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131. THE BIRTH OF KING MAGNUS.

There was a girl whose name was Alfhild, and who was usually

called the king's slave-woman, although she was of good descent.

She was a remarkably handsome girl, and lived in King Olaf's

court.  It was reported this spring that Alfhild was with child,

and the king's confidential friends knew that he was father of

the child.  It happened one night that Alfhild was taken ill, and

only few people were at hand; namely, some women, priests, Sigvat

the skald, and a few others.  Alfhild was so ill that she was

nearly dead; and when she was delivered of a man-child, it was

some time before they could discover whether the child was in

life.  But when the infant drew breath, although very weak, the

priest told Sigvat to hasten to the king, and tell him of the

event.

He replies, "I dare not on any account waken the king; for he has

forbid that any man should break his sleep until he awakens of

himself."

The priest replies, "It is of necessity that this child be

immediately baptized, for it appears to me there is but little

life in it."

Sigvat said, "I would rather venture to take upon me to let thee

baptize the child, than to awaken the king; and I will take it

upon myself if anything be amiss, and will give the child a

name."

They did so; and the child was baptized, and got the name of

Magnus.  The next morning, when the king awoke and had dressed

himself, the circumstance was told him.  He ordered Sigvat to be

called, and said. "How camest thou to be so bold as to have my

child baptized before I knew anything about it?"

Sigvat replies, "Because I would rather give two men to God than

one to the devil."

The king -- "What meanest thou?"

Sigvat -- "The child was near death, and must have been the

devil's if it had died as a heathen, and now it is God's.  And I

knew besides that if thou shouldst be so angry on this account

that it affected my life, I would be God's also."

The king asked, "But why didst thou call him Magnus, which is not

a name of our race?"

Sigvat -- "I called him after King Carl Magnus, who, I knew, had

been the best man in the world."

Then said the king, "Thou art a very lucky man, Sigvat; but it is

not wonderful that luck should accompany understanding.  It is

only wonderful how it sometimes happens that luck attends

ignorant men, and that foolish counsel turns out lucky."  The

king was overjoyed at the circumstance.  The boy grew up, and

gave good promise as he advanced in age.

132. THE MURDER OF ASBJORN SELSBANE.

The same spring (A.D. 1024) the king gave into the hands of

Asmund Grankelson the half of the sheriffdom of the district of

Halogaland, which Harek of Thjotta had formerly held, partly in

fief, partly for defraying the king's entertainment in guest-

quarters.  Asmund had a ship manned with nearly thirty well-armed

men.  When Asmund came north he met Harek, and told him what the

king had determined with regard to the district, and produced to

him the tokens of the king's full powers.  Harek said, "The king

had the right to give the sheriffdom to whom he pleased; but the

former sovereigns had not been in use to diminish our rights who

are entitled by birth to hold powers from the king, and to give

them into the hands of the peasants who never before held such

offices."  But although it was evident that it was against

Harek's inclination, he allowed Asmund to take the sheriffdom

according to the king's order.  Then Asmund proceeded home to his

father, stayed there a short time, and then went north to

Halogaland to his sheriffdom; and he came north to Langey Island,

where there dwelt two brothers called Gunstein and Karle, both

very rich and respectable men.  Gunstein, the eldest of the

brothers, was a good husbandman.  Karle was a handsome man in

appearance, and splendid in his dress; and both were, in many

respects, expert in all feats.  Asmund was well received by them,

remained with them a while, and collected such revenues of his

sheriffdom as he could get.  Karle spoke with Asmund of his wish

to go south with him and take service in the court of King Olaf,

to which Asmund encouraged him much, promising his influence with

the king for obtaining for Karle such a situation as he desired;

and Karle accordingly accompanied Asmund.  Asmund heard that

Asbjorn, who had killed Thorer Sel, had gone to the market-

meeting of Vagar with a large ship of burden manned with nearly

twenty men, and that he was now expected from the south.  Asmund

and his retinue proceeded on their way southwards along the coast

with a contrary wind, but there was little of it.  They saw some

of the fleet for Vagar sailing towards them; and they privately

inquired of them about Asbjorn, and were told he was upon the way

coming from the south.  Asmund and Karle were bedfellows, and

excellent friends.  One day, as Asmund and his people were rowing

through a sound, a ship of burden came sailing towards them.  The

ship was easily known, having high bulwarks, was painted with

white and red colours, and coloured cloth was woven in the sail.

