PRELIMINARY REMARKS.
Olaf Haraldson the Saint's
Saga is the longest, the most
important, and the most finished
of all the sagas in
"Heimskringla".
The life of Olaf will be found treated more or
less freely in "Agrip",
in "Historia Norvegiae", in "Thjodrek the
Monk", in the legendary
saga, and in "Fagrskinna". Other old
Norse literature relating to
this epoch:
Are's "Islendingabok",
"Landnama", "Kristni Saga", "Biskupa-
sogur", "Njala",
"Gunlaugs Saga", "Ormstungu", "Bjarnar Saga
Hitdaelakappa", "Hallfredar
Thattr Vandraedaskalde", "Eyrbyggia",
"Viga Styrs Saga",
"Laxdaela", "Fostbraedra", "Gretla",
"Liosvetninga", "Faereyinga",
"Orkneyinga".
Olaf Haraldson was born 995,
went as a viking at the age of
twelve, 1007; visited England,
one summer and three winters,
1009-1012; in France two summers
and one winter, 1012-1013;
spent the winter in Normandy,
1014; returned to Norway and was
recognized as King, April 3,
1015; fled from Norway the winter
of 1028-1029; fell at Stiklestad,
July 29 (or August 31), 1030.
Skalds quoted in this saga
are: -- Ottar Svarte, Sigvat Skald,
Thord Kolbeinson, Berse Torfason,
Brynjolf, Arnor Jarlaskald,
Thord Siarekson, Harek, Thorarin
Loftunga, Halvard Hareksblese,
Bjarne Gulbraskald, Jokul Bardson,
Thormod Kolbrunarskald,
Gissur, Thorfin Mun, Hofgardaref.
ENDNOTES:
(1) King Olaf the Saint reigned
from about the year 1015 to
1030. The death of King
Olaf Trygvason was in the year
1000: and Earl Eirik held
the government for the Danish and
Swedish kings about fifteen
years. -- L.
1. OF SAINT OLAF'S BRINGING
UP.
Olaf, Harald Grenske's son,
was brought up by his stepfather
Sigurd Syr and his mother Asta.
Hrane the Far-travelled lived in
the house of Asta, and fostered
this Olaf Haraldson. Olaf came
early to manhood, was handsome
in countenance, middle-sized in
growth, and was even when very
young of good understanding and
ready speech. Sigurd his stepfather
was a careful householder,
who kept his people closely
to their work, and often went about
himself to inspect his corn-rigs
and meadowland, the cattle, and
also the smith-work, or whatsoever
his people had on hand to do.
2. OF OLAF AND KING SIGURD
SYR.
It happened one day that King
Sigurd wanted to ride from home,
but there was nobody about
the house; so he told his stepson Olaf
to saddle his horse. Olaf
went to the goats' pen, took out the
he-goat that was the largest,
led him forth, and put the king's
saddle on him, and then went
in and told King Sigurd he had
saddled his riding horse.
Now when King Sigurd came out and saw
what Olaf had done, he said
"It is easy to see that thou wilt
little regard my orders; and
thy mother will think it right that
I order thee to do nothing
that is against thy own inclination.
I see well enough that we are
of different dispositions, and that
thou art far more proud than
I am." Olaf answered little, but
went his way laughing.
3. OF RING OLAF'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
When Olaf Haraldson grew up
he was not tall, but middle-sized in
height, although very thick,
and of good strength. He had light
brown hair, and a broad face,
which was white and red. He had
particularly fine eyes, which
were beautiful and piercing, so
that one was afraid to look
him in the face when he was angry.
Olaf was very expert in all
bodily exercises, understood well to
handle his bow, and was distinguished
particularly in throwing
his spear by hand: he was a
great swimmer, and very handy, and
very exact and knowing in all
kinds of smithwork, whether he
himself or others made the
thing. He was distinct and acute in
conversation, and was soon
perfect in understanding and strength.
He was beloved by his friends
and acquaintances, eager in his
amusements, and one who always
liked to be the first, as it was
suitable he should be from
his birth and dignity. He was called
Olaf the Great.
4. KING OLAF'S WAR EXPEDITION.
Olaf Haraldson was twelve years
old when he, for the first time,
went on board a ship of war
(A.D. 1007). His mother Asta got
Hrane, who was called the foster-father
of kings, to command a
ship of war and take Olaf under
his charge; for Hrane had often
been on war expeditions. When
Olaf in this way got a ship and
men, the crew gave him the
title of king; for it was the custom
that those commanders of troops
who were of kingly descent, on
going out upon a viking cruise,
received the title of king
immediately although they had
no land or kingdom. Hrane sat at
the helm; and some say that
Olaf himself was but a common rower,
although he was king of the
men-at-arms. They steered east along
the land, and came first to
Denmark. So says Ottar Svarte, in
his lay which he made about
King Olaf: --
"Young was the king
when from his home
He first began in ships
to roam,
His ocean-steed to ride
To Denmark o'er the tide.
Well exercised art thou
in truth --
In manhood's earnest work,
brave youth!
