took the horse, put the boy upon him, and sat himself in the sledge, and so drove the whole night. They travelled until they came to Surnadal in More. There they had themselves ferried across the fjord, and proceeded onwards as fast as they could. They told nobody about the murder, but wherever they came called themselves king's men, and met good entertainment everywhere. One day at last they came towards evening to Giske Isle, to Thorberg Arnason's house. He was not at home himself, but his wife Ragnhild, a daughter of Erling Skjalgson, was. There Stein was well received, because formerly there had been great friendship be- tween themi. It had once happened, namely, that Stein, on his vorage from Iceland with his own vessel, had come to Giske from sea, and had anchored at the island. At that time Ragnhild was in the pains of childbirth, and very ill, and there was no priest on the island, or in the neighbourhood of it. There came a message to the mer- chant-vessel to inquire if, by chance, there was a priest on board. There happened to be a priest in the vessel, who was called Bard ; but he was a young man from West- fjord, who had little learning. The messengers begged the priest to go with them, but he thought it was a difficult matter; for he knew his own ignorance, and would not go. Stein added his word to persuade the priest. The priest replies, "I will go if thou wilt go with me; for then I will have confidence, if I should require advice." Stein said he was willing; and they went forthwith to the house, and to where Ragnhild was in labour. Soon after she brought forth a female child, which aiq)eared to be rather weak. Then the priest baptized the infant, and Stein held it at the baptism, at which it got the name of Thora ; and Stein gave it a gold ring. Ragnhild prom- ised Stein her perfect friendship, and bade him come to her whenever he thought he required her help. Stein replied that he would hold no other female child at bap- tism, and then they parted. Now it was come to the time when Stein required this kind promise of Ragnhild to be fulfilled, and he told her what had happened, and that the king's wrath had fallen upon him. She answered, that all the aid she could give should stand at his service ; but bade him wait for Thorberg's arrival. She then showed him to a seat beside her son Eystein Orre, who was then twelve years old. Stein presented gifts to Ragnhild and Eystein. Thorberg had already heard how Stein had conducted himself before he got home, and was rather vexed at it. Ragnhild went to him, and told him how matters stood with Stein, and begged Thorberg to receive him, and take care of him. Thorberg replies, "I have heard that the king, after sending out a message-token, held a Thing concerning the murder of Thorgeir, and has condemned Stein as having fled the country, and likewise that the king is highly in- censed ; and I have too much sense to take the cause of a foreigner in hand, and draw upon myself the king's wrath. Let Stein, therefore, withdraw from hence as quickly as thou canst'' Ragnhild replied, that they should either both go or both stay. Thorberg told her to go where she pleased. ''For I expect," said he, **that wherever thou goest thou wilt soon come back, for here is thy importance greatest." Her son Eystein Orre then stood forward, and said he would not stay behind if Ragnhild goes. Thorberg said that they showed themselves very stiff and obstinate in this matter. "And it appears that ye must have your way in it, since ye take it so near to heart ; but thou art reckoning too much, Ragnhild, upon thy descent, in paying so little regard to King Olaf's word." Ragnhild replied, "If thou art so much afraid to keep Stein with thee here, go with him to my father Erling, or give him attendants, so that he may get there in safety." Thorberg said he would not send Stein there; "for there are enough of things besides to enrage the king against Erling." Stein thus remained there all winter (). After Yule a king's messenger came to Thorberg, with the order that Thorberg should come to him before mid- summer; and the order was serious and severe. Thor- berg laid it before his friends, and asked their advice if he should venture to go to the king after what had taken place. The greater number dissuaded him, and thought it more advisable to let Stein slip out of his hands than to venture within the king's power; but Thorberg himself had rather more inclination not to decline the journey. Soon after Thorberg went to his brother Fin, told him the drounstances, and asked him to accompany him. Fin replied, that he thought it foolish to be so completely un- der wcmian's influence that he dared not, on account of his wife, keep the fealty and law of his sovereign. "Thou art free," replied Thorberg, "to go with me or not; but I believe it is more fear of the king than love to him that keeps thee back." And so they parted in anger. Then Thorberg went to his brother Arne Amason, and asked him to go with him to the king. Arne says, "It appears to me wonderful that such a sensible, prudent man, should fall into such a misfortune, without neces- sity, as to incur the king's indignation. It might be ex- cused if it were thy relation or foster-brother whom thou hadst thus sheltered ; but not at all that thou shouldst take up an Iceland man, and harbour the king's outlaw, to the injury of thyself and all thy relations." Thorberg replies, "It stands good, according to the proverb, — l rotten branch will be found in every tree. My father's greatest misfortune evidently was that he had such ill luck in producing sons that at last he produced one incapable of acting, and without any resemblance to our race, and whom in truth I never would have called brother, if it were not that it would have been to my mother's shame to have refused." Thorberg turned away in a gloomy temper, and went home. Thereafter he sent a message to his brother Kalf in the Throndhjem district, and begged him to meet him at Agdanes; and when the messengers found Kalf he promised, without more ado, to make the journey. Ragn- hild sent men east to Jadar to her father Erling, and begged him to send people. ErHng's sons, Sigurd and Thord, came out, each with a ship of twenty benches of rowers and ninety men. When they came north Thor- berg received them joyfully, entertained them well, and prepared for the voyage with them. Thorberg had also a vessel with twenty benches, and they steered their course northwards. When they came to the mouth of the Throndhjem fjord Thorberg's two brothers, Fin and Arne; were there already, with two ships each of twenty benches. Thorberg met his brothers with joy, and observed that his whetstone had taken effect ; and Fin replied he seldom needed sharpening for such work. Then they proceeded north with all their forces to Throndhjem, and Stein was along with them. When they came to Agdanes, Kalf Arnason was there before them ; and he also had a well- manned ship of twenty benches. With this war-force they sailed up to Nidaros, where they lay all night. The morning after they had a consultation with each other. Kalf and Erling's sons were for attacking the town with all their forces, and leaving the event to fate ; but Thor- berg wished that they should first proceed with modera- tion, and make an offer ; in which opinion Fin and Arne also concurred. It was accordingly resolved that Fin and Arne, with a few men, should first wait upon the king. The king had previously heard that they had come so strong in men, and was th^efore very sharp in his speech. Fin offered to pay mulct for Thorberg, and also for Stein, and bade the king to fix what the penalties should be, however large ; stipulating only for Thorberg safety and his fiefs, and for Stein life and limb. The king replies, "It appears to me that ye come from home so equipped that ye can determine half as much as I can myself, or more ; but this I expected least of all from you brothers, that ye should come against me with an army: and this counsel, I can observe, has its origin from the people of Jadar ; but ye have no occasion to offer me money in mulct." Fin replies, "We brothers have collected men, not to offer hostility to you, sire, but to offer rather our services ; but if you will bear down Thorberg altogether, we must all go to King Canute the Great with such forces as we have." Then the king locJced at him, and said, "If ye brothers will give your oaths that ye will follow me in the country and out of the country, and not part from me without my leave and permission, and shall not conceal from me any treasonable design that may cc«ne to your knowledge against me, then will I agree to a peace with you broth- ers. Then Fin returned to his forces, and told the condi- tions which the king had proposed to them. Now they held a council upon it, and Thorberg, for his part, said he would accept the terms offered. "I have no wish," says he, "to fly from my property, and seek foreign masters ; but, on the contrary, will always consider it an honour to follow King Olaf, and be where he is." Then says Kalf, "I will make no oath to King Olaf, but will be with him always, so long as I retain my fiefs and dignities, and SO long as the king will be my friend ; and my opinion is that, we should all do the same." Fin says, "We will venture to let King Olaf himself determine in this mat- ter." Arne Amason says, "I was resolved to follow thee, brother Thorberg, even if thou hadst given battle to King Olaf, and I shall certainly not leave thee for lis- tening to better counsel; so I intend to follow thee and Fin, and accept the conditions ye have taken." Thereupon the brothers Thorberg, Fin, and Arne, went on board a vessel, rowed into the fjord, and waited upon the king. The agreement went accordingly into fulfil- ment, so that the brothers gave their oaths to the king. Then Thorberg endeavored to make peace for Stein with the king; but the king replied that Stein might for him depart in safety, and go where he pleased, but "in my house he can never be again." Then Thorberg and his brothers went back to their men. Kalf went to Eggja, and Fin to the king; and Thorberg, with the other men, went south to their homes. Stein went with Erling's sons; but early in the spring () he went west to England into the service of Canute the Great, and was long with him, and was treated with great distinction. . — FIN arnason's expedition to halogaland. Now when Fin Amason had been a short time with King Olaf, the king called him to a conference, along with some otier persons he usually held consultation with ; and in this conference the king spoke to this effect: — "The decision remains fixed in my mind that in spring I should raise the whole country to a levy both of men VjOOQIC and ships, and then proceed, with all the force I can mus- ter, against King Canute the Great: for I know for cer- tain that he does not intend to treat as a jest the claim he has awakened upon my kingdom. Now I let thee know my will, Fin Arnason, that thou proceed on my errand to Halogaland, and raise the people there to an expedition, men and ships, and summon that force to meet me at Agdanes." Then the king named other men whom he sent to Throndhjem, and some southwards in the coun- try, and he commanded that this order should be circula- ted through the whole land. Of Fin's voyage we have to relate that he had with him a ship with about thirty men, and when he was ready for sea he prosecuted his journey until he came to Halogaland. There he summoned the bondes to a Thing, laid before them his errand, and craved a levy. The bondes in that district had large ves- sels, suited to a levy expedition, and they obeyed the king's message, and rigged their ships. Now when Fin came farther north in Halogaland he held a Thing again, and sent some of his men from him to crave a levy where he thought it necessary. He sent, also men to Bjarkey Island to Thorer Hund, and there, as elsewhere, craved the quota to the levy. When the message came to Thorer he made himself ready, and manned with his house-ser- vants the same vessel he had sailed with on his cruise to Bjarmaland, and which he equipped at his own expense. Fin summoned all the people of Halogaland who were to the north to meet at Vagar. There came a great fleet together in spring, and they waited there until Fin re- turned from the North. Thorer Hund had also come SAGA OF OLAP HARALDSON there. When Fin arrived he ordered the signal to sound for all the people of the levy to attend a House-Thing; and at it all the men produced their weapons, and also the fighting men from each ship-district were mustered. When that was all finished Fin said, "I have also to bring thee a salutation, Thorer Hund, from King Olaf, and to ask thee what thou wilt oflfer him for the murder of his court-man Karle, or for the robbery in taking the king's goods north in Lengjuvik. I have the king's orders to settle that business, and I wait thy answer to it." Thorer looked about him, and saw standing on both sides many fully armed men, among whom were Gun- stein and others of Karle's kindred. Then said Thorer, "My proposal is soon made. I will refer altogether to the king's pleasure the matter he thinks he has against me. Fin replies, "Thou must put up with a less honour ; for thou must refer the matter altogether to my decision, if any agreement is to take place." Thorer replies, "And even then I think it will stand well with my case, and therefore I will not decline refer- ring it to thee." Thereupon Thorer came forward, and confirmed what he said by giving his hand upon it; and Fin repeated first all the words he should say. Fin now pronounced his decision upon the agreement, — ^that Thorer should pay to the king ten marks of gold, and to Gunstein and the other kindred ten marks, and for the robbery and loss of goods ten marks more; and all which should be paid immediately. Thorer says, "This is a heavy money mulct." "Without it/' replies Fin, "there will be no agree- ment." Thorer says, there must time be allowed to gather so much in loan from his followers ; but Fin told him to pay immediately on the spot; and besides, Thorer should lay down the great ornament which he took from Karle when he was dead. Thorer asserted that he had not got the ornament. Then Gunstein pressed forward, and said that Karle had the ornament around his neck when they parted, but it was gone when they took up his corpse. Thorer said he had not observed any ornament; but if there was any such thing, it must be lying at home in Bjarkey. Then Fin put the point of his spear to Thorer's breast, and said that he must instantly produce the orna- ment ; on which Thorer took the ornament from his neck and gave it to Fin. Thereafter Thorer turned away, and went on board his ship. Fin, with many other men, followed him, went through the whole vessel, and took up the hatches. At the mast they saw two very large casks ; and Fin asked, "What are these puncheons?" Thorer replies, "It is my liquor." Fin says, "Why don't you give us something to drink then, comrade, since you have so much liquor ?** Thorer ordered his men to run off a bowlfull from the puncheons, from which Fin and his people got liquor of the best quality. Now Fin ordered Thorer to pay the mulcts. Thorer went backwards and forwards through the ship, speaking now to the one, now to the other, and Fin calling out to produce the pence. Thorer begged him to go to the shore, and said he would bring the money there, and Fin with his men went on shore. Then Thorer came and paid silver; of which, from one purse, there were weighed ten marks. Thereafter Thorer brought many knotted nightcaps ; and in some was one mark, in others half a mark, and in others some small money. "This is money my friends and other good people have lent me,** said he; "for I think all my travelling money is gone." Then Thorer went back again to his ship, and returned, and paid the silver by little and little ; and this lasted so long that the day was drawing towards evening. When the Thing had closed the people had gone to their vessels, and made ready to depart; and as fast as they were ready they hoisted sail and set out, so that most of them were under sail. When Fin saw that they were most of them under sail, he ordered his men to get ready too ; but as yet little more than a third part of the mulct had been paid. Then Fin said, "This goes on very slowly, Thorer, with the payment. I see it costs thee a great deal to pay money. I shall now let it stand for the present, and what remains thou shalt pay to the king himself." Fin then got up and went away. Thorer replies, "I am well enough pleased. Fin, to part now; but the good will is not wanting to pay this debt, so that both thou and the king shall say it is not un- paid." Then Fin went on board his ship, and followed the rest of his fleet. Thorer was late before he was ready to come out of the harbour. When the sails were hoisted he steered out over Westf jord, and went to sea, keeping south SOI along the land so far oflf that the hill-tops were half sunk, and soon the land altogether was sunk from view by the sea. Thorer held this course until he got into the English sea, and landed in England. He betook himself to King Canute forthwith, and was well received by him. It then came out that Thorer had with him a great deal of property; and, with other things, all the money he and Karle had taken in Bjarmaland. In the great liquor- casks there were sides within the outer sides, and the liq- uor was between them. The rest of the casks were filled with furs, and beaver and sable skins. Thorer was then with King Canute. Fin came with his forces to King Olaf, and related to him how all had gone upon his voyage, and told at the same time his suspicion that Thorer had left the country, and gone west to England to King Canute. "And there I fear he will cause as much trouble." The king replies, ' believe that Thorer must be our enemy, and it appears to me always better to have him at a distance than near." . — ^DISPUT^ BETWEEN HAREK AND ASMUND. Asmund GrankelscMi had been this winter () in Halogaland in his sheriffdom, and was at home with his father Grankel. There lies a rock out in the sea, on which there is both seal and bird catching, and a fishing ground, and ^g-gathering ; and from old times it had been an appendage to the farm which Grankel owned, but now Harek of Thjotta laid claim to it. It had gone so far, that some years he had taken by force all the gain of this rock ; but Asmund and his father thought that they might expect the king's help in all cases in which the right was upon their side. Both father and son went therefore in spring to Harek, and brought him a message and tokens from King Olaf that he should drop his claim. Harek answered Asmund crossly, because he had gone to the king with such insinuations — "for the just right is upon my side. Thou shouldst learn moderation, Asmund, al- though thou hast so much confidence in the king's favour. It has succeeded with thee to kill some chiefs, and leave their slaughter unpaid for by any mulct; and also to plunder us, although we thought ourselves at least equal to all of equal birth, and thou art far from being my equal in family." Asmund replies, "Many have experienced from thee, Harek, that thou art of great connections, and too great power; and many in consequence have suffered loss in their property through thee. But it is likely that now thou must turn thyself elsewhere, and not against us with thy violence, and not go altogether against law, as thou art now doing." Then they separated. Harek sent ten or twelve of his house-servants with a large rowing boat, with which they rowed to the rock, took all that was to be got upon it, and loaded their boat. But when they were ready to return home, Asmund Grankelson came with thirty men, and ordered them to give up all they had taken. Harek's house-servants were not quick in complying, so that Asmund attacked them. Some of Harek's men were cudgelled, some wounded, some thrown into the sea, and all they had caught was taken from on board of their boat, and Asmund and his people took it along with them. Then Harek's servants came home, and told him the event. Harek replies, "That is called news indeed that seldom happens; never before has it happened that my people have been beaten." The matter dropped. Harek never spoke about it, but was very cheerful. In spring, however, Harek rig- ged out a cutter of twenty seats of rowers, and manned it with his house-servants, and the ship was remarkably well fitted out both with people and all necessary equip- ment ; and Harek went to the levy ; but when he came to King Olaf, Asmund was there before him. The king summoned Harek and Asmund to him, and reconciled them so that they left the matter entirely to him. As- mund then produced witnesses to prove that Grankel had owned the rock, and the king gave judgment accordingly. The case had a one-sided result. No mulct was paid for Harek's house-servants, and the rock was declared to be Grankel's. Harek observed it was no disgrace to obey the king's decision, whatever way the case itself was decided. . — ^Thorod's story. Thorod Snorrason had remained in Norway, accord- ing to King Olaf's commands, when Geller Thorkelson got leave to go to Iceland, as before related. He remained there () with King Olaf, but was ill pleased that he was not free to travel where he pleased. Early in winter. King Olaf, when he was in Nidaros, made it known that he would send people to Jamtaland to collect SAGA OF OLAP 'HARALDSON the scat; but nobody had any great desire to go on this business, after the fate of those whom King Olaf had sent before, — ^namely, Thrand White and others, twelve in number, who lost their lives, as before related ; and the Jamtalanders had ever since been subject to the Swedish king. Thorod Snorrason now offered to undertake this journey, for he cared little what became of him if he could but become his own master again. The king con- sented, and Thorod set out with eleven men in company. They came east to Jamtaland, and went to a man called Thorar, who was lagman, and a person in high estimation. They met with a hospitable reception ; and when they had been there a while, they explained their business to Thorar. He replied, that other men and chiefs of the country had in all respects as much power and right to give an answer as he had, and for that purpose he would call together a Thing. It was so done; the message- token was sent out, and a numerous Thing assembled. Thorar went to the Thing, but the messengers in the meantime remained at home. At the Thing, Thorar laid the business before the people, but all were unanimous that no scat should be paid to the king of Norway ; and some were for hanging the messengers, others for sacri- ficing them to the gods. At last it was resolved to hold them fast until the king of Sweden's sheriffs arrived, and they could treat them as they pleased with consent of the people; and that, in the meantime, this decision should be concealed, and the messengers treated well, and detainea under pretext that they must wait until the scat is col- lected; and that they should be separated, and placed two and two, as if for the convenience of boarding them, Thorod and another remained in Thorar's house. There was a great Yule feast and ale-drinking, to which each brought his own liquor; for there were many peasants in the village, who all drank in company together at Yule. There was another village not far distant, where Thorar's brother-in-law dwelt, who was a rich and powerful man, and had a g^own-up son. The brothers-in-law intended to pass the Yule in drinking feasts, half of it at the house of the one and half with the other ; and the feast began at Thorar's house. The brothers-in-law drank together, and Thorod and the sons of the peasants by themselves ; and it was a drinking match. In the evening words arose, and comparisons between the men of Sweden and of Norway, and then between their kings both of former times and at the present, and of the manslaughters and robberies that had taken place between the countries. Then said the peasants' sons, "If our king has lost most people, his sheriflfs will make it even with the lives of twelve men when they come from the south after Yule; and ye little know, ye silly fools, why ye are kept here." Thorod took notice of these words, and many made jest about it, and scoflfed at them and their king. When the ale began to talk out of the hearts of the Jamtalanders, what Thorod had before long suspected became evident. The day after Thorod and his comrade took all their clothes and weapons, and laid them ready; and at night, when the people were all asleep, they fled to the forest. The next morning, when the Jamtalanders were aware of their flight, men set out after them with dogs to trace them, and found them in a wood in which they had con- cealed themselves. They brought them home to a room in which there was a deep cellar, into which they were thrown, and the door locked upon them. They had lit- tle meat, and only the clothes they had on them. In the middle of Yule, Thorar, with all his freeborn men, went to his brother's-in-law, where he was to be a guest until the last of Yule. Thorar's slaves were to keep guard upon the cellar, and they were provided with plenty of liquor; but as they observed no moderation in drinking, they became towards evening confused in the head with the ale. As they were quite drunk, those who had to bring meat to the prisoners in the cellar said among themselves that they should want for nothing. Thorod amused the slaves by singing to them. They said he was a clever man, and gave him a large candle that was lighted ; and the slaves who were in went to call the others to come in; but they were all so confused with the ale, that in going out they neither locked the cellar nor the room after them. Now Thorod and his comrades tore up their skin clothes in strips, knotted them together, made a noose at one end, and threw up the rope on the floor of the room. It fastened itself around a chest, by which they tried to haul themselves up. Thorod lifted up his comrade until he stood on his shoulders, and from thence scrambled up through the hatchhole. There was no want of ropes in the chamber, and he threw a rope down to Thorod ; but when he tried to draw him up, he