PRELIMINARY REMARKS.
Hitherto the narrative has
been more or less fragmentary. With
Olaf Trygvason's Saga reliable
history begins, and the narration
is full and connected. The
story of Hakon the earl is
incorporated in this saga.
Accounts of Olaf Trygvason
may be found in Od the Monk's
legendary saga, in parts of
"Agrip", "Historia Norvegiae", and in
Thjodrek. Icelandic works
on this epoch are:
"Egla", "Eyrbyggja",
"Finboga", "Floamanna", "Faereyinga",
"Hallfredar Saga",
"Havardar Saga", "Are's Islendinga-bok",
"Kristni Saga", "Laxdaela",
"Ljosvetninga", "Njala",
"Orkneyinga", "Viga
Glums Saga", and "Viga Styrs Saga".
The skalds quoted are: Glum
Geirason, Eyvind Finson,
Skaldaspiller, Einar Skalaglam,
Tind Halkelson, Eyjolf Dadaskald,
Hallarstein, Halfred Vandraedaskald,
Haldor Ukristne, Skule
Thorsteinson, and Thord Kolbeinson.
1. OLAF TRYGVASON'S BIRTH.
King Trygve Olafson had married
a wife who was called Astrid.
She was a daughter of Eirik
Bjodaskalle, a great man, who dwelt
at Oprustader. But after Trygve's
death (A.D. 963) Astrid fled,
and privately took with her
all the loose property she could.
Her foster-father, Thorolf
Lusarskeg, followed her, and never
left her; and others of her
faithful followers spied about to
discover her enemies, and where
they were. Astrid was pregnant
with a child of King Trygve,
and she went to a lake, and
concealed herself in a holm
or small island in it with a few men.
Here her child was born, and
it was a boy; and water was poured
over it, and it was called
Olaf after the grandfather. Astrid
remained all summer here in
concealment; but when the nights
became dark, and the day began
to shorten and the weather to be
cold, she was obliged to take
to the land, along with Thorolf and
a few other men. They did
not seek for houses unless in the
night-time, when they came
to them secretly; and they spoke to
nobody. One evening, towards
dark, they came to Oprustader,
where Astrid's father Eirik
dwelt, and privately sent a man to
Eirik to tell him; and Eirik
took them to an out-house, and
spread a table for them with
the best of food. When Astrid had
been here a short time her
travelling attendants left her, and
none remained, behind with
her but two servant girls, her child
Olaf, Thorolf Lusarskeg, and
his son Thorgils, who was six years
old; and they remained all
winter (A.D. 964).
2. OF GUNHILD S SONS.
After Trygve Olafson's murder,
Harald Grafeld and his brother
Gudrod went to the farm which
he owned; but Astrid was gone, and
they could learn no tidings
of her. A loose report came to their
ears that she was pregnant
to King Trygve; but they soon went
away northwards, as before
related. As soon as they met their
mother Gunhild they told her
all that had taken place. She
inquired particularly about
Astrid, and they told her the report
they had heard; but as Gunhild's
sons the same harvest and winter
after had bickerings with Earl
Hakon, as before related, they did
not seek after Astrid and her
son that winter.
3. ASTRID'S JOURNEY.
The spring after (A.D. 964)
Gunhild sent spies to the Uplands,
and all the way down to Viken,
to spy what they could about
Astrid; and her men came back,
and could only tell her that
Astrid must be with her father
Eirik, and it was probable was
bringing up her infant, the
son of Trygve. Then Gunhild, without
delay, sent off men well furnished
with arms and horses, and in
all a troop of thirty; and
as their leader she sent a particular
friend of her own, a powerful
man called Hakon. Her orders were
to go to Oprustader, to Eirik,
and take King Trygve's son from
thence, and bring the child
to her; and with these orders the men
went out. Now when they were
come to the neighbourhood of
Oprustader, some of Eirik's
friends observed the troop of
travellers, and about the close
of the day brought him word of
their approach. Eirik immediately,
in the night, made
preparation for Astrid's flight,
gave her good guides, and send
her away eastward to Svithjod,
to his good friend Hakon Gamle,
who was a powerful man there.
Long before day they departed, and
towards evening they reached
a domain called Skaun. Here they
saw a large mansion, towards
which they went, and begged a
night's lodging. For the sake
of concealment they were clad in
mean clothing. There dwelt
here a bonde called Bjorn
Eiterkveisa, who was very rich,
but very inhospitable. He drove
them away; and therefore, towards
dark, they went to another
domain close by that was called
Vidar. Thorstein was the name of
the bonde; and he gave them
lodging, and took good care of them,
so that they slept well, and
were well entertained. Early that
morning Gunhild's men had come
to Oprustader, and inquired for
Astrid and her son. As Eirik
told them she was not there, they
searched the whole house, and
remained till late in the day
before they got any news of
Astrid. Then they rode after her the
way she had taken, and late
at night they came to Bjorn
Eiterkveisa in Skaun, and took
up their quarters there. Hakon
asked Bjorn if he knew anything
about Astrid, and he said some
people had been there in the
evening wanting lodgings; "but I
drove them away, and I suppose
they have gone to some of the
neighbouring houses."
Thorstein's labourer was coming from the
forest, having left his work
at nightfall, and called in at
Bjorn's house because it was
in his way; and finding there were
guests come to the house, and
learning their business, he comes
to Thorstein and tells him
of it. As about a third part of the
night was still remaining,
Thorstein wakens his guests and orders
them in an angry voice to go
about their business; but as soon as
they were out of the house
upon the road, Thorstein tells them
that Gunhild's messengers were
at Bjorn's house, and are upon the
trace of them. They entreat
of him to help them, and he gave
them a guide and some provisions.
He conducted them through a
forest to a lake, in which
there was an islet overgrown with
reeds. They waded out to the
islet, and hid themselves among the
reeds. Early in the morning
Hakon rode away from Bjorn's into
the township, and wherever
he came he asked after Astrid; and
when he came to Thorstein's
he asked if she had been there. He
said that some people had been
there; but as soon as it was
daylight they had set off again,
eastwards, to the forest. Hakon
made Thorstein go along with
them, as he knew all the roads and
hiding-places. Thorstein went
with them; but when they were come
into the woods, he led them
right across the way Astrid had
taken. They went about and
about the whole day to no purpose, as
they could find no trace of
her, so they turned back to tell
Gunhild the end of their travel.
Astrid and her friends
proceeded on their journey,
and came to Svithjod, to Hakon Gamle
(the Old), where she and her
son remained a long time, and had
friendly welcome.
4. HAKON'S EMBASSY TO SWEDEN.
When Gunhild, the mother of
the kings, heard that Astrid and her
son Olaf were in the kingdom
of Svithjod, she again sent Hakon,
with a good attendance, eastward,
to Eirik king of Sweden, with
presents and messages of friendship.
The ambassadors were well
received and well treated.
Hakon, after a time, disclosed his
errand to the king, saying
that Gunhild had sent him with the
request that the king would
assist him in getting hold of Olaf
Trygvason, to conduct him to
Norway, where Gunhild would bring
him up. The king gave Hakon
people with him, and he rode with
them to Hakon the Old, where
Hakon desired, with many friendly
expressions, that Olaf should
go with him. Hakon the Old
returned a friendly answer,
saying that it depended entirely upon
Olaf's mother. But Astrid
would on no account listen to the
proposal; and the messengers
had to return as they came, and to
tell King Eirik how the matter
stood. The ambassadors then
prepared to return home, and
asked the king for some assistance
to take the boy, whether Hakon
the Old would or not. The king
gave them again some attendants;
and when they came to Hakon the
Old, they again asked for the
boy, and on his refusal to deliver
him they used high words and
threatened violence. But one of the
slaves, Buste by name, attacked
Hakon, and was going to kill him;
and they barely escaped from
the thralls without a cudgelling,
and proceeded home to Norway
to tell Gunhild their ill success,
and that they had only seen
Olaf.