Out from the distant north
Mighty hast thou come
forth."
Towards autumn he sailed eastward
to the Swedish dominions, and
there harried and burnt all
the country round; for he thought he
had good cause of hostility
against the Swedes, as they killed
his father Harald. Ottar Svarte
says distinctly that he came
from the east, out by way of
Denmark: --
"Thy ship from shore
to shore,
With many a well-plied
car,
Across the Baltic foam
is dancing. --
Shields, and spears, and
helms glancing!
Hoist high the swelling
sail
To catch the freshening
gale!
There's food for the raven-flight
Where thy sail-winged
ship shall light;
Thy landing-tread
The people dread;
And the wolf howls for
a feast
On the shore-side in the
east."
5. OLAF'S FIRST BATTLE.
The same autumn Olaf had his
first battle at Sotasker, which lies
in the Swedish skerry circle.
He fought there with some vikings,
whose leader was Sote. Olaf
had much fewer men, but his ships
were larger, and he had his
ships between some blind rocks, which
made it difficult for the vikings
to get alongside; and Olaf's
men threw grappling irons into
the ships which came nearest, drew
them up to their own vessels,
and cleared them of men. The
vikings took to flight after
losing many men. Sigvat the skald
tells of this fight in the
lay in which he reckons up King Olaf's
battles: --
"They launch his
ship where waves are foaming --
To the sea shore
Both mast and oar,
And sent his o'er the
seas a-roaming.
Where did the sea-king
first draw blood?
In the battle shock
At Sote's rock;
The wolves howl over their
fresh food."
6. FORAY IN SVITHJOD.
King Olaf steered thereafter
eastwards to Svithjod, and into the
Lag (the Maelar lake), and
ravaged the land on both sides. He
sailed all the way up to Sigtuna,
and laid his ships close to the
old Sigtuna. The Swedes say
the stone-heaps are still to be seen
which Olaf had laid under the
ends of the gangways from the shore
to the ships. When autumn
was advanced, Olaf Haraldson heard
that Olaf the Swedish king
was assembling an army, and also that
he had laid iron chains across
Stoksund (the channel between the
Maelar lake and the sea), and
had laid troops there; for the
Swedish king thought that Olaf
Haraldson would be kept in there
till frost came, and he thought
little of Olaf's force knowing he
had but few people. Now when
King Olaf Haraldson came to
Stoksund he could not get through,
as there was a castle west of
the sound, and men-at-arms
lay on the south; and he heard that
the Swedish king was come there
with a great army and many ships.
He therefore dug a canal across
the flat land Agnafit out to the
sea. Over all Svithjod all
the running waters fall into the
Maelar lake; but the only outlet
of it to the sea is so small
that many rivers are wider,
and when much rain or snow falls the
water rushes in a great cataract
out by Stoksund, and the lake
rises high and floods the land.
It fell heavy rain just at this
time; and as the canal was
dug out to the sea, the water and
stream rushed into it. Then
Olaf had all the rudders unshipped
and hoisted all sail aloft.
It was blowing a strong breeze
astern, and they steered with
their oars, and the ships came in a
rush over all the shallows,
and got into the sea without any
damage. Now went the Swedes
to their king, Olaf, and told him
that Olaf the Great had slipped
out to sea; on which the king was
enraged against those who should
have watched that Olaf did not
get away. This passage has
since been called King's Sound; but
large vessels cannot pass through
it, unless the waters are very
high. Some relate that the
Swedes were aware that Olaf had cut
across the tongue of land,
and that the water was falling out
that way; and they flocked
to it with the intention to hinder
Olaf from getting away, but
the water undermined the banks on
each side so that they fell
in with the people, and many were
drowned: but the Swedes contradict
this as a false report, and
deny the loss of people. The
king sailed to Gotland in harvest,
and prepared to plunder; but
the Gotlanders assembled, and sent
men to the king, offering him
a scat. The king found this would
suit him, and he received the
scat, and remained there all
winter. So says Ottar Svarte:
--
"Thou seaman-prince!
thy men are paid:
The scat on Gotlanders
is laid;
Young man or old
To our seamen bold
Must pay, to save
his head:
The Yngling princes
fled,
Eysvssel people bled;
Who can't defend the wealth
they have
Must die, or share with
the rover brave."
7. THE SECOND BATTLE.
It is related here that King
Olaf, when spring set in, sailed
east to Eysyssel, and landed
and plundered; the Eysyssel men came
down to the strand and grave
him battle. King Olaf gained the
victory, pursued those who
fled, and laid waste the land with
fire and sword. It is told
that when King Olaf first came to
Eysvssel they offered him scat,
and when the scat was to be
brought down to the strand
the king came to meet it with an armed
force, and that was not what
the bondes there expected; for they
had brought no scat, but only
their weapons with which they
fought against the king, as
before related. So says Sigvat the
skald: --
"With much deceit
and bustle
To the heath of Eysyssel
The bondes brought the
king,
To get scat at their weapon-thing.