could not move him from the spot. Then Thorod told him to cast the rope over a cross-beam that was in the house, make a loop in it, and place as much wood and stones in the loop as would outweigh him ; and the heavy weight went down into the cellar, and Thorod was drawn up by it. Now they took as much clothes as they required in the room ; and among other things they took some rein- deer hides, out of which they cut sandals, and bound them under their feet, with the hoofs of the reindeer feet trail- ing behind. But before they set oflf they set fire to a large corn barn which was close by, and then ran out into the pitch-dark night. The barn blazed, and set fire to many other houses in the village. Thorod and his com- rade travelled the whole night until they came to a lonely wood, where they concealed themselves when it was day- light. In the morning they were missed. There was chase made with dogs to trace the footsteps all round the house ; but the hounds always came back to the house, for they had the smell of the reindeer hoofs, and followed the scent back on the road that the hoofs had left, and there- fore could not find the right direction. Thorod and his comrade wandered long about in the desert forest, and came one evening to a small house, and went in. A man and a woman were sitting by the fire. The man called himself Thorer, and said it was his wife who was sitting there, and the hut belonged to them. The peasant asked them to stop there, at which they were well pleased. He told them that he had come to this place, because he had fled from the inhabited district on account of a murder. Thorod and his comrade were well received, and they all got their supper at the fireside ; and then the benches were cleared for them, and they lay down to sleep, but the fire SAGA Of Olaf hAraLDsoM was still burning with a clear light. Thorod saw a man come in from another house, and never had he seen so stout a man. He was dressed in a scarlet cloak beset with gold clasps, and was of very handsome appearance. Thorod heard him scold them for taking guests, when they had scarcely food for themselves. The housewife said, "Be not angry, brother; seldom such a thing hap- pens; and rather do them some good too, for thou hast better opportunity to do so than we." Thorod heard also the stout man named by the name of Arnliot Gelline, and observed that the woman of the house was his sister. Thorod had heard speak of Arnliot as the greatest of robbers and malefactors. Thorod and his companion slept the first part of the night, for they were wearied with walking; but when a third of the night was still to cc«ne, Arnliot awoke them, told them to get up, and make ready to depart. They arose immediately, put on their clothes, and some breakfast was given them; and Arnliot gave each of them also a pair of skees. Arnliot made himself ready to accompany them, and got upon his skees, which were both broad and long ; but scarcely had he swung his skee-staff before he was a long way past them. He waited for them, and said they would make no progress in this way, and told them to stand upon the edge of his skees beside him. They did so. Thorod stood nearest to him, and held by Arnliot's belt, and his comrade held by him. Arnliot strode on as quickly with them both, as if he was alone and without any weight. The following day they came, towards night, to a lodge for travellers, struck fire, and prepared some food; but Amliot told them to throw away nothing of their food, neither bones nor crumbs. Amliot took a silver plate out of the pocket of his cloak, and ate from it. When they were done eating, Amliot gathered up the remains of their meal, and they prepared to go to sleep. In the other end of the house there was a loft upon cross-beams, and Amliot and the others went up, and laid themselves down to sleep. Amliot had a large halberd, of which the upper part was mounted with gold, and the shaft was so long that with his arm stretched out he could scarcely touch the top of it ; and he was girt with a sword. Th^ had both their weapons and their clothes up in the loft beside them. Arnliot, who lay outermost in the loft, told them to be perfectly quiet. Soon after twelve men came to the house, who were merchants going with their wares to Jamtaland; and when they came into the house they made a great disturbance, were merry, and made a great fire before them ; and when they took their supper they cast away all the bones around them. They then prepared to go to sleep, and laid themselves down upon the benches around the fire. When they had been asleep a short time, a huge witch came into the house ; and when she came in, she carefully swept together all the bones and whatever was of food kind into a heap, and threw it into her mouth. Then she gripped the man who was nearest to her, riving and tearing him asunder, and threw him upon the fire. The others awoke in dreadful fright, and sprang up ; but she took them, and put them one by one to death, so that only one remained in life. He ran under the loft calling for help, and if there was any one on the loft to help him, Arnliot reached down his hand, seized him by the shoulder, and drew him up into the loft. The witch-wife had turned towards the fire, and began to eat the men who were roasting. Now Arnliot stood up, took his halberd, and struck her between the shoul- ders, so that the point came out at her breast. She writhed with it, gave a dreadful shriek, and sprang up. The halberd slipped from Arnliot's hands, and she ran out with it. Arnliot then went in ; cleared away the dead corpses out of the house ; set the door and the door-posts up, for she had torn them down in going out; and they slept the rest of the night. When the day broke they got up; and first they took their breakfast. When they had got food, Arnliot said, "Now we must part here. Ye can proceed upon the new-traced path the merchants have made in coming here yesterday. In the meantime I will seek after my halberd, and in reward for my labour I will take so much of the goods these men had with them as I find useful to me. Thou, Thorod, must take my salutation to King Olaf ; and say to him that he is the man I am most desirous to see, although my salutation may appear to him of little worth." Then he took his silver plate, wiped it dry with a cloth, and said, "Give King Olaf this plate; salute him, and say it is from me." Then they made themselves ready for their journey, and parted. Thorod went on with his cc«nrade and the man of the merchants' company who had escaped. He pro- ceeded until he came to King Olaf in the town (Nida- ros) ; told the king all that had happened, and presented to him the silver plate. The king said it was wrong that Arnliot himself had not come to him ; "for it is a pity so brave a hero, and so distinguished a man, should have given himself up to misdeeds." Thorod remained the rest of the winter with the king, and in summer got leave to return to Iceland ; and he and King Olaf parted the best of friends. . — ^KING OI^AF's levy of MEN. King Olaf made ready in spring () to leave Nida- ros, and many people were assembled about him, both from Throndhjem and the Northern country; and when he was ready he proceeded first with his men to More, where he gathered the men of the levy, and did the same at Raumsdal. He went from thence to South More. He lay a long time at the Herey Isles waiting for his forces ; and he often held House-things, as many reports came to his ears about which he thought it necessary to hold councils. In one of these Things he made a speech, in which he spoke of the loss he suffered from the Farey islanders. "The scat which they promised me," he said, "is not' forthcoming; and I now intend to send men thither after it." Then he proposed to different men to undertake this expedition; but the answer was, that all declined the adventure. Then there stood up a stout and very remarkable look- ing man in the Thing. He was clad in a red kirtle, had a helmet on his head, a sword in his belt, and a large hal- berd in his hands. He took up the word and said, "In truth here is a great want of men. Ye have a good king; but ye are bad servants who say no to this expedition he offers you, although ye have received many gifts of friend- ship and tokens of honour from him. I have hitherto been no friend of the king, and he has been my enemy, and says, besides, that he has good grdunds for being so. Now, I offer, sire, to go upon this expedition, if no better will undertake it." The king answers, "Who is this brave man who replies to my offer? Thou showest thyself different from the other men here present, in offering thyself for this expe- dition from which they excuse themselves, although I ex- pected they would willingly have undertaken it ; but I do not know thee in the least, and do not know thy name." He replies, "My name, sire, is not difficult to know, and I think thou hast heard my name before. I am Karl Morske." The king — ^**So this is Karl ! I have indeed heard thy name before ; and, to say the truth, there was a time when our meeting must have been such, if I had had my will, that thou shouldst not have had to tell it now. But I will not show myself worse than thou, but will join my thanks and my favour to the side of the help thou hast offered me. Now thou shalt come to me, Karl, and be my guest to-day ; and then we shall consult together about this bus-- iness." Karl said it should be so. KARL MORSKE'S STORY. Karl Morske had been a viking, and a celebrated robber. Often had the king sent out men against him, and wished to make an end of him; but Karl, who was a man of high connection, was quick in all his doings, and besides a man S of great dexterity, and expert in all feats. Now when Karl had undertaken this business the king was reconciled to him, gave him his friendship, and let him be fitted out in the best manner for this expedition. There were about twenty men in the ship ; and the king sent messages to his friends in the Farey Islands, and recommended him also to Leif Ossurson and Lagman Gille, for aid and defence ; and for this purpose furnished Karl with tokens of the full powers given him. Karl set out as soon as he was ready; and as he got a favourable breeze soon came to the Farey Islands, and landed at Thorshavn, in the is- land Straumey. A Thing was called, to which there came a great number of people. Thrand of Gata came with a great retinue, and Leif and Gille came there also, with many in their following. After they had set up their tents, and put themselves in order, they went to Karl Morske, and saluted each other on both sides in a friendly way. Then Karl produced King Olaf's words, tokens, and friendly message to Leif and Gille, who received them in a friendly manner, invited Karl to come to them, and promised him to support his errand, and give him all the aid in their power, for which he thanked them. Soon after came Thrand of Gata, who also received Karl in the most friendly manner, and said he was glad to see so able a man coming to their country on the king's business, which they were all bound to promote. "I will insist, Karl," says he, '*on thy taking up thy winter abode with me, together with all those of thy people who may appear to thee necessary for thy dignity." Karl replies, that he had already settled to lodge with Leif; "otherwise I would with great pleasure have ac- cepted thy invitation." "Then fate has given great honour to Leif," says Thrand ; "but is there any other way in which I can be of service?" Karl replies, that he would do him a great service by collecting the scat of the eastern island, and of all the northern islands. Thrand said it was both his duty and interest to assist m the king's business, and thereupon Thrand returned to his tent ;- and at that Thing nothing else worth speaking of occurred. Karl took up his abode with Leif Ossurson, and was there all winter (). Leif collected the scat of Straumey Island, and all the islands south of it. The spring after Thrand of Gata fell ill, and had sore eyes and other complaints ; but he prepared to attend the Thing, as was his custom* When he came to the Thing he had his tent put up, and within it another black tent, that the light might not penetrate. After some days of the Thing had passed, Leif and Karl came to Thrand's tent, with a great many people, and found some persons standing outside. They asked if Thrand was in the tent, and were told he was. Leif told them to bid Thrand come out, as he and Karl had some business with him. They came back, and said that Thrand had sore eyes, and could not come out; "but he begs thee, Leif, to come to him within." Leif told his comrades to come carefully into the tent, and not to press forward, and that he who came last in should go out first. Leif went in first, followed by Karl, and then his comrades; and all fully armed as if they were going into battle. Leif went into the black tent and asked if Thrand was there. Thrand answered, and saluted Leif. Leif returned his salutation, and asked if he had brought the scat from the northern islands, and if he would pay the scat that had been collected. Thrand replies, that he had not forgotten what had been spdcen of between him and Karl, and that he would now pay over the scat "Here is a purse, Leif, full of silver, which thou canst receive." Leif looked around, and saw but few people in the tent, of whom some were lying upon the bendies, and a few were sitting up. Then Leif went to Thrand, and took the purse, and carried it into the outer tent, where it was light, turned out the money on his shield, groped about in it with his hand, and told Karl to look at the silver. When they had looked at it a while, Karl asked Leif what he thought of the silver. He re- plied, "I am thinking where the bad money that is in the north isles can have come from." Thrand heard this, and said,. "Do you not think, Leif, the silver is good ?" "No," says he. Thrand replies, "Our relations, then, are rascals not to be trusted. I sent them in spring to collect the scat in the north isles, as I could not myself go anywhere, and they have allowed themselves to be bribed by the bondes to take false money, which nobody looks upon as current and good; it is better, therefore, Leif, to look at this silver which has been paid me as land-rent" Leif thereupon carried back this silver, and received another bag, which he carried to Karl, and they looked over the money together. Karl asked Leif what he thought of this money. He answered, that it appeared to him so bad that it would not be taken in payment, however little hope there might be of getting a debt paid in any other way: "therefore I will not take this money upon the king's account." A man who had been lying on the bench now cast the skin coverlet of? which he had drawn over his head, and said, "True is the old word, — he grows worse who grows older : so it is with thee, Thrand, who allowest Karl Morske to handle thy money all the day." This was Gaut the Red. Thrand sprang up at Gaut's words, and reprimanded his relation with many angry words. At last he said that Leif should leave this silver, and take a bag which his own peasants had brought him in spring. "And although I am weak-sighted, yet my own hand is the truest test." Another man who was ly- ing on the bench raised himself now upon his elbow ; and this was Thord the Low. He said, "These are no ordi- nary reproaches we suffer from Karl Morske, and there- fore he well deserves a reward for them." Leif in the meantime took the bag, and carried it to Karl; and when they cast their eyes on the money, Leif said, "We need not look long at this silver, for here the one piece of money is better than the other; and this is the money we will have. Let a man come to be present at the counting it out." Thrand says that he thought Leif was the fittest man to do it upon his account. Leif and Karl thereupon went a short way from the tent, sat down, and counted and weighed the silver. Karl took the helmet off his head, and received in it the weighed silver. They saw a man coming to them who had a stick with an axe-head on it in his hand, a hat low upon his head, and a short S green cloak. He was bare-legged, and had linen breeches on tied at the knee. He laid his stick down in the field, and went to Karl and said, "Take care, Karl Morske, that thou does not hurt thyself against my axe-stick." Imme- diately a man came running and calls with great haste to Ldf Ossurson, telling him to come as quickly as possible to Lagman Gille's tent; "for," says he, "Sigurd Thorlak- son ran in just now into the mouth of the tent, and gave one of Gille's men a desperate wound." Leif rose up in- stantly, and went off to Gille's tent along with his men. Karl remained sitting, and the Norway people stood around in all comers. Gaut immediately sprang up, and struck with a hand-axe over the heads of the pec^le, and the stroke came on Karl's head ; but the wound was slight. Thord the Low seized the stick-axe, which lay in the field at his side, and struck the axe-blade right into Karl's skull. Many pec^Ie now streamed out of Thrand's tent Karl was carried away dead. Thrand was much grieved at this event, and offered money-mulcts for his relations ; but Leif and Gille, who had to prosecute the business, would accept no mulct Sigurd was banished the country for having wounded Gille's tent comt-ade, and Gaut and Thord for the murder of Karl. The Norway people rig- ged out the vessel which Karl had with him, and sailed eastward to Olaf, and gave him these tidings. He was in no pleasant humour at it, and threatened a speedy ven- geance; but it was not allotted by fate to King Olaf to revenge himself on Thrand and his relations, because of the hostilities which had begun in Norway, and which are now to be related. And there is nothing more to be told of what happened after King Olaf sent men to the Farey Islands to take scat of them. But great strife arose after Karl's death in the Farey Islands between the family of Thrand of Gata and Leif Ossurson, and of which there are great sagas. . — KING OLAF'S expedition WITH HIS I.EVY. Now we must proceed with the relation we began be- fore, — ^that King Olaf set out with his men, and raised a levy over the whole country (). All lendermen in the North followed him excepting Binar Tambaskelfer, who sat quietly at home upon his farm since his return to the country, and did not serve the king. Einar had great estates and wealth, although he held no fiefs from the king, and he lived splendidly. King Olaf sailed with his fleet south around Stad, and many people from the districts around joined him. King Olaf himself had a ship which he had got built the winter before (), and which was called the Visund.* It was a very large ship, with a bison's head gilded all over upon the bow. Sigvat the skald speaks thus of it : — "TiTffvason'B Long Serpent bore^ Wblch proudly seems Uie waves to Grim gaping o'er the waves before, tread, A dragon's nead with open throat. While o'er Its golden forehead dash- When last the hero was afloat : ing His cmise was closed. The waves Its glittering boms are As God disposed. washing: Olaf has raised a bison's head. May God dispose A luckier close." The king went on to Hordaland; there he heard the news that Erling Skjalgson had left the country with a ^eat force, and four or five ships. He himself had a Wisundr is the bufTalo; although the modem bison, or American animal of that name, might have been known through the Greenland colonists, who in this reign had visited some parts of America. — L. large war-ship, and his sons had three of twenty rowing- banks each ; and they had sailed westward to England to Canute the Great. Then King Olaf sailed eastward along the land with a mighty war-force, and he inquired every- where if anything was known of Canute's proceedings; and all agreed in saying he was in England but added that he was fitting out a levy, and intended coming to Nor- way. As Olaf had a large fleet, and could not discover with certainty where he should go to meet King Canute, and as his people were dissatisfied with lying quiet in one place with so large an armament, he resolved to sail with his fleet south to Denmark, and took with him all the men who were best appointed and most warlike; and he gave leave to the others to return home. Now the people whom he thought of little use having gone home, King Olaf had many excellent and stout men- at-arms besides those who, as before related, had fled the country, or sat quietly at home; and most of the chief men and lendermen of Norway were along with him. .— OF KING OI.AF AND KING ONUND. When King Olaf sailed to Denmark, he set his course for Seeland ; and when he came there he made incursions on the land, and began to plunder. The country people were severely treated ; some were killed, some bound and dragged to the ships. All who could do so took to flight, and made no opposition. King Olaf committed there the greatest ravages. While Olaf was in Seeland, the news came that King Onund Olafson of Sweden had raised a levy, and fallen upon Scania, and was ravaging there; and then it became known what the resolution had been that the two kings had taken at the Gaut river, where they had concluded a union and friendship, and had bound themselves to oppose King Canute. King Onund continued his march until he met his brother-in-law King Olaf. When they met they made proclamation both to their own people and to the people of the country, that they intended to conquer Denmark; and asked the sup- port of the people of the country for this purpose. And it happened, as we find examples of everywhere, that if hostilities are brought upon the people of a country not strong enough to withstand, the greatest number will sub- mit to the conditions by which peace can be purchased at any rate. So it happened here that many men went into the service of the kings, and agreed to submit to them. Wheresoever they went they laid the country all round L subjection to them, and otherwise laid waste all with fire and sword. Of this foray Sigvat the skald speaks, in a ballad he composed concerning King Canute the Great: — " 'Canute is on the sea !' The news Is told. And the Norsemen bold Repeat It with great glee. And It runs from mouth to mouth — 'On a lucky day We came away Prom Throndhjem to the south.* Across the cold Bast sea. The Swedish king His host did bring. To galiL great yictory. King Onund came* to fight. In Seeland's plains. Against the Danes, With his steel-clad men so bright > Canute Is on the land ; Side to side His long-ships ride Along the yellow strand. Where waves wash the green banks. Mast to mast, All bound fast. His great ileetiles In ranks." — OI^ KING CANUTE THE GREAT. King Canute had heard in England that King Olaf of Norway had called out a levy, and had gone with his forces to Denmark, and was making great ravages in his dominions there. Canute began to gather people, and he had speedily collected a great army and a numerous fleet. Earl Hakon was second in command over the whole. Sigvat the skald came this summer () from the West, from Ruda (Rouen) in Valland, and with him was a man called Berg. They had made a merchant voyage there the summer before. Sigvat had made a little poem about this journey, called "The Western Traveller's Song," which begins thus : — "Berg I many a merry morn was And we lay on the glittering tide pase'd. Of Rouen river's western side." When our vessel was made fast. When Sigvat came to England he went directly to King Canute, and asked his leave to proceed to Norway ; for King Canute had forbidden all merchant vessels to sail until he himself was ready with his fleet. When Sigvat arrived he went to the house in which the king was lodged; but the doors were locked, and he had to stand a long time outside, but when he got admittance he ob- tained the permission he desired. He then sang : — "The way to Jutland's king I sought ; To his own chamber me to send. A little patience I was taught. And grant my prayer — although I'm The doors were shut — all full within ; one The udaller could not get in. Whose arms the fetters' weight have But Gorm's great son did condescend known." When Sigvat became aware that King Canute was equipping an armament against King Olaf, and knew what a mighty force King Canute had, he made these lines : — "The mighty Canute, and Earl In spite of king and earl, I say, Hakon, 'I love him well — may he get away :' Have leagued themselves, and coun- On the Fielde, wild and dreary, sel taken With him I'd live, and ne'er be Against King Olaf's life. weary." And are ready for the strife. Sigvat made many other songs concerning this expe- dition of Canute and Hakon. He made this among others : — '"Twas not the earl's Intentton then But ever with deceit and lies 'Twlxt Olaf and the udalmen Birik's descendant, Hakon, tries Peace to establish, and the land To make ill-will and discontent. Upright to hold with Northman's Till all the udalmen are bent hand ; Against King Olaf 's rule to rise.** .