Karle said to Asmund, "Thou hast often said thou wast curious to

see Asbjorn who killed Thorer Sel; and if I know one ship from

another, that is his which is coming sailing along."

Asmund replies, "Be so good, comrade, and tell me which is he

when thou seest him."

When the ships came alongside of each other, "That is Asbjorn,"

said Karle; "the man sitting at the helm in a blue cloak."

Asmund replies, "I shall make his blue cloak red;" threw a spear

at Asbjorn, and hit him in the middle of the body, so that it

flew through and through him, and stuck fast in the upper part of

the stern-post; and Asbjorn fell down dead from the helm.  Then

each vessel sailed on its course, and Asbjorn's body was carried

north to Thrandarnes.  Then Sigrid sent a message to Bjarkey Isle

to Thorer Hund, who came to her while they were, in the usual

way, dressing the corpse of Asbjorn.  When he returned Sigrid

gave presents to all her friends, and followed Thorer to his

ship; but before they parted she said, "It has so fallen out,

Thorer, that my son has suffered by thy friendly counsel, but he

did not retain life to reward thee for it; but although I have

not his ability yet will I show my good will.  Here is a gift I

give thee, which I expect thou wilt use.  Here is the spear which

went through Asbjorn my son, and there is still blood upon it, to

remind thee that it fits the wound thou hast seen on the corpse

of thy brother's son Asbjorn.  It would be a manly deed, if thou

shouldst throw this spear from thy hand so that it stood in

Olaf's breast; and this I can tell thee, that thou wilt be named

coward in every man's mouth, if thou dost not avenge Asbjorn."

Thereupon she turned about, and went her way.

Thorer was so enraged at her words that he could not speak.  He

neither thought of casting the spear from him, nor took notice of

the gangway; so that he would have fallen into the sea, if his

men had not laid hold of him as he was going on board his ship.

It was a feathered spear; not large, but the handle was gold-

mounted.  Now Thorer rowed away with his people, and went home to

Bjarkey Isle.  Asmund and his companions also proceeded on their

way until they came south to Throndhjem, where they waited on

King Olaf; and Asmund related to the king all that had happened

on the voyage.  Karle became one of the king's court-men, and the

friendship continued between him and Asmund.  They did not keep

secret the words that had passed between Asmund and Karle before

Asbjorn was killed; for they even told them to the king.  But

then it happened, according to the proverb, that every one has a

friend in the midst of his enemies.  There were some present who

took notice of the words, and they reached Thorer Hund's ears.

133. OF KING OLAF.

When spring (A.D. 1024) was advanced King Olaf rigged out his

ships, and sailed southwards in summer along the land.  He held

Things with the bondes on the way, settled the law business of

the people, put to rights the faith of the country, and collected

the king's taxes wherever he came.  In autumn he proceeded south

to the frontier of the country; and King Olaf had now made the

people Christians in all the great districts, and everywhere, by

laws, had introduced order into the country.  He had also, as

before related, brought the Orkney Islands under his power, and

by messages had made many friends in Iceland, Greenland, and the

Farey Islands.  King Olaf had sent timber for building a church

to Iceland, of which a church was built upon the Thing-field

where the General Thing is held, and had sent a bell for it,

which is still there.  This was after the Iceland people had

altered their laws, and introduced Christianity, according to the

word King Olaf had sent them.  After that time, many considerable

persons came from Iceland, and entered into King Olaf's service;

as Thorkel Eyjolfson, and Thorleif Bollason, Thord Kolbeinson,

Thord Barkarson, Thorgeir Havarson, Thormod Kalbrunar-skald.

King Olaf had sent many friendly presents to chief people in

Iceland; and they in return sent him such things as they had

which they thought most acceptable.  Under this show of

friendship which the king gave Iceland were concealed many things

which afterwards appeared.

134. KING OLAF'S MESSAGE TO ICELAND, AND THE COUNSELS OF THE

     ICELANDERS.

King Olaf this summer (A.D. 1024) sent Thorarin Nefiulfson to

Iceland on his errands; and Thorarin went out of Throndhjem fjord

along with the king, and followed him south to More.  From thence

Thorarin went out to sea, and got such a favourable breeze that

after four days sail he landed at the Westman Isles, in Iceland.