But Olaf was too wise
To be taken by surprise;
Their legs scarce bore
them off
O'er the common test enough."
8. THE THIRD BATTLE.
After this they sailed to Finland
and plundered there, and went
up the country. All the people
fled to the forest, and they had
emptied their houses of all
household goods. The king went far
up the country, and through
some woods, and came to some
dwellings in a valley called
Herdaler, -- where, however, they
made but small booty, and saw
no people; and as it was getting
late in the day, the king turned
back to his ships. Now when
they came into the woods again
people rushed upon them from all
quarters, and made a severe
attack. The king told his men to
cover themselves with their
shields, but before they got out of
the woods he lost many people,
and many were wounded; but at
last, late in the evening,
he got to the ships. The Finlanders
conjured up in the night, by
their witchcraft, a dreadful storm
and bad weather on the sea;
but the king ordered the anchors to
be weighed and sail hoisted,
and beat off all night to the
outside of the land. The king's
luck prevailed more than the
Finlanders' witchcraft; for
he had the luck to beat round the
Balagard's side in the night.
and so got out to sea. But the
Finnish army proceeded on land,
making the same progress as the
king made with his ships.
So says Sigvat: --
"The third fight
was at Herdaler, where
The men of Finland met
in war
The hero of the royal
race,
With ringing sword-blades
face to face.
Off Balagard's shore the
waves
Ran hollow; but the sea-king
saves
His hard-pressed ship,
and gains the lee
Of the east coast through
the wild sea."
9. THE FOURTH BATTLE IN SUDERVIK.
King Olaf sailed from thence
to Denmark, where he met Thorkel the
Tall, brother of Earl Sigvalde,
and went into partnership with
him; for he was just ready
to set out on a cruise. They sailed
southwards to the Jutland coast,
to a place called Sudervik,
where they overcame many viking
ships. The vikings, who usually
have many people to command,
give themselves the title of kings,
although they have no lands
to rule over. King Olaf went into
battle with them, and it was
severe; but King Olaf gained the
victory, and a great booty.
So says Sigvat: --
"Hark! hark! The
war-shout
Through Sudervik
rings,
And the vikings bring
out
To fight the two
kings.
Great honour, I'm told,
Won these vikings so bold:
But their bold fight was
vain,
For the two brave kings
gain."
10. THE FIFTH BATTLE IN FRIESLAND.
King Olaf sailed from thence
south to Friesland, and lay under
the strand of Kinlima in dreadful
weather. The king landed with
his men; but the people of
the country rode down to the strand
against them, and he fought
them. So says Sigvat: --
"Under Kinlima's
cliff,
This battle is the fifth.
The brave sea-rovers stand
All on the glittering
sand;
And down the horsemen
ride
To the edge of the rippling
tide:
But Olaf taught the peasant
band
To know the weight of
a viking's hand."
11. DEATH OF KING SVEIN FORKED
BEARD.
The king sailed from thence
westward to England. It was then the
case that the Danish king,
Svein Forked Beard, was at that time
in England with a Danish army,
and had been fixed there for some
time, and had seized upon King
Ethelred's kingdom. The Danes had
spread themselves so widely
over England, that it was come so far
that King Ethelred had departed
from the country, and had gone
south to Valland. The same
autumn that King Olaf came to
England, it happened that King
Svein died suddenly in the night
in his bed; and it is said
by Englishmen that Edmund the Saint
killed him, in the same way
that the holy Mercurius had killed
the apostate Julian. When
Ethelred, the king of the English,
heard this in Flanders, he
returned directly to England; and no
sooner was he come back, than
he sent an invitation to all the
men who would enter into his
pay, to join him in recovering the
country. Then many people
flocked to him; and among others, came
King Olaf with a great troop
of Northmen to his aid. They
steered first to London, and
sailed into the Thames with their
fleet; but the Danes had a
castle within. On the other side of
the river is a great trading
place, which is called Sudvirke.
There the Danes had raised
a great work, dug large ditches, and
within had built a bulwark
of stone, timber, and turf, where they
had stationed a strong army.
King Ethelred ordered a great
assault; but the Danes defended
themselves bravely, and King
Ethelred could make nothing
of it. Between the castle and
Southwark (Sudvirke) there
was a bridge, so broad that two
wagons could pass each other
upon it. On the bridge were raised
barricades, both towers and
wooden parapets, in the direction of
the river, which were nearly
breast high; and under the bridge
were piles driven into the
bottom of the river. Now when the
attack was made the troops
stood on the bridge everywhere, and
defended themselves. King
Ethelred was very anxious to get
possession of the bridge, and
he called together all the chiefs
to consult how they should
get the bridge broken down. Then said
King Olaf he would attempt
to lay his fleet alongside of it, if
the other ships would do the
same. It was then determined in
this council that they should
lay their war forces under the
bridge; and each made himself
ready with ships and men.
12. THE SIXTH BATTLE.
King Olaf ordered great platforms
of floating wood to be tied
together with hazel bands,
and for this he took down old houses;
and with these, as a roof,
he covered over his ships so widely,
that it reached over the ships'
sides. Under this screen he set
pillars so high and stout,
that there both was room for swinging
their swords, and the roofs
were strong enough to withstand the
stones cast down upon them.