— OF KING Canute's ship thi^ dragon. Canute the Great was at last ready with his fleet, and left the land ; and a vast number of men he had, and ships frightfully large. He himself had a dragon-ship, so large that it had sixty banks of rowers, and the head was gilt all over. Earl Hakon had another dragon of forty banks, and it also had a gilt figure-head. The sails of both were in stripes of blue, red, and green, and the ves- sels were painted all above the water-stroke; and all that belonged to their equipment was most splendid. They had also many other huge ships remarkably well fitted out, and grand. Sigvat the skald talks of this in his song on Canute: — "Canute Is out beneath the sky — His dragon with her sails of blue, Canute of the clear blue eye ! All bright and brilliant to the view, The king is out on the ocean's High hoisted on the yard arms wide, breast. Carries great Canute o'er the tide. Leading his grand fleet from the Brave is the royal progress — fast West. The proud ship's keel obeys the mast. On to the Bast the ship-masts glide. Dashes through foam, and gains the Glancing and bright each long-ship's land, side. Raising a surge on Limfjord's The conqueror of great Bthelred. strand." Canute, is there, his foemen's dread : It is related that King Canute sailed with this vast force from England, and came with all his force safely to Denmark, where he went into Limfjord, and there he found gathered besides a large army of the men of the country. - . — HARDAKNUT TAKEN TO BE KING IN DENMARK. Earl Ulf Sprakalegson had been set as protector over Denmark when King Canute went to England, and the king had intrusted his son Hardaknut in the earl's hands. This took place the summer before (), as we rela- ted. But the earl immediately gave it out that King Ca- nute had, at parting, made known to him his will and de- sire that the Danes should take his son Hardaknut as king over the Danish dominions* "On that account," says the earl, "he gave the matter into our hands ; as I, and many other chiefs and leading men here in the country, have often complained to King Canute of the evil consequences to the country of being without a king, and that former kings thought it honour and power enough to rule over the Danish kingdom alone ; and in the times that are past many kings have ruled over this kingdom. But now there are greater difficulties than have ever been before; for we have been so fortunate hitherto as to live without disturbance from foreign kings, but now we hear the king of Norway is going to attack us, to which is added the fear of the people that the Swedish king will join him; and now King Canute is in England." The earl then produced King Canute's letter and seal, confirming all that the earl asserted. Many other chiefs supported this business; and in consequence of all these persuasions the people resolved to take Hardaknut as king, which was done at the same Thing. The Queen Emma had been prmcipal promoter of this determination ; for she had got the letter to be written, and provided with the seal, having cunningly got hold of the king's signet; but from him it was all concealed. Now when Hardaknut and Earl Ulf heard for certain that King Olaf was come from Norway with a large army, they went to Jutland, where the great- est strength of the Danish kingdom lies, sent out message- tokens, and summoned to them a great force; but when they heard the Swedish king was also come with his army, they thought they would not have strength enough to give battle to both, and therefore kept their army together in Jutland, and resolved to defend that country against the kings. The whole of their ships they assembled in Lim- f jord, and waited thus for King Canute. Now when they heard that King Canute had come from the West to Lim- fjord they sent men to him, and to Queen Emma, and begged her to find out if the king was angry at them or not, and to let them know. The queen talked over the matter with him, and said, "Your son Hardaknut will pay the full mulct the king may demand, if he has done any- thing which is thought to be against the king." He re- plies, that Hardaknut has not done this of his own judg- ment. "And therefore," says he, "it has turned out as might have been expected, that when he, a child, and with- out understanding, wanted to be called king, the country, when any evil came and an enemy appeared, must be con- quered by foreign princes, if our might had not come to his aid. If he will have any reconciliation with me let him come to me, and lay down the mock title of king he has given himself." The queen sent these very words to Hardaknut, and at the same time she begged him not to decline coming ; for, as she truly observed, he had no force to stand against his father. When this message came to Hardaknut he asked the advice of the earl and other chief people who were with him; but it was soon found that when the people heard King Canute the Old was arrived they all streamed to him, and seemed to have no confi- dence but in him alone. Then Earl Ulf and his fellows saw they had but two roads to take ; either to go to the king and leave all to his mercy, or to fly the country. All pressed Hardaknut to go to his father, which advice he followed. When they met he fell at his father's feet, and laid his seal, which accompanied the kingly title, on his knee. King Canute took Hardaknut by the hand, and placed him in as high a seat as he used to sit in before. Earl Ulf sent his son Svein, who was a sister's son of King Canute, and the same age as Hardaknut, to the king. He prayed for grace and reconciliation for his father, and offered himself as hostage for the earl. King Canute ordered him to tell the earl to assemble his men and ships, and come to him, and then they would talk of reconcilia- tion. The earl did so. . — FORAY IN SCANIA. When King Olaf and King Onimd heard that King Canute was come from the West, and also that he had a vast force, they sailed east to Scania, and allowed them- selves to ravage and bum in the districts there, and then proceeded eastward along the land to the frontier of Swe- den. As soon as the country people heard that King Canute was come from the West, no one thought of going into the service of the two kings. Now the kings, sailed eastward along the coast, and . brought up in a river called Helga, and remained there some time. When they heard that King Canute was coming eastward with his forces against them, they held a council; and the result was, that King Olaf with his people went up the country to the forest, and to the lake out of which the river Helga flows. There at the river- head they made a dam of timber and turf, and dammed in the lake. They also dug a deep ditch, through which they led several waters, so that the lake waxed very high. In the river-bed they laid large logs of timber. They were many days about this work, and King Olaf had the management of this piece of artifice ; but King Onund had only to command the fleet and army. When King Canute heard of the proceedings of the two kings, and of the damage they had done to his dominions, he sailed right against them to where they lay in Helga river. He had a war-force which was one half greater than that of both the kings together. Sigvat speaks of these things : — "Tbe king, wbo shields Will not allow His Jutland fields Wild plundering now: From scaith or harm 'The greatest he. By foeman' arm. On land or sea.' " . — BATTLE IN HEI^GA RIVER. One day, towards evening, King Onund's spies saw King Canute coming sailing along, and he was not far oflf. Then King Onund ordered the war-horns to sound ; on which his people struck their tents, put on their weap- ons, rowed out of the harbour and east round the land, bound their ships together, and prepared for battle. King Onund made his spies run uo the country to look for King Olaf, and tell him the news. Then King Olaf broke up the dam, and let the river take its course. King Olaf travelled down in the night to his ships. When King Canute came outside the harbour, he saw the forces of the kings ready for battle. He thought that it would be too late in the day to begin the fight by the time his forces could be ready ; for his fleet required a great deal of room at sea, and there was a long distance between the foremost of his ships and the hindmost, and between those outside and those nearest the land, and there was but little wind. Now, as Canute saw that the Swedes and Norwegians had quitted the harbour, he went into it with as many ships as it could hold ; but the main strength of the fleet lay without the harbour. In the morning, when it was light, a great part of the men went on shore; some for amusement, scrnie to converse with the people of other ships. They observed nothing until the water came rush- ing over them like a waterfall, carrying huge trees, which drove in among their ships, damaging all they struck ; and the water covered all the fields. The men on shore per- ished, and many who were in the ships. All who could do it cut their cables; so that the ships were loose, and drove before the stream, and were scattered here and there. The great dragon, which King Canute himself was in, drove before the stream ; and as it could not so easily be turned with oars, drove out among Olaf s and Onund's ships. As they knew the ship, they laid her on board on all quarters. But the ship was so high in the hull, as if It were a castle, and had besides such a numer- ous and chosen crew on board, wdl armed and exercised, that it was not easy to attack her. After a short time also Earl Ulf came up with his fleet ; and then the battle began, and King Canute's fleet gathered together from all quar- ters. But the kings Olaf and Onund, seeing they had for this time got all the victory that fate permitted them to gain, let their ships retreat, cast themselves loose from King Canute's ship, and the fleets separated. But as the attack had not been made as King Canute had determined, he made no further attempt; and the kings on each side arranged their fleets and put their ships in order. When the fleets were parted, and each sailing its course, Olaf and Onund looked over their forces, and found they had suflfered no loss of men. In the meantime they saw that if they waited until King Canute got his large fleet in order to attack them, the difference of force was so great that for them there was little chance of victory. It was also evident that if the battle was renewed, they must suffer a great loss of men. They took the resolution, therefore, to row with the whole fleet eastward along the coast. Observing that King Canute did not pursue them, they raised up their masts and set sail. Ottar Svarte tells thus of it in the poem he composed upon King Ca- nute the Great: — "The king, in battle fray. Great Canute might deride Drove the Swedish host away : Two kings if he had pride. The wolf did not miss prey. For at Helga river's side Nor the raven on that day. They would not his sword abide." Thord Sjarekson also sang these lines in his death song of King Olaf:— "King Olaf, Agder's lord. King Canute was not slow: Ne'er shunned the Jutland king. King Onund filled the plain But with his bluo-edged sword With dead, killed by bis bow: Broke many a panser ring. The wolf howled o'er the slain.*' . — KING OLA^ AND KING ONUND's PLANS. King Olaf and King Onund sailed eastward to the Swedish king's dominions; and one day, towards even- ing, landed at a place called Barvik, where they lay all night But then it was observed of the Swedes that they were home-sick ; for the gfreater part of their forces sailed eastward along the land in the night, and did not stop their course until they came home to their houses. Now when King Onund observed this he ordered, as soon as the day dawned, to sound the signal for a House-thing; and the whole people went on shore, and the Thing sat down. Then King Onund took up the word, and spake thus : "So it is, King Olaf, that, as you know, we have been assembled in summer, and have forayed wide around in Denmark, and have gained much booty, but no land. I had vessels, and now have not above remaining with me. Now it appears to me we can make no greater progress than we have made, although you have still the vessels which have followed you the whole summer. It therefore appears to me best that we come back to my kingdom; for it is always good to drive home with the waggon safe. In this expedition we have won some- thing, and lost nckhing. Now I will offer you. King Olaf, to come with me, and we shall remain assembled during the winter. Take as much of my kingdom as you will, so that you and the men who follow you may support yourselves well ; and when spring comes let us take such measures as we find serviceable. If you, however, will prefer to travel across our country, and go overland to Norway, it shall be free for you to do so." King Olaf thanked King Onund for his friendly offer. "But if I may advise," says he, "then we should take an- other resolution, and keep together the forces we have still remaining. I had in the first of summer, before I left Norway, ships; but when I left the country I chose from among the whole war-levy those I thought to be the best, and with them I manned ships ; and these I still have. Now it appears to me that the part of your war-force which has now run away is the most worthless, and of least resistance ; but now I see here all your chiefs and leaders, and I know well that the people who belong to the court-troops^ are by far the best suited to carry arms. We have here chosen men and superb ships, and we can very well lie all winter in our ships, as viking's custom is. But Canute cannot lie long in Helga river; for the harbour will not hold so many vessels as he has. If he steers eastward after us, we can escape from him, and then people will soon gather to us ; but if he return to the harbours where his fleet can lie, I know for certain that the desire to return hom^ will not be less in his army than in ours. I think, also, we have ravaged so widely in summer, that the villagers, both in Scania and in Hal- land, know well whose favour they have to seek. Ca- nute's army will thus be dispersed so widely, that it is uncertain to whom fate may at the last give the victory ; but let us first find out what resolution he takes." Thus King Olaf ended his speech, and it found much applause, and his advice was followed. Spies were sent into King Canute's army, and both the kings Olaf and Onund remained lying where they were. ^The thingmen, or hired body-guard attending Uie oonrt. — ^L. .^-OF KING CANUTE AND EARL UI^F. When King Canute saw that the kings of Norway and Sweden steered eastward with their forces along the coast, he sent men to ride night and day on the land to follow their movements. Some spies went forward, oth- ers returned; so that King Canute had news every day of their progress. He had also spies always in their army. Now when he heard that a great part of the fleet had sailed away from the kings, he turned back with his forces to Seeland, and lay with his whole fleet in the Sound ; so that a part lay on the Scania side, and a part on the Seeland side. King Canute himself, the day be- fore Michaelmas, rode with a gfreat retinue to Roeskilde. There his brother-in-law. Earl Ulf, had prepared a great feast for him. The earl was the most agreeable host ; but the king was silent and sullen. The earl talked to him in every way to make him cheerful, and brought forward everything which he thought would amuse him ; but the king remained stern, and speaking little. At last the earl proposed to him a game at chess, which he agfreed to ; and a chess-board was produced, and they played together. Earl Ulf was hasty in temper, stiflf, and in nothing yield- ing; but everything he managed went on well in his hands ; and he was a great warrior, about whom there are many stories. He was the most powerful man in Den- mark next to the king. Earl Ulf's sister Gyda was mar- ried to Earl Gudin (Godwin) Ulfnadson; and their sons were Harald king of England, and Earl Toste, Earl Valthiof, Earl Morukare, and Earl Svein. Gyda was the name of their daughter, who was married to the English kin^ Edward the Good. .^-? THE EARI^'S MURDER, When they had played a while the king made a false move, at which the earl took a knight from the king; but the king set the piece again upon the board, and told the earl to make another move; but the earl grew angry, threw over the chess-board, stood up, and went away. The king said, "Runnest thou away, Ulf the coward?" The earl turned round at the door and said, "Thou wouldst have run farther at Helga river, if thou hadst come to battle there. Thou didst not call me Ulf the coward, when I hastened to thy help while the Swedes were beating thee like a dog." The earl then went out, and went to bed. A little later the king also went to bed. The following morning while the king was putting on his clothes he said to his footboy, "Go thou to Earl Ulf, and kill him." The lad went, was away a while, and then came back. The king said, "Hast thou killed the earl?" "I did not kill him, for he was gone to Saint Lucius' church." There was a man called Ivar White, a Norwegian by birth, who was the king's courtman and chamberlain. The king said to him, "Go thou and kill the earl." Ivar went to the church, and in at the choir, and thrust his sword through the earl, who died on the spot. Then Ivar went to the king, with the bloody sword in his hand. The king said, "Hast thou killed the earl ?" "I have killed him," says he. "Thou didst well." After the earl was killed the monks closed the church, and locked the doors. When that was told the king he sent a message to the monks, ordering them to open the church and sing high mass. They did as the king or- dered; and when the king came to the church he be- stowed on it great property, so that it had a large do- main, by which that place was raised very high ; and these lahds have since always belonged to it. King Canute rode down to his ships, and lay there till late in harvest with a very large army. .^-OF KING OLAF AND THE SWEDES. When King Olaf and King Onund heard that King Canute had sailed to the Sound, and lay there with a great force, the kings held a House-thing, and spoke much about what resolution they should adopt. King Olaf wished they should remain there with all the fleet, and see what King Canute would at last resolve to do. But the Swedes held it to be unadvisable to remain until the frost set in, and so it was determined ; and King Onund went home with all his army, and King Olaf remained lying af- ter them. . — OF EGIL AND TOFE. While King Olaf lay there, he had frequently confer- ences and consultations with his people. One night Egil Halson and Tofe Valgautson had the watch upon the» king's ship. Tofe came from West Gautland, and was a man of high birth. While they sat on watch they heard much lamentation and crying among the people who had been taken in the war, and who lay bound on the shore at night. Tofe said it made him ill to hear such distress, and asked Egil to go with him, and let loose these people. This work they set about, cut the cords, and let the people escape, and they looked upon it as a piece of great friendship; but the king was so enraged at it, that they themselves were in the greatest danger. When Egil afterwards fell sick the king for a long time would not visit him, until many people entreated it of him. It vexed Egil much to have done anything the king was angry at, and he begged his forgiveness. The king now dismissed his wrath against Egil, laid his hands upon the side on which Egil's pain was, and sang a prayer; upon which the pain ceased instantly, and Egil grew better. Tofe came, after entreaty, into reconcilia- tion with the king, on condition that he should exhort his father Valgaut to come to the king. He was a heathen; but after conversation with the king he went over to Christianity, and died instantly when he was baptized. . — TREACHERY TOWARDS KING OLA^. King Olaf had now frequent conferences with his peo- ple, and asked advice from them, and from his chiefs, as to what he should determine upon. But there was no unanimity among them — some considering that un- advisable which others considered highly serviceable; and there was much indecision in their councils. King Canute had always spies in King Olaf s army, who en- tered into conversation with many of his men, offering them presents and favour on account of King Canute. Many allowed themselves to be seduced, and gave prom- ises of fidelity, and to be King Canute's men, and bring the country into his hands if he came to Norway. This was apparent, afterwards, of many who at first kept it con- cealed. Some took at once money bribes, and others were promised money afterwards ; and a great many there were who had got gfreat presents of money from him before: for it may be said with truth of King Canute, that every man who came to him, and who he thought had the spirit of a man and would like his favour, got his hands full of gifts and money. On this account he was very popular, although his generosity was principally shown to foreigners, and was greatest the greater distance they came from. . — KING oi^af's consultations. King Olaf had often conferences and meetings with his people, and asked their counsel; but as he observed they gave different opinions, he had a suspicion that there must be some who spoke differently from what they re- ally thought advisable for him, and he was thus uncertain if all gave him due fidelity in council. Some pressed that with the first fair wind they should sail to the Sound, and so to Norway. They said the Danes would not dare to attack them, although they lay with so great a force right in the way. But the king was a man of too much understanding not to see that this was impracticable. He knew also that Olaf Trygvason had found it quite otherwise, as to the Danes not daring to fight, when he with a few people went into battle against a great body of them. The king also knew that in King Canute's army there were a great many Norwegians ; therefore he entertained the suspicion that those who gave this advice were more favourable to King Canute than to him. King Olaf came at last to the determinaticxi, from all these con- siderations, that the people who would follow him should make themselves ready to proceed by land across Gaut- land, and so to Norway. "But our ships," said he, "and all things that we cannot take with us, I will send east- ward to the Swedish king's dominions, and let them be taken care of for us there." . — HAREK OF THJOTTa's VOYAGE. Hardc of Thjotta replied thus to the king's speech : "It is evident that I cannot travel on foot to Norway. I am old and heavy, and little accustomed to walking. Besides, I am unwilling to part with my ship; for on that ship and its apparel I have bestowed so much labour, that it would go much against my inclination to put her into the hands of my enemies/' The king said, "Come along with us, Harek, and we shall carry thee when thou art tired of walking." Then Harek sang these lines : — "* mount my ocean steed. Though Canute block the Sound, And o'er the sea I'll speed ; Rather than walk the ground, Forests and hills are not for me,— And leave my ship. I'll see I loTe the moTlng sea. What my ship will do for me." Then King Olaf let everything be put in order for the journey. The people had their walking clothing and weapons, but their other clothes and effects they packed upon such horses as they could get. Then he sent off people to take his ships east to Caiman There he had the vessels laid up, and the ships' apparel and other goods taken care of. Harek did as he had said, and waited for a wind, and then sailed west to Scania, until, about the decline of the day, he came with a fresh and fair wind to the eastward of Holar. There he let the sail and the vane, and flag and mast be taken down, and let the upper works of the ship be covered over with some grey tilt- canvas, and let a few men sit at the oars in the fore pdrt and aft, but the most were sitting low down in the vessel. When Canute's watchmen saw the ship, they talked with each other about what ship it might be, and made the guess that it must be one loaded with herrings or salt, as they only saw a few men at the oars; and the ship, besides, appeared to them grey, and wanting tar, as if burnt up by the sun, and they saw also that it was deeply loaded. Now when Harek came farther through the Sound, and past the fleet, he raised the mast, hoisted sail, and set up his gilded vane. The sail was white as snow, and in it were red and blue stripes of cloth interwoven. When the king's men saw the ship sailing in this state, they told the king that probably King Olaf had sailed through them. But King Canute replies, that King Olaf was too prudent a man to sail with a single ship through King Canute's fleet, and thought it more likely to be Harek of Thjotta, or the like of him. Many believed the truth to be that King Canute knew of this expedition of Harek, and that it would not have succeeded so if they had not concluded a friendship beforehand with each other; which seemed likely, after King Canute's and Harek's friendly understanding became generally known. Harek made this song as he sailed northward round the isle of Vedrey : — "The widowi of Lund may nnlle They may laugh or smile, through their tears. But outside their isle The Danish girls may hare their Old Harek still on to his North land Jeen ; steers." Harek went on his way, and never stopped till he came north to Halogaland, to his own house in Thjotta. . — KING oi^af's course ^rom svithjod. When King Olaf began his journey, he came first into Smaland, and then into West Gautland. He marched quietly and peaceably, and the country people gave him all assistance on his journey. Thus he proceeded until he came into Viken, and north through Viken n, Km-jj: <.f X'M'way, aid (/)nnnd, Kiti,;^ of Sweden, it is told (liat Canntc. inirh'e to continue ])nr-nit of his ciu-niies, as- seitjblt»d liis fl<*ft of vf»s, \v]u n a t.'-Mnc of chess was prop >>cd, the King; ffnvc vent t(^ his pa^s^ion, n]^on wliich Ulf, with some hard 'v^■o^ds, ran out of the room. C anitte no doubt suspected L'lf of treasonable uesi^oi^ ag"airst the throne, and an ambition to sup- jdant linn, to pre\ent wiiicli lie ordcreil his Chand^erlain to wav- bay and bHi Irrn, wh^di blon.ly order wa^ executHrut meani a young ram. — L. replies, "Certainly I shall be in the battle, for I am not so weak that I cannot handle the sword; and as to that, I have a notion of tying the sword-handle to my hand. None IS more willing than I am to give the bondes a blow ; so I shall go with my comrades/' It is said that Harald made these lines: — "Our army's wing, where I shall The brisk young skald should gaily stand, go I will hold good with heart and Into the fray, give blow for blow. hand : Cheer on his men, gain inch by inch. My mother's eye shall Joy to see And from the spear-point nerer A battered, blood-stained shield flinch." from me. Harald got his will, and was allowed to be in the battle. . — OF THORGII^S HAI^MASON. A bonde, by name Thorgils Halmason, father to Grim the Good, dwelt in Stiklestad farm. Thorgils offered the king his assistance, and was ready to go into battle with him. The king thanked him for the oflfer. "I would rather," says the king, "thou shouldst not be in the fight. Do us rather the service to take care of the people who are wounded, and to bury those who may fall, when the battle is over. Should it happen, bonde, that I fall in this battle, bestow the care on my body that may be neces- sary, if that be not forbidden thee." Thorgils promised the king what he desired. .