He proceeded immediately to the Althing, and came just as the

people were upon the Lawhillock, to which he repaired.  When the

cases of the people before the Thing had been determined

according to law, Thorarin Nefiulfson took up the word as

follows: -- "We parted four days ago from King Olaf Haraldson,

who sends God Almighty's and his own salutation to all the chiefs

and principal men of the land; as also to all the people in

general, men and women, young and old, rich and poor.  He also

lets you know that he will be your sovereign if ye will become

his subjects, so that he and you will be friends, assisting each

other in all that is good."

The people replied in a friendly way, that they would gladly be

the king's friends, if he would be a friend of the people of

their country.

Then Thorarin again took up the word: -- "This follows in

addition to the king's message, that he will in friendship desire

of the people of the north district that they give him the

island, or out-rock, which lies at the mouth of Eyfjord, and is

called Grimsey, for which he will give you from his country

whatever good the people of the district may desire.  He sends

this message particularly to Gudmund of Modruvellir to support

this matter, because he understands that Gudmund has most

influence in that quarter."

Gudmund replies, "My inclination is greatly for King Olaf's

friendship, and that I consider much more useful than the out-

rock he desires.  But the king has not heard rightly if he think

I have more power in this matter than any other, for the island

is a common.  We, however, who have the most use of the isle,

will hold a meeting among ourselves about it."

Then the people went to their tent-houses; and the Northland

people had a meeting among themselves, and talked over the

business, and every one spoke according to his judgment.  Gudmund

supported the matter, and many others formed their opinions by

his.  Then some asked why his brother Einar did not speak on the

subject.  "We think he has the clearest insight into most

things."

Einar answers, "I have said so little about the matter because

nobody has asked me about it; but if I may give my opinion, our

countrymen might just as well make themselves at once liable to

land-scat to King Olaf, and submit to all his exactions as he has

them among his people in Norway; and this heavy burden we will

lay not only upon ourselves, but on our sons, and their sons, and

all our race, and on all the community dwelling and living in

this land, which never after will be free from this slavery.  Now

although this king is a good man, as I well believe him to be,

yet it must be hereafter, when kings succeed each other, that

some will be good. and some bad.  Therefore if the people of this

country will preserve the freedom they have enjoyed since the

land was first inhabited, it is not advisable to give the king

the smallest spot to fasten himself upon the country by, and not

to give him any kind of scat or service that can have the

appearance of a duty.  On the other hand, I think it very proper

that the people send the king such friendly presents of hawks or

horses, tents or sails, or such things which are suitable gifts;

and these are well applied if they are repaid with friendship.

But as to Grimsey Isle, I have to say, that although nothing is

drawn from it that can serve for food, yet it could support a

great war-force cruising from thence in long-ships; and then, I

doubt not, there would be distress enough at every poor peasant's

door."

When Einar had thus explained the proper connection of the

matter, the whole community were of one mind that such a thing

should not be permitted; and Thorarin saw sufficiently well what

the result of his errand was to be.

135. THE ANSWER OF THE ICELANDERS.

The day following, Thorarin went again to the Lawhill, and

brought forward his errand in the following words: -- "King Olaf

sends his message to his friends here in the country, among whom

he reckons Gudmund Eyjolfson, Snorre Gode, Thorkel Eyjolfson,

Skapte the lagman, and Thorstein Halson, and desires them by me

to come to him on a friendly visit; and adds, that ye must not

excuse yourselves, if you regard his friendship as worth

anything."  In their answer they thanked the king for his message

and added, that they would afterwards give a reply to it by

Thorarin when they had more closely considered the matter with

their friends.  The chiefs now weighed the matter among

themselves, and each gave his own opinion about the journey.

Snorre and Skapte dissuaded from such a dangerous proceeding with

the people of Norway; namely, that all the men who had the most

to say in the country should at once leave Iceland.  They added,

that from this message, and from what Einar had said, they had

the suspicion that the king intended to use force and strong

measures against the Icelanders if he ruled in the country.

Gudmund and Thorkel Eyjolfson insisted much that they should

follow King Olaf's invitation, and called it a journey of honour.