Now when the fleet and men were
ready, they rode up along the
river; but when they came near the
bridge, there were cast down
upon them so many stones and missile
weapons, such as arrows and
spears, that neither helmet nor
shield could hold out against
it; and the ships themselves were
so greatly damaged, that many
retreated out of it. But King
Olaf, and the Northmen's fleet
with him, rowed quite up under the
bridge, laid their cables around
the piles which supported it,
and then rowed off with all
the ships as hard as they could down
the stream. The piles were
thus shaken in the bottom, and were
loosened under the bridge.
Now as the armed troops stood thick
of men upon the bridge, and
there were likewise many heaps of
stones and other weapons upon
it, and the piles under it being
loosened and broken, the bridge
gave way; and a great part of the
men upon it fell into the river,
and all the ethers fled, some
into the castle, some into
Southwark. Thereafter Southwark was
stormed and taken. Now when
the people in the castle saw that
the river Thames was mastered,
and that they could not hinder the
passage of ships up into the
country, they became afraid,
surrendered the tower, and
took Ethelred to be their king. So
says Ottar Svarte: --
"London Bridge is
broken down. --
Gold is won, and bright
renown.
Shields resounding,
War-horns sounding,
Hild is shouting in the
din!
Arrows singing,
Mail-coats ringing
--
Odin makes our Olaf win!"
And he also composed these:
--
"King Ethelred has
found a friend:
Brave Olaf will his throne
defend --
In bloody fight
Maintain his right,
Win back his land
With blood-red hand,
And Edmund's son upon
his throne replace --
Edmund, the star of every
royal race!"
Sigvat also relates as follows:
--
"At London Bridge
stout Olaf gave
Odin's law to his war-men
brave --
`To win or die!'
And their foemen
fly.
Some by the dyke-side
refuge gain --
Some in their tents on
Southwark plain!
The sixth attack
Brought victory back."
13. THE SEVENTH BATTLE.
King Olaf passed all the winter
with King Ethelred, and had a
great battle at Hringmara Heath
in Ulfkel's land, the domain
which Ulfkel Snilling at that
time held; and here again the king
was victorious. So says Sigvat
the skald: --
"To Ulfkel's land
came Olaf bold,
A seventh sword-thing
he would hold.
The race of Ella filled
the plain --
Few of them slept at home
again!
Hringmara heath
Was a bed of death:
Harfager's heir
Dealt slaughter there."
And Ottar sings of this battle
thus: --
"From Hringmara field
The chime of war,
Sword striking shield,
Rings from afar.
The living fly;
The dead piled high
The moor enrich;
Red runs the ditch."
The country far around was
then brought in subjection to King
Ethelred: but the Thingmen
(1) and the Danes held many castles,
besides a great part of the
country.
ENDNOTES:
(1) Thing-men were hired men-at-arms;
called Thing-men probably
from being men above the
class of thralls or unfree men, and
entitled to appear at
Things, as being udal-born to land at
home.
14. EIGHTH AND NINTH BATTLES
OF OLAF.
King Olaf was commander of
all the forces when they went against
Canterbury; and they fought
there until they took the town,
killing many people and burning
the castle. So says Ottar
Svarte: --
"All in the grey
of morn
Broad Canterbury's
forced.
Black smoke from house-roofs
borne
Hides fire that does
its worst;
And many a man laid low
By the battle-axe's blow,
Waked by the Norsemen's
cries,
Scarce had time to rub
his eyes."
Sigvat reckons this King Olaf's
eighth battle: --
"Of this eighth battle
I can tell
How it was fought, and
what befell,
The castle tower
With all his power
He could not take,
Nor would forsake.
The Perthmen fought,
Nor quarter sought;
By death or flight
They left the fight.
Olaf could not this earl
stout
From Canterbury quite
drive out."
At this time King Olaf was
entrusted with the whole land defence
of England, and he sailed round
the land with his ships of War.
He laid his ships at land at
Nyjamoda, where the troops of the
Thingmen were, and gave them
battle and gained the victory. So
says Sigvat the skald: --
"The youthful king
stained red the hair
Of Angeln men, and dyed
his spear
At Newport in their hearts'
dark blood:
And where the Danes the
thickest stood --
Where the shrill storm
round Olaf's head
Of spear and arrow thickest
fled.
There thickest lay the
Thingmen dead!
Nine battles now of Olaf
bold,
Battle by battle, I have
told."
King Olaf then scoured all
over the country, taking scat of the
people and plundering where
it was refused. So says Ottar: --
"The English race
could not resist thee,
With money thou madest
them assist thee;
Unsparingly thou madest
them pay
A scat to thee in every
way;
Money, if money could
be got --
Goods, cattle, household
gear, if not.
Thy gathered spoil, borne
to the strand,
Was the best wealth of
English land."
Olaf remained here for three
years (A.D. 1010-1012).