— oiThi may probably hare referred not to wltneegM of an act, but to the class of witneBses in the jurisprudence of the Middle Ages called compurgators, who testified not the fact, but their confidence in the statements of the accused; and from which, possibly, our English bail for offenders arose. — L. ^ friendship from the Canute race, ye men of the interior Throndhjem who fought against King Olaf, and de- prived him of his kingdom. Ye were promised peace and justice, and now ye have got oppression and slaverj- for your great treachery and crime." Nor was it very easy to contradict them, as all men saw how miserable the change had been. But people had not the boldness to make an insurrection against King Svein, principally be- cause many had given King Canute their sons or other near relations as hostages ; and also because no one ap- peared as leader of an insurrection. They very soon, however, complained of King Svein; and his mother Alfifa got much of the blame of all that was against their desire. Then the truth, with regard to Olaf, became evi- dent to many. . — OP KING olaf's sanctity. This winter () many in the Throndhjem land be- gan to declare that Olaf was in reality a holy man, and his sanctity was confirmed by many miracles. Many began to make promises and prayers to King Olaf in the matters in which they thought they required help, and many found great benefit from these invocations; some in respect of health, others of a journey, or other circum- stances in which such help seemed needful. .— OP EINAR TAMBASKELPER. Einar Tambaskelfer was come home from England to his farm, and had the fiefs which King Canute had given him when they met in Throndhjem, and which were al- most an earldom. Einar had not been in the strife against King Olaf, and congratulated himself upon it. He re- membered that King Canute had promised him the earl- dom over Norway, and at the same time remembered that King Canute had not kept his promise. He was accordingly the first great person who looked upon King Olaf as a saint. .— OI^ TH^ SONS OP ARNE. Fin Arnason remained but a short time at Eggja with his brother Kalf ; for he was in the highest degree ill- pleased that Kalf had been in the battle against King Olaf, and always made his brother the bitterest re- proaches on this account. Thorberg Arnason was much more temperate in his discourse than Fin ; but yet he hast- ened away, and went home to his farm. Kalf gave the two brothers a good long-ship, with full rigging and other necessaries, and a good retinue. Therefore they went home to their farms, and sat quietly at home. Ame Arnason lay long ill of his wounds, but got well at last without injury of any limb, and in winter he proceeded south to his farm. All the brothers made their peace with King Svein, and sat themselves quietly down in their homes. . — ^BISHOP Sigurd's plight. The summer after () there was much talk about King Olaf s sanctity, and there was a great alteration in the expressions of all people concerning him. There were many who now believed that King Olaf must be a saint, even among those who had persecuted him with the greatest animosity, and would never in their conver- sation allow truth or justice in his favour. People be- gan then to turn their reproaches against the men who had principally excited opposition to the king ; and on this account Bishop Sigurd in particular was accused. He got so many enemies, that he found it most advisable to go over to England to King Canute. Then the Thrond- hjem people sent men with a verbal message to the Up- lands, to Bishop Grimkel, desiring him to come north to Throndhjem. King Olaf had sent Bishop Grimkel back to Norway when he went east into Russia, and since that time Grimkel had been in the Uplands. When the mes- sage came to the bishop he made ready to go, and it con- tributed much to this journey that the bishop considered it as true what was told of King Olaf's miracles and sanctity. . — KING OLAF THE SAINT's REMAINS DISINTERRED. Bishop Grimkel went to Einar Tambaskelfer, who re- ceived him joyfully. They talked over many things, and, among others, of the in^portant events whidi had taken place in the country ; and concerning these they were perfectly agreed. Then the bishop proceeded to the town (Nidaros), and was well received by all the community. He inquired particularly concerning the miracles of King Olaf that were reported, and received satisfactory ac- counts of them. Thereupon the bishop sent a verbal mes- sage to Stiklestad to Thorgils and his son Grim, invit- ing them to come to the town to him. They did not de- cline the invitation, but set out on the road immediately, and came to the town and to the bishop. They related to him all the signs that had presented themselves to them, and also where they had deposited the king's body. The bishop sent a message to Einar Tambaskelfer, who came to the town. Then the bishop and Einar had an audience of the king and Alfifa, in which they asked the king's leave to have King Olaf 's body taken up out of the earth. The king gave his permission, and told the bishop to do as he pleased in the matter. At that time there were a great many people in the town. The bishop, Einar, and some men with them, went to the place where the king's body was buried, and had the place dug; but the coffin had already raised itself almost to the surface of the earth. It was then the opinion of many that the bishop should proceed to have the king buried in the earth at Clement's church; and it was so done. Twelve months and five days (Aug. , ), after King Olaf's death his holy remains were dug up, and the coffin had raised itself almost entirely to the surface of the earth ; and the coffin appeared quite new, as if it had but lately been made. When Bishop Grimkel came to King Olaf's opened coffin, there was a delightful and fresh smell. Thereupon the bishop uncovered the king's face, and his appearance was in no respect altered, and his chedcs were as red 'as if he had but just fallen asleep. The men who had seen King Olaf when he fell remarked, also, that his hair and nails had grown as much as if he had lived on the earth all the time that had passed since his fall. There- upon King Svein, and all the chiefs who were at the place, went out to see King Olaf's body. Then said Alfifa, "People buried in sand rot very slowly, and it would not have been so if he had been buried in earth." After- wards the bishop took scissors, clipped the king's hair, and arranged his beard ; for he had had a long beard, ac- cording to the fashion of that time. Then said the bishop to the king and Alfifa, "Now the king's hair and beard are such as when he gave up the ghost, and it has grown as much as ye see has been cut oflf." Alfifa an- swers, "I will believe in the sanctity of his hair, if it will not bum in the fire; but I have often seen men's hair whole and undamaged after lying longer in the earth than this man's." Then the bishop had live coals put into a pan, blessed it, cast incense upon it, and then laid King Olaf's hair on the fire. When all the incense was burnt the bishop took the hair out of the fire, and showed the king and the other chiefs that it was not consumed. Now Alfifa asked that the hair should be laid upon unconse- crated fire ; but Einar Tambaskelfer told her to be silent, and gave her many severe reproaches for her unbelief. After the bishop's recognition, with the king's approba- tion and the decision of the Thing, it was determined that King Olaf should be considered a man truly holy; whereupon his body was transported into Clement's church, and a place was prepared for it near the high al- tar. The coffin was covered with costly cloth, and stood under a gold embroidered tent. Many kinds of miracles were soon wrought by King Olaf's holy remains. . — OF KING olaf's MIRACLES. In the sand-hill where King Olaf's body had lain on the ground a beautiful spring of water came up and many human ailments and infirmities were cured by its waters. Things were put in order around it, and the water ever since has been carefully preserved. There was first a chapel built, and an altar consecrated, where the king's body had lain; but now Christ's church stands upon the spot. Archbishop Eystein had a high altar raised upon the spot where the king's grave had been, when he erected the great temple which now stands there; and it is the same spot on which the altar of the old Christ church had stood. It is said that Olaf's church stands on the spot on which the empty house had stood in which King Olaf's body had been laid for the night. The place over which the holy remains of King Olaf were carried up from the vessel is now called Olaf's Road, and is now in the mid- dle of the town. The bishop adorned King Olaf's holy remains, and cut his nails and hair; for both grew as if he had still been alive. So says Sigvat the skald: — "I He not, when I say the king Seemed as alive in every thing : His nailB. his yellow hair still growing. And round his ruddy cheek still flowing. As when, to please the Russian queen. His yellow locks adorned were seen ; Or to the blind he cured he gave A tress, their precious sight to save." Thorarin Loftunga also composed a song upon Svein Alfifason, called the Glelogn Song, in which are these verses : — "Svein. king of all. In Olaf's hall Now sits on high; And Olaf's eye Looks down from heaven. Where it is given To him to dwell: Or here in cell. As heavenly saint. To heal men's plaint. Hay our gold-giver Live here for ever "King Olaf there To hold a share On earth prepared. Nor labour spared A seat to win Prom heaven's great King; Which he has won Next Ood's own Son. "His holy form. Untouched by worm. Lies at this day Where good men pray, "And crowds do come. And nailB &nd hair The deaf and dumb. Grow fresh and fair ; Cripple and blind. His cheek is red. Sick of all kind« His flesh not dead. Cured to be On bended knee ; "Around his bier. And off the ground Good people hear Rise whole and sound. The small bells ring Over the king, "To Olaf pray Or great bell toll ; To eke thy day. And living soul To save thy land Not one can tell Prom spoiler's hand. Who tolls the bell. God's man is he To deal to thee "Tapers up there. Good crops and peace; (Which Christ holds dear,) Let not prayer cease. By day and night The altar light: "Book-prayers prevail, Olaf did so. If, nail for nail,^ And all men know Thou tellest on. In heaven he Forgetting none." From sin sits free. Thorarin Loftunga was himself with King Svein, and heard these great testimonials of King Olaf s holiness, that people, by the heavenly power, could hear a sound over his holy remains as if bells were ringing, and that candles were lighted of themselves upon the altar as by a heavenly fire. But when Thorarin says that a multi- tude of lame, and blind, and other sick, who came to the holy Olaf, went back cured, he means nothing more than that there were a vast number of persons who at the be- ginning of King Olaf s miraculous working regained their health. King Olaf s greatest miracles are clearly written down, although they occurred somewhat later. .— O? KING OUV^S AGE AND REIGN. It is reckoned by those who have kept an exact account, that Olaf the Saint was king of Norway for fifteen years ^Before the entrance of the temples or churches were posts called Ondveigis-sulor, with nails called Rigin-naglar — ^the gods' nails — either for ornament, or, as Schoning suggests, to assist the people in reckoning weeks, months, festivals, and in reckoning or keeping tale of prayers repeated, and to recall them to memory, in the same way as beads are used still by the common people in Catholic countries for the same purpose. — L. from the time Earl Svein left the country; but he had received the title of king from the people of the Up- lands the winter before. Sigvat the skald tells this: — "For fifteen winters o'er the land No worthier prince before his day King Olaf held the chief command. In our North land e'er held the sway. Before he fell up In the North : Too short he held It for our good : His fall made known to us his worth. All men wish now that he had stood." Saint Olaf was thirty-five years old when he fell, ac- cording to what Are Frode the priest says, and he had been in twenty pitched battles. So says Sigvat the skald : — "Some leaders trust in God — some And alwajrs placed upon his right not; His Christian men In a hard fight. Even so their men ; but well I wot Hay God be teerclf ul, I pray. God-fearing Olaf fought and won To him — for he ne'er shunned the Twenty pitched battles, one by one, fray." We have now related a part of King Olaf's story, namely, the events which took place 'while he ruled over Norway; also his death, and how his holiness was mani- fested. Now shall we not neglect to mention what it was that most advanced his honour. This was his miracles ; but these will come to be treated of afterwards in this book. . — OF THE THRONDHJEM PEOPLE. King Svein, the son of Canute the Great, ruled over Norway for some years; but was a child both in age and understanding. His mother Alfifa had most sway in the country; and the people of the country were her great enemies, both then and ever since. Danish people had a great superiority given them within the country, to the great dissatisfaction of the people ; and when conver- sation turned that way, the people of the rest of Norway accused the Throndhjem people of having principally s occasioned King Olaf the Holy's fall, and also that the men of Norway were subject, through them, to the ill government by which oppression and slavery had come upon all the people, both great and small; indeed upon the whole community. They insisted that it was the duty of the Throndhjem people to attempt opposition and in- surrection, and thus relieve the country from such tyranny; and, in the opinion of the common people, Throndhjem was also the chief seat of the strength of Norway at that time, both on account of the chiefs and of the population of that quarter. When the Throndhjem people heard these remarks of their countrymen, they could not deny that there was much truth in them, and that in depriving King Olaf of life and land they had committed a great crime, and at the same time the misdeed had been ill paid. The chiefs began to hold consultations and conferences with each other, and the leader of these was Einar Tambaskelfer. It was likewise the case with Kalf Arnason, who began to find into what errors he had been drawn by King Canute's persuasion. All the prom- ises which King Canute had made to Kalf had been broken; for he had promised him the earldom and the highest authority in Norway: and although Kalf had been the leader in the battle against King Olaf, and had deprived him of his life and kingdom, Kalf had not got any higher dignity than he had before. He felt that he had been deceived, and therefore messages passed between the brothers Kalf, Fin, Thorberg, and Ame, and they renewed their family friendship. . — OF KING SVEIN's I.EVY. When King Svein had been three years in Norway (-), the news was received that a force was as- sembled in the western countries, under a chief who called himself Trygve, and gave out that he was a son of Olaf Trygvason and Queen Gyda of England. Now when King Svein heard that foreign troops had come to the country, he ordered out the people on a levy in the north, and the most of the lendermen hastened to him; but Einar Tambaskelfer remained at home, and would not go out with King Svein. When King Svein's order came to Kalf Amason at Eggja, that he should go out on a levy with King Svein, he took a twenty-benched ship which he owned, went on board with his house-servants, and in all haste proceeded out of the fjord, without waiting for King Svein, sailed southwards to More, and continued his voyage south until he came to Giske to his brother Thor- berg. Then all the brothers, the sons of Ame, held a meeting, and consulted with each other. After this Kalf returned to the north again ; but when he came to Frekey- sund. King Svein was lying in the sound before him. When Kalf came rowing from the south into the sound they hailed each other, and the king's men ordered Kalf to bring up with his vessel, and follow the king for the defence of the country. Kalf replies, "I have done enough, if not too much, when I fought against my own countrymen to increase the power of the Canute family." Thereupon Kalf rowed away to the north until he came home to Eggja. None of these Amasons appeared at this levy to accompany the king. He steered with his fleet southwards along the land ; but as he could not hear the least news of any fleet having come frc«i the west, he steered south to Rogaland, and all the way to Agder ; for many guessed that Trygve would first make his attempt on Viken, because his forefathers had been there, and had most of their strength from that quarter, and he had himself great strength by family connection there. . — KING TRYGVK OLAFSON'S FALL. When Trygve came frcMn the west he landed first on the coast of Hordaland, and when he heard King Svein had gone south he went the same way to Rogaland. As soon as Svein got the intelligence that Trygve had come from the west he returned, and steered north with his fleet : and both fleets met within Bokn in Soknarsund, not far from the place where Erling Skjalgson fell. The bat- tle, which took place on a Sunday, was great and severe. People tell that Trygve threw spears with both hands at once. "So my father," said he, "taught me to celebrate mass." His enemies had said that he was the son of a priest ; but the praise must be allowed him that he showed himself more like a son of King Olaf Trygvason, for this Trygve was a slaughtering man. In this battle King Trygve fell, and many of his men with him ; but scMne fled, and some received quarter and their lives. It is thus re- lated in the ballad of Trygve : — "Trjgre comes from the northern Prom the sharp strife I was not coast. far, — King Svein turns round with all his I heard the din and the clang of host ; war ; To meet and fight, they both pre- And the Hordaland men at last gave pare, way. And where they met grim death was And their leader fell, and they lost there. the day." This battle is also told of in the ballad about King .Svein, thus: — "My girl ! It was a Sunday mom, 'Twas Sunday morn, when SToln And many a man ne'er saw Its eve, calls out, Though ale and leeks by old wives 'Stem to stem your vessels bind ;' borne The raven a mid-day feast smells The bruised and wounded did re- out, lleve. And he comes croaking up the wind." After this battle King Svein ruled the country for some time, and there was peace in the land. The winter after it () he passed in the south parts of the country. . — Ot THE COUNSELS OF EINAR TAMBASKELFER AND KALF ARNASON. Einar Tambaskelfer and Kalf Amason had this winter meetings and consultations between themselves in the merchant town.^ Then there came a messenger from King Canute to Kalf Amason, with a message to send him three dozen axes, which must be chosen and good. Kalf replies, **I will send no axes to King Canute. Tell him I will bring his son Svein so many, that he shall not think he is in want of any." . — Ot EINAR TAMBASKELFER AND KALF ARNASON'S JOURNEY. Early in spring () Einar Tambaskelfer and Kalf Amason made themselves ready for a journey, with a great retinue of the best and most select men that could be found in the Throndhjem country. They went in spring eastward over the ridge of the country to Jamta- ^Nidaroe, or Throndhjem, is usually called merely the merchant town. — L. land, from thence to Helsingj aland, and came to Svithjod, where they procured ships, with which in summer the) proceeded east to Russia, and came in autumn to Ladoga. They sent men up to Novgorod to King Jarisleif, with the errand that they offered Magnus, the son of King Olaf the Saint, to take him with them, follow him to Norway, and give him assistance to attain his father's heritage and be made king over the country. When this message came to King Jarisleif he held a consultation with the queen and some chiefs, and they all resolved unanimously to send a message to the Northmen, and ask them to come to King Jarisleif and Magnus; for which journey safe conduct was given them. When they came to Novgorod it was settled among them that the North- men who had come there should become Magnus's men, and be his subjects ; and to this Kalf and the other men who had been against King Olaf at Stiklestad were solemnly bound by oath. On the other hand. King Mag- nus promised them, under oath, secure peace and full rec- onciliation ; and that he would be true and faithful to them all when he got the dominions and kingdom of Norway. He was to become Kalf Amason's foster-son; and Kalf should be bound to do all that Magnus might think necessary for extending his dominion, and making it more independent than formerly. ^ SAGA OF MAGNUS THE GOOD. FBELIMINABT BEMABKS. Magnus reigned from to « when he died. During the lat year of his reign his half-brother Harald Sigurdson was his co-regent The history of Magnus is treated in Agrip., ch. -; in Fagr- skinnat ch. -; in FommannoBdgur^ part yi., and in KnyU linga Saga. The skalds quoted in this saga are: Amor the earls' skald (Amor Jarlaskald), Sigvat, Thjodulf, BJame Gullbrarskald, Thorgeir Flek, Od Kikinaskald. . — MAGNUS OLAFSON'S JOURNEY FROM THE WEST. After Yule Magnus Olafson began his journey from the East from Novgorod to Ladoga, where he rigged out his ships as soon as the ice was loosened in spring (). Amor, the earls' skald, tells of this in the poem on Magnus : — "It Is no loose report that be. This generous youth, who scatters Who will command on land and sea» gold* In blood will make his foeman feel Norway's braye son, but ten years Olaf' s sword Hnelter's sharp blue old, steeL l rigging ships In Russia's lake, His crown, with friend's support, to take." In Spring Magnus sailed from the East to Svithjod. So says Amor : — "The young sword-stalner called a And now the curred plank of the Thing, bow Where all his men should meet Cleaves the blue sea; the ocean- thelr king: plough, Heroes who find the eagle food By grey winds drhren across the Bitfore their lord In arms stood. main. Reaches SIgtuna's grassy plain." Here it is related that when King Magnus and his fel- low-travellers sailed from the East to Svithjod, they brought up at Sigtuna. Emund Olafson was then king in Svithjod. Queen Astrid, who had been married to King Olaf the Saint, was also there. She received very gladly and well her stepson King Magnus, and stmunoned immediately a numerous Thing of Swedes at a place called Hangrar. At the Thing Queen Astrid spoke these words: — "Here is come to us a son of Olaf the Saint, called Magnus, who intends to make an expedition to Norway to seek his father's heritage. It is my great duty to give him aid towards this expedition ; for he is my stepson, as is well known to all, both Swedes and Nor- wegians. Neither shall he want men or money, in so far as I can procure them or have influence, in order that his strength may be as great as possible; and all the men who will support this cause of his shall have my fullest friendship; and I would have it known that I intend my- self to go with him on this attempt, that all may see I will spare nothing that is in my power to help him.