5. OF SIGURD EIRIKSON.
Astrid had a brother called
Sigurd, a son of Eirik Bjodaskalle,
who had long been abroad in
Gardarike (Russia) with King
Valdemar, and was there in
great consideration. Astrid had now a
great inclination to travel
to her brother there. Hakon the Old
gave her good attendants, and
what was needful for the journey,
and she set out with some merchants.
She had then been two years
(A.D. 965-966) with Hakon the
Old, and Olaf was three years of
age. As they sailed out into
the Baltic, they were captured by
vikings of Eistland, who made
booty both of the people and goods,
killing some, and dividing
others as slaves. Olaf was separated
from his mother, and an Eistland
man called Klerkon got him as
his share along with Thorolf
and Thorgils. Klerkon thought that
Thorolf was too old for a slave,
and that there was not much work
to be got out of him, so he
killed him; but took the boys with
him, and sold them to a man
called Klerk for a stout and good
ram. A third man, called Reas,
bought Olaf for a good cloak.
Reas had a wife called Rekon,
and a son by her whose name was
Rekone. Olaf was long with
them, was treated well, and was much
beloved by the people. Olaf
was six years in Eistland in this
banishment (A.D. 987-972).
6. OLAF IS SET FREE IN EISTLAND.
Sigurd, the son of Eirik (Astrid's
brother), came into Eistland
from Novgorod, on King Valdemar's
business to collect the king's
taxes and rents. Sigurd came
as a man of consequence, with many
followers and great magnificence.
In the market-place he
happened to observe a remarkably
handsome boy; and as he could
distinguish that he was a foreigner,
he asked him his name and
family. He answered him, that
his name was Olaf; that he was a
son of Trygve Olafson; and
Astrid, a daughter of Eirik
Bjodaskalle, was his mother.
Then Sigurd knew that the boy was
his sister's son, and asked
him how he came there. Olaf told him
minutely all his adventures,
and Sigurd told him to follow him to
the peasant Reas. When he
came there he bought both the boys,
Olaf and Thorgils, and took
them with him to Holmgard. But, for
the first, he made nothing
known of Olaf's relationship to him,
but treated him well.
7. KLERKON KILLED BY OLAF.
Olaf Trygvason was one day
in the market-place, where there was a
great number of people. He
recognized Klerkon again, who had
killed his foster-father Thorolf
Lusarskeg. Olaf had a little
axe in his hand, and with it
he clove Klerkon's skull down to the
brain, and ran home to his
lodging, and told his friend Sigurd
what he had done. Sigurd immediately
took Olaf to Queen
Allogia's house, told her what
had happened, and begged her to
protect the boy. She replied,
that the boy appeared far too
comely to allow him to be slain;
and she ordered her people to be
drawn out fully armed. In
Holmgard the sacredness of peace is so
respected, that it is law there
to slay whoever puts a man to
death except by judgment of
law; and, according to this law and
usage, the whole people stormed
and sought after the boy. It was
reported that he was in the
Queen's house, and that there was a
number of armed men there.
When this was told to the king, he
went there with his people,
but would allow no bloodshed. It was
settled at last in peace, that
the king should name the fine for
the murder; and the queen paid
it. Olaf remained afterwards with
the queen, and was much beloved.
It is a law at Holmgard, that
no man of royal descent shall
stay there without the king's
permission. Sigurd therefore
told the queen of what family Olaf
was, and for what reason he
had come to Russia; namely, that he
could not remain with safety
in his own country: and begged her
to speak to the king about
it. She did so, and begged the king
to help a king's son whose
fate had been so hard; and in
consequence of her entreaty
the king promised to assist him, and
accordingly he received Olaf
into his court, and treated him
nobly, and as a king's son.
Olaf was nine years old when he came
to Russia, and he remained
nine years more (A.D. 978-981) with
King Valdemar. Olaf was the
handsomest of men, very stout and
strong, and in all bodily exercises
he excelled every Northman
that ever was heard of.
8. OF HAKON EARL OF HLADER.
Earl Hakon, Sigurd's son, was
with the Danish king, Harald
Gormson, the winter after he
had fled from Norway before
Gunhild's sons. During the
winter (A.D. 969) the earl had so
much care and sorrow that he
took to bed, and passed many
sleepless nights, and ate and
drank no more than was needful to
support his strength. Then
he sent a private message to his
friends north in Throndhjem,
and proposed to them that they
should kill King Erling, if
they had an opportunity; adding, that
he would come to them in summer.
The same winter the Throndhjem
people accordingly, as before
related, killed King Erling. There
was great friendship between
Earl Hakon and Gold Harald, and
Harald told Hakon all his intentions.
He told him that he was
tired of a ship-life, and wanted
to settle on the land; and asked
Hakon if he thought his brother
King Harald would agree to divide
the kingdom with him if he
asked it. "I think," replied Hakon,
"that the Danish king
would not deny thy right; but the best way
to know is to speak to the
king himself. I know for certain so
much, that you will not get
a kingdom if you don't ask for it."
Soon after this conversation
Gold Harald spoke to the king about
the matter, in the presence
of many great men who were friends to
both; and Gold Harald asked
King Harald to divide the kingdom
with him in two equal parts,
to which his royal birth and the
custom of the Danish monarchy
gave him right. The king was
highly incensed at this demand,
and said that no man had asked
his father Gorm to be king
over half of Denmark, nor yet his
grandfather King Hordaknut,
or Sigurd Orm, or Ragnar Lodbrok; and
he was so exasperated and angry,
that nobody ventured to speak of
it to him.
9. OF GOLD HARALD.
Gold Harald was now worse off
than before; for he had got no
kingdom, and had got the king's
anger by proposing it. He went
as usual to his friend Hakon,
and complained to him of his fate,
and asked for good advice,
and if he could help him to get his
share of the kingdom; saying
that he would rather try force, and
the chance of war, than give
it up.
Hakon advised him not to speak
to any man so that this should be
known; "for," said
he, "it concerns thy life: and rather consider
with thyself what thou art
man enough to undertake; for to
accomplish such a purpose requires
a bold and firm man, who will
neither stick at good nor evil
to do that which is intended; for
to take up great resolutions,
and then to lay them aside, would
only end in dishonour."
Go1d Harald replies -- "I
will so carry on what I begin, that I
will not hesitate to kill Harald
with my own hands, if I can come
thereby to the kingdom he denies
me, and which is mine by right."
And so they separated.
Now King Harald comes also
to Earl Hakon, and tells him the
demand on his kingdom which
Gold Harald had made, and also his
answer, and that he would upon
no account consent to diminish his
kingdom. "And if Gold
Harald persists in his demand, I will have
no hesitation in having him
killed; for I will not trust him if
he does not renounce it."
The earl answered, -- "My
thoughts are, that Harald has carried
his demand so far that he cannot
now let it drop, and I expect
nothing but war in the land;
and that he will be able to gather a
great force, because his father
was so beloved. And then it
would be a great enormity if
you were to kill your relation; for,
as things now stand, all men
would say that he was innocent. But
I am far from saying, or advising,
that you should make yourself
a smaller king than your father
Gorm was, who in many ways
enlarged, but never diminished
his kingdom."
The king replies, -- "What
then is your advice, -- if I am
neither to divide my kingdom,
nor to get rid of my fright and
danger?"
"Let us meet again in
a few days," said Earl Hakon, "and I will
then have considered the matter
well, and will give you my advice
upon it."
The king then went away with
his people.
10. COUNCILS HELD BY HAKON
AND HARALD.
Earl Hakon had now great reflection,
and many opinions to weigh,
and he let only very few be
in the house with him. In a few days
King Harald came again to the
earl to speak with him, and ask if
he had yet considered fully
the matter they had been talking of.
"I have," said the
earl, "considered it night and day ever since,
and find it most advisable
that you retain and rule over the
whole of your kingdom just
as your father left it; but that you
obtain for your relation Harald
another kingdom, that he also may
enjoy honour and dignity."