But when they had considered the matter on all sides, it was at

last resolved that they should not travel themselves, but that

each of them should send in his place a man whom they thought

best suited for it.  After this determination the Thing was

closed, and there was no journey that summer.  Thorarin made two

voyages that summer, and about harvest was back again at King

Olaf's, and reported the result of his mission, and that some of

the chiefs, or their sons, would come from Iceland according to

his message.

136. OF THE PEOPLE OF THE FAREY ISLANDS.

The same summer (A.D. 1024) there came from the Farey Islands to

Norway, on the king's invitation, Gille the lagman, Leif

Ossurson, Thoralf of Dimun, and many other bondes' sons.  Thord

of Gata made himself ready for the voyage; but just as he was

setting out he got a stroke of palsy, and could not come, so he

remained behind.  Now when the people from the Farey Isles

arrived at King Olaf's, he called them to him to a conference,

and explained the purpose of the journey he had made them take,

namely, that he would have scat from the Farey Islands, and also

that the people there should be subject to the laws which the

king should give them.  In that meeting it appeared from the

king's words that he would make the Farey people who had come

answerable, and would bind them by oath to conclude this union.

He also offered to the men whom he thought the ablest to take

them into his service, and bestow honour and friendship on them.

These Farey men understood the king's words so, that they must

dread the turn the matter might take if they did not submit to

all that the king desired.  Although they held several meetings

about the business before it ended, the king's desire at last

prevailed.  Leif, Gille, and Thoralf went into the king's

service, and became his courtmen; and they, with all their

travelling companions, swore the oath to King Olaf, that the law

and land privilege which he set them should be observed in the

Farey Islands, and also the scat be levied that he laid upon

them.  Thereafter the Farey people prepared for their return

home, and at their departure the king gave those who had entered

into his service presents in testimony of his friendship, and

they went their way.  Now the king ordered a ship to be rigged,

manned it, and sent men to the Farey Islands to receive the scat

from the inhabitants which they should pay him.  It was late

before they were ready; but they set off at last: and of their

journey all that is to be told is, that they did not come back,

and no scat either, the following summer; for nobody had come to

the Farey Isles, and no man had demanded scat there.

137. OF THE MARRIAGE OF KETIL AND OF THORD TO THE KING'S SISTERS.

King Olaf proceeded about harvest time to Viken, and sent a

message before him to the Uplands that they should prepare guest-

quarters for him, as he intended to be there in winter.

Afterwards he made ready for his journey, and went to the

Uplands, and remained the winter there; going about in guest-

quarters, and putting things to rights where he saw it needful,

advancing also the cause of Christianity wheresoever it was

requisite.  It happened while King Olaf was in Hedemark that

Ketil Kalf of Ringanes courted Gunhild, a daughter of Sigurd Syr

and of King Olaf's mother Asta.  Gunhild was a sister of King

Olaf, and therefore it belonged to the king to give consent and

determination to the business.  He took it in a friendly way; for

he know Ketil, that he was of high birth, wealthy, and of good

understanding, and a great chief; and also he had long been a

great friend of King Olaf, as before related.  All these

circumstances induced the king to approve of the match, and so it

was that Ketil got Gunhild.  King Olaf was present at the

wedding.  From thence the king went north to Gudbrandsdal, where

he was entertained in guest-quarters.  There dwelt a man, by name

Thord Guthormson, on a farm called Steig; and he was the most

powerful man in the north end of the valley.  When Thord and the

king met, Thord made proposals for Isrid, the daughter of

Gudbrand, and the sister of King Olaf's mother, as it belonged to

the king to give consent.  After the matter was considered, it

was determined that the marriage should proceed, and Thord got

Isrid.  Afterwards Thord was the king's faithful friend, and also

many of Thord's relations and friends, who followed his

footsteps.  From thence King Olaf returned south through Thoten

and Hadaland, from thence to Ringerike, and so to Viken.  In

spring (A.D. 1025) he went to Tunsberg, and stayed there while

there was the market-meeting, and a great resort of people.  He

then had his vessels rigged out, and had many people about him.

138. OF THE ICELANDERS.

The same summer (A.D. 1025) came Stein, a son of the lagman

Skapte, from Iceland, in compliance with King Olaf's message; and

with him Thorod, a son of Snorre the gode, and Geller, a son of

Thorkel Eyjolfson, and Egil, a son of Hal of Sida, brother of

Thorstein Hal.  Gudmund Eyjolfson had died the winter before.