*' She spoke long and cleverly in this strain ; but when she had ended many replied thus: — ^**The Swedes made no hon- ourable progress in Norway when they followed King Olaf his father, and now no better success is to be ex- pected, as this man is but in years of boyhood ; and there- fore we have little inclination for this expedition." As- trid replies, "All men who wish to be thought of true courage must riot be deterred by such considerations. If any have lost connections at the side of King Olaf, or been themselves wounded, now is the time to show a man's SAGA OF MAGNUS THE GOOD heart and courage, and go to Norway to take venge- ance." Astrid succeeded so far with words and encour- agement that many men determined to go with her, and follow King Magnus to Norway. Sigvat the skald speaks of this : — "Now Astrid, Olaf's widowed With help of Christ, she hoped to queen, — bring She who so many a change had Magnus to he the land's sole king, seen, — As Harald was, who in his day Took all the gifts of happier days. Obtained o'er all the upper sway. Jewels and rings, all she could raise. And at a Thing at Hangrar, where "And glad are we so well she sped, — The Swedes were numerous, did de- The people's friend is now their Clare head ; What Olaf's son proposed to do. And good King Magnus always And brought her gifts — ^their pay — shows in view. How much he to Queen Astrid owes. Such stepmothers as this good queen "And with the Swedes no wiser plan. In truth are very rarely seen ; To bring out every brave bold man. And to this noble woman's praise Could have been found, had Magnus The skald with Joy his song will been raise." The son himself of the good queen. Thiodolf the skald also says in his song of Magnus : — "When thy brave ship left the land. And many a stout ship, tempest-tost. The bending yard could scarce Was in that howling storm lost withstand That brought thee safe to Slgtuna's The fury of the whistling gale, shore, * That split thy many-coloured sail ; Far from the sound of ocean's roar." . — Magnus's expedition from svithjod. King Magnus set out on his journey from Sigtuna with a great force, which he had gathered in Svithjod. They proceeded through Svithjod on foot to Helsingj aland. So says Amor, the earl's skald : — "And many a dark-red Swedish And chosen men by thee were led, shield Men who have stained the wolf's Marched with thee from the Swedish tongue red. field. Each milk-white shield and polished The country people crowded in. spear To help Saint Olaf's son to win ; Came to a splendid gathering there." Magnus Olafson went from the East through Jamta- hnd over the keel-ridge of the country and came down S upon the Throndhjem district, where all men welcomed the king with joy. But no sooner did the men of King Svein, the son of Alfifa, hear that King Magnus Olafson was come to the country, than they fled on all sides and concealed themselves, so that no opposition was made to King Magnus; for King Svein was in the south part of the country. So says Arnor, the earls' skald : "He who the eagle's talons stains The lightning of thy eye so near. Rushed from the Bast on Thrond- Great king! thy foemen could not hjem's plains; hear. The terror of his plumed helm Scattered they fled — their only care Drove his pale foemen from the If thou their wretched lives wilt realm. spare." . — MAGNUS MADE KING. Magnus Olafson advanced to the town (Nidaros), where he was joyfully received. He then summoned the people to the Eyra-thing ;^ and when the bondes met at the Thing, Magnus was taken to be king over the whole land, as far as his father Olaf had possessed it. Then the king selected a court, and named lendermen, and placed bailiffs and officers in all domains and offices. Immedi- ately after harvest King Magnus ordered a levy through all Throndhjem land, and he collected men readily; and thereafter he proceeded southwards along the coast. . — KING SVEIN'S FUGHT. King Svein Alfifason was staying in South Hordaland when he heard this news of war. He immediately sent out war-tokens to four different quarters, summoned the ^Byra Thing, held on the ayr of the river Ntd, that la. on the spit of sand, still called an ayr in the north of Scotland, dividing a lake, pond, or river-mouth from the sea. At the Thing held here the kings of Nor- way were chosen and proclaimed. It was held to he the proper Thing for settling disputes between kings in Norway. — L. S SAGA OF MAGNUS THE GOOD bondes to him, and made it known to all that they should join him with men and ships to defend the country. All the men who were in the neighbourhood of the king pre- sented themselves ; and the king formed a Thinjg, at which in a speech he set forth his business, and said he would advance against Magnus Olafson and have a battle with him, if the bondes would aid his cause. The king's speech was not very long, and was not received with much approbation by the bondes. Afterwards the Dan- ish chiefs who were about the king made long and clever speeches ; but the bondes then took up the word, and an- sw-red them; and although many said they would follow Svein, and fight on his side, some refused to do so bluntly, some were altogether silent, and some declared they would join King Magnus as soon as they had an opportunity. Then King Svein says, "Methinks very few of the bondes to whom we sent a message have appeared here; and of those who have cc«ie, and tell us to our face that they will join King Magnus as soon as they can, we shall have as little benefit as of those who say they will sit at home quietly. It is the same with those who say nothing at all. But as to those who promise to help us, there are not more than every other man; and that force will avail us little against King Magnus. It is my counsel, therefore, that we do not trust to these bondes; but let us rather go to the land where all the people are sure and true to us, and where we will obtain forces to conquer this country again." As soon as the king had made known this res- oluticMi all his men followed it, turned their ship's bows, and hoisted sail. King Svein sailed eastward along the land, and then set right over to Denmark without delay, and Hardaknut received his brother Svein very kindly. At their first meeting Hardaknut offered King Svein to divide the kingdom of Denmark with him, which offer King Svein accepted. . — KING Magnus's journey to norway. In autumn () King Magnus proceeded eastward to the end of the country, and was received as king throughout the whole land, and the country people were rejoiced at his arrival. . — DEATH OF king CANUTE THE GREAT AND HIS SON SVEIN. King Svein, Canute's son, went to Denmark, as before related, and took part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn King Canute the Great died in England, the th November, forty years old, and was buried at Winchester. He had been king of Den- mark for twenty-seven years, and over Denmark and England together twenty-four years, and also over Nor- way for seven years. King Canute's son Harald was then made king in England. The same winter () King Svein, Alfifa's son, died in Denmark. Thiodolf the skald made these lines concerning King Magnus: — "Through Sweden's dirty roads Uie And partly by hla men betrayed: throng Plying to Denmark o'er the sea. Followed the king In spearmen He leaves the land quite clear to strong. thee." Svein doth fly, in truth afraid. B jame Gullbrarskald composed the following lines con- cerning Kalf Arnason : — SAGA OF MAGNUS THE GOOD "Bj thee the kings got each his Kalf! It was jou who showed the own, — way Magnus by thee got Norway's To our young king, the battle- throne ; lover, — And Syein in Denmark got a seat. From Russia to his father's sway When out of Norway he was beat. You showed the way, and brought him over." King Magnus ruled over Norway this winter (r(>), and Hardaknut over Denmark. . RECONCILIATION BETWEEN HARDAKNUT AND KING MAGNUS. The following spring () the kings on both sides ordered out a levy, and the news was that they would have a battle at the Gaut river ; but when the two armies approached each other, the lendermen in the one army sent messengers to their connections and friends in the other ; and it came to a proposal for a reconciliation between the two kings, especially as, from both kings being but young and childish, some powerful men, who had been chosen in each of the countries for that purpose, had the rule of the country on their account. It thus was brought about that there was a friendly meeting between the kings, and in this meeting a peace was proposed ; and the peace was to be a brotherly union under oath to keep the peace to- wards each other to the end of their lives ; and if one of them should die without leaving a son, the longest liver should succeed to the whole land and people. Twelve of the principal men in each kingdc«n swore to the kings that this treaty should be observed, so long as any one of them was in life. Then the kings separated, and each re- turned home to his kingdom ; and the treaty was kept as long as both lived. S .— OF QUEEN AStRID. Queen Astrid, who had been married to King Olaf the Saint, came to Norway with King Magnus her step- son, as before related, and was held by him deservedly in great honour and esteem. Then came also Alfhild, King Magnus's mother, to the court, and the king re- ceived her with the greatest affection,' and showed her great respect. But it went with Alfhild, as it does with many who come to power and honour, that pride keeps pace with promotion. She was ill pleased that Queen Astrid was treated with more respect, had a higher seat, and more attention. Alfhild wanted to have a seat next to the king, but Astrid called Alfhild her slave-woman, as indeed she had formerly been when Astrid was queen of Norway and King Olaf ruled the land, and therefore would on no account let her have a seat beside her, and they could not lodge in the same house. .— OF SIGVAT THE SKAIJ). Sigvat the skald had gone to Rcwne, where he was at the time of the battle of Stiklestad. He was on his way back from the South when he heard tidings of King Olaf s fall, which gave him great grief. He then sang these lines : — "One morning early on a hill. Where our king fell, — our kind good The misty town asleep and still, king. Wandering I thought upon the fields. Where now his happy youthful Strewed o'er with broken mail and spring? shields. My father too ! — for Thord was then One of the good king's ehosen men." One day Sigvat went through a village, and heard a husband lamenting grievously over the loss of his wife, SAGA OF MAGNUS THE GOOD Striking his breast, tearing his clothes, weeping bitterly, and saying he wanted to die; and Sigvat sang these lines : — "This poor man mourni a much- But the brave man who knows no loved wife, fear Gladly would he be quit of life. Drops for his king a silent tear, Must love be paid for by our grief? And feels, perhaps, his loss as deep The price seems great for Joy so brief. As those who clamour when they weep." Sigvat came home to Norway to the Throndhjem country, where he had a farm and children. He came from the South along the coast in a merchant vessel, and as they lay in Hillarsund they saw a great many ravens flying about. Then Sigvat said:— "I see here many a croaking raven When Olafs ship lay here wind- Flying about the well-known haven : bound. When Olaf's ship was floating here. Oft screamed the erne o'er Hillar They knew that food for them was sound, near ; , Impatient for the expected prey. And wont to follow to the fray." When Sigvat came north to the town of Throndhjem King Svein was there before him. He invited Sigvat to stay with him, as Sigvat had formerly been with his father King Canute the Great ; but Sigvat said he would first go home to his farm. One day, as Sigvat was walk- ing in the street, he saw the king's men at play, and he sang: — "One day before I passed this way. That made me pale, and feel unwell. When the king's guards were at Perhaps it was I thought. Just then, their play, How noble Olaf with his men. Something there was— I need not In former days, I oft have seen tell — In manly games upon this green." Sigvat then went to his farm; and as he heard that many men upbraided him with having deserted King Olaf, he made these verses : — "May Christ condemn me still to I was at Rome, as men know well bum Who saw me there, and who can tell In Quenchless fire, if I dfd turn. That there in danger I was then : And leave King Olaf in his need. — The truth I need not hide from My soul is free from such base deed. men." Sigvat was ill at ease in his home. One day he went out and sang: — "While Olaf lived, how smiled the But now to me all seems so dreary. land!— All black and dull— of life I'm Mountain and cliff, and pebbly weary: strand. Cheerless to-day» cheerless to-mor- All Norway then, so fresh, so gay, row — On land or sea, where oft I lay. Here in the North we have great sorrow." Early in winter Sigvat went westward over the ridge of the country to Jamtaland, and onwards to Helsingja- land, and came to Svithjod. He went immediately to Queen Astrid, and was with her a long time, and was a welcome guest. He was also with her brother King Emund, and received from him ten marks of' proved silver, as is related in the song of Canute. Sigvat always inquired of the merchants who traded to Novgorod if they could tell him any news of Magnus Olafson. Sigvat composed these lines at that time: — "I ask the merchant oft who drives To little birds, which wing their way His trade to Russia, 'Hdw he thrives. Between the lands, I fain would say. Our noble prince? How lives he How much we long our prince to see ; therciT' They seem to bear a wish from me." And still good news — ^hls praise — I hear. .— OF KING Magnus's first arrival in svithjod. Immediately after Magnus Olafson came to Svithjod from Russia, Sigvat met him at Queen Astrid's house, and glad they all were at meeting. Sigvat then sang : — "Thou art come here, prince, young I join myself to thy young power. and bold ! I could not o'er to Russia hie, — Thou art come home ! With joy be- Thy mother's guardian here was I. hold It was my punishment for giving Thy land and people. Prom this Magnus his name, while scarcely hour living." Afterwards Sigvat travelled with Queen Astrid, and followed Magnus to Norway. Sigvat sang thus : — SAGA OF MAGNUS THE GOOD "To the crowds streaming to the If He. to whom be all the praise. Thing* Give us a son in all his wajs To see and hear Magnus their king. Like to his sire, no folk on earth Loudly, young king. I'll speak my Will bless so much a royal birth." mind — 'Qod to His people has been kind.' Now when Magnus became king of Norway Sigvat attended him> and was his dearest friend. Once it hap- pened that Queen Astrid and Alfhild the king's mother had exchanged some sharp words with each other, and Sigvat said : — "Alfhild ! though it was Ood's will The queen-bom Astrid should not be To raise thee — yet remember still Kept out of due respect by thee." . — KING OI^AF's shrine. King Magnus had a shrine made and mounted with gold and silver, and studded with jewels. This shrine was made so that in shape and size it was like a coffin. Under it was an arched way, and above was a raised roof, with a head and a roof-ridge. Behind were plaited hangings ; and before were gratings with padlocks, which could be locked with a key. In this shrine King Magnus had the holy remains of King Olaf deposited, and many were the miracles there wrought. Of this Sigvat speaks : — "For him a golden shrine Is made. Here many a man shall feel his way. For him whose heart was ne'er Stone-blind, unconscious of the day, afraid And at the shrine where Olaf liee Of mortal man — the holy king, Give songs of praise for opened Whom the Lord Ood to heaven did eyes." bring. It was also appointed by law that King Olaf's holy day should be held sacred over all Norway, and that day has been kept ever afterwards as the greatest of Church days. Sigvat speaks of it : — i "To Olaf, Magnus' father, raise. Well may I keep within my breast Within my house, the song of praise ! A day for him in holy rest, — With joy, yet grief, we'll keep the My upraised hands a golden ring day On every branch' bear from that Olaf to heaven was called away. king." .— OF THORBR HUND. Thorer Hund left the country immediately after King Olaf s fall. He went all the way to Jerusalem, and many people say he never came back. Thorer Hund had a son called Sigurd, father of Ranveig who was married to Joan, a son of Ame Amason. Their children were Vid- kun of Bjarkey, Sigurd Hund, Erling, and Jardthrud. . — OF THE MURDER OF HAREK OF THJOTTA. Harek of Thjotta sat at home on his farm, till King Magnus Olafson came to the country and was made king. Then Harek went south to Throndhjem to King Magnus. At that time Asmund Grankelson was in the king's house. When Harek came to Nidaros, and landed out of the ship, Asmund was standing with the king in the gallery outside the loft, and both the king and Asmund knew Harek when they saw him. "Now," says Asmund to the king, "I will pay Harek for my father's murder." He had in his hand a little thin hatchet. The king looked at him, and said, "Rather take this axe of mine." It was thick, and made like a club. "Thou must know, Asmund," added he, "that there are hard bones in the old fellow." Asmund took the axe, went down, and through the house, and when he came down to the cross-road Harek and his men coming up met him. Asmund struck Harek on the iTbe fingers, thn branches of the hand, bore golden fruits from the generosity of the king. — ^L. SAGA OF MAGNUS THE GOOD head, so that the axe penetrated to the brains; and that was Harek's death-wound. Asmund turned back directly to the king's house, and the whole edge of the axe was turned with the blow. Then said the king, "What would thy axe have done, for even this one, I think, is spoilt ?*' King Magnus afterwards gave him a fief and office in Halogaland, and many are the tales about the strife be- tween Asmund and Harek's sons. .— OF THORGEIR FI.EK. Kalf Arnason had at first, for some time, the greatest share of the government of the country under King Mag- nus ; but afterwards there were people who reminded the king of the part Kalf had taken at Stiklestad, and then it became difficult for Kalf to give the king satisfaction in anything. Once it happened there were many men with the king bringing their affairs before him; and Thorgeir Flek from Sula in Veradal, of whom mention is made be- fore in the history of King Olaf the Saint, came to him about some needful business. The king paid no attention to his words, but was listening to people who stood near him. Then Thorgeir said to the king, so loud that all who were around him could hear — "Listen, my lord, to my plain word. Listen to me : well did I see I too was there, and had to bear The men you're trusting the dead A bloody head from Stiklestad : corpse thrusting For I was then with Olaf s men. Out of their way, as dead it lay ; And striking o'er your father's gore." There was instantly a great uproar, and some told Thorgeir to go out ; but the king called him, and not only despatched his business to his satisfaction, but promised him favour and friendship. . — KAU? ARNASON FI.IES THE COUNTRY. Soon after this the king was at a feast at the farm of Haug in Veradel, and at the dinner-table Kalf Arnason sat upon one side of him, and Einar Tambaskelfer on the other. It was already come so far that the king took little notice of Kalf, but paid most attention to Enar. The king said to Einar, "Let us ride to-day to Stiklestad. I should like to see the memorials of the things which took place there." Einar replies, "I can tell thee noth- ing about it; but take thy foster-father Kalf with thee; he can give thee information about all that took place." When the tables were removed, the king made himself ready, and said to Kalf, "Thou must go with me to Stik- lestad." Kalf replied, "That is really not my duty." Then the king stood up in a passion, and said, "Go thou shalt, Kalf!" and thereupon he went out. Kalf put on his riding clothes in all haste, and said to his foot-boy, "Thou must ride directly to Eggja, and order my house-servants to ship all my property on board my ship before sunset." King Magnus now rides to Stiklestad, and Kalf with him. They alighted from horseback, and went to the place where the battle had been. Then said the king to Kalf, "Where is the spot at which the king fell?" Kalf stretched out his spear-shaft, and said, "There he lay when he fell." The king: "And where wast thou, Kalf?" Kalf: "Here where I am now standing." SAGA OF MAGNUS THE GOOD The king turned red as blood in the face, and said, "Then thy axe could well have reached him." Kalf replied, "My axe did not come near him;" and immediately went to his horse, sprang on horseback, and rode away with all his men; and the king rode back to Haug. Kalf did not stop until he got home in the even- ing to Eggja. There his ship lay ready at the shore side, and all his effects were on board, and the vessel manned with his house-servants. They set off immediately by night down the fjord, and afterwards proceeded day and night, when the wind suited. He sailed out into the West sea, and was there a long time plundering in Ireland, Scotland, and the Hebudes. Bjame Gullbrarskald, tells of this in the song about Kalf : — "Brother of Thorberg, who still stood He is the first who friendship broke. Well with the king ! in angry mood For envious men the falsehood He is the first to break with thee, spoke ; Who well desenres esteemed to be ; And he will be the first to rue The breach of friendship 'twizt jou two." .— OF THE THREATS OF THE SONDES. King Magnus added to his property V^gia, which Hrut had been owner of, and Kviststad, which had be- longed to Thorgeir, and also Eggja, with all the goods which Kalf had left behind him; and thus he confiscated to the king's estate many great farms, which had be- longed to those of the bonde-army who had fallen at Stik- lestad. In like manner, he laid heavy fines upon many of those who made the greatest opposition to King Olaf. He drove some out of the country, took large sums of money from others, and had the cattle of others slaugh- tered for his use. Then the bondes began to murmur, s and to say among themselves, "Will he go on in the same way as his father and other chiefs, whom we made an end of when their pride and lawless proceedings became insupportable?" This discontent spread widely through the country. The people of Sogn gathered men, and, it was said, were determined to give battle to King Magnus, if he came into the Fjord district. King Magnus was then in Hordaland, where he had remained a long time with a numerous retinue, and was now come to the reso- lution to proceed north to Sogn. When the king's friends observed this, twelve men had a meeting, and resolved to determine by casting lots which of them should inform the king of the discontent of the people; and it so hap- pened that the lot fell upon Sigvat. .— OF TH^ FREE-SPEAKING SONG (bERSOGUSVISUR). Sigvat accordingly composed a poem, which he called the Free-speaking Song, which begins with saying the king had delayed too long to pacify the people, who were threatening to rise in tumult against him. He said : — "Here In the south, from Sogn Is Let us take arms, and briskly go spread To battle, if it must be so ; The news that strife draws to a head : Defend our king — but still deplore The bondes will the king oppose — His land plunged In such strife once Kings and their folk should ne'er be more." foes. In this song are aso these verses : — "Hakon. who at Fltlar died, — "The bondes ask but what is fair; Hakon the Good, could not abide The Olafs and the Barls, when there The Yiklng rule, or robber train. Where Magnus sits, confirmed to all And all men's love he thus did gain. Their lands and gear — to great and The people since have still in mind small. The laws of Hakon, just and kjpd ; Bold Trygve's son, and Harald's And men will never see the day heir. When Hakon's laws have passed The Olafs, while on earth they were, away. Observed the laws themselves had made. And none was for his own afraid. SAGA OF MAGNUS THE GOOD "Let not thy counsellors stir thj wrath Against the man who speaks the truth ; Thy honour lies in thy good sword* But still more in thy royal word ; And, if the people do not lie. The new laws turn out not nigh So Jut and mild, as the laws given At Ulfasund in face of heaven. "De cautious, with this news of treason Flying about — give them no reason. We hang the thief, hut then we use Consideration of the excuse. I think, great king (who wilt rejoice Eagle and wolf with battle voice). It would be wise not to oppose Thy bondes, and make them thy foes. "Dread king! who urges thee to break Thy pledged word, and back to take Thy promise given? Thou warrior bold: With thy own people word to hold. Thy promise fully to maintain. Is to thyself the greatest gain : The battle>storm raiser he Must by hi/i own men trusted be. "Who urges thee, who seek*st re- nown. The bondes' cattle to cut down? No king before e'er took in hand Such viking-work in his own land. Such rapine men will not long bear. And the king's counsellors will but share In their ill-will: when once in- flamed, The king himself for all is blamed. "A dangerous sign it is, I fear. That old grey-bearded men appear In corners whispering at the Thing, As if they had bad news to bring. The young sit still, — ^no laugh, or shout, — More looks than words passing about; And groups of whispering heads are seen. On buttoned breasts, with lowering mien. "Among the udalmen, they say The king, if he could have his way. Would seize the bondes' udal land. And free-bom men must this with- stand. In truth the man whose udal fleld. By any doom that law can yield From him adjudged the king would take. Could the king's throne and power shake. This verse is the last : — "A holy bond between us still Makes me wish speedy end to ill : The sluggard waits till afternoon, — At once great Magnus! grant our boon. Thee we will serve with heart and hand. With thee we'll fight by sea or land : With Olaf's sword take Olaf's mind. And to thy bondes be more kind." In this song the king was exhorted to observe the laws which his father had established. This exhortation had a good effect on the king, for many others held the same language to him. So at last the king consulted the most prudent men, who ordered all affairs according to law. Thereafter King Magnus had the law-book composed in writing which is still in use in Throndhjem district, and is called The Grey Goose} King Magnus afterwards became very popular, and was beloved by all the country people, and therefore he was called Magnus the Good. .— ?^ THE ENGUSH KINGS. The king of the English, King Harald, died ((M) five years after his father King Canute, and was buried beside his father at Winchester. After his death his brother Hardaknut, the second son of the old King Ca- nute, was king of England, and was thus king both of Denmark and England, He ruled these kingdoms two years, and then died of sickness in England, leaving no children. He was buried at Winchester beside his father. After his death Edward the Good, a son of the English king Ethelred (and Emma, a daughter of Richard earl of Rouen), was chosen king in England, King Edward the Good was, on his mother's side, a brother of Harald and Hardaknut, the sons of Canute the Great; and the daughter of Canute and Queen Emma was Gunhild, who was married to the Emperor Henry of Germany, who was called Henry the Mild. Gunhild had been three years in Germany when she fell sick, and she died five years after the death of her father King Canute the Great. ^The Qrey Oooae, so called probably from the colour of the parchment on which it l written^ is one of the most curious relics of the Middle Ages, and give us an unexpected view of the social condition of the Northmen in the eleventh century. Law appears to have been so far advanced among them that the forms were not merely established, but the slightest breach of the legal forms of proceeding Involved the loss of the case. The Orey Oooe embraces subjects not dealt with probably by any other code in Europe at that period. The provision for the poor, the equality of weights and measures, police of markets and of sea havens, provision for illegitimate children of the poor, inns for travellers, wages of servants and support of them in sickness, protection of pregnant women and even of domestic animals from injury, roads, bridges, vagrants, beg- gars, are subjects treated of in this code. — Schlegel. — ^L. C SAGA OF MAGNUS THE Gt> .