"What kind of kingdom
is that," said the king, "which I can give
to Harald, that I may possess
Denmark entire?"
"It is Norway," said
the earl. "The kings who are there are
oppressive to the people of
the country, so that every man is
against them who has tax or
service to pay."
The king replies, -- "Norway
is a large country, and the people
fierce, and not good to attack
with a foreign army. We found
that sufficiently when Hakon
defended that country; for we lost
many people, and gained no
victory. Besides, Harald the son of
Eirik is my foster-son, and
has sat on my knee."
The earl answers, "I have
long known that you have helped
Gunhild's sons with your force,
and a bad return you have got for
it; but we shall get at Norway
much more easily than by fighting
for it with all the Danish
force. Send a message to your foster-
son Harald, Eirik's son, and
offer him the lands and fiefs which
Gunhild's sons held before
in Denmark. Appoint him a meeting,
and Gold Harald will soon conquer
for himself a kingdom in Norway
from Harald Grafeld."
The king replies, that it would
be called a bad business to
deceive his own foster-son.
"The Danes," answered
the earl, "will rather say that it was
better to kill a Norwegian
viking than a Danish, and your own
brother's son."
They spoke so long over the
matter, that they agreed on it.
11. HARALD GORMSON'S MESSAGE
TO NORWAY.
Thereafter Gold Harald had
a conference with Earl Hakon; and the
earl told him he had now advanced
his business so far, that there
was hope a kingdom might stand
open for him in Norway. "We can
then continue," said he,
"our ancient friendship, and I can be of
the greatest use to you in
Norway. Take first that kingdom.
King Harald is now very old,
and has but one son, and cares but
little about him, as he is
but the son of a concubine."
The Earl talked so long to
Gold Harald that the project pleased
him well; and the king, the
earl, and Gold Harald often talked
over the business together.
The Danish king then sent messengers
north to Norway to Harald Grafeld,
and fitted them out
magnificently for their journey.
They were well received by
Harald. The messengers told
him that Earl Hakon was in Denmark,
but was lying dangerously sick,
and almost out of his senses.
They then delivered from Harald,
the Danish king, the invitation
to Harald Grafeld, his foster-son,
to come to him and receive
investiture of the fiefs he
and his brothers before him had
formerly held in Denmark; and
appointing a meeting in Jutland.
Harald Grafeld laid the matter
before his mother and other
friends. Their opinions were
divided. Some thought that the
expedition was not without
its danger, on account of the men with
whom they had to deal; but
the most were in haste to begin the
journey, for at that time there
was such a famine in Norway that
the kings could scarcely feed
their men-at-arms; and on this
account the Fjord, on which
the kings resided, usually got the
name of Hardanger (Hardacre).
In Denmark, on the other hand,
there had been tolerably good
crops; so that people thought that
if King Harald got fiefs, and
something to rule over there they
would get some assistance.
It was therefore concluded, before
the messengers returned, that
Harald should travel to Denmark to
the Danish king in summer,
and accept the conditions King Harald
offered.
12. TREACHERY OF HARALD AND
HAKON.
Harald Grafeld went to Denmark
in the summer (A.D. 969) with
three long-ships; and Herse
Arinbjorn, from the Fjord district,
commanded one of them. King
Harald sailed from Viken over to
Limfjord in Jutland, and landed
at the narrow neck of land where
the Danish king was expected.
Now when Gold Harald heard of
this, he sailed there with
nine ships which he had fitted out
before for a viking cruise.
Earl Hakon had also his war force on
foot; namely, twelve large
ships, all ready, with which he
proposed to make an expedition.
When Gold Harald had departed
Earl Hakon says to the king,
"Now I don't know if we are not
sailing on an expedition, and
yet are to pay the penalty of not
having joined it. Gold Harald
may kill Harald Grafeld, and get
the kingdom of Norway; but
you must not think he will be true to
you, although you do help him
to so much power, for he told me in
winter that he would take your
life if he could find opportunity
to do so. Now I will win Norway
for you, and kill Gold Harald,
if you will promise me a good
condition under you. I will be
your earl; swear an oath of
fidelity to you, and, with your help,
conquer all Norway for you;
hold the country under your rule; pay
you the scat and taxes; and
you will be a greater king than your
father, as you will have two
kingdoms under you." The king and
the earl agreed upon this,
and Hakon set off to seek Gold Harald.
13. DEATH OF HARALD GRAFELD.
Gold Harald came to the neck
of land at Limfjord, and immediately
challenged Harald Grafeld to
battle; and although Harald had
fewer men, he went immediately
on the land, prepared for battle,
and drew up his troops. Before
the lines came together Harald
Grafeld urged on his men, and
told them to draw their swords. He
himself advanced the foremost
of the troop, hewing down on each
side. So says Glum Geirason,
in Grafeld's lay: --
"Brave were thy words
in battlefield,
Thou stainer of the snow-white
shield! --
Thou gallant war-god!
With thy voice
Thou couldst the dying
man rejoice:
The cheer of Harald could
impart
Courage and life to every
heart.
While swinging high the
blood-smeared sword,
By arm and voice we knew
our lord."
There fell Harald Grafeld.
So says Glum Geirason: --
"On Limfjord's strand,
by the tide's flow,
Stern Fate has laid King
Harald low;
The gallant viking-cruiser
-- he
Who loved the isle-encircling
sea.
The generous ruler of
the land
Fell at the narrow Limfjord
strand.
Enticed by Hakon's cunning
speech
To his death-bed on Limfjord's
beach."
The most of King Harald's men
fell with him. There also fell
Herse Arinbjorn.
This happened fifteen years
after the death of Hakon, Athelstan's
foster-son, and thirteen years
after that of Sigurd earl of
Hlader. The priest Are Frode
says that Earl Hakon was thirteen
years earl over his father's
dominions in Throndhjem district
before the fall of Harald Grafeld;
but, for the last six years of
Harald Grafeld's life, Are
Frode says the Earl Hakon and
Gunhild's sons fought against
each other, and drove each other
out of the land by turns.
14. GOLD HARALD'S DEATH.
Soon after Harald Grafeld's
fall, Earl Hakon came up to Gold
Harald, and the earl immediately
gave battle to Harald. Hakon
gained the victory, and Harald
was made prisoner; but Hakon had
him immediately hanged on a
gallows. Hakon then went to the
Danish king, and no doubt easily
settled with him for the killing
his relative Gold Harald.
15. DIVISION OF THE COUNTRY.
Soon after King Harald Gormson
ordered a levy of men over all his
kingdom, and sailed with 600
ships (1). There were with him Earl
Hakon, Harald Grenske, a son
of King Gudrod, and many other great
men who had fled from their
udal estates in Norway on account of
Gunhild's sons. The Danish
king sailed with his fleet from the
south to Viken, where all the
people of the country surrendered
to him. When he came to Tunsberg
swarms of people joined him;
and King Harald gave to Earl
Hakon the command of all the men who
came to him in Norway, and
gave him the government over Rogaland,
Hordaland, Sogn, Fjord-district,
South More, Raumsdal, and North
More. These seven districts
gave King Harald to Earl Hakon to
rule over, with the same rights
as Harald Harfager gave with them
to his sons; only with the
difference, that Hakon should there,
as well as in Throndhjem, have
the king's land-estates and land-
tax, and use the king's money
and goods according to his
necessities whenever there
was war in the country. King Harald
also gave Harald Grenske Vingulmark,
Vestfold, and Agder all the
way to Lidandisnes (the Naze),
together with the title of king;
and let him have these dominions
with the same rights as his
family in former times had
held them, and as Harald Harfager had
given with them to his sons.
Harald Grenske was then eighteen
years old, and he became afterwards
a celebrated man. Harald
king of Denmark returned home
thereafter with all his army.
ENDNOTES:
(1) i.e., 720 ships, as they
were counted by long hundreds,
100=120.