These Iceland men repaired to King Olaf as soon as they had

opportunity; and when they met the king they were well received,

and all were in his house.  The same summer King Olaf heard that

the ship was missing which he had sent the summer before to the

Farey Islands after the scat, and nobody knew what had become of

it.  The king fitted out another ship, manned it, and sent it to

the Farey Islands for the scat.  They got under weigh, and

proceeded to sea; but as little was ever heard of this vessel as

of the former one, and many conjectures were made about what had

become of them.

139. HERE BEGINS THE STORY OF CANUTE THE GREAT.

During this time Canute the Great, called by some Canute the Old,

was king of England and Denmark.  Canute the Great was a son of

Svein Haraldson Forkedbeard, whose forefathers, for a long course

of generations, had ruled over Denmark.  Harald Gormson, Canute's

grandfather, had conquered Norway after the fall of Harald

Grafeld, Gunhild's son, had taken scat from it, and had placed

Earl Hakon the Great to defend the country.  The Danish King,

Svein Haraldson, ruled also over Norway, and placed his son-in-

law Earl Eirik, the son of Earl Hakon, to defend the country.

The brothers Eirik and Svein, Earl Hakon's sons, ruled the land

until Earl Eirik went west to England, on the invitation of his

brother-in-law Canute the Great, when he left behind his son Earl

Hakon, sister's son of Canute the Great, to govern Norway.  But

when Olaf the Thick came first to Norway, as before related, he

took prisoner Earl Hakon the son of Eirik, and deposed him from

the kingdom.  Then Hakon proceeded to his mother's brother,

Canute the Great, and had been with him constantly until the time

to which here in our saga we have now come.  Canute the Great had

conquered England by blows and weapons, and had a long struggle

before the people of the land were subdued.  But when he had set

himself perfectly firm in the government of the country, he

remembered that he also had right to a kingdom which he had not

brought under his authority; and that was Norway.  He thought he

had hereditary right to all Norway; and his sister's son Hakon,

who had held a part of it, appeared to him to have lost it with

disgrace.  The reason why Canute and Hakon had remained quiet

with respect to their claims upon Norway was, that when King Olaf

Haraldson landed in Norway the people and commonalty ran together

in crowds, and would hear of nothing but that Olaf should be king

over all the country, although some afterwards, who thought that

the people upon account of his power had no self-government left

to them, went out of the country.  Many powerful men, or rich

bondes sons, had therefore gone to Canute the Great, and

pretended various errands; and every one who came to Canute and

desired his friendship was loaded with presents.  With Canute,

too, could be seen greater splendour and pomp than elsewhere,

both with regard to the multitude of people who were daily in

attendance, and also to the other magnificent things about the

houses he owned and dwelt in himself.  Canute the Great drew scat

and revenue from the people who were the richest of all in

northern lands; and in the same proportion as he had greater

revenues than other kings, he also made greater presents than

other kings.  In his whole kingdom peace was so well established,

that no man dared break it.  The people of the country kept the

peace towards each other, and had their old country law: and for

this he was greatly celebrated in all countries.  And many of

those who came from Norway represented their hardships to Earl

Hakon, and some even to King Canute himself; and that the Norway

people were ready to turn back to the government of King Canute,

or Earl Hakon, and receive deliverance from them.  This

conversation suited well the earl's inclination, and he carried

it to the king, and begged of him to try if King Olaf would not

surrender the kingdom, or at least come to an agreement to divide

it; and many supported the earl's views.

140. CANUTE'S MESSAGE TO KING OLAF.

Canute the Great sent men from the West, from England, to Norway,

and equipped them magnificently for the journey.  They were

bearers of the English king Canute's letter and seal.  They came

about spring (A.D. 1025) to the king of Norway, Olaf Haraldson,

in Tunsberg.  Now when it was told the king that ambassadors had

arrived from Canute the Great he was ill at ease, and said that

Canute had not sent messengers hither with any messages that

could be of advantage to him or his people; and it was some days

before the ambassadors could come before the king.  But when they

got permission to speak to him they appeared before the king, and

made known King Canute's letter, and their errand which

accompanied it; namely, "that King Canute considers all Norway as

his property, and insists that his forefathers before him have

possessed that kingdom; but as King Canute offers peace to all

countries, he will also offer peace to all here, if it can be so

settled, and will not invade Norway with his army if it can be

avoided.  Now if King Olaf Haraldson wishes to remain king of

Norway, he will come to King Canute, and receive his kingdom as a

fief from him, become his vassal, and pay the scat which the

earls before him formerly paid."  Thereupon they presented their

letters, which contained precisely the same conditions.