— OF KING MAGNUS OLAFSON. When King Magnus Olafson heard of Hardaknut's death, he immediately sent people south to Denmark, with a message to the men who had bound themselves by oath to the peace and agreement which was made between King Magnus and Hardaknut, and reminded them of their pledge. He added, as a conclusion, that in summer () he would come with his army to Denmark to take possession of his Danish dominions, in terms of the agree- ment, or to fall in the field with his army. So says Amor, the earls' skald : — "Wise were the words, exceeding *Wltb his good sword he'll Denmark wise, gain. Of him who stills the hungriest cries Or fall upon a bloody plain ; Of beasts of prey — the earl's lord : And rather than give up his cause. And soon fulfilled will be his word : Will leave his corpse to raven's claws.' " . — KING MAGNUS'S ARMAMENT. Thereafter King Magnus gathered together a great army, and summoned to him all lendermen and powerful bondes, and collected war-ships. When the army was assembled it was very handsome, and well fitted out. He had seventy large vessels when he sailed from Norway. So says Thiodolf the skald : — "Brave king ! the terror of the foe. And southward now the bright keel With thee will many a long-ship go. glides ; Full seventy sail are gathered here. O'er the white waves the Bison rides. EUuitward wHh their great king to Sails swell, yards crack, the highest steer. mast O'er the wide sea scarce seen at last" Here it related that King Magnus had the great Bison, which his father King Olaf had built. It had more than thirty banks of rowers; and forward on the bow was a great buffalo head, and aft on the stern-post was its tail. Both the head and the tail, and both sides of the ship, were gilded over. Of this speaks Arnor, the earls' skald : — "The white foam lashing o'er the Around Stavanger-polnt careering, deck Through the wild sea's white flames Oft made the glided head to shake : steering, The helm down, the Tessel's heel Tackle loud singing to the strain, Oft showed her stem's brlght-glac- The storm-horse flies to Denmark's Ing steel. plain." King Magnus set out to sea from Agder, and sailed over to Jutland. So says Amor : — ' can relate how through the gale The Iron-clad Thingmen's chief to The gallant Bison carried sail, see With her lee gunwale in the wave. On Jutland's coast right glad were The king on board, Magnus the we, — brave! Right glad our men to see a king Who In the flght his sword could swing." . — KING MAGNUS COMES TO DENMARK. When King Magnus came to Denmark he was joyfully received. He appointed a Thing without delay, to which he summoned the people of the country, and desired they would take him as king, according to the agreement which had been entered into. As the highest of the chiefs of the country were bound by oath to King Magnus, and were desirous of keeping their word and oath, they endeavoured zealously to promote the cause with the people. It con- tributed also that King Canute the Great, and all his de- scendants, were dead ; and a third assistance was, that his father King Olaf s sanctity and miracles were become celebrated in all countries. . — ^KING MAGNUS CHOSEN KING OF DENMARK. King Magnus afterwards ordered the people to be sum- moned to Viborg to a Thing. Both in older and later SAGA OF MAGNUS THE GOOD times, the Danes elected their kings at the Viborg Thing. At this Thing the Danes chose Magnus Olafson to be king of all the Danish dominions. King Magfnus remained long in Denmark during the summer () ; and wher- ever he came the people received him joyfully, and obeyed him willingly. He divided the country into baronies and districts, and gave fiefs to men of power in the land. Late in autumn he returned with his fleet to Norway, but lay for some time at the Gaut river. .— OF SVEIN ULFSON. There was a man, by name Svein, a son of Earl Ulf, and grandson of Thorgils Sprakaleg. Svein's mother was Astrid, a daughter of King Svein Forkbeard. She was a sister of Canute the Great by the father's side, and of the Swedish King Olaf Eirikson by the mother's side; for her mother was Queen Sigrid the Haughty, a daughter of Skoglar Toste. Svein Ulfson had been a long time living with his relation the Swedish king, ever since King Canute had ordered his father Ulf to be killed, as is re- lated in the saga of old King Canute, — that he had his brother-in-law, Earl Ulf, murdered in Roskilde; and on which account Svein had not since been in Denmark. Svein UlfscMi was one of the handsomest men that could be seen; he was very stout and strong, and very expert in all exercises, and a well-spoken man withal. Every one who knew him said he had every quality which became a good chief. Svein Ulfson waited upon King Magnus while he lay in the Gaut river, as before mentioned, and the king received him kindly, as he was by many advised to do; for Svein was a particularly popular man. He could also speak for himself to the king well and cleverly ; so that it came at last to Svein's entering into King Mag- nus's service, and becoming his man. They often talked together afterwards in private concerning many affairs. . SVEIN ULFSON CREATED AN EARI.. One day, as King Magnus sat in his high-seat and many people were around him, Svein Ulfson sat upon a footstool before the king. The king then made a speech : — "Be it known to you, chiefs, and the people in general, that I have taken the following resolution. Here is a distinguished man, both for family and for his own merits, Svein Ulfson, who ha? entered into my service, and given me promise of fidelity. Now, as ye know, the Danes have this summer become my men, so that when I am absent from the country it is without a head ; and it is not un- known to you how it is ravaged by the people of Vindland, Kurland, and others from the Baltic, as well as by Saxons. Therefore I promised them a chief who could defend and rule their land; and I know no man better fitted, in all respects, for this than Svein Ulfson, who is of birth to be chief of the country. I will therefore make him my earl, and give him the government of my Danish dominions while I am in Norway ; just as King Canute the Great set his father, Earl Ulf, over Denmark while he was in Eng- land." Then Einar Tambaskelfer said, "Too great an earl — too great an earl, my foster-son !'' The king replied in a passion, "Ye have a poor opinion SAGA OF MAGNUS THE GOOD of my judgment, I think. Some consider that ye are too great earls, and others that ye are fit for nothing." Then the king stood up, took a sword, and girt it on the earl's loins, and took a shield and fastened it on his shoulders, put a helmet upon his head, and gave him the title of earl, with the same fiefs in Denmark which his father Earl Ulf had formerly held. Afterwards a shrine was brought forth containing holy relics, and Svein laid his hand hereon, and swore the oath of fidelity to King Magnus; upon which the king led the earl to the high- seat by his side. So says Thiodolf : — '"Twas at the Qaut river's shore. The vows hj Sveln solemnly given. With hand on shrine Svein Ulfson On holy bones of saints in heaven. swore. To Magnus seemed both fair and King Magnus first said o'er the oath, fast : With which Svein Ulfson pledged He found they were too fair to last" hU troth. Earl Svein went thereafter to Denmark, and the whole nation received him well. He established a court about him, and soon became a great man. In winter (), he went much about the country, and made friends among the powerful chiefs; and, indeed, he was beloved by all the people of the land. . — KING MAGNUSES FORAY. King Magnus proceeded northward to Norway with his fleet, and wintered there; but when the spring set in () he gathered a large force, with which he sailed south to Denmark, having heard the news from Vindland that the Vindland people in Jomsborg had withdrawn from their submission to him. The Danish kings had formerly had a very large earldom there, and they first founded Jomsborg ; and now the place was become a very strong fortress. When King Magnus heard of this, he ordered a large fleet and army to be levied in Denmark, and sailed in summer to Vindland with all his forces, which made a very large army altogether. Arnor, the earls' skald, tells of it thus : — "Now in this strophe, royal youth ! And never did a king before I tell no more than the plain truth. So many ships to any shore Thy armed outfit from the strand Lead on. as thou to Vindland's isle : Left many a keel- trace on the sand, The Vindland men in fright recoiL" Now when King Magnus came to Vindland he attacked Jomsborg, and soon took the fortress, killing many people, burning and destroying both in the town and in the coun- try all around, and making the greatest havoc. So says Arnor, the earl's skald: — "The robbers, hemmed 'twixt death The heathen on his false gods calls, and fire, And trembles even in their halls; Knew not how to escape thy ire : And by the light from its own flame O'er Jomsborg castle's highest towers Thy wrath the whirlwind-flre pours. O'er Jomsborg castle's highest towers The king this viking-hold o'ercame." Dd-f Many people in Vindland submitted to King Magnus, but many more got out of the way and fled. King Mag- nus returned to Denmark, and prepared to take his winter abode there, and sent away the Danish, and also a great many of the Norwegian people he had brought with him. . — SVEIN RECEIVES THE TITI.E OF KING. The same winter (), in which Svein Ulfson was raised to the government of the whole Danish dominions, and had made friends of a great number of the principal chiefs in Denmark, and obtained the affections of the peo- ple, he assumed by the advice of many of the chiefs the title of king. But when in the spring thereafter he heard SAGA OF' MAGNUS THE GOOD that King Magnus had come from the north with a great army, Svein went over to Scania, from thence up to Gaut- land, and so on to Svithjod to his relation, King Emund, where he remained all summer, and sent spies out to Den- mark, to inquire about the king's proceedings and the number of his men. Now when Svein heard that King Magnus had let a great part of his army go away, and also that he was south in Jutland, he rode from Svithjod with a great body of people which the Swedish king had given him. When Svein came to Scania the people of that coun- try received him well, treated him as their king, and men joined him in crowds. He then went on to Seeland, where he was also well received, and the whole country joined him. He then went to Fyen, and laid all the islands under his power ; and as the people also joined him, he collected a great army and many ships of war. .— OF KING MAGNUSES MILITARY FORCE. King Magnus heard this news, and at the same time that the people of Vindland had a large force on foot. He summoned people therefore to come to him, and drew together a great army in Jutland. Otto, also, the Duke of Brunsvik, who had married Ulfhild, King Olaf the Saint's daughter, and the sister of King Magnus, came to him with a great troop. The Danish chiefs pressed King Magnus to advance against the Vindland army, and not allow pagans to march over and lay waste the coun- try ; so it was resolved that the king with his army should proceed south to Heidaby. While King Magnus hiy at Skotborg river, on Hlyrskog Heath, he got intelligence con- cerning the Vindland army, and that it was so numerous it could not be counted; whereas King Magnus had so few, that there seemed no chance for him but to fly. The king, however, determined on fighting, if there was any possibility of gaining the victory ; but the most dissuaded him from venturing on an engagement, and all, as one man, said that the Vindland people had undoubtedly a pro- digious force. Duke Otto, however, pressed much to go to battle. Then the king ordered the whole army to be gathered by the war trumpets into battle array, and or- dered all the men to arm, and to lie down for the night under their shields ; for he was told the enemy's army had come to the neighbourhood. The king was very thought- ful; for he was vexed that he should be obliged to fly, which fate he had never experienced before. He slept but little all night, and chanted his prayers. . — ^ KINa OLAI^'S MIRACLE. The following day was Michaelmas eve. Towards dawn the king slumbered, and dreamt that his father. King Olaf the Saint, appeared to him, and said, "Art thou so melancholy and afraid, because the Vindland people come against thee with a great army? Be not afraid of heathens, although they be many ; for I shall be with thee in the battle. Prepare, therefore, to give battle to the Vind- landers, when thou hearest my trumpet.'* When the king awoke he told his dream to his men, and the day was then dawning. At that moment all the people heard a ring- ing of bells in the air ; and those among King Magnus's men who had been in Nidaros thought that it was the SAGA OF MAGNUS THE GOOD ringing of the bell called Glod, which King Olaf had pre- sented to the church of Saint Clement in the town of Nidaros. . — ^BATTLE OF HLYRSKOG HEATH. Then King Magnus stood up, and ordered the war trumpets to sound, and at that moment the Vindland army advanced from the south across the river against tiim; on which the whole of the king's army stood up, and ad- vanced against the heathens. King Magnus threw oflF from him his coat of ring-mail, and had a red silk shirt outside over his clothes, and had in his hands the battle- axe called Hel^, which had belonged to King Olaf. King Magnus ran on before all his men to the enemy's army, and instantly hewed down with both hands every man who came against him. So says Arnor, the earls' skald : — "His armour on the ground be flung His broad axe Hel wltb botb bands His broad axe round bis bead be wielding, swung: Shields, helms, and skulls before it And Norway's king strode on in yielding, might, He seemed with Fate the world to Through ringing swords, to the wild share, fight. And life or death to deal out there.'* This battle was not very long ; for the king's men were very fiery, and where they came the Vindland men fell as thick as tangles heaped up by the waves on the strand. They wlio stood behind betook themselves to flight, and were hewed down like cattle at a slaughter. The king himself drove the fugitives eastward over the heath, and people fell all over the moor. So says Thiodolf : — "And foremost he pursued, He drove them o'er the heath. And the flying foe down hewed ; And they fly from bloody death ; An eagle's feast each stroke, But the moor, a mile or more, As the Vindland helms he broke. With the dead was studded o'er." ^Hel — Death; the goddess of Death. — h. It is a common saying, that there never was so great a slaughter of men in the northern lands, since the time of Christianity, as took place among the Vindland people on Hlyrskog's Heath. On the other side, not many of King Magnus's people were killed, although many were wounded. After the battle the king ordered the wounds of his men to be bound ; but there were not so many doctors in the army as were necessary, so the king himself went round, and felt the hands of those he thought best suited for the business ; and when he had thus stroked their palms he named twelve men, who, he thought, had the softest hands, and told them to bind the wounds of the people; and although none of them had ever tried it before, they all became afterwards the best of doctors. There were two Iceland men among them ; the one was Thorkil, a son of Geire, from Lyngar; the other was Atle, father of Bard Svarte of Selardal, from whom many good doctors are descended. After this battle, the report of the miracle which King Olaf the Saint had worked was spread widely through the country ; and it was the common saying of the people, that no man could venture to fight against King Magnus Olafson, for his father Saint Olaf stood so near to him that his enemies, on that account, never could do him harm. . — BATTLE AT RE. King Magnus immediately turned round with his army against S vein, whom he called his earl, although the Danes called him their king; and he collected ships, and a great force, and on both sides a great strength was assembled. SAGA OF MAGNUS THE GOOD In Svein's army were many chiefs from Scania, Halland, Seeland, and Fyen; while King Magnus, on the other hand, had mostly Norway and Jutland men, and with that war-force he hastened to meet Svein. They met at Re, near Vestland; and there was a great battle, which ended in King Magnus gaining the victory, and Svein taking flight. After losing many people, Svein fled back to Scania, and from thence to Gautland, which was a safe refuge if he needed it, and stood open to him. King Magnus returned to Jutland, where he remained all winter () with many people, and had a guard to watch his ships. Arnor, the earls* skald, speaks of this : — "At Re our battle-IOTing lord At Re. upon the western shore. In bloody meeting stained his In Vestland warrior's blood once sword, — more." . — BATTLE AT AROS. Svein Ulfson went directly to his ships as soon as he heard that King Magnus had left his fleet. He drew to him all the men he could, and went round in winter among the islands, Seeland, Fyen, and others. Towards Yule he sailed to Jutland, and went into Limfjord, where many people submitted to him. He imposed scat upon some, but some joined King Magnus. Now when King Magnus heard what Svein was doing, he betook himself to his ships with all the Northmen then in Denmark, and a part of the Danish troops, and steered south along the land. Svein was then in Aros with a great force ; and when he heard of King Magnus he laid his vessels without the town, and prepared for battle. When King Magnus he^^-d for certain where Svein was, and that the distance between them was but short, he held a House-thing, and addressed his people thus : "It is reported to me that the earl and his fleet are lying not far from us, and that he has many people. Now I would let you know that I in- tend to go out against the earl and fight for it, although we have fewer people. We will, as formerly, put our trust in God, and Saint Olaf, my father, who has given us victory sometimes when we fought, even though we had fewer men than the enemy. Now I would have you get ready to seek out the enemy, and give battle the mo- ment we find him by rowing all to attack, and being all ready for battle." Thereupon the men put on their weap- ons, each man making himself and his place ready; and then they stretched themselves to their oars. When they saw the earl's ships they rowed towards them, and made ready to attack. When Svein's men saw the forces they armed themselves, bound their ships together, and then began one of the sharpest of battles. So says Thiodolf, the skald : — "Shield against shield, the earl and They never saw before or since king On battle-deck : the brave might Made shields and swords together wince, ring. As spear and arrow whistling flew. The gold -decked heroes made a play Point blank, death-brlnglng, quick Which HUd's Iron-shlrt men say and true." They fought at the bows, so that the men only on the bows could strike ; the men on the forecastle thrust with spears; and all who were farther off shot with light spears or javelins, or war-arrows. Some fought with stones, or short stakes ; and those who were aft of the mast s^hot with the bow. So Says Thiodolf : — "Steel-pointed spear, and sharpened Screamed o'er the prey preparing stake. there. Made the broad shield on arm shake : And stones and arrows thickly flew. The eagle, hovering in the air. And many a warrior bold they slew. SAGA OF MAGNUS THB GOOD The bowman nerer twanged his bow Were not first tired of this blaj : And drew his shaft so oft as now ; Arrows and darts so quickly fij. And Throndhjem's bowmen on that You could not follow with the eye." day Here it appears how hot the battle was with casting weapons. King Magnus stood in the beginning of the battle within a shield-rampart ; but as it appeared to him that matters were going on too slowly, he leaped over the shields, and rushed forward in the ship, encouraging his men with a loud cheer, and springing to the bows, where the battle was going on hand to hand. When his men saw this they urged each other on with mutual cheering, and there was one great hurrah through all the ships. So says Thiodolf : — '* 'On with our ships ! on to the foe !' Spears against shields In fury rat- Cry Magnus' men — on, on they go. tie, — Was never seen so fierce a batUe." And now the battle was exceedingly sharp ; and in the assault Svein's ship was cleared of all her forecastle men upon and on both sides of the forecastle. Then Magnus boarded Svein's ship, followed by his men ; and one after the other came up, and made so stout an assault that Svein's men gave way, and King Magnus first cleared that ship, and then the rest, one after the other. Svein fled, with a great part of his people; but many fell, and many got life and peace. Thiodolf tells of this : — "Brave Magnus, from the stem The king's luck thrtres — their decks springing are cleared. On to the stem, where swords were Of fighting men no more appeared. ringing The earl's ships are driven to flight. From his sea-raven's beak of gold Before the king would stop the fight : Deals death around — the brave ! the The gold-distributor first then bold! Gave quarters to the vanquished The earl's housemen now begin men." To shrink and fall: their ranks grow thin — This battle was fought on the last Sunday before Yule. So says Thiodolf : — "^ i '"Twas on a Sunday morning bright. And many a man, foredoomed to die. Fell out this great and bloody fight. To save his life o'erboard did fly. When men were arming, fighting. But sank ; for swimming could not dying. save. Or on the red decks wounded lying. And dead men rolled In every waYO." Magnus took seven ships from Svein's people. So says Thiodolf:— "Thick Olaf'B son seven vessels The Norway girls will not be sad cleared. To hear such news — each from her And with his fleet the prises steered. lad.'* He also sings: — "The captured men will grieve the A heavy storm that very night most O'ertook them flying from the flght; Svein and their comrades to have And skulls and bones are tumbling lost ; round. For it went ill with those who fled. Under the sea, on sandy ground." Their wounded had no easy bed. Svein fled immediately by night to Seeland, with the men who had escaped and were inclined to follow him; but King Magnus brought his ships to the shore, and sent his men up the country in the night-time, and early in the morning they came down to the strand with a great booty in cattle. Thiodolf tells about it : — *'But yesterday with heavy stones And driven their cattle to the shore. We crushed their skulls, and broke And fllled our ships with food in their bones. store. And thinned their ranks; and now To save his land from our quick to-day swords. Up through their land we've ta'en Svein will need something more our way, than words." . — svein's FUGHT. King Magnus sailed with his fleet from the south after Svein to Seeland; but as soon as the king came there Svein fled up the country with his men, and Magnus fol- lowed them, and pursued the fugitives, killing all that were laid hold of. So says Thiodolf : — "The Seeland girl asks with fear. We scoured through all their muddy 'Whose blood-bespattered shield and lanes, spear — Woodlands., and flelds, and miry The earl's or king's — ^up from the plains. shore Their hasty footmarks in the clay Moved on with many a warrior Showed that to Rlngsted led their merer way. SAGA OF MAGNUS* THE GOOD "Spattered with mud from heel to head. Our gallant lord his true men led. Will Lund's earl halt his hasty flight. And try on land another fight? His hanner yesterday was seen, The sand-hills and green trees be- tween. Through moss and mire to the strand. In arrow flight, leaving the land." Then Svein fled over to Fyen Island, and King Magnus carried fire and sword through Seeland, and burnt all round, because their men had joined Svein's troop in har- vest. So says Thiodolf : — "As Sveln !n winter had destroyed The royal house, the king employed No little force to guard the land. And the earl's forays to withstand. An armed hand one mom he found. And so beset them round and round. That Canute's nephew quickly fled. Or he would have been captive led. 'Our Throndhjem king In his Just ire Laid waste the land with sword and flre. Burnt every house, and over all Struck terror into great and small. To the earl's friends he well repaid Their deadly hate — such wild work made On them and theirs, that from his fury. Flying for life, away they hurry." . ^BURNING IN FYEN. As soon as King Magnus heard that Svein with his troops had gone across to Fyen, he sailed after them ; and when Svein heard this news he went on board ship and sailed to Scania, and from thence to Gautland, and at last to the Swedish King. King Magnus landed in Fyen, and plundered and burned over all; and all of Svein's men who came there fled far enough. Thiodolf speaks of it thus : — "Fiona isle, once green and fair. Lies black and reeking through the air: The red fog rises, thick and hot. From burning farm and smoulder- ing cot. The gaping thralls In terror gase On the broad upward-splrlng blaze. From thatched roofs and oak-built walls. Their murdered masters' stately halls. **Sveln's men, my girl, will not for- set That thrice they have the Norse- men met, By sea, by land, with steel, with flre, Thrice have they felt the Norse king's ire. Fiona's maids are slim and fair, The lovely prises, lads, we'll share: Some stand to arms in rank and row. Some seise, bring oft, and fend with blow." After this the people of Denmark submitted to King Magnus, and during the rest of the winter, there was peace. King Magnus then appointed some of his men to govern Denmark; and when spring was advanced he sailed northwards with his fleet to Norway, where he re- mained a great part of the summer. . — ^BATTLE AT HELGANES. Now, when Svein heard that King Magnus had gone to Norway he rode straight down, and had many people out of Svithjod with him. The people of Scania received him well, and he again collected an army, with which he first crossed over into Seeland and seized upon it and Fyen, and all the other isles. When King Magnus heard of this he gathered together men and ships, and sailed to Den- mark ; and as soon as he knew where Svein was lying with his ships King Magnus sailed to meet him. They met at a place called Helganes, and the battle began about the fall of day. King Magnus had fewer men, but larger and better equipt vessels. So says Amor, the earls' skald : — "At Helganes — so goes the tale — When twilight fell he urged the fight. The hrave wolf-feeder» under sail. Close combat — man to man all night ; Made many an ocean-elk^ his prey» Through a long harrest night's dark Seized many a ship ere break of day. hours. Down poured the battle's iron showers.