16. GUNHILD'S SONS LEAVE THE
COUNTRY.
Earl Hakon proceeded northwards
along the coast with his force;
and when Gunhild and her sons
got the tidings they proceeded to
gather troops, but were ill
off for men. Then they took the same
resolution as before, to sail
out to sea with such men as would
follow them away to the westward
(A.D. 969). They came first to
the Orkney Islands, and remained
there a while. There were in
Orkney then the Earls Hlodver.
Arnfid, Ljot, and Skule, the sons
of Thorfin Hausakljufer.
Earl Hakon now brought all
the country under him, and remained
all winter (A.D. 970) in Throndhjem.
Einar Skalaglam speaks of
his conquests in "Vellekla":
--
"Norway's great watchman,
Harald, now
May bind the silk snood
on his brow --
Seven provinces he seized.
The realm
Prospers with Hakon at
the helm."
As Hakon the earl proceeded
this summer along the coast
subjecting all the people to
him, he ordered that over all his
dominions the temples and sacrifices
should be restored, and
continued as of old. So it
is said in the "Vellekla": --
"Hakon the earl,
so good and wise,
Let all the ancient temples
rise; --
Thor's temples raised
with fostering hand
That had been ruined through
the land.
His valiant champions,
who were slain
On battle-fields across
the main,
To Thor, the thunder-god,
may tell
How for the gods all turns
out well.
The hardy warrior now
once more
Offers the sacrifice of
gore;
The shield-bearer in Loke's
game
Invokes once more great
Odin's name.
The green earth gladly
yields her store,
As she was wont in days
of yore,
Since the brave breaker
of the spears
The holy shrines again
uprears.
The earl has conquered
with strong hand
All that lies north of
Viken land:
In battle storm, and iron
rain
Hakon spreads wide his
sword's domain."
The first winter that Hakon
ruled over Norway the herrings set in
everywhere through the fjords
to the land, and the seasons
ripened to a good crop all
that had been sown. The people,
therefore, laid in seed for
the next year, and got their lands
sowed, and had hope of good
times.
17. HAKON'S BATTLE WITH RAGNFRED.
King Ragnfred and King Gudrod,
both sons of Gunhild and Eirik,
were now the only sons of Gunhild
remaining in life. So says
Glum Geirason in Grafeld's
lay: --
"When in the battle's
bloody strife
The sword took noble Harald's
life,
Half of my fortunes with
him fell:
But his two brothers,
I know well,
My loss would soon repair,
should they
Again in Norway bear the
sway,
And to their promises
should stand,
If they return to rule
the land."
Ragnfred began his course in
the spring after he had been a year
in the Orkney Islands. He
sailed from thence to Norway, and had
with him fine troops, and large
ships. When he came to Norway he
learnt that Earl Hakon was
in Throndhjem; therefore he steered
northwards around Stad, and
plundered in South More. Some people
submitted to him; for it often
happens, when parties of armed men
scour over a country, that
those who are nearest the danger seek
help where they think it may
be expected. As soon as Earl Hakon
heard the news of disturbance
in More, he fitted out ships, sent
the war-token through the land,
made ready in all haste, and
proceeded out of the fjord.
He had no difficulty in assembling
men. Ragnfred and Earl Hakon
met at the north corner of More;
and Hakon, who had most men,
but fewer ships, began the battle.
The combat was severe, but
heaviest on Hakon's side; and as the
custom then was, they fought
bow to bow, and there was a current
in the sound which drove all
the ships in upon the land. The
earl ordered to row with the
oars to the land where landing
seemed easiest. When the ships
were all grounded, the earl with
all his men left them, and
drew them up so far that the enemy
might not launch them down
again, and then drew up his men on a
grass-field, and challenged
Ragnfred to land. Ragnfred and his
men laid their vessels in along
the land, and they shot at each
other a long time; but upon
the land Ragnfred would not venture:
and so they separated. Ragnfred
sailed with his fleet southwards
around Stad; for he was much
afraid the whole forces of the
country would swarm around
Hakon. Hakon, on his part, was not
inclined to try again a battle,
for he thought the difference
between their ships in size
was too great; so in harvest he went
north to Throndhjem, and staid
there all winter (A.D. 971). King
Ragnfred consequently had all
the country south of Stad at his
mercy; namely, Fjord district,
Hordaland, Sogn, Rogaland; and he
had many people about him all
winter. When spring approached he
ordered out the people and
collected a large force. By going
about the districts he got
many men, ships, and warlike stores
sent as he required.
18. BATTLE BETWEEN HAKON AND
RAGNFRED.
Towards spring Earl Hakon ordered
out all the men north in the
country; and got many people
from Halogaland and Naumudal; so
that from Bryda to Stad he
had men from all the sea-coast.
People flocked to him from
all the Throndhjem district and from
Raumsdal. It was said for
certain that he had men from four
great districts, and that seven
earls followed him, and a
matchless number of men. So
it is said in the "Vellekla": --
"Hakon, defender
of the land,
Armed in the North his
warrior-band
To Sogn's old shore his
force he led,
And from all quarters
thither sped
War-ships and men; and
haste was made
By the young god of the
sword-blade,
The hero-viking of the
wave,
His wide domain from foes
to save.
With shining keels seven
kings sailed on
To meet this raven-feeding
one.
When the clash came, the
stunning sound
Was heard in Norway's
farthest bound;
And sea-borne corpses,
floating far,
Brought round the Naze
news from the war."
Earl Hakon sailed then with
his fleet southwards around Stad; and
when he heard that King Ragnfred
with his army had gone towards
Sogn, he turned there also
with his men to meet him: and there
Ragnfred and Hakon met. Hakon
came to the land with his ships,
marked out a battle-field with
hazel branches for King Ragnfred,
and took ground for his own
men in it. So it is told in the
"Vellekla": --
"In the fierce battle
Ragnfred then
Met the grim foe of Vindland
men;
And many a hero of great
name
Fell in the sharp sword's
bloody game.
The wielder of fell Narve's
weapon,
The conquering hero, valiant
Hakon
Had laid his war-ships
on the strand,
And ranged his warriors
on the land."
There was a great battle; but
Earl Hakon, having by far the most
people, gained the victory.
It took place on the Thinganes,
where Sogn and Hordaland meet.
King Rangfred fled to his ships,
after 300 of his men had fallen.
So it is said in the "Vellekla":-
"Sharp was the battle-strife,
I ween, --
Deadly and close it must
have been,
Before, upon the bloody
plain,
Three hundred corpses
of the slain
Were stretched for the
black raven's prey;
And when the conquerors
took their way
To the sea-shore, they
had to tread
O'er piled-up heaps of
foemen dead."
After this battle King Ragnfred
fled from Norway; but Earl Hakon
restored peace to the country,
and allowed the great army which
had followed him in summer
to return home to the north country,
and he himself remained in
the south that harvest and winter
(A.D. 972).
19. EARL HAKON'S MARRIAGE.
Earl Hakon married a girl called
Thora, a daughter of the
powerful Skage Skoptason, and
very beautiful she was. They had
two sons, Svein and Heming,
and a daughter called Bergljot who
was afterwards married to Einar
Tambaskielfer. Earl Hakon was
much addicted to women, and
had many children; among others a
daughter Ragnhild, whom he
married to Skopte Skagason, a brother
of Thora. The Earl loved Thora
so much that he held Thora's
family in higher respect than
any other people, and Skopte his
brother-in-law in particular;
and he gave him many great fiefs in
More. Whenever they were on
a cruise together, Skopte must lay
his ship nearest to the earl's,
and no other ship was allowed to
come in between.
20. DEATH OF SKOPTE.
One summer that Earl Hakon
was on a cruise, there was a ship with
him of which Thorleif Spake
(the Wise) was steersman. In it was
also Eirik, Earl Hakon's son,
then about ten or eleven years old.
