The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway/Volume 1/Saga 6
VI.
KING OLAF TKYGGVESSON'S SAGA[1]
Chapter I.
Olaf Trygvesson's birth.
King Tryggve Olafsson had married a wife who was called Astrid. She was a daughter of Eric Biodaskalde, a great man, who dwelt at Ofrostad. But after Tryggve's death Astrid fled, and privately took with her all the loose property she could. Her foster-father, Thoralf Lusiskiseg, 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 Tryggve, 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 Thoralf 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 Ofrostad, where Astrid's father Eric dwelt, and privately sent a man to Eric to tell him; and Eric 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, Thoralf Lusiskiæg, and his son Thorgils, who was six years old; and they remained all winter.
Chapter II.
Of Gunhild's sons.
After Tryggve Olafsson's mnrder, Harald Grey-skin 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 Tryggve; but they 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.
Chapter III.
Astrid's journey.
The spring after 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 Eric, and it was probable was bringing up her infant, the son of Tryggve. 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 Ofrostad to Eric, and take King Tryggve'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 Ofrostad, some of Eric's friends observed the troop of travellers, and about the close of the day brought him word of their approach. Eric immediately, in the night, made preparation for Astrid's flight, gave her good guides, and sent her away eastward to Sweden, 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 Skon. 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 bonder called Biorn Edderquise, 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 Yither. . Thorstein was the name of the bonder; 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 Ofrostad, and inquired for Astrid and her son. As Eric 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 Biorn Edderquise in Skon, and took up their quarters there. Hakon asked Biorn if he knew any thing 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 Biorn'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 Biorn'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 the 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 Biorn7s into the township, and wherever he came he asked after Astrid; and when he came to Thorsteins 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 Sweden, to Hakon Gamle (the Old), where she and her son remained a long time, and had friendly welcome.
Chapter IV.
Hakon's embassy to Sweden.
When Gunhild, the mother of the kings, heard that Astrid and her son Olaf were in the kingdom of Sweden, she again sent Hakon, with a good attendance, eastward, to Eric king of Sweden, with presents and messages of friendship. The embassadors 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 Tryggvesson, 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 Kino; Eric Mow the matter stood. The embassadors 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, Burst 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.
Chapter. V.
Of Sigurd Ericsson.
Astrid had a brother called Sigurd, a son of Eric Biodaskalde, who had long been abroad in Russia with King Yaldemar, 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 with Hakon the Old, and Olaf was three years of age. As they sailed out into the Baltic, they were captured by vikings of Esthonia, who made booty both of the people and goods, killing some, and dividing others as slaves. Olaf was separated from his mother, and an Esthonian man called Klerkon got him as his share along with Thoralf and Thorkils. Klerkon thought that Thoralf 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 Klierk 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 Rekoni. Olaf was long with them, was treated well, and was much beloved by the people. Olaf was six years in Esthonia in this banishment.
Chapter VI.
Olaf is set free in Esthonia.
Sigurd, the son of Eric (Astrid's brother), came into Esthonia from Hovogorod, on King Yaldemar'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 Tryggve Olafsson; and Astrid, a daughter of Eric Biodaskalde, 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 Beas'. When he came there he bought both the boys, Olaf and Thorgils, and took them with him to Novogorod. But, for the first, he made nothing known of Olaf's relationship to him, but treated him well.
Chapter VII.
Klerkon killed by Olaf.
Olaf Tryggvesson was one day in the market-place, where there was a great number of people. He recognised Klasrkon again, who had killed his foster-father Thoralf Lusiskiseg. Olaf had a little axe in his hand, and with it he clove Klærkon's scull 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 Novogorod, 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 line for the murder; and the queen paid it. Olaf remained afterwards with the queen, and was much beloved. It is a law at Novogorod, that no man of a 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 with king Yaldemar. Olaf was the handsomest of men, very stout and strong, and in all bodily exercises he excelled every Northman that ever was heard of. .
Chapter VIII.
Of Hakon Earl of Lade.
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 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 Drontheim, 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 Drontheim 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 the kingdom with him if he asked it. "I think," replied Hakon, "that the Danish king would not deny thy right; hut 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 Haraid 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 Hordeknut, or Sigurd Orm, or Kagnar Lodbrok; and he was so exasperated and angry, that nobody ventured to speak of it to him.
Chapter IX.
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."
Gold 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 Ha¬ rald has carried his demand so far that he cannot now let it drop, and I expect nothing hut 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.
Chapter X.
Councils held by Earl Hakon and King 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 Eric 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 had 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, Eric'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 Greyskin."
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.
Chapter XI.
King Harald Gormsson'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 Hakon often talked over the business together. The Danish king then sent messengers north to Norway to Harald Greyskin, 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 Greyskin, 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 Greyskin 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 Fiord, on which the kings resided, usually got the name of Hardanger (Hard-acre). 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.