15. THE TENTH BATTLE.
The third year King Ethelred
died, and his sons Edmund and Edward
took the government (A.D. 1012).
Then Olaf sailed southwards out
to sea, and had a battle at
Hringsfjord, and took a castle
situated at Holar, where vikings
resorted, and burnt the castle.
So says Sigvat the skald: --
"Of the tenth battle
now I tell,
Where it was fought, and
what befell.
Up on the hill in Hringsfjord
fair
A robber nest hung in
the air:
The people followed our
brave chief,
And razed the tower of
the viking thief.
Such rock and tower, such
roosting-place,
Was ne'er since held by
the roving race."
16. ELEVENTH, TWELFTH AND THIRTEENTH
BATTLES.
Then King Olaf proceeded westwards
to Grislupollar, and fought
there with vikings at Williamsby;
and there also King Olaf gained
the victory. So says Sigvat:
--
"The eleventh battle
now I tell,
Where it was fought, and
what befell.
At Grislupol our young
fir's name
O'ertopped the forest
trees in fame:
Brave Olaf's name -- nought
else was heard
But Olaf's name, and arm,
and sword.
Of three great earls,
I have heard say,
His sword crushed helm
and head that day."
Next he fought westward on
Fetlafjord, as Sigvat tells: --
"The twelfth fight
was at Fetlafjord,
Where Olaf's honour-seeking
sword
Gave the wild wolf's devouring
teeth
A feast of warriors doomed
to death."
From thence King Olaf sailed
southwards to Seljupollar, where he
had a battle. He took there
a castle called Gunvaldsborg, which
was very large and old. He
also made prisoner the earl who ruled
over the castle and who was
called Geirfin. After a conference
with the men of the castle,
he laid a scat upon the town and
earl, as ransom, of twelve
thousand gold shillings: which was
also paid by those on whom
it was imposed. So says Sigvat: --
"The thirteenth battle
now I tell,
Where it was fought, and
what befell.
In Seljupol was fought
the fray,
And many did not survive
the day.
The king went early to
the shore,
To Gunvaldsborg's old
castle-tower;
And a rich earl was taken
there,
Whose name was Geridin,
I am sure."
17. FOURTEENTH BATTLE AND OLAF'S
DREAM.
Thereafter King Olaf steered
with his fleet westward to Karlsar,
and tarried there and had a
fight. And while King Olaf was lying
in Karlsa river waiting a wind,
and intending to sail up to
Norvasund, and then on to the
land of Jerusalem, he dreamt a
remarkable dream -- that there
came to him a great and important
man, but of a terrible appearance
withal, who spoke to him, and
told him to give up his purpose
of proceeding to that land.
"Return back to thy udal,
for thou shalt be king over Norway for
ever." He interpreted
this dream to mean that he should be king
over the country, and his posterity
after him for a long time.
18. FIFTEENTH BATTLE.
After this appearance to him
he turned about, and came to Poitou,
where he plundered and burnt
a merchant town called Varrande. Of
this Ottar speaks: --
"Our young king,
blythe and gay,
Is foremost in the fray:
Poitou he plunders, Tuskland
burns, --
He fights and wins where'er
he turns."
And also Sigvat says: --
"The Norsemen's king
is on his cruise,
His blue steel staining,
Rich booty gaining,
And all men trembling
at the news.
The Norsemen's kings up
on the Loire:
Rich Partheney
In ashes lay;
Far inland reached the
Norsemen's spear."
19. OF THE EARLS OF ROUEN.
King Olaf had been two summers
and one winter in the west in
Valland on this cruise; and
thirteen years had now passed since
the fall of King Olaf Trygvason.
During this time earls had
ruled over Norway; first Hakon's
sons Eirik and Svein, and
afterwards Eirik's sons Hakon
and Svein. Hakon was a sister's
son of King Canute, the son
of Svein. During this time there
were two earls in Valland,
William and Robert; their father was
Richard earl of Rouen. They
ruled over Normandy. Their sister
was Queen Emma, whom the English
king Ethelred had married; and
their sons were Edmund, Edward
the Good, Edwy, and Edgar.
Richard the earl of Rouen was
a son of Richard the son of William
Long Spear, who was the son
of Rolf Ganger, the earl who first
conquered Normandy; and he
again was a son of Ragnvald the
Mighty, earl of More, as before
related. From Rolf Ganger are
descended the earls of Rouen,
who have long reckoned themselves
of kin to the chiefs in Norway,
and hold them in such respect
that they always were the greatest
friends of the Northmen; and
every Northman found a friendly
country in Normandy, if he
required it. To Normandy King
Olaf came in autumn (A.D. 1013),
and remained all winter (A.D.
1014) in the river Seine in good
peace and quiet.
20. OF EINAR TAMBASKELFER.
After Olaf Trygvason's fall,
Earl Eirik gave peace to Einar
Tambaskelfer, the son of Eindride
Styrkarson; and Einar went
north with the earl to Norway.