Now in the evenings, as they
came into harbour, Eirik would not
allow any ship but his to lie
nearest to the earl's. But when
they came to the south, to
More, they met Skopte the earl's
brother-in-law, with a well-manned
ship; and as they rowed
towards the fleet, Skopte called
out that Thorleif should move
out of the harbour to make
room for him, and should go to the
roadstead. Eirik in haste
took up the matter, and ordered Skopte
to go himself to the roadstead.
When Earl Hakon heard that his
son thought himself too great
to give place to Skopte, he called
to them immediately that they
should haul out from their berth,
threatening them with chastisement
if they did not. When
Thorleif heard this, he ordered
his men to slip their land-cable,
and they did so; and Skopte
laid his vessel next to the earl's as
he used to do. When they came
together, Skopte brought the earl
all the news he had gathered,
and the earl communicated to Skopte
all the news he had heard;
and Skopte was therefore called
Tidindaskopte (the Newsman
Skopte). The winter after (A.D. 973)
Eirik was with his foster-father
Thorleif, and early in spring he
gathered a crew of followers,
and Thorleif gave him a boat of
fifteen benches of rowers,
with ship furniture, tents, and ship
provisions; and Eirik set out
from the fjord, and southwards to
More. Tidindaskopte happened
also to be going with a fully
manned boat of fifteen rowers'
benches from one of his farms to
another, and Eirik went against
him to have a battle. Skopte was
slain, but Eirik granted life
to those of his men who were still
on their legs. So says Eyjolf
Dadaskald in the "Banda Lay": --
"At eve the youth
went out
To meet the warrior stout
--
To meet stout Skopte --
he
Whose war-ship roves the
sea
Like force was on each
side,
But in the whirling tide
The young wolf Eirik slew
Skopte, and all his crew
And he was a gallant one,
Dear to the Earl Hakon.
Up, youth of steel-hard
breast --
No time hast thou to rest!
Thy ocean wings spread
wide --
Speed o'er the foaming
tide!
Speed on -- speed on thy
way!
For here thou canst not
stay."
Eirik sailed along the land
and came to Denmark, and went to King
Harald Gormson, and staid with
him all winter (A.D. 974). In
spring the Danish king sent
him north to Norway, and gave him an
earldom, and the government
of Vingulmark and Raumarike, on the
same terms as the small scat-paying
kings had formerly held these
domains. So says Eyjolf Dadaskald:
--
"South through ocean's
spray
His dragon flew away
To Gormson's hall renowned.
Where the bowl goes bravely
round.
And the Danish king did
place
This youth of noble race
Where, shield and sword
in hand,
He would aye defend his
land."
Eirik became afterwards a great
chief.
21. OLAF TRYGVASON'S JOURNEY
FROM RUSSIA.
All this time Olaf Trygvason
was in Gardarike (Russia), and
highly esteemed by King Valdemar,
and beloved by the queen. King
Valdemar made him chief over
the men-at-arms whom he sent out to
defend the land. So says Hallarsteid-
"The hater of the
niggard band,
The chief who loves the
Northman's land,
Was only twelve years
old when he
His Russian war-ships
put to sea.
The wain that ploughs
the sea was then
Loaded with war-gear by
his men --
With swords, and spears,
and helms: and deep
Out to the sea his good
ships sweep."
Olaf had several battles, and
was lucky as a leader of troops.
He himself kept a great many
men-at-arms at his own expense out
of the pay the king gave him.
Olaf was very generous to his men,
and therefore very popular.
But then it came to pass, what so
often happens when a foreigner
is raised to higher power and
dignity than men of the country,
that many envied him because he
was so favoured by the king,
and also not less so by the queen.
They hinted to the king that
he should take care not to make Olaf
too powerful, -- "for
such a man may be dangerous to you, if he
were to allow himself to be
used for the purpose of doing you or
your kingdom harm; for he is
extremely expert in all exercises
and feats, and very popular.
We do not, indeed, know what it is
he can have to talk of so often
with the queen." It was then the
custom among great monarchs
that the queen should have half of
the court attendants, and she
supported them at her own expense
out of the scat and revenue
provided for her for that purpose.
It was so also at the court
of King Valdemar that the queen had
an attendance as large as the
king, and they vied with each other
about the finest men, each
wanting to have such in their own
service. It so fell out that
the king listened to such speeches,
and became somewhat silent
and blunt towards Olaf. When Olaf
observed this, he told it to
the queen; and also that he had a
great desire to travel to the
Northern land, where his family
formerly had power and kingdoms,
and where it was most likely he
would advance himself. The
queen wished him a prosperous
journey, and said he would
be found a brave man wherever he might
be. Olaf then made ready,
went on board, and set out to sea in
the Baltic.
As he was coming from the east
he made the island of
Borgundarholm (Bornholm), where
he landed and plundered. The
country people hastened down
to the strand, and gave him battle;
but Olaf gained the victory,
and a large booty.
22. OLAF TRYGVASON'S MARRIAGE.
While Olaf lay at Borgundarholm
there came on bad weather, storm,
and a heavy sea, so that his
ships could not lie there; and he
sailed southwards under Vindland,
where they found a good
harbour. They conducted themselves
very peacefully, and remained
some time. In Vindland there
was then a king called Burizleif,
who had three daughters, --
Geira, Gunhild, and Astrid. The
king's daughter Geira had the
power and government in that part
where Olaf and his people landed,
and Dixen was the name of the
man who most usually advised
Queen Geira. Now when they heard
that unknown people were came
to the country, who were of
distinguished appearance, and
conducted themselves peaceably,
Dixen repaired to them with
a message from Queen Geira, inviting
the strangers to take up their
winter abode with her; for the
summer was almost spent, and
the weather was severe and stormy.
Now when Dixen came to the
place he soon saw that the leader was
a distinguished man, both from
family and personal appearance,
and he told Olaf the queen's
invitation with the most kindly
message. Olaf willingly accepted
the invitation, and went in
harvest (A.D. 982) to Queen
Geira. They liked each other
exceedingly, and Olaf courted
Queen Geira; and it was so settled
that Olaf married her the same
winter, and was ruler, along
with Queen Geira, over her
dominions. Halfred Vandredaskald
tells of these matters in the
lay he composed about King Olaf: --
"Why should the deeds
the hero did
In Bornholm and the East
he hid?
His deadly weapon Olaf
bold
Dyed red: why should not
this be told?"
23. EARL HAKON PAYS NO SCAT.
Earl Hakon ruled over Norway,
and paid no scat; because the
Danish king gave him all the
scat revenue that belonged to the
king in Norway, for the expense
and trouble he had in defending
the country against Gunhild's
sons.
24. HARALD OPPOSES CHRISTIANITY.
The Emperor Otta (Otto) was
at that time in the Saxon country,
and sent a message to King
Harald, the Danish king, that he must
take on the true faith and
be baptized, he and all his people
whom he ruled; "otherwise,"
says the emperor, "we will march
against him with an army."
The Danish king ordered the land
defence to be fitted out, Danavirke
(1) (the Danish wall) to be
well fortified, and his ships
of war rigged out. He sent a
message also to Earl Hakon
in Norway to come to him early in
spring, and with as many men
as he could possibly raise. In
spring (A.D. 975) Earl Hakon
levied an army over the whole
country which was very numerous,
and with it he sailed to meet
the Danish king. The king
received him in the most honourable
manner. Many other chiefs
also joined the Danish king with their
men, so that he had gathered
a very large army.
ENDNOTES:
(1) Danavirke. The Danish
work was a wall of earth, stones, and
wood, with a deep ditch
in front, and a castle at every
hundred fathoms, between
the rivers Eider and Slien,
constructed by Harald
Blatand (Bluetooth) to oppose the
progress of Charlemagne.
Some traces of it still exist.
-- L.
25. OLAF TRYGVASON'S WAR EXPEDITION.
Olaf Trygvason had been all
winter (A.D. 980) in Vindland, as
before related, and went the
same winter to the baronies in
Vindland which had formerly
been under Queen Geira, but had
withdrawn themselves from obedience
and payment of taxes. There
Olaf made war, killed many
people, burnt out others, took much
property, and laid all of them
under subjection to him, and then
went back to his castle. Early
in spring Olaf rigged out his
ships and set off to sea.