Chapter XII.
Treachery of King Harald and Earl Hakon towards Gold Harald.
Harald Greyskin went to Denmark in summer with three long-ships; and Herse Asbiorn, from the Fiord district, commanded one of them. King Harald sailed from Viken over to Lymfiord in Jutland, and landed at the narrow neck of land[2] 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, a 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 Grey-skin, 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
Chapter XIII.
Harald Graafeld falls at the neck of land at Lymfiord.
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.
Gold Harald came to the neck of land at Lymfiord, and immediately challenged Harald Greyskin 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 Greyskin 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 greyskin's lay:—
"Brave were thy words in battle-field,
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 Grey skin. So says Glum Geirason:—
"On Lymfiord'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 Lymfiord strand,
Enticed by Hakon's cunning speech
To his death-bed on Lymfiord's beach."
The most of King Harald's men fell with him. There also fell Herse Asbiorn.
This happened fifteen years[3] after the death of ITakon Atheistan's foster-son, and thirteen years after that of Sigurd earl of Lade. The priest Are Frode says that Earl Hakon was thirteen years earl over his father's dominions in Drontheim district before the fall of Harald Greyskin; but, for the last six years of Harald Grey skin's life, Are Frode says the Earl Hakon and Gunhild's sons fought against each other, and drove each other out of the land in turns.
Chapter XIV.
Gold Harald's death.
Soon after Harald Greyskin'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. Flakon then went to the Danish king, and no doubt easily settled with him for the killing his relative Gold Harald.
Chapter XV.
Division of the country.
Soon after King Harald Gormson ordered a levy of men over all Iris kingdom, and sailed with 600 ships. There were with him Earl Hakon, Harald Grænske 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 Kogaland, Hordaland, Sogn, Fiorde 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 Haarfager gave with them to his sons; only with the difference, that Hakon should there, as well as in Drontheim, 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 Grænske 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 Haarfager had given with them to his sons. Harald Grænske was then eighteen years old, and he became afterwards a celebrated man. Harald king of Denmark returned home thereafter with all his army.
Chapter XVI.
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. They came first to the Orkney Islands, and remained there a while. There were in Orkney then the Earls Lodver, Arnvid, Liod, and Skule[4], the sons of Thorfin Hausakliffer.
Earl Hakon now brought all the country under him, and remained all winter in Drontheim. 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[5]
Invokes once more great Asa's name;[6]
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 every where through the fiords 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.
Chapter XVII.
Earl Harkon's battle with Ragnfrid.
King Ragnfrid and King Gudrod, both sons of Gunhild and Eric, were now the only sons of Gunhild remaining in life. So says Glum Geirason in reyskin'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."
Ragnfrid 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 Drontheim; therefore he steered northwards around Stad, and plundered in South Möre. Some people submitted to him; for it often happens, when parties of armed men scour oyer 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 fiord. He had no difficulty in assembling men. Ragnfrid and Earl Hakon met at the north corner of Möre; 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 Ragnfrid to land. Ragnfrid and his men laid their vessels in along the land, and they shot at each other a long time; hut upon the land Ragnfrid would not venture: and so they separated. Ragnfrid 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 Drontheim, and staid there all winter. King Ragnfrid consequently had all the country south of Stad at his mercy; namely, Fiord district, IXordaland, 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.
Chapter XVIII.
Another battle between Earl Hakon and Ragnfrid in Sogn.
Towards spring Earl Hakon ordered out all the men north in the country, and got many people from Halogaland and Naumadal; so that from Byrda [7] to Stad he had men from all the sea coast. 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 Yellelda: —
"Hakon, defender of the land,
Armed in the North his warrior-hand;
To Sogne's shore[8] 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 hound;
And sea-horne 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 Ragnfrid with his army had gone towards Sogn, he turned there also with his men to meet him: and there Ragnfrid and Hakon met. Hakon came to the land with his ships, marked out a battle-field with hazel branches for King Ragnfrid[9], and took ground for his own men in it. So it is told in the Vellekla:—
There was a great battle; but Earl Hakon, haying by far the most people, gained the victory. It took place on the Thing-ness where Sogn and Hordaland meet.[12] King Ragnfrid 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 Ragnfrid 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.
Chapter XIX.
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, Swend and Heming, and a daughter called Bergliot, who was afterwards married to Einar Tambarskielver. 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.
Chapter XX.
Skopte the Newsman's death.