It is said that Einar was the
strongest man and the best
archer that ever was in Norway. His
shooting was sharp beyond all
others; for with a blunt arrow he
shot through a raw, soft ox-hide,
hanging over a beam. He was
better than any man at running
on snow-shoes, was a great man
at all exercises, was of high
family, and rich. The earls Eirik
and Svein married their sister
Bergliot to Einar. Their son was
named Eindride. The earls
gave Einar great fiefs in Orkadal, so
that he was one of the most
powerful and able men in the
Throndhjem country, and was
also a great friend of the earls, and
a great support and aid to them.
21. OF ERLING SKIALGSON.
When Olaf Trygvason ruled over
Norway, he gave his brother-in-law
Erling half of the land scat,
and royal revenues between the Naze
and Sogn. His other sister
he married to the Earl Ragnvald
Ulfson, who long ruled over
West Gautland. Ragnvald's father,
Ulf, was a brother of Sigrid
the Haughty, the mother of Olaf the
Swedish king. Earl Eirik was
ill pleased that Erling Skialgson
had so large a dominion, and
he took to himself all the king's
estates, which King Olaf had
given to Erling. But Erling levied,
as before, all the land scat
in Rogaland; and thus the
inhabitants had often to pay
him the land scat, otherwise he laid
waste their land. The earl
made little of the business, for no
bailiff of his could live there,
and the earl could only come
there in guest-quarters, when
he had a great many people with
him. So says Sigvat: --
"Olaf the king
Thought the bonde Erling
A man who would grace
His own royal race.
One sister the king
Gave the bonde Erling;
And one to an earl,
And she saved him in peril."
Earl Eirik did not venture
to fight with Erling, because he had
very powerful and very many
friends, and was himself rich and
popular, and kept always as
many retainers about him as if he
held a king's court. Erling
vas often out in summer on
plundering expeditions, and
procured for himself means of living;
for he continued his usual
way of high and splendid living,
although now he had fewer and
less convenient fiefs than in the
time of his brother-in-law
King Olaf Trygvason. Erling was one
of the handsomest, largest,
and strongest men; a better warrior
than any other; and in all
exercises he was like King Olaf
himself. He was, besides,
a man of understanding, jealous in
everything he undertook, and
a deadly man at arms. Sigvat talks
thus of him: --
"No earl or baron,
young or old,
Match with this bonde
brave can hold.
Mild was brave Erling,
all men say,
When not engaged in bloody
fray:
His courage he kept hid
until
The fight began, then
foremost still
Erling was seen in war's
wild game,
And famous still is Erling's
name."
It was a common saying among
the people, that Erling had been the
most valiant who ever held
lands under a king in Norway. Erlings
and Astrid s children were
these -- Aslak, Skialg, Sigurd, Lodin,
Thorer, and Ragnhild, who was
married to Thorberg Arnason.
Erling had always with him
ninety free-born men or more, and both
winter and summer it was the
custom in his house to drink at the
mid-day meal according to a
measure (1), but at the night meal
there was no measure in drinking.
When the earl was in the
neighbourhood he had 200 (2)
men or more. He never went to sea
with less than a fully-manned
ship of twenty benches of rowers.
Erling had also a ship of thirty-two
benches of rowers, which was
besides, very large for that
size. and which he used in viking
cruises, or on an expedition;
and in it there were 200 men at the
very least.
ENDNOTES:
(1) There were silver-studs
in a row from the rim to the bottom
of the drinking born or
cup; and as it went round each drank
till the stud appeared
above the liquor. This was drinking
by measure. -- L.
(2) I.e., 240.
22. OF THE HERSE ERLING SKIALGSON.
Erling had always at home on
his farm thirty slaves, besides
other serving-people. He gave
his slaves a certain day's work;
but after it he gave them leisure,
and leave that each should
work in the twilight and at
night for himself, and as he pleased.
He gave them arable land to
sow corn in, and let them apply their
crops to their own use. He
laid upon each a certain quantity of
labour to work themselves free
by doing it; and there were many
who bought their freedom in
this way in one year, or in the
second year, and all who had
any luck could make themselves free
within three years. With this
money he bought other slaves: and
to some of his freed people
he showed how to work in the herring-
fishery, to others he showed
some useful handicraft; and some
cleared his outfields and set
up houses. He helped all to
prosperity.
23. OF EARL EIRIK.
When Earl Eirik had ruled over
Norway for twelve years. there
came a message to him from
his brother-in-law King Canute, the
Danish king, that he should
go with him on an expedition westward
to England; for Eirik was very
celebrated for his campaigns, as
he had gained the victory in
the two hardest engagements which
had ever been fought in the
north countries. The one was that in
which the Earls Hakon and Eirik
fought with the Jomsborg vikings;
the other that in which Earl
Eirik fought with King Olaf
Trygvason. Thord Kolbeinson
speaks of this: --
"A song of praise
Again I raise.
To the earl bold
The word is told,
That Knut the Brave
His aid would crave;
The earl, I knew,
To friend stands true."