He sailed to Skane and made a landing.
The people of the country assembled,
and gave him battle; but
King Olaf conquered, and made
a great booty. He then sailed
eastward to the island of Gotland,
where he captured a merchant
vessel belonging to the people
of Jamtaland. They made a brave
defence; but the end of it
was that Olaf cleared the deck, killed
many of the men, and took all
the goods. He had a third battle
in Gotland, in which he also
gained the victory, and made a great
booty. So says Halfred Vandredaskald:
--
"The king, so fierce
in battle-fray,
First made the Vindland
men give way:
The Gotlanders must tremble
next;
And Scania's shores are
sorely vexed
By the sharp pelting arrow
shower
The hero and his warriors
pour;
And then the Jamtaland
men must fly,
Scared by his well-known
battle-cry."
26. OTTA AND HAKON IN BATTLE.
The Emperor Otta assembled
a great army from Saxland, Frakland,
Frisland, and Vindland. King
Burizleif followed him with a large
army, and in it was his son-in-law,
Olaf Trygvason. The emperor
had a great body of horsemen,
and still greater of foot people,
and a great army from Holstein.
Harald, the Danish king, sent
Earl Hakon with the army of
Northmen that followed him southwards
to Danavirke, to defend his
kingdom on that side. So it is told
in the "Vellekla":
--
"Over the foaming
salt sea spray
The Norse sea-horses took
their way,
Racing across the ocean-plain
Southwards to Denmark's
green domain.
The gallant chief of Hordaland
Sat at the helm with steady
hand,
In casque and shield,
his men to bring
From Dovre to his friend
the king.
He steered his war-ships
o'er the wave
To help the Danish king
to save
Mordalf, who, with a gallant
band
Was hastening from the
Jutes' wild land,
Across the forest frontier
rude,
With toil and pain through
the thick wood.
Glad was the Danish king,
I trow,
When he saw Hakon's galley's
prow.
The monarch straightway
gave command
To Hakon, with a steel-clad
band,
To man the Dane-work's
rampart stout,
And keep the foreign foemen
out."
The Emperor Otta came with
his army from the south to Danavirke,
but Earl Hakon defended the
rampart with his men. The Dane-work
(Danavirke) was constructed
in this way: -- Two fjords run into
the land, one on each side;
and in the farthest bight of these
fjords the Danes had made a
great wall of stone, turf, and
timber, and dug a deep and
broad ditch in front of it, and had
also built a castle over each
gate of it. There was a hard
battle there, of which the
"Vellekla" speaks: --
"Thick the storm
of arrows flew,
Loud was the din, black
was the view
Of close array of shield
and spear
Of Vind, and Frank, and
Saxon there.
But little recked our
gallant men;
And loud the cry might
be heard then
Of Norway's brave sea-roving
son --
'On 'gainst the foe!
On! Lead us on!"
Earl Hakon drew up his people
in ranks upon all the gate-towers
of the wall, but the greater
part of them he kept marching along
the wall to make a defence
wheresoever an attack was threatened.
Many of the emperor's people
fell without making any impression
on the fortification, so the
emperor turned back without farther
attempt at an assault on it.
So it is said in the "Vellekla": --
"They who the eagle's
feast provide
In ranked line fought
side by side,
'Gainst lines of war-men
under shields\
Close packed together
on the fields,
Earl Hakon drive by daring
deeds
The Saxons to their ocean-steeds;
And the young hero saves
from fall
The Danavirke -- the people's
wall."
After this battle Earl Hakon
went back to his ships, and intended
to sail home to Norway; but
he did not get a favourable wind, and
lay for some time outside at
Limafjord.
27. HARALD AND HAKON ARE BAPTIZED.
The Emperor Otta turned back
with his troops to Slesvik,
collected his ships of war,
and crossed the fjord of Sle into
Jutland. As soon as the Danish
king heard of this he marched his
army against him, and there
was a battle, in which the emperor at
last got the victory. The
Danish king fled to Limafjord and took
refuge in the island Marsey.
By the help of mediators who went
between the king and the emperor,
a truce and a meeting between
them were agreed on. The Emperor
Otta and the Danish king met
upon Marsey. There Bishop
Poppo instructed King Harald in the
holy faith; he bore red hot
irons in his hands, and exhibited his
unscorched hands to the king.
Thereafter King Harald allowed
himself to be baptized, and
also the whole Danish army. King
Harald, while he was in Marsey,
had sent a message to Hakon that
he should come to his succour;
and the earl had just reached the
island when the king had received
baptism. The king sends word
to the earl to come to him,
and when they met the king forced the
earl to allow himself also
to be baptized. So Earl Hakon and all
the men who were with him were
baptized; and the king gave them
priests and other learned men
with them, and ordered that the
earl should make all the people
in Norway be baptized. On that
they separated; and the earl
went out to sea, there to wait for a
wind.
28. HAKON RENOUNCES CHRISTIANITY.
When a wind came with which
he thought he could get clear out to
sea, he put all the learned
men on shore again, and set off to
the ocean; but as the wind
came round to the south-west, and at
last to west, he sailed eastward,
out through Eyrarsund, ravaging
the land on both sides. He
then sailed eastward along Skane,
plundering the country wherever
he came. When he got east to the
skerries of East Gautland,
he ran in and landed, and made a great
blood-sacrifice. There came
two ravens flying which croaked
loudly; and now, thought the
earl, the blood-offering has been
accepted by Odin, and he thought
good luck would be with him any
day he liked to go to battle.
Then he set fire to his ships,
landed his men, and went over
all the country with armed hand.
Earl Ottar, who ruled over
Gautland, came against him, and they
held a great battle with each
other; but Earl Hakon gained the
day, and Earl Ottar and a great
part of his men were killed.
Earl Hakon now drove with fire
and sword over both the Gautlands,
until he came into Norway;
and then he proceeded by land all the
way north to Throndhjem. The
"Vellekla" tells about this: --
"On the silent battle-field,
In viking garb, with axe
and shield,
The warrior, striding
o'er the slain,
Asks of the gods `What
days will gain?'
Two ravens, flying from
the east,
Come croaking to the bloody
feast:
The warrior knows what
they foreshow --
The days when Gautland
blood will flow.
A viking-feast Earl Hakon
kept,
The land with viking fury
swept,
Harrying the land far
from the shore
Where foray ne'er was
known before.
Leaving the barren cold
coast side,
He raged through Gautland
far and wide, --
Led many a gold-decked
viking shield
O'er many a peaceful inland
field.
Bodies on bodies Odin
found
Heaped high upon each
battle ground:
The moor, as if by witchcraft's
power,
Grows green, enriched
by bloody shower.
No wonder that the gods
delight
To give such luck in every
fight
To Hakon's men -- for
he restores
Their temples on our Norway
shores."
29. THE EMPEROR OTTA RETURNS
HOME.
The Emperor Otta went back
to his kingdom in the Saxon land, and
parted in friendship with the
Danish king. It is said that the
Emperor Otta stood godfather
to Svein, King Harald's son, and
gave him his name; so that
he was baptized Otta Svein. King
Harald held fast by his Christianity
to his dying day.
King Burizleif went to Vindland,
and his son-in-law King Olaf
went with him. This battle
is related also by Halfred
Vandredaskald in his song on
Olaf: --
"He who through the
foaming surges
His white-winged ocean-coursers
urges,
Hewed from the Danes,
in armour dressed,
The iron bark off mail-clad
breast."
30. OLAF'S JOURNEY FROM VINDLAND.
Olaf Trygvason was three years
in Vindland (A.D. 982-984) when
Geira his queen fell sick,
and she died of her illness. Olaf
felt his loss so great that
he had no pleasure in Vindland after
it. He provided himself, therefore,
with warships, and went out
again a plundering, and plundered
first in Frisland, next in
Saxland, and then all the way
to Flaemingjaland (Flanders). So
says Halfred Vandredaskald:
--
"Olaf's broad axe
of shining steel
For the shy wolf left
many a meal.