One summer that Earl Hakon was on a cruise, there was a ship with him of which Thorleif the skopte the Wise was steersman. In it was also Eric, Earl Hakon's son, then about ten or eleven years old. Now in the evenings, as they came into harbour, Eric 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. Eric 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 the Newsman. The winter after Eric 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 Eric set out from the fiord, and southwards to More. Newsman Skopte happened also to be going with a fully manned boat of fifteen rowers' benches from one of his farms to another, and Eric went against him to have a battle. Skopte was slain, but Eric granted life to those of his men who were still on their legs. So says Eyolf 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 Eric 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."
" 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,"
Eric became afterwards a great chief.
Chapter. XXI.
Olaf Tryggvesson's journey from Russia.
All this time Olaf Tryggvesson was in 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 Hallarstein:—
"The hater of the niggard hand,[13]
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 scatt 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 greed 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. So says Marcus Skeggiason in u Rekstefen:"—
The Russian cutters start from land
Under the generous chief's command,
Out to the open sea they run,
Under the gallant Tryggve's son:
And, ranging all the western coast,
Olaf the brave, who led the host,
Made many a sturdy foeman feel
The sharp edge of his biting steel,"
As he was coming from the east he made the island of 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.
Chapter XXII.
Olaf Tryggvesson's marriage.
While Olaf lay at Bornholm there came on bad weather, storm, and a heavy sea, so that his ships could not he there; and he sailed southwards under Vendland[14], where they found a good harbour. They marriage, conducted themselves very peacefully, and remained some time. In Vendland there was then a king called Burislaf, who had three daughters,—Geyra, Gunhild, and Astrid. The king's daughter Geyra had the power and government in that part where Olaf and his people landed, and Dixin was the name of the man who most usually advised Queen Geyra. Now when they heard that unknown people were come to the country, who were of distinguished appearance, and conducted themselves peaceably, Dixin repaired to them with a message from Queen Geyra, 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 Dixin 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 friendly message. Olaf willingly accepted the invitation, and went in harvest to Queen Geyra. They liked each other exceedingly, and Olaf courted Queen Geyra; and it was so settled that Olaf married her the same winter, and was ruler, along with Queen Geyra, over her dominions. Halfred Vandraedaskald tells of these matters in the lay he composed about King Olaf:—
"Why should the deeds the hero did
In Bornholm and the East be hid?
His deadly weapon Olaf bold
Dyed red: why should not this be told?"
Chapter XXIII.
Earl Hakon pays no scatt.
Earl Hakon ruled over Norway, and paid no scatt; because the Danish king gave him all the scatt revenue that belonged to the king in Norway, for the expense and trouble he had in defending the country against Gunhild's sons.
Chapter XXIV.
King Harald's levy to oppose the Emperor Otto's demand to introduce Christianity in his kingdom.
The Emperor 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, u we will march against him with an army." The Danish king ordered the land defence to be fitted out, the Danish wall[15] to be well fortified, and his ships of war rigged out. He sent a message also to Earl Hakon in Nor¬ way to come to him early in spring, and with as many men as he could possibly raise. In spring 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 ga¬ thered a very large army.
Chapter XXV.
Olaf Tryggvesson's war expedition.
Olaf Tryggvesson had been all winter in Vendland, as before related, and went the same winter to the baronies in Vendland which had formerly been under Queen Geyra, 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 Scania[16], and made a landing. The people of the country assembled, and gave him battle; butKing Olaf conquered, and made a great booty. Hethen sailed eastward to the island of Gotland, wherehe captured a merchant vessel belonging to the people of Jemteland.[17] They made a brave defence; but the end of it was that Olaf cleared the deck, killed all 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 Vandrsedaskald:—
"The king, so fierce in battle-fray,
First made the Vendland 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 Jemtland men must fly,
Scared by his well-known battle-cry."
Chapter XXVI.
The Emperor Otto and Earl Hakon have a battle at the Danish dyke in Schleswig.
The Emperor Otto assembled a great army from Saxonland[18], Fraldand [19], Friesland[20], and Vendland.[21] King Burislaf followed him with a large army, and in it was his son-in-law, Olaf Tryggvesson. The em¬ peror had a great body of horsemen, and still greater of foot people, and a great army from Holstein.[22] Harald, the Danish king, sent Earl Hakon with the army of Northmen that followed him southwards to the Danish wall, 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[23]
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 hand,
To man the Dane-work's rampart stout,
And keep the foreign foemen out."
The Emperor Otto came with his army from the south to the Danish wall, but Earl Hakon defended the rampart with his men. The Dane-work was con¬ structed in this way:—Two fiords run into the land, one on each side; and in the farthest bight of these fiords 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 Vend, and Frank, and Saxon there.
But little recked our gallant men;
And loud the cry might he 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, hut 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 hack 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 drives by daring deeds
These Saxons to their ocean-steeds;
And the young hero saves from fall
The Danaverk—the people's wall."
After this battle Earl Hakon went hack 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 Lymfiord.