Then King Olaf replies, "I have heard say, by old stories, that

the Danish king Gorm was considered but a small king of a few

people, for he ruled over Denmark alone; but the kings who

succeeded him thought that was too little.  It has since come so

far that King Canute rules over Denmark and England, and has

conquered for himself a great part of Scotland.  Now he claims

also my paternal heritage, and will then show some moderation in

his covetousness.  Does he wish to rule over all the countries of

the North?  Will he eat up all the kail in England?  He shall do

so, and reduce that country to a desert, before I lay my head in

his hands, or show him any other kind of vassalage.  Now ye shall

tell him these my words, -- I will defend Norway with battle-axe

and sword as long as life is given me, and will pay scat to no

man for my kingdom."

After this answer King Canute's ambassadors made themselves ready

for their journey home, and were by no means rejoiced at the

success of their errand.

Sigvat the skald had been with King Canute, who had given him a

gold ring that weighed half a mark.  The skald Berse

Skaldtorfason was also there, and to him King Canute gave two

gold rings, each weighing two marks, and besides a sword inlaid

with gold.  Sigvat made this song about it: --

     "When we came o'er the wave, you cub,

          When we came o'er the wave,

     To me one ring, to thee two rings,

          The mighty Canute gave:

     One mark to me,

     Four marks to thee, --

          A sword too, fine and brave.

     Now God knows well,

     And skalds can tell,

          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

besides very valuable gifts."  Then Sigvat sang: --

     "From the North land, the midst of Fife,

     Two kings came begging peace and life;

     Craving from Canute life and peace, --

     May Olaf's good luck never cease!

     May he, our gallant Norse king, never

     Be brought, like these, his head to offer

     As ransom to a living man

     For the broad lands his sword has 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 (A.D. 1025) 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.

141. KING OLAF'S ALLIANCE WITH ONUND THE KING OF SVITHJOD.

King Olaf summoned to him all the lendermen, and had a great many

people about him this summer (A.D. 1025), for a report was abroad

that King Canute would come from England.  People had heard from

merchant vessels 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 (A.D. 1025) 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 (A.D. 1026) King

Onund intended to travel across West Gautland, and King Olaf made

preparations for taking his winter abode at Sarpsborg.

142. KING CANUTE'S AMBASSADORS TO ONUND OF SVITHJOD.

In autumn King Canute the Great came to Denmark, and remained

there all winter (A.D. 1026) 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 between 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.

143. THE EXPEDITION TO BJARMALAND.

This winter (A.D. 1026) 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 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 voyage 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 merchant 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 commander 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 Gunstein 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 keeping guard, each two for a third part of the night,

when Thorer and his men came to the fence the guard had gone

home, and those who should relieve them had not yet come upon

guard.  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

Gunstein," 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 (1) 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 off 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 there 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 commanders to come on shore; on

which the brothers, and some men with them, went on the land.

Now Thorer began 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.

Thereupon 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 Asbjorn'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 off from the pier, and

left the land.  When Thorer and his men saw this, they took down

their tents and made preparations to follow.  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 Gunstein's vessel was lighter in turning.  But

Thorer's ship made way upon them, so that when they came up to

Lengjuvik, Gunstein 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.

Thereafter Thorer, with his people, returned home 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 Gunstein to

remain with him, promising to assist him when opportunity

offered.  Gunstein took the invitation with thanks, and stayed

with King Olaf.

ENDNOTES:

(1)  Ludr -- the loor -- is a long tube or roll of birch-bark

     used as a horn by the herdboys in the mountains in Norway.

     -- L.

144. MEETING OF KING OLAF AND KING ONUND.

King Olaf was, as before related, in Sarpsborg the winter (A.D.

1026) that King Canute was in Denmark.  The Swedish king Onund

rode across West Gautland the same winter, and had thirty hundred

(3600) 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 Denmark.  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 conversations,

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 impossible to

fetch round.  Then answers Haldor Brynjolfson, "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.