The ill-shaped Saxon corpses
lay
Heaped up, the witch-wife's
horses' (1) prey.
She rides by night: at
pools of blood.
Where Frisland men in
daylight stood,
Her horses slake their
thirst, and fly
On to the field where
Flemings lie.
The raven-friend in Odin's
dress --
Olaf, who foes can well
repress,
Left Flemish flesh for
many a meal
With his broad axe of
shining steel."
ENDNOTES:
(1) Ravens were the witches'
horses. -- L.
31. KING OLAF'S FORAYS.
Thereafter Olaf Trygvason sailed
to England, and ravaged wide
around in the land. He sailed
all the way north to
Northumberland, where he plundered;
and thence to Scotland,
where he marauded far and wide.
Then he went to the Hebrides,
where he fought some battles;
and then southwards to Man, where
he also fought. He ravaged
far around in Ireland, and thence
steered to Bretland, which
he laid waste with fire and sword, and
all the district called Cumberland.
He sailed westward from
thence to Valland, and marauded
there. When he left the west,
intending to sail to England,
he came to the islands called the
Scilly Isles, lying westward
from England in the ocean. Thus
tells Halfred Vandraskald of
these events: --
The brave young king,
who ne'er retreats,
The Englishman in England
beats.
Death through Northumberland
is spread
From battleaxe and broad
spearhead.
Through Scotland with
his spears he rides;
To Man his glancing ships
he guides:
Feeding the wolves where'er
he came,
The young king drove a
bloody game.
The gallant bowmen in
the isles
Slew foemen, who lay heaped
in piles.
The Irish fled at Olaf's
name --
Fled from a young king
seeking fame.
In Bretland, and in Cumberland,
People against him could
not stand:
Thick on the fields their
corpses lay,
To ravens and howling
wolves a prey."
Olaf Trygvason had been four
years on this cruise (A.D. 985-988),
from the time he left Vindland
till he came to the Scilly
Islands.
32. KING OLAF IS BAPTIZED.
While Olaf Trygvason lay in
the Scilly Isles he heard of a seer,
or fortune-teller, on the islands,
who could tell beforehand
things not yet done, and what
he foretold many believed was
really fulfilled. Olaf became
curious to try this man's gift of
prophecy. He therefore sent
one of his men, who was the
handsomest and strongest, clothed
him magnificently, and bade him
say he was the king; for Olaf
was known in all countries as
handsomer, stronger, and braver
than all others, although, after
he had left Russia, he retained
no more of his name than that he
was called Ole, and was Russian.
Now when the messenger came to
the fortune-teller, and gave
himself out for the king, he got the
answer, "Thou art not
the king, but I advise thee to be faithful
to thy king." And more
he would not say to that man. The man
returned, and told Olaf, and
his desire to meet the fortune-
teller was increased; and now
he had no doubt of his being really
a fortune-teller. Olaf repaired
himself to him, and, entering
into conversation, asked him
if he could foresee how it would go
with him with regard to his
kingdom, or of any other fortune he
was to have. The hermit replies
in a holy spirit of prophecy,
"Thou wilt become a renowned
king, and do celebrated deeds. Many
men wilt thou bring to faith
and baptism, and both to thy own and
others' good; and that thou
mayst have no doubt of the truth of
this answer, listen to these
tokens: When thou comest to thy
ships many of thy people will
conspire against thee, and then a
battle will follow in which
many of thy men will fall, and thou
wilt be wounded almost to death,
and carried upon a shield to thy
ship; yet after seven days
thou shalt be well of thy wounds, and
immediately thou shalt let
thyself be baptized." Soon after Olaf
went down to his ships, where
he met some mutineers and people
who would destroy him and his
men. A fight took place, and the
result was what the hermit
had predicted, that Olaf was wounded,
and carried upon a shield to
his ship, and that his wound was
healed in seven days. Then
Olaf perceived that the man had
spoken truth, that he was a
true fortune-teller, and had the gift
of prophecy. Olaf went once
more to the hermit, and asked
particularly how he came to
have such wisdom in foreseeing things
to be. The hermit replied,
that the Christian God himself let
him know all that he desired;
and he brought before Olaf many
great proofs of the power of
the Almighty. In consequence of
this encouragement Olaf agreed
to let himself be baptized, and he
and all his followers were
baptized forthwith. He remained here
a long time, took the true
faith, and got with him priests and
other learned men.
33. OLAF MARRIES GYDA.
In autumn (A.D. 988) Olaf sailed
from Scilly to England, where he
put into a harbour, but proceeded
in a friendly way; for England
was Christian, and he himself
had become Christian. At this time
a summons to a Thing went through
the country, that all men
should come to hold a Thing.
Now when the Thing was assembled a
queen called Gyda came to it,
a sister of Olaf Kvaran, who was
king of Dublin in Ireland.
She had been married to a great earl
in England, and after his death
she was at the head of his
dominions. In her territory
there was a man called Alfvine, who
was a great champion and single-combat
man. He had paid his
addresses to her; but she gave
for answer, that she herself would
choose whom of the men in her
dominions she would take in
marriage; and on that account
the Thing was assembled, that she
might choose a husband. Alfvine
came there dressed out in his
best clothes, and there were
many well-dressed men at the
meeting. Olaf had come there
also; but had on his bad-weather
clothes, and a coarse over-garment,
and stood with his people
apart from the rest of the
crowd. Gyda went round and looked at
each, to see if any appeared
to her a suitable man. Now when she
came to where Olaf stood she
looked at him straight in the face,
and asked "what sort of
man he was?"
He said, "I am called
Ole; and I am a stranger here."
Gyda replies, "Wilt thou
have me if I choose thee?"
"I will not say no to
that," answered he; and he asked what her
name was, and her family, and
descent.
"I am called Gyda,"
said she; "and am daughter of the king of
Ireland, and was married in
this country to an earl who ruled
over this territory. Since
his death I have ruled over it, and
many have courted me, but none
to whom I would choose to be
married."
She was a young and handsome
woman. They afterwards talked over
the matter together, and agreed,
and Olaf and Gyda were
betrothed.
34. KING OLAF AND ALFVINE'S
DUEL.
Alfvine was very ill pleased
with this. It was the custom then
in England, if two strove for
anything, to settle the matter by
single combat (1); and now
Alfvine challenges Olaf Trygvason to
fight about this business.
The time and place for the combat
were settled, and that each
should have twelve men with him.
When they met, Olaf told his
men to do exactly as they saw him
do. He had a large axe; and
when Alfvine was going to cut at him
with his sword he hewed away
the sword out of his hand, and with
the next blow struck down Alfvine
himself. He then bound him
fast. It went in the same
way with all Alfvine's men. They were
beaten down, bound, and carried
to Olaf's lodging. Thereupon he
ordered Alfvine to quit the
country, and never appear in it
again; and Olaf took all his
property. Olaf in this way got Gyda
in marriage, and lived sometimes
in England, and sometimes in
Ireland.
ENDNOTES:
(1) Holm-gang: so called because
the combatants went to a holm
or uninhabited isle to
fight in Norway. -- L.
35. KING OLAF GETS HIS DOG
VIGE.
While Olaf was in Ireland he
was once on an expedition which went
by sea. As they required to
make a foray for provisions on the
coast, some of his men landed,
and drove down a large herd of
cattle to the strand. Now
a peasant came up, and entreated Olaf
to give him back the cows that
belonged to him. Olaf told him to
take his cows, if he could
distinguish them; "but don't delay our
march." The peasant had
with him a large house-dog, which he put
in among the herd of cattle,
in which many hundred head of beasts
were driven together. The
dog ran into the herd, and drove out
exactly the number which the
peasant had said he wanted; and all
were marked with the same mark,
which showed that the dog knew
the right beasts, and was very
sagacious. Olaf then asked the
peasant if he would sell him
the dog. "I would rather give him
to you," said the peasant.