*' The battle was very hot, and as night advanced the fall of men was great. King Magnus, during the whole night, threw hand-spears. Thiodolf speaks of this : — "And there at Helganes sunk down. The Norsemen's king let fly his Sore wounded, men of great re- spears, nown; His death-wounds adding to their And Svein's retainers lost all heart, fears ; Ducking before the flying dart. For each spear-blade was wet all o'er, iShi^— L. ^^ ^ ^* "'**'* ^ ^^^ life-gore.** SAGA OF MaGNVS TH£ GOOD To make a short tale, King Magnus won the victory in this battle, and Svein fled. His ship was cleared of men from stem to stem ; and it went so on board many others of his ships. So says Thiodolf : — "Barl STeIn fled from the empty Hnelter.^ the sword his father bore, deck. Was edge and point, stained red Ills lonely ship an unmann'd wreck ; with gore : Magnus the Qood. the people's friend, Swords sprinkle blood o'er armour Pressed to the death on the false bright, SYeln. When kings for land and power And Amor says : — flghf "The cutters of Bjorn*s own brother The king took them and all their Soon changed their owner for gear: another ; The crews, howeyer, got off clear." A great number of Svein's men fell, and King Magnus and his men had a vast booty to divide. So says Thio- dolf:— "Where the Norsemen the Danish (There all the smnmer swords were slew, ringing) A Oautland shield and breast-plate A helm, gay arms, and gear worth true bringing. Fell to my share of spoil by lot ; Home to my quiet lovely one And something more ' the south I I sent — ^wlth news how we had won." got: Svein fled up to Scania with all the men who escaped with him; and King Magnus and His people drove the fugitives up through the country without meeting any opposition either from Svein's men or the bondes. So says Thiodolf : — "Olars brave son then gave com- A foray through the land he mand, makes ; All hfs ships' crews should quickly Denmark in every quarter shakes, land : Up hill and down the horses scour. King Magnus, marching at their Carrying the Danes from Norse- head, men's power." A noble band of warriors led. King Magnus drove with fire and sword through the land. So says Thiodolf: — >Thls was the name of Saint OlaTs sword, which Magnus had recovered. — L. "And now the Norsemen storm To Lund. o*er Scania's peaceful along, field. Following their banner in a throng : My shoulder bore my useless shield : King Magnus' banner flames on high, A fairer land, a better road. A star to guide our roaming by. As friend or foe, I neYer trod." They began to burn the habitations all around, and the people fled on every side. So says Thiodolf :— ".Our ice-cold iron In great store. Red flashing over half the sky; Our arms, beside the king we bore : The blazing town flings forth Its The Scanian rogues fly at the view light. Of men and steel all sharp and true. Lighting the cowards on their flight." Their timbered houses flame on high. And he also sang : — "The king o'er all the Danish land "Across Fiona's moor again. Roams, with his flre-bringlng band : The paths late trodden by our men The house, the hut, the farm, the We tread once more, until quite near, town. Through morning mist, the foes ap- All where men dwelt is burned down. pear. O'er Denmark's plains and corn- Then up our numerous banners flare flelds. In the cold early morning air; Meadows and moors, are seen our And they from Magnus' power who shields : fly Victorious over all, we chase Cannot his quick war-work deny." Sveln's wounded men from place to place. Then Svein fled eastwards along Scania, and King Magnus returned to his ships, and steered eastwards also along the Scanian coast, having got ready with the great- est haste to sail. Thiodolf sings thus about it : — "No drink but the salt sea Hard work on the salt sea. On board our ships had we. Off Scania's coast, had we; When, following our king. But we laboured for the king. On board our ships we spring. To his foemen death to bring." Svein fled to Gautland, and then sought refuge with the Swedish king, with whom he remained all winter (), and was treated with great respect. .— OF KING Magnus's campaign. When King Magnus had subdued Scania he turned about, and first went to Falster, where he landed, plun- SAGA OF MAGNUS THE GOOD dered, and killed many people who had before submitted to Svein. Amor speaks of this : — "A bloody rengeance for their ^lle The battle-fleld la covered o'er. King Magnus takes on Falster Isle ; With eagle'a prey from shore to The treacherous Danes his fury feel. shore ; And fall before his purpled steel. And the king's courtmen were the first To quench with blood the raren's thirst." Thereafter Magnus with his fleet proceeded to the isle of Fyen, went on land, plundered, and made great devas- tation. So says Arnor, the earls' skald : — *'To fair Ptona's grassy shore He will be long remembered there. His banner now again he bore: The warrior in his twentieth year. He who the mail-shirt's linked chains Whom their black rayens from afar Severs, and all its lustre stains. — Saluted as he went to war." . — OF KING MAGNUSES BATTLES. King Magnus remained in Denmark all that winter (), and sat in peace. He had held many battles, and had gained the victory in all. So says Od Kikinaskald : — "Tore Michaelmas was struck the Short before Tule fell out the day. blow Southward of Aros. where the fray. That laid the Vindland vikings low ; Though not enough the foe to quell. And people learned with joy to hear Was of the bloodiest men can telL" The clang of arms, and leaders' cheer. And Arnor says: — I *'af*s avenger who can sing? Four battles won within a year. — The skald cannot o'ertake the king. Breaker of shields! with sword and Who makes the war-bird daily drain spear, The corpse-blood of his foemen slain. And hand to hand, exalt thy fame Above the kings of greatest name." King Magnus had three battles with Svein Ulfson. So says Thiodolf : — "To our brave Throndhjem sover- After three battles to regain eign's praise What was his own. unjustly ta'en. The skald may all his skaldcraft Unjustly kept, and dues denied, raise: He levied dues In red-blood dyed." For fortune, and for daring deed. His song will not the truth exceed. . — OF KING MAGNUS, AND THORFIN AND RAGNVALD, EARLS OF ORKNEY. While King Magnus the Good, a son of King Olaf the Saint, ruled over Norway, as before related, the Earl Ragnvald Brusason lived with him. Earl Thorfin Sigurd- son, the uncle of Ragnvald, ruled then over Orkney. King Magnus sent Ragnvald west to Orkney, and ordered that Thorfin should let him have his father's heritage. Thorfin let Ragnvald have a third part of the land along with him ; for so had Bruse, the father of Ragnvald, had it at his dying day. Earl Thorfin was married to Ingebjorg, the earl-mother, who was a daughter of Fin Arnason. Earl Ragnvald thought he should have two-thirds of the land, as Olaf the Saint had promised to his father Bruse, and as Bruse had enjoyed as long as Olaf lived. This was the origin of a great strife between these relations, concern- ing which we have a long saga. They had a great battle in Pentland Firth, in which Kalf Arnason was with Earl Thorfin. So says Bjarne GuUbrarskald : — *'Thy cutters, dashing through the KalT. thou art fond of warlike toil, tide, Oay in the strife and bloody broil ; Brought aid to Earl Thoriln's side. But here 'twas hate made thee con- Fin's son-in-law. and people say tend Thy aid made Bruse's son give way. Against Barl Ragnrald, the king's friend." . — OF KING Magnus's i^etter to engi^and. King Magnus ruled then both over Denmark and Nor- way; and when he had got possession of the Danish do- minions he sent ambassadors over to England to King Ed- ward, who brought to him King Magnus's letter and seal; And in this letter there stood, along with a salutation from SAGA OF MAGNUS THE GOOD King Magnus, these words: — "Ye must have heard of the agreement which I and Hardaknut made, — ^that he of us two who survived the other should have all the land and people which the deceased had possessed. Now it has so turned out, as ye have no doubt heard, that I have taken the Danish dominions as my heritage after Hardaknut. But before he departed this life he had England as well as Denmark; therefore I consider myself now, in conse- quence of my rights by this agreement, to own England also. Now I will therefore that thou deliver to me the kingdom; otherwise I will seek to take it by arms, both from Denmark and Norway ; and let him rule the land to whom fate gives the victory." . — KING Edward's answer to king magnus's i^etter. Now when King Edward had read Jhis letter, he replied thus : "It is known to all men in this country that King Ethelred, my father, was udal-born to this kingdom, both after the old and new law of inheritance. We were four sons after him ; and when he by death left the throne my brother Edmund took the government and kingdom ; for he was the oldest of us brothers, and I was well satisfied that it was so. And after him my stepfather, Canute the Great, took the kingdom, and as long as he lived there was no access to it. After him my brother Harald was king as long as he lived ; and after him my brother Hardaknut took the kingdoms both of Denmark and England ; for he thought that a just brotherly division that he should have both England and Denmark, and that I should have no kingdom at all. Now he died, and then it was the resolu- tion of all the people of the country to take me for king here in England. So long as I had no kingly title I served my superiors in all respects, like those who had no claims by birth to land or kingdom. Now, however, I have re- ceived the kingly title, and am consecrated king. I have established my royal dignity and authority, as my father before me ; and while I live I will not renounce my title. If King Magnus come here with an army, I will gather no army against him ; but he shall only get the opportunity of taking England when he has taken my life. Tell him these words of mine." The ambassadors went back to King Magnus, and told him the answer to their message. King Magnus reflected a while, and answered thus: "I think it wisest, and will succeed best, to let King Edward have his kingdom in peace for me, and that I keep the kingdoms God has put into my hands." SAGA OF HARALD HARDRADE. PBEUMIKABT BEMABK. Harald, son of Sigurd Syr, was born in the year , and left Norway . He was called Hardrade, that is, the severe coun- sellor, the tyrant, though the Icelanders never applied this epi- thet to him. Harald helped the Icelanders in the famine of , and sent them timber for a church at Thingvol. It was the Norwegians who gave him the name tyrant in contrast to the debonnaireU of Magnus. He came to Norway in , and became sole king in . He died in . and his son and successor Magnus died in . His saga is to be compared with Agrip, Fagrakinnat and Ifor- kinakinna. The skalds quoted are: Thioldolf, Bolverk, Illuge Bryndala- skald, Stuf the skald, Thorarin Skeggjason, Valgard o' Val, Od Kikinaskald, Orane Skald, Thorleik the Fair, Stein Herdison, Ulf the Marshal, Amor the earls' skald, Thorkel Skallason, and King Harald Hardrade himself. . — HARAI.D ESCAPES FROM THE BATTI.E OF STIKI.ESTAD. Harald, son of Sigurd Syr, brother of Olaf the Saint, by the same mother, was at the battle of Stiklestad, and was fifteen years old when King Olaf the Saint fell, as was before related. Harald was wounded, and escaped with other fugitives. So says Thiodolf : — "At Haug ttie flre-iparks from his Bulgaria's conqueror. I ween, shield Had scarcely fifteen winters seen. Flew round the king's head on the When from hs murdered brother's field. side As blow for blow, for Olaf's sake. His unhelmed head he had to hide." His sword and shield would give and take. Ragnvald Brusason led Harald from the battle, and the ^ night after the fray took him to a bbnde who dwelt in a forest far from other people. The peasant received Harald, and kept him concealed ; and Harald was waited upon until he was quite cured of his wounds. Then the bonders son attended him on the way east over the ridge of the land, and they went by all the forest paths they could, avoiding the common road. The bonde's son did not know who it was he was attending ; and as they were riding together between two uninhabited forests, Harald made these verses : — "M woundB were bleeding as I rode ; From wood to wood I crept along. And down below the bondes strode. Unnoticed by the bonde- throng ; Killing the wounded with the sword, 'Who knows/ I thought, 'a day may The followers of their rightful lord. come My name will yet be great at home/ •• He went eastward over the ridge through Jamtaland and Helsingjaland, and came to Svithjod, where he found Ragnvald Brusason, and many others of King Olaf 's men who had fled from the battle at Stiklestad, and they re- mained there till winter was over. .— HARAI^d'S journey to CONSTANTINOPI.E. The spring after () Harald and Ragnvald got ships, and went east in summer to Russia to King Jaris- leif, and were with him all the following winter. So says the skald Bolverk : — "The king's sharp sword lies clean Our brare king is to Russia gone, — and bright. Brayer than he on earth there's Prepared in foreign lands to fight : none : Our ravens croak to have their fill. His sharp sword will carve many a The wolf howls from the distant hill. feast To wolf and raven In the Bast." King Jarisleif gave Harald and Ragnvald a kind recep- tion, and made Harald and Eilif, the son of Earl Ragn- SAGA OF HARALD HARDRADE vald, chiefs over the land-defence men of the king. So says Thiodolf : — "Where Billf was, one heart and The eastern Vlndland men they hand drove The two chiefs had in their com- Into a comer; and they move mand ; The Leslans, although ill at ease. In wedge or line their battle order To take the laws their conquerors Was ranged by both without dis- please." order. Harald remained several years in Russia, and travelled far and wide in the Eastern land. Then he began his ex- pedition out to Greece, and had a great suite of men with him; and on he went to Constantinople. So says Bol- verk : — "Before the cold sea-curling blast The king saw glancing o*er the bow The cutter from the land flew past. Constantinople's metal glow Her black yards swinging to and fro. From tower and roof, and painted Her shield-hung gunwale dipping sails low. Gliding past towns and wooded Tales." .— OF HARAI.D. At that time the Greek empire was ruled by the Em- press Zoe the Great, and with her Michael Catalactus. Now when Harald came to Constantinople he presented himself to the empress, and went into her pay; and im- mediately, in autumn, went on board the galleys manned with troops which went out to the Greek sea. Harald had his own men along with him. Now Harald had been but a short time in the army before all the Varings flocked to him, and they all joined together when there was a battle. It thus came to pass that Harald was made chief of the Varings. There was a chief over all the troops who was called Gyrger, and who was a relation of the empress. Gyrger and Harald went round among all the Greek islands, and fought much against the corsairs. . — OF HARALD AND GYRGER CASTING LOTS. It happened once that Gyrger and the Varings were going through the country, and they resolved to take their night quarters in a wood; and as the Varings came first to the ground, they chose the place which was best for pitching their tents upon, which was the highest ground ; for it is the nature of the land there to be soft when rain falls, and therefore it is bad to choose a low situation for your tents. Now when Gyrger, the chief of the army, came up, and saw where the Varings had set up their tents, he told them to remove, and pitch their tents else- where, saying he would himself pitch his tents on their groimd. Harald repli*, "If ye come first to the night quarter, ye take up your ground, and we must go pitch our tents at some other place where we best can. Now do ye so, in the same way, and find a place where ye will. It is, I think, the privilege of us Varings here in the domin- ions of the Greek emperor to be free, and independent of all but their own commanders, and bound only to serve the emperoF and empress." They disputed long and hotly about this, and both sides armed themselves, and were on the way to fight for it ; but men of understanding came between and separated them. They said it would be better to come to an agreement about such questions, so that in future no dispute could arise. It came thus to an arbi- tration between them, at which the best and most saga- cious men should give their judgment in the case. At this arbitration it was determined, with the consent of all par- ties, that lots should be thrown into a box, and the Greeks and Varings should draw which was first to ride, or to SAGA OF HARALD HARDRADE row, or to take place in a harbour, or to choose tent ground; and each side should be satisfied with what the drawing of the lots gave them. Accordingly the lots were made and marked. Harald said to Gyrger, "Let me see what mark thou hast put upon thy lot, that we may not both mark our lots in the same way." He did so. Then Harald marked his lot, and p?Ut it into the box along with the other. The man who was to draw out the lots then took up one of the lots between his fingers, held it up in the air, and said, "This lot shall be the first to ride, and to row, and to take place in harbour and on the tent field." Harald seized his hand, snatched the die, and threw it into the sea, and called out, "That was our lot !" Gyrger said, "Why did you not let other people see it?" Harald re- plies, "Look at the one remaining in the box, — ^there you see your own mark upon it." Accordingly the lot which was left behind was examined, and all men saw that Gyrger's mark was upon it, and accordingly the judgment was given that the Varings had gained the first choice in all they had been quarrelling about. There were many things they quarrelled about, but the end always was that Harald got his own way. . — harald's Expedition in the land o? the Sara- cens (serkland). They went out all on a campaign in summer. When the whole army was thus assembled Harald kept his men out of the battle, or wherever he saw the least danger, under pretext of saving his men ; but where he was alone with his own men only, he fought so desperately that they must either come off victorious or die. It thus happened often that when he commanded the army he gained vic- tories, while Gyrger could do nothing. The troops ob- served this, and insisted they would be more successful if Harald alone was chief of the whole army, and upbraided the general with never effecting anything, neither himself, nor his people. Gyrger again said that the Varings would give him no assistance, and ordered Harald to go with his men somewhere else, and he, with the rest of his army, would win what they could. Harald accordingly left the army with the Varings and the Latin men, and Gyrger on his side went off with the Greek troops. Then it was seen what each could do. Harald always gained victories and booty; but the Greeks went home to Constantinople with their army, all except a few brave men, who, to gain booty and money, joined themselves to Harald, and took him for their leader. He then went with his troops west- ward to Africa, which the Varings call Serkland, where he was strengthened with many men. In Serkland he took eighty castles, some of which surrendered, and others were stormed. He then went to Sicily. So says Thio- dolf:— *'The serpent's bed of glowing gold Before upon Sicilian plains. He hates — the generous king, the Shield joined to shield, the fight he bold ! gains. He who four score towers laid low. The victory at H lid's war game ; Ta'en from the Saracenic foe. And now the heathens dread his name." So says also Illuge Bryndala-skald : — "For Michael's empire Harald So Budle's son his friendship showed fought. When he brought friends to his And southern lands to Michael abode." brought ; Here it is said that Michael was king of the Greeks at • ■ . . n- •Vpu hoK yth. atti Hare '^rest ,^xNG MAGNIJS. KALF ARNASON FLEES FROM Itding.. {from. . tJi.;L v\ CI look pi VlCtori". v' ^' '^ ^ TT'c^ ConS'^t.-'-i'v in tl.is J; :i -u- c m^.— .. !iuM;t were intlllOplt" ' ' nmkr Kalf, I'-^^ek ^r(\ T^.."r, u i. --r r 'I'e c:y w •-_ crain ^ - iorvvarG ninl t':-rM^<:i. ^^ • "' ^ cry wa^ "i*'juv;ir(U |i>r\var«J, (l\r?si-Tnt*r. ! Cv<}^>-u:^ r^^*^ \frn!" Tn t!i-' fi'kt C,';,.i' i; .ralJvva U'St Im> iiic UP..] rciSt- !]if!«^<' thnt It<* !>:■'! l)r'^i^ ^li'ii h\- Kiif. S'.l)-wiiu*!:u\ i\a -a rtl'i^d jO'titly wit'i fCiric ALh-th^, \v.\^ iron ; ] o'' I'u^ act, \^!i«-Ti iL.-iUcti by ^l^^llll^ to ride with l':in lo the b.iVV- i-^M ji'tint <'':t : 'k ^i n w^-. rt /Jl.^l l< U, Jns cotihcu-iiro ,s«> ^:l^,f^. I,, ti^d frnr rf cii-ci'irM -« ^ '>!' ;kc flee*! a'-'\ tl..' a'Vi r.>n.t-u-i Uv'iily rr.oniiUMl liis h(.>r^o and tied tlu- mnntry ai^d k-c:;'im" a \ ikiiig ro\ cr. SAGA OF HARALD HARDRADE that time. Harald remained many years in Africa, where he gathered great wealth in gold, jewels, and all sorts of precious things; and all the wealth he gathered there which he did not need for his expenses, he sent with trusty men of his own north to Novgorod to King Jarisleif's care and keeping. He gathered together there extraordinary treasure, as is reasonable to suppose ; for he had the plun- dering of the part of the world richest in gold and valua- ble things, and he had done such great deeds as with truth are related, such as taking eighty strongholds by his valour. . — BATTI.E IN SICILY. Now when Harald came to Sicily he plundered there also, and sat down with his army before a strong and pop- ulous castle. He surrounded the castle; but the walls were so thick there was no possibility of breaking into it, and the people of the castle had enough of provisions, and all that was necessary for defence. Then Harald hit upon an expedient. He made his bird-catchers catch the small birds which had their nests within the castle, but flew into the woods by day to get food for their young. He had small splinters of tarred wood bound upon the backs of the birds, smeared these over with wax and sulphur, and set fire to them. As soon as the birds were let loose they all flew at once to the castle to their young, and to their nests, which they had under the house roofs that were covered with reeds or straw. The fire from the birds seized upon the house roofs ; and although each bird could only carry a small burden of fire, yet all at once there was a mighty flame, caused by so many birds carrying fire with them and spreading it widely among the house roofs. Thus one house after the other was set on fire, until the castle itself was in flames. Then the people came out of the castle and begged for mercy ; the same men who for many days had set at defiance the Greek army and its leader. Harald granted life and safety to all who asked quarter, and made himself master of the place. . — BATTLE AT ANOTHER CASTLE. There was another castle before which Harald had come with his army. This castle was both full of people and so strong, that there was no hope of breaking into it. The castle stood upon a flat hard plain. Then Harald under- took to dig a passage from a place where a stream ran in a bed so deep that it could not be seen from the castle. They threw out all the earth into the stream, to be carried away by the water. At this work they laboured day and night, and relieved each other in gangs; while the rest of the army went the whole day against the castle, where the castle people shot through their loop-holes. They shot at each other all day in this way, and at night they slept on both sides. Now when Harald perceived that his under- ground passage was so long that it must be within the castle walls, he ordered his people to arm themselves. It was towards daybreak that they went into the passage. When they got to the end of it they dug over their heads until they came upon stones laid in lime which was the floor of a stone hall. They broke open the floor and rose into the hall. There sat many of the castle-men eating SAGA OF HARALD HARDRADE and drinking, and not in the least expecting such unin- vited wolves; for the Varings instantly attacked them sword in hand, and killed some, and those who could get away fled. The Varings pursued them ; and some seized the castle gate, and opened it, so that the whole body of the army got in. The people of the castle fled ; but many asked quarter from the troops, which was granted to all who surrendered. In this way Harald got possession of the place, and found an immense booty in it. . — -BATTI^ AT A THIRD CASTI.E. They came to a third castle, the greatest and strongest of them all, and also the richest in property and the fullest of people. Around this castle there were great ditches, so that it evidently could not be taken by the same device as the former; and they lay a long time before it without doing anything. When the castle-men saw this they be- came bolder, drew up their array on the castle walls, threw open the castle gates, and shouted to the Varings, urging them, and jeering at them, and telling them to come into the castle, and that they were no more fit for battle than so many poultry. Harald told Tiis men to make as if they did not know what to do, or did not understand what was said. "For," says he, "if we do make an assault we can- effect nothing, as ihty can throw their weapons under their feet among us ; and if we get in the castle with a party of our people, they have it in their power to shut them in, and shut out the others; for they have all the castle gates beset with men, We shall therefore show them the same scorn they show us, and let them see we do not fear them. Our men shall go out upon the plain nearest to the castle ; taking care, however, to keep out of bow-shot. All our men shall go unarmed, and be play- ing with each other, so that the castle-men may see we do not regard them or their array.