145. THORALF'S MURDER.

The same summer (A.D. 1026) 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 delivered 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 disappearance 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 Thoralf 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

distinction.  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 scoffs.  They went out to

the houseservants, 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 generally 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-token, 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 themselves.  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 evidently

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 born 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 satisfactory, 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 accusation 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 obligation to

take the iron ordeal; he should come the following 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 comrades

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 manage the iron ordeal, so that I fear he will

come ill off who tries it against him.  Now there is coming a

brisk mountain 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 again."

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 suspicion 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.

146. 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 bring 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 condition of unfree men.  In the meantime

Geller got ready for his journey, and sailed in summer (A.D.

1026) to Iceland, taking with him the message he was to bring

before the Thing the following summer (A.D. 1027).  The king's

message was, that he required the Icelanders to adopt the laws

which he had set in Norway, also to pay him thane-tax and nose-

tax (1); namely, a penny for every nose, and the penny at the

rate of ten pennies to the yard of wadmal (2).  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 summer 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 winter residence

to be prepared for him.  The winter (A.D. 1027) that he passed

here in the merchant-town of Nidaros was the thirteenth year of

his reign.

ENDNOTES:

(1)  Nefgildi (nef=nose), a nose-tax or poll-tax payable to the

     king.  This ancient "nose-tax" was also imposed by the

     Norsemen on conquered countries, the penalty for defaulters

     being the loss of their nose.

(2)  Wadmal was the coarse woollen cloth made in Iceland, and so

     generally used for clothing that it was a measure of value

     in the North, like money, for other commodities. -- L.

147. 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 Ketil's 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 even 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 Jamtalanders 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 continued long after

those times, until Olaf the Thick and the Swedish king Olaf

quarrelled about the boundaries.  Then the Jamtaland and

Helsingjaland 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.

148. STEIN'S STORY.

The Icelanders, Thorod Snorrason and Stein Skaptason, were ill-

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 composed 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 conversation, 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 anything, 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-bailiffs, who managed one of his farms in

Orkadal, happened to be present, and heard the conversation of

the king and Stein, and soon afterwards Thorgeir 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

Thorgeir invited Stein to pass the night there, and asked where

he was travelling to.  Stein begged the loan of a horse and

sledge, for he saw they were just driving home corn.

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 landbailiff. 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

between them.  It had once happened, namely, that Stein, on his

voyage 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 merchant-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

Westfjord, 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 appeared 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 promised 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 baptism, 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 incensed: 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 (A.D. 1027).

After Yule a king's messenger came to Thorberg, with the order

that Thorberg should come to him before midsummer; and the order

was serious and severe.  Thorberg 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 circumstances, and

asked him to accompany him.  Fin replied, that he thought it

foolish to be so completely under woman'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 Arnason, 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 necessity, as to incur the king's

indignation.  It might be excused 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, -- a

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.  Ragnhild sent men east to Jadar to her father

Erling, and begged him to send people.  Erling's sons, Sigurd and

Thord, came out, each with a ship of twenty benches of rowers and

ninety men.  When they came north Thorberg 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, Kaff Arnason was there before them; and he also had a

wellmanned 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 Thorberg wished that they should

first proceed with moderation, 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 therefore 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 looked 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

come to your knowledge against me, then will I agree to a peace

with you brothers."

Then Fin returned to his forces, and told the conditions 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 matter."  Arne Arnason 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 listening 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 fulfillment, 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 (A.D.

1027) he went west to England into the service of Canute the

Great, and was long with him, and was treated with great

distinction.

149. FIN ARNASON"S EXPEDITION TO HALOGALAND.

Now when Fin Arnason had been a short time with King Olaf, the

king called him to a conference, along with some other 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 and ships, and then proceed, with all the force I can muster,

against King Canute the Great: for I know for certain 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 country, and he commanded

that this order should be circulated 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 vessels, 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-servants 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 returned from

the North.  Thorer Hund had also come 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 offer 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 Gunstein 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 referring 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 agreement."

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 ornament; 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 unpaid."

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

Westfjord, and went to sea, keeping south along the land so far

off 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 liquor 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, "I believe that Thorer must be our enemy, and

it appears to me always better to have him at a distance than

near."

150. DISPUTE BETWEEN HAREK AND ASMUND.

Asmund Grankelson had been this winter (A.D. 1027) 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 egg-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, although

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 rigged 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 equipment; 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.  Asmund 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.

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