Olaf immediately presented him with a
gold ring in return, and promised
him his friendship in future.
This dog was called Vige, and
was the very best of dogs, and Olaf
owned him long afterwards.
36. HARALD GORMSON SAILS AGAINST
ICELAND.
The Danish king, Harald Gormson,
heard that Earl Hakon had thrown
off Christianity, and had plundered
far and wide in the Danish
land. The Danish king levied
an army, with which he went to
Norway; and when he came to
the country which Earl Hakon had to
rule over he laid waste the
whole land, and came with his fleet
to some islands called Solunder.
Only five houses were left
standing in Laeradal; but all
the people fled up to the
mountains, and into the forest,
taking with them all the moveable
goods they could carry with
them. Then the Danish king proposed
to sail with his fleet to Iceland,
to avenge the mockery and
scorn all the Icelanders had
shown towards him; for they had made
a law in Iceland, that they
should make as many lampoons against
the Danish king as there were
headlands in his country; and the
reason was, because a vessel
which belonged to certain Icelanders
was stranded in Denmark, and
the Danes took all the property, and
called it wreck. One of the
king's bailiffs called Birger was to
blame for this; but the lampoons
were made against both. In the
lampoons were the following
lines: --
"The gallant Harald
in the field
Between his legs lets
drop his shield;
Into a pony he was changed.
And kicked his shield,
and safely ranged.
And Birger, he who dwells
in halls
For safety built with
four stone walls,
That these might be a
worthy pair,
Was changed into a pony
mare."
37. HARALD SENDS A WARLOCK
TO ICELAND.
King Harald told a warlock
to hie to Iceland in some altered
shape, and to try what he could
learn there to tell him: and he
set out in the shape of a whale.
And when he came near to the
land he went to the west side
of Iceland, north around the land,
where he saw all the mountains
and hills full of guardian-
spirits, some great, some small.
When he came to Vapnafjord he
went in towards the land, intending
to go on shore; but a huge
dragon rushed down the dale
against him with a train of serpents,
paddocks, and toads, that blew
poison towards him. Then he
turned to go westward around
the land as far as Eyjafjord, and he
went into the fjord. Then
a bird flew against him, which was so
great that its wings stretched
over the mountains on either side
of the fjord, and many birds,
great and small, with it. Then he
swam farther west, and then
south into Breidafjord. When he came
into the fjord a large grey
bull ran against him, wading into the
sea, and bellowing fearfully,
and he was followed by a crowd of
land-spirits. From thence
he went round by Reykjanes, and wanted
to land at Vikarsskeid, but
there came down a hill-giant against
him with an iron staff in his
hands. He was a head higher than
the mountains, and many other
giants followed him. He then swam
eastward along the land, and
there was nothing to see, he said,
but sand and vast deserts,
and, without the skerries, high-
breaking surf; and the ocean
between the countries was so wide
that a long-ship could not
cross it. At that time Brodhelge
dwelt in Vapnafjord, Eyjolf
Valgerdson in Eyjafjord, Thord Geller
in Breidafjord, and Thorod
Gode in Olfus. Then the Danish king
turned about with his fleet,
and sailed back to Denmark.
Hakon the earl settled habitations
again in the country that had
been laid waste, and paid no
scat as long as he lived to Denmark.
38. HARALD GORMSON'S DEATH.
Svein, King Harald's son, who
afterwards was called Tjuguskeg
(forked beard), asked his father
King Harald for a part of his
kingdom; but now, as before,
Harald would not listen to dividing
the Danish dominions, and giving
him a kingdom. Svein collected
ships of war, and gave out
that he was going on a viking cruise;
but when all his men were assembled,
and the Jomsborg viking
Palnatoke had come to his assistance
he ran into Sealand to
Isafjord, where his father
had been for some time with his ships
ready to proceed on an expedition.
Svein instantly gave battle,
and the combat was severe.
So many people flew to assist King
Harald, that Svein was overpowered
by numbers, and fled. But
King Harald received a wound
which ended in his death: and Svein
was chosen King of Denmark.
At this time Sigvalde was earl over
Jomsborg in Vindland. He was
a son of King Strutharald, who had
ruled over Skane. Heming,
and Thorkel the Tall, were Sigvalde's
brothers. Bue the Thick from
Bornholm, and Sigurd his brother,
were also chiefs among the
Jomsborg vikings: and also Vagn, a son
of Ake and Thorgunna, and a
sister's son of Bue and Sigurd. Earl
Sigvalde had taken King Svein
prisoner, and carried him to
Vindland, to Jomsborg, where
he had forced him to make peace with
Burizleif, the king of the
Vinds, and to take him as the peace-
maker between them. Earl Sigvalde
was married to Astrid, a
daughter of King Burizleif;
and told King Svein that if he did
not accept of his terms, he
would deliver him into the hands of
the Vinds. The king knew that
they would torture him to death,
and therefore agreed to accept
the earl's mediation. The earl
delivered this judgment between
them -- that King Svein should
marry Gunhild, King Burizleif's
daughter; and King Burizleif
again Thyre, a daughter of
Harald, and King Svein's sister; but
that each party should retain
their own dominions, and there
should be peace between the
countries. Then King Svein returned
home to Denmark with his wife
Gunhild. Their sons were Harald
and Knut (Canute) the Great.
At that time the Danes threatened
much to bring an army into
Norway against Earl Hakon.
39. VOW OF THE JOMSBORG VIKINGS.
King Svein made a magnificent
feast, to which he invited all the
chiefs in his dominions; for
he would give the succession-feast,
or the heirship-ale, after
his father Harald. A short time
before, Strutharald in Skane,
and Vesete in Bornholm, father to
Bue the Thick and to Sigurd,
had died; and King Svein sent word
to the Jomsborg vikings that
Earl Sigvalde and Bue, and their
brothers, should come to him,
and drink the funeral-ale for their
fathers in the same feast the
king was giving. The Jomsborg
vikings came to the festival
with their bravest men, forty ships
of them from Vindland, and
twenty ships from Skane. Great was
the multitude of people assembled.
The first day of the feast,
before King Svein went up into
his father's high-seat, he drank
the bowl to his father's memory,
and made the solemn vow, that
before three winters were past
he would go over with his army to
England, and either kill King
Adalrad (Ethelred), or chase him
out of the country. This heirship
bowl all who were at the feast
drank. Thereafter for the
chiefs of the Jomsborg vikings was
filled and drunk the largest
horn to be found, and of the
strongest drink. When that
bowl was emptied, all men drank
Christ's health; and again
the fullest measure and the strongest
drink were handed to the Jomsborg
vikings. The third bowl was to
the memory of Saint Michael,
which was drunk by all. Thereafter
Earl Sigvalde emptied a remembrance
bowl to his father's honour,
and made the solemn vow, that
before three winters came to an end
he would go to Norway, and
either kill Earl Hakon, or chase him
out of the country. Thereupon
Thorkel the Tall, his brother,
made a solemn vow to follow
his brother Sigvalde to Norway, and
not flinch from the battle
so long as Sigvalde would fight there.
Then Bue the Thick vowed to
follow them to Norway, and not flinch
so long as the other Jomsborg
vikings fought. At last Vagn
Akason vowed that he would
go with them to Norway, and not return
until he had slain Thorkel
Leira, and gone to bed to his daughter
Ingebjorg without her friends'
consent. Many other chiefs made
solemn vows about different
things. Thus was the heirship-ale
drunk that day, but the next
morning, when the Jomsborg vikings
had slept off their drink,
they thought they had spoken more than
enough. They held a meeting
to consult how they should proceed
with their undertaking, and
they determined to fit out as
speedily as possible for the
expedition; and without delay ships
and men-at-arms were prepared,
and the news spread quickly.