*' Thus it went on for some days, without anything being done. . — OF UtF AND HAUX)R. Two Iceland men were then with Harald : the one was Haldor,* a son of the gode Snorre, who brought this ac- count to Iceland ; the other was Ulf Uspakson, a grandson of Usvifer Spake. Both were very strong men, bold under arms, and Harald's best friends ; and both were in this play. Now when some days were passed the castle people showed more courage, and would go without weapons upon the castle wall, while the castle gates were standing open. The Varings observing this, went one day to their sports with the sword under their cloaks, and the helmet under their hats. After playing awhile they ob- served that the castle people were off their guard ; and in- stantly seizing their weapons, they made at the castle gates. When the men of the castle saw this they went against them armed completely, and a battle began in the castle gate. The Varings had no shields, but wrapped their cloaks round their left arms. Some of them were wounded, some killed, and all stood in great danger. Now came Harald with the men who had remained in the camp, to the assistance of his people ; and the castle-men had now got out upon the walls, from which they shot ^One of the descendants of this Haldor was Snorre Sturlason, the author of Heimakringla. SAGA OF HARALD HARDRADE and threw stones down upon them: so that there was a severe battle, and those who were in the castle gates thought that help was brought them slower than they could have wished. When Harald came to the castle gate his standard-bearer fell, and Harald said to Haldor, "Do thou take up the banner now." Haldor took up the ban- ner, and said foolishly, "Who will carry the banner before thee, if thou followest it so timidly as thou hast done for a while ?*' But these were words more of anger than of truth; for Harald was one of the boldest of men under arms. Then they pressed in, and had a hard battle in the castle; and the end was that Harald gained the victory and took the castle. Haldor was much wounded in the face, and it gave him great pain as long as he lived. . — BATTLE AT A FOURTH CASTLE. The fourth castle which Harald came to was the great- est of all we have been speaking about. It was so strong that there was no possibility of breaking into it. They surrounded the castle, so that no supplies could get into it. When they had remained here a short time Harald fell sick, and he betook himself to his bed. He had his tent put up a little from the camp, for he found quietness and rest out of the clamour and clang of armed men. His men went usually in companies to or from him to hear his orders; and the castle people observing there was some- thing new among the Varings, sent out spies to discover what this might mean. When the spies came back to the castle they had to tell of the illness of the commander of the Varings, and that no assault on that account had been made on the castle. A while after Harald's strength be- gan to fail, at which his men were very melancholy and cast down; all which was news to the castle-men. At last Harald's sickness increased so rapidly that his death was expected through all the army. Thereafter the Varings went to the castle-men ; told them, in a parley, of the death of their commander ; and begged of the priests to grant him burial in the castle. When the castle people heard this news, there were many among them who ruled over cloisters or other great establishments within the place, and who were very eager to get the corpse for their church, knowing that upon that there would follow very rich presents. A great many priests, therefore, clothed themselves in all their robes, and went out of the castle with cross and shrine and relics and formed a beautiful procession. The Varings also made a great burial. The coffin was borne high in the air, and over it was a tent of costly linen and before it were carried many banners. Now when the corpse was brought within the castle gate the Varings set down the coffin right across the entry, fixed a bar to keep the gates open, and sounded to battle with all their trumpets, and drew their swords. The whole army of the Varings, fully armed, rushed from the camp to the assault of the castle with shout and cry; and the monks and other priests who had gone to meet the corpse and had striven with each other who should be the first to come out and take the oflfering at the burial, were now striving much more who should first get away from the Varings ; for they killed before their feet every one who was nearest, whether clerk or unconsecrated. The Var- SAGA OF HARALD HARDRADE ings rummaged so well this castle that they killed all the men, pillaged everything and made an enormous booty. .— OF HARALD. Harald was many years in these campaigns, both in Serkland and in Sicily. Then he came back to Constanti- nople with his troops and stayed there but a little time be- fore he began his expedition to Jerusalem. There he left the pay he had received from the Greek emperor and all the Varings who accompanied him did the same. It is said that on all these expeditions Harald had fought eighteen regular battles. So says Thiodolf : — "Harald the Stern ne'er allowed The king, before hla home return. Peace to his foemen» false and Oft dyed the bald head of the erne proud : With blood j specks, and o'er the In eighteen battles, fought and won, waste The valour of the Norseman shone. The sharp-claw'd wolf his footsteps traced." . HARALD'S expedition to PALESTINE. Harald went with his men to the land of Jerusalem and then up to the city of Jerusalem, and wheresoever he came in the land all the towns and strongholds were given up to him. So says the skald Stuf, who had heard the king himself relate these tidings : — "He went, the warrior bold and And by the terror of his name brave. Under his power the country came, Jerusalem, the holy grave. Nor needed wasting fire and sword And the interior of the land, To yield obedience to his word." To bring under the Greeks' com- mand; Here it is told that this land came without fire and sword under Harald's command. He then went out to Jordan and bathed therein, according to the custcwn of other pilgrims. Harald gave great gifts to our Lord's grave, to the Holy Cross, and other holy relics in the land of Jerusalem. He also cleared the whole road all the way out to Jordan, by killing the robbers and other disturbers of the peace. So says the skald Stuf : — "The Agder king cleared far and The wicked people of the land wide Were punished here bj his dread Jordan's fair banks on either side ; hand. The robber-bands before him fled. And they hereafter will not mlsa And his great name was widelj Much worse from Jesus Christ tlugi spread. this." . — HARAU) PUT IN PRISON, Thereafter he went back to Constantinople. When Harald returned to Constantinople from Jerusalem he longed to return to the North to his native land ; and when he heard that Magnus Olafson, his brother's son, had be- come king both of Norway and Denmark, he gave up his command in the Greek service. And when the empress Zoe heard of this she became angry and raised an accusa- tion against Harald that he had misapplied the property of the Gredc emperor which he had received in the cam- paigns in which he was commander of the army. There was a young and beautiful girl called Maria, a brother's daughter of the empress Zoe, and Harald had paid his addresses to her ; but the empress had given him a refusal. The Varings, who were then in pay in Constantinople, have told here in the North that there went a report among well-informed people that the empress Zoe herself wanted Harald for her husband, and that she chiefly blamed Har- ald for his determination to leave Constantinople, al- though another reason was given out to the public. Con- SAGA OF HARALD HARDRADE stantinus Monomachus was at that time emperor of the Greeks and ruled along with Zoe. On this account the Greek emperor had Harald made prisoner and carried to prison. . — KING OLAF'S MIRACI.E AND BI.INDING THE GREEK EMPEROR. When Harald drew near to the prison King Olaf the Saint stood before him and said he would assist him. On that spot of the street a chapel has since been built and consecrated to Saint Olaf and which chapel has stood there ever since. The prison was so constructed that there was a high tower open above, but a door below to go into it from the street. Through it Harald was thrust in, along with Haldor and Ulf. Next night a lady of dis- tinction with two servants came, by the help of ladders, to the top of the tower, let down a rope into the prison and hauled them up. Saint Olaf had formerly cured this lady of a sickness and he had appeared to her in a vision and told her to deliver his brother. Harald went imme- diately to the Varings, who all rose from their seats when he came in and received him with joy. The men armed themselves forthwith and went to where the emperor slept. They took the emperor prisoner and put out both the eyes of him. So says Thorarin Skeggjason in his poem: — "Of glowing gold that decks the hand But Its great emperor In the strife The king got plenty in this land ; Was made stone-blind for all his life." So says Thiodolf, the skald, also : — "He who the hungry woirs wild yell The Norse king's mark will not Quiets with prey, the stern, the fell. adorn. Midst the uproar of shriek and shout The Norse king's mark gives cause Stung the Oreek emperor's eyes both to mourn ; out: His mark the Bastem king must bear. Groping his sightless way in fear." In these two songs, and many others, it is told that Harald himself blinded the Greek emperor; and they would surely have named some duke, count, or other great man, if they had not known this to be the true account ; and King Harald himself and other rnen who were with him spread the account. . — HARAI^d'S journey from CONSTANriNOPI.E. The same night King Harald and his men went to the house where Maria slept and carried her away by force. Then they went down to where the galleys of the Varings lay, took two of them and rowed out into Sjavid sound. When they came to the place where the iron chain is drawn across the sound, Harald told his men to stretch out at their oars in both galleys; but the men who were not rowing to run all to the stem of the galley, each with his luggage in his hand. The galleys thus ran up and lay on the iron chain. As soon as they stood fast on it, and would advance no farther, Harald ordered all. the men to run for- ward into the bow. Then the galley, in which Harald was, balanced forwards and swung down over the chain; but the othefj which remained fast athwart the chain, split in two, by which many men were lost ; but some were taken up out of the sound. Thus Harald escaped out of Con- stantinople and sailed thence into the Black Sea ; but be- fore he left the land he put the lady ashore and sent her SAGA OF HARALD HARDRADE back with a good escort to G>nstantinopIe and bade her tell her relation, the Empress Zoe, how little power she had over Harald, and how little the empress could have hindered him from taking the lady. Harald then sailed northwards in the EHipalta and then all round the Eastern empire. On this voyage Harald composed sixteen songs for amusement and all ending with the same words. This is one of them : — "Past Sicily's wide plains we flew. Never, I think, along this shore A dauntless, never-wearied crew ; Did Norseman ever sail before ; Our viking steed rushed through the Tet to the Russian queen, I fear, sea. My gold-adorned, I am not dear." As viking-like fast, fast sailed we. With this he meant Ellisif, daughter of King Jarisleif in Novgorod. .— OP KING HARAU>. When Harald came to Novgorod King Jarisleif re- ceived him in the most friendly way and he remained there all winter (). Then he took into his own keep- ing all the gold and the many kinds of precious things which he had sent there from Constantinople and which together made up so vast a treasure that no man in the Northern lands ever saw the like of it in one man's pos- session. Harald had been three times in the poluta-svarf while he was in Constantinople. It is the custom, namely, there, that every time one of the Greek emperors dies, the Varings are allowed poluta-svarf; that is, they may go through all the emperor's palaces where his treasures are and each may take and keep what he can lay hold of while he is going through them. . KING HARALD^S MARRIAGE. This winter King Jarisleif gave Harald his daughter Elisabeth in marriage. She is called by the Northmen Ellisif . This is related by Stuf the Blind, thus :— "Agder's chief now got the queen Of gold, no doubt, a mighty store Who long his secret love had been. The princess to her husband bore." In spring he began his journey from Novgorod and came to Aldeigjuborg, where he took shipping and sailed from the East in summer. He turned first to Svithjod and came to Sigtuna. So says Valgard o' Val : — "The fairest cargo ship e'er bore. The ship through dashing foam he Prom Russia's distant eastern shore steers. The gallant Harald homeward Through the sea-rain to Srithjod brings — reers, (Sold, and a fame that skald still And at Slgtuna's grassy shores sings. His gallant vessel safely moors." . — THE I^EAGUE BETWEEN KING HARALD AND SVEIN ULFSON. Harald found there before him Svein Ulfson, who the autumn before () had fled from King Magnus at Helganes; and when they met they were very friendly on both sides. The Swedish king, Olaf the Swede, was brother of the mother of Ellisif, Harald's wife; and As- trid, the mother of Svein, was King Olaf's sister. Harald and Svein entered into friendship with each other and confirmed it by oath. All the Swedes were friendly to Svein, because he. belonged to the greatest family in the country; and thus all the Swedes were Harald's friends and helpers also, for many great men were connected with him by relationship. So says Thiodolf : — "Cross the East sea the yessel flew, — The heavy vessel's leeward side Her oak-keel a white furrow drew Was hid beneath the rushing tide : From Russia's coast to Swedish land. While the broad sail and gold-tipped Where Harald can great help com- mast pand. Swung to an 'ro In tl\e l^ard blast" o SAGA OF HARALD HARDRADB . — KING HARALD's foray. Then Harald and Svein fitted out shipd and gathered together a great force; and when the troops were ready they sailed from the East towards Denmark. So says Valgard : — "Brave Ynsre ! to the land decreed As past the Scanlan plains they fly. To thee by fate, with tempest speed The gay ships glance twizt sea and The winds fly with thee o'er the sea — sky, To thy own udal land with thee. And Scanlan brides look out, and fear Some ill to those they hold most They landed first in Seeland with their men and herried and burned in the land far and wide. Then they went to Fyen, where they also landed and wasted. So says Val- gard: — "Harald! thou hast the isle laid And shows the housemates' silent waste, train The Seeland men away hast chased. In terror scouring o'er the plain. And the wild wolf by daylight Seeking the forest's deepest glen, roams To house with wolves, and 'scape Through their deserted silent homes. from men. Fiona too could not withstand The fury of thy wasting hand. -pew were they of escape to tell. Helms burst, shields broke,— Fiona's por, sorrow-worn, the people fell : Dounds. The only captives from the fray Were fllled with death's terrlflc w^re lovely maidens led away. w^'*'***- And In wild terror to the strand, Down to the ships, the linked band "Red flashing In the southern sky. Of fair-haired girls is roughly The clear flame sweeping broad and driven, high. Their soft skins by the Irons riven." From fair Roeskllde's lofty towers. On lowly huts its flre-rain pours ; . — KING MAGNUS'S LEVY. King Magnus Olafson sailed north to Norway in the autumn after the battle at Helganes (). There he hears the news that Harald Sigurdson, his relation, was come to Svithjod ; and moreover that Svein Ulfson and Harald had entered into a friendly bond with each other ^ and gathered together a great force, intending first to sub- due Denmark and then Norway. King Magnus then or- dered a general levy over all Norvi^ay and he soon collected a great army. He hears then that Harald and Svein were come to Denmark and were burning and laying waste the land and that the country people were everywhere submit- ting to them. It was also told that King Harald was stronger and stouter than other men, and so wise withal that nothing was impossible to him, and he had always the victory when he fought a battle; and he was also so rich in gold that no man could compare with him in wealth. Thiodolf speaks thus of it : — "Norsemen, who stand the sword of On either side of Seeland's ooast foe A fleet appears — a white winged Like forest-stems unmoved by blow ! host : My hopes are fled, no peace is near. — Magnos from Norway takes his People fly here and there in fear. course. Harald from Sweden leads his force." . — ^TREATY BETWEEN HARALD AND MAGNUS. Those of Harald's men who were in his counsel said that it would be a great misfortune if relations like Harald and Magnus should fight and throw a death-spear against each other ; and therefore many offered to attempt bring- ing about some agreement between them, and the kings, by their persuasion, agreed to it. Thereupon some men were sent off in a light boat, in which they sailed south in all haste to Denmark, and got some Danish men, who were proven friends of King Magnus, to propose this matter to Harald. This affair was conducted very se- cretly. Now when Harald heard that his relation. King Magnus, would offer him a league and partition, so that SAGA OF HARALD HARDRADE Harald should have half of Norway with King Magnus, and that they should divide all their movable property into two equal parts, he accepted the proposal, and tne people went back to King Magnus with this answer. . — ^TREATY BETWEEN HARAI> AND SVEIN BROKEN. A little after this it happened that Harald and Svein one evening were sitting at table drinking and talking together, and Svein asked Harald what valuable piece of all his property he esteemed the most. . He answered, it was his banner Land-waster. Svein asked what was there remarkable about it, that he valued it so highly, Harald replied, it was a common saying that he must gain the victory before whom 'that banner is borne, and it had turned out so ever since he had owned it. Svein replies, "I will begin to believe there is such virtue in the banner when thou hast held three battles with thy relation Magnus, and hast gained them all." Then answered Harald with an angry voice, "I know my relationship to King Magnus, without thy reminding me of it ; and although we are now going in arms against him, our meeting may be of a better sort." Svein changed colour, and said, "There are people, Harald, who say that thou hast done as much before as only to hold that part of an agreement which appears to suit thy own interest best." Harald answers, "It becomes thee ill to say that I have not stood by an agreement, when I know what King Mag- nus could tell of thy proceedings with him." Thereupon each went his own way. At night, when Harald went to sleep within the bulwarks of his vessel, he said to his footboy, "I will not sleep in my bed to-night, for I suspect there may be treachery abroad. I observed this evening that my friend Svein was very angry at my free discourse. Thou shalt kep watch, therefore, in case anything happen in the night." Harald then went away to sleep somewhere else, and laid a billet of wood in his place. At midnight a boat rowed alongside to the ship's bulwark ; a man went on board, lifted up the cloth of the tent of the bulwarks, went up, and struck in Harald's bed with a great ax, so that it stood fast in the lump of wood. The man instantly ran back to his boat again, and rowed away in the dark night, for the moon was set ; but the axe re- mained sticking in the piece of wood as an evidence. Thereupon Harald waked his men and let them know the treachery intended. "We can now see sufficiently," said he, "that we could never match Svein if he practises such deliberate treachery against us ; so it will be best for us to get away from this place while we can. Let us cast loose our vessel and row away as quietly as possible." They did so, and rowed during the night northwards along the land; and then proceeded night and day until they came to King Magnus, where he lay with his army. Harald went to his relation Magnus, and there was a joyful meeting betwixt them. So says Thiodolf : — "The far-known king the order gare, ' And Olaf's son, with justice rare» In silence o'er the swelling waye, Offers with him the realm to share. With noiseless oars, his ressels gay People, no douht, rejoiced to find From Denmark west to row away ; The kings had met in peaceful mind." SAGA OF HARALD HARDkADB Afterwards the two relatives conversed with each other and all was settled by peaceful agreement. . — KING MAGNUS GIVES HARAI.D HAl^^ O^ NORWAY. King Magnus lay at the shore and had set up tents upon the land. There he invited his relation, King Harald, to be his guest at table; and Harald went to the entertainment with sixty of his men and was feasted ex- cellently. Towards the end of the day King Magnus went into the tent where Harald sat and with him went men carrying parcels consisting of clothes and arms. Then the king went to the man who sat lowest and gave him a good sword, to the next a shield, to the next a kirtle, and so on, —clothes, or weapons, or gold ; to all he gave one or the other valuable gift, and the more costly to the more dis- tinguished men among them. Then he placed himself before his relation Harald, holding two sticks in his haind, and said, "Which of these two sticks wilt thou have, my friend?" Harald replies, "The one nearest me." "Then," said King Magnus, "with this stick I give thee half of the Norwegian power, with all the scat and duties, and all the domains thereunto belonging, with the condi- tion that everywhere thou shalt be as lawful king in Nor- way as I am myself ; but when we are both together in one place, I shall be the first man in seat, service and saluta- tion ; and if there be three of us together of equal dignity, that I shall sit in the middle, and shall have the royal tent-ground and the royal landing-place. Thou shalt strengthen and advance our kingdom, in return for mak- ing thee that man in Norway whom we never expected any man should be so long as our head was above ground." Then Harald stood up, and thanked him for the high title and dignity. Thereupon they both sat down, and were very merry together. The same evening Harald and his men returned to their ships. . — HARALD GIVES MAGNUS THE HAL^ O^ HIS TREAS- URES. The following morning King Magnus ordered the trumpets to sound to a General Thing of the people; and when it was seated, he made known to the whole army the gift he had given to his relation Harald. Thorer of Steig gave Harald the title of King there at the Thing; and the same day King Harald invited King Magnus to table with him, and he went with sixty men to King Har- ald's land-tent, where he had prepared a feast. The two kings sat together cm a high-seat, and the feast was splen- did ; everything went on with magnificence, and the kings were merry and glad. Towards the close of the day King Harald ordered many caskets to be brought into the tent, and in like manner people bore in weapons, clothes and other sorts of valuables; and all these King Harald di- vided among King Magnus's men who were at the feast. Then he had the caskets opened and said to King Magnus, "Yesterday you gave us a large kingdom, which your hand won from your and our enemies, and took us in partnership with you, which was well done; and this has cost you much. Now we on our side have been in foreign parts, and oft in peril of life, to gather together the gold SAGA OF HARALD HARDRADE which you here see. Now, King Magnus, I will divide this with you. We shall both own this movable property, and each have his equal share of it, as each has his equal half share of Norway. I know that our dispositions are different, as thou art more liberal than I am; therefore let us divide this property equally between us, so that each may have his share free to do with as he will." Then Harald had a large ox-hide spread out, and turned the gold out of the caskets upon it. Then scales and weights were taken and the gold separated and divided by weight into equal parts ; and all people wondered exceedingly that so much gold should have come together in one place in the northern countries. But it was under- stood that it was the Greek emperor's property and wealth ; for, as all people say, there are whole houses there full of red gold. The kings were now very merry. Then there appeared an ingot among the rest as big as a man's hand. Harald took it in his hands and said, "Where is the gold, friend Magnus, that thou canst show against this piece?" King Magnus replied, "So many disturbances and levies have been in the country that almost all the gold and silver I could lay up is gone. I have no more gold in my possession than this ring." And he took the ring off his hand and gave it to Harald. Harald looked at it, and said, "That is but little gold, friend, for the king who owns two kingdoms; and yet some may doubt whether thou art rightful owner of even this ring." Then King Magnus replied, after a little reflection, "If I be not rightful owner of this ring, then I know not what I have got right to; for my father, King Olaf the Saint, gave me this ring at our last parting." Then said King Harald, laughing, "It is true. King Magnus, what thou sayest. Thy father gave thee this ring, but he took the ring from my father for some trifling cause ; and in truth it was not a good time for small kings in Norway when thy father was in full power." King Harald gave Thorer of Steig at that feast a bowl of mountain birch, that was encircled with a silver ring and had a silver handle, both which parts were gilt ; and the bowl was filled with money of pure silver. With that came also two gold rings, which together stood for a mark. He gave him also his cloak of dark purple lined with white skins within, and promised him besides his friendship and great dignity. Thorgils Snorrason, an in- telligent man, says he has seen an altar-cloth that was made of this cloak ; and Gudrid, a daughter of Guthorm, the son of Thorer of Steig, said, according to Thorgil's account, that she had seen this bowl in her father Gu- thorm's possession. Bolverk also tells of these matters : — "Thou, generous king, I have been The people gained a blessed peace, told. Which 'twixt the kings did nerer For the green land hast given gold ; cease ; And Magnus got a mlghtj treasure. While Svetn, disturbed with war's That thou one half might'st rule at alarms. pleasure. Had hit folk alwttjrs under aims." o