The earl would not sleep upon
the message of the king, but sailed
immediately out of the country,
leaving behind his son Earl Hakon
to take care of Norway; and,
as he was but seventeen years of
age, Einar Tambaskelfer was
to be at his hand to rule the country
for him.
Eirik met King Canute in England,
and was with him when he took
the castle of London. Earl
Eirik had a battle also to the
westward of the castle of London,
and killed Ulfkel Snilling. So
says Thord Kolbeinson: --
"West of London town
we passed,
And our ocean-steeds made
fast,
And a bloody fight begin,
Eng1and's lands to lose
or win.
Blue sword and shining
spear
Laid Ulfkel's dead corpse
there,
Our Thingmen hear the
war-shower sounding
Our grey arrows from their
shields rebounding."
Earl Eirik was a winter in
England, and had many battles there.
The following autumn he intended
to make a pilgrimage to Rome,
but he died in England of a
bloody flux.
24. THE MURDER OF EDMUND.
King Canute came to England
the summer that King Ethelred died,
and had many battles with Ethelred's
sons, in which the victory
was sometimes on one side,
sometimes on the other. Then King
Canute took Queen Emma in marriage;
and their children were
Harald, Hardacanute, and Gunhild.
King Canute then made an
agreement with King Edmund,
that each of them should have a half
of England. In the same month
Henry Strion murdered King Edmund.
King Canute then drove all
Ethelred's sons out of England. So
says Sigvat: --
"Now all the sons
of Ethelred
Were either fallen, or
had fled:
Some slain by Canute,
-- some they say,
To save their lives had
run away."
25. OLAF AND ETHELRED'S SONS.
King Ethelred's sons came to
Rouen in Valland from England, to
their mother's brother, the
same summer that King Olaf Haraldson
came from the west from his
viking cruise, and they were all
during the winter in Normandy
together. They made an agreement
with each other that King Olaf
should have Northumberland, if
they could succeed in taking
England from the Danes. Therefore
about harvest, Olaf sent his
foster-father Hrane to England to
collect men-at-arms; and Ethelred's
sons sent tokens to their
friends and relations with
him. King Olaf, besides, gave him
much money with him to attract
people to them. Hrane was all
winter in England, and got
promises from many powerful men of
fidelity, as the people of
the country would rather have native
kings over them; but the Danish
power had become so great in
England, that all the people
were brought under their dominion.
26. BATTLE OF KING OLAF.
In spring (A.D. 1014) King
Olaf and King Ethelred's sons set out
together to the west, and came
to a place in England called
Jungufurda, where they landed
with their army and moved forward
against the castle. Many men
were there who had promised them
their aid. They took the castle;
and killed many people. Now
when King Canute's men heard
of this they assembled an army, and
were soon in such force that
Ethelred's sons could not stand
against it; and they saw no
other way left but to return to
Rouen. Then King Olaf separated
from them, and would not go back
to Valland, but sailed northwards
along England, all the way to
Northumberland, where he put
into a haven at a place called
Valde; and in a battle there
with the townspeople and merchants
he gained the victory, and
a great booty.
27. OLAF'S EXPEDITION TO NORWAY.
King Olaf left his long-ships
there behind, but made ready two
ships of burden; and had with
him 220 men in them, well-armed,
and chosen people. He sailed
out to sea northwards in harvest,
but encountered a tremendous
storm and they were in danger of
being lost; but as they had
a chosen crew, and the king s luck
with them, all went on well.
So says Ottar: --
"Olaf, great stem
of kings, is brave --
Bold in the fight, bold
on the wave.
No thought of fear
Thy heart comes near.
Undaunted, 'midst the
roaring flood,
Firm at his post each
shipman stood;
And thy two ships
stout
The gale stood out."
And further he says: --
"Thou able chief!
with thy fearless crew
Thou meetest, with skill
and courage true,
The wild sea's wrath
On thy ocean path.
Though waves mast-high
were breaking round.
Thou findest the middle
of Norway's ground,
With helm in hand
On Saela's strand."
It is related here that King
Olaf came from the sea to the very
middle of Norway; and the isle
is called Saela where they landed,
and is outside of Stad. King
Olaf said he thought it must be a
lucky day for them, since they
had landed at Saela in Norway; and
observed it was a good omen
that it so happened. As they were
going up in the isle, the king
slipped with one foot in a place
where there was clay, but supported
himself with the other foot.
Then said he "The king
falls." "Nay," replies Hrane, "thou didst
not fall, king, but set fast
foot in the soil." The king laughed
thereat, and said, "It
may be so if God will." They went down
again thereafter to their ships,
and sailed to Ulfasund, where
they heard that Earl Hakon
was south in Sogn, and was expected
north as soon as wind allowed
with a single ship.
28. HAKON TAKEN PRISONER BY
OLAF.
King Olaf steered his ships
within the ordinary ships' course
when he came abreast of Fjaler
district, and ran into
Saudungssund. There he laid
his two vessels one on each side of
the sound. with a thick cable
between them. At the same moment
Hakon, Earl Eirik's son, came
rowing into the sound with a manned
ship; and as they thought these
were but two merchant-vessels
that were lying in the sound,
they rowed between them. Then Olaf
and his men draw the cable
up right under Hakon's ship's keel and
wind it up with the capstan.
As soon as the vessel's course was
stopped her stern was lifted
up, and her bow plunged down; so
that the water came in at her
fore-end and over both sides, and
she upset. King Olaf's people
took Earl Hakon and all his men
whom they could get hold of
out of the water, and made them
prisoners; but some they killed
with stones and other weapons,
and some were drowned. So
says Ottar: --
"The black ravens
wade
In the blood from thy
blade.
Young Hakon so gay,
With his ship, is thy
prey:
His ship, with its gear,
Thou hast ta'en; and art
here,
Thy forefather's land
From the earl to demand."
Earl Hakon was led up to the
king's ship. He was the handsomest
man that could be seen. He
had long hair, as fine as silk, bound
about his bead with a gold
ornament.
When he sat down in the fore-hold,
the king said to him, "It is
not false what is said of your
family, that ye are handsome
people to look at; but now
your luck has deserted you."
Hakon the earl replied, "It
has always been the case that success
is changeable; and there is
no luck in the matter. It has gone
with your family as with mine,
to have by turns the better lot.
I am little beyond childhood
in years; and at any rate we could
not have defended ourselves,
as we did not expect any attack on
the way. It may turn out better
with us another time."
Then said King Olaf, "Dost
thou not apprehend that thou art in
that condition that, hereafter,
there can be neither victory nor
defeat for thee?"
The earl replies, "That
is what thou only canst determine, king,
according to thy pleasure."
Olaf says, "What wilt
thou give me, earl, if for this time I let
thee go, whole and unhurt?"
The earl asks what he would
take.
"Nothing," says the
king, "except that thou shalt leave the
country, give up thy kingdom,
and take an oath that thou shalt
never go into battle against
me."
The earl answered, that he
would do so. And now Earl Hakon took
the oath that he would never
fight against Olaf, or seek to
defend Norway against him,
or attack him; and King Olaf thereupon
gave him and all his men life
and peace. The earl got back the
ship which had brought him
there, and he and his men rowed their
way. Thus says Sigvat of him:
--
"In old Saudungs
sound
The king Earl Hakon found,
Who little thought that
there
A foeman was so near.
The best and fairest youth
Earl Hakon was in truth,
That speaks the Danish
tongue,
And of the race of great
Hakon."
29. HAKON'S DEPARTURE FROM
NORWAY.
After this (A.D. 1014) the
earl made ready as fast as possible to
leave the country and sail
over to England. He met King Canute,
his mother's brother, there,
and told him all that had taken
place between him and King
Olaf. King Canute received him
remarkably well, placed him
in his court in his own house, and
gave him great power in his
kingdom. Earl Hakon dwelt a long
time with King Canute. During
the time Svein and Hakon ruled
over Norway, a reconciliation
with Erling Skialgson was effected,
and secured by Aslak, Erling's
son, marrying Gunhild, Earl
Svein's daughter; and the father
and son, Erling and Aslak,
retained all the fiefs which
King Olaf Trygvason had given to
Erling. Thus Erling became
a firm friend of the earl's, and
their mutual friendship was
confirmed by oath.
30. ASTA RECEIVES HER SON OLAF.
King Olaf went now eastward
along the land, holding Things with
the bondes all over the country.
Many went willingly with him;
but some, who were Earl Svein's
friends or relations, spoke
against him. Therefore King
Olaf sailed in all haste eastward to
Viken; went in there with his
ships; set them on the land; and
proceeded up the country, in
order to meet his stepfather, Sigurd
Syr. When he came to Vestfold
he was received in a friendly way
by many who had been his father's
friends or acquaintances; and
also there and in Folden were
many of his family. In autumn
(A.D. 1014) he proceeded up
the country to his stepfather King
Sigurd's, and came there one
day very early. As Olaf was coming
near to the house, some of
the servants ran beforehand to the
house, and into the room.
Olaf's mother, Asta, was sitting in
the room, and around her some
of her girls. When the servants
told her of King Olaf's approach,
and that he might soon be
expected, Asta stood up directly,
and ordered the men and girls
to put everything in the best
order. She ordered four girls to
bring out all that belonged
to the decoration of the room and put
it in order with hangings and
benches. Two fellows brought straw
for the floor, two brought
forward four-cornered tables and the
drinking-jugs, two bore out
victuals and placed the meat on the
table, two she sent away from
the house to procure in the
greatest haste all that was
needed, and two carried in the ale;
and all the other serving men
and girls went outside of the
house. Messengers went to
seek King Sigurd wherever he might be,
and brought to him his dress-clothes,
and his horse with gilt
saddle, and his bridle, which
was gilt and set with precious
stones. Four men she sent
off to the four quarters of the
country to invite all the great
people to a feast, which she
prepared as a rejoicing for
her son's return. All who were
before in the house she made
to dress themselves with the best
they had, and lent clothes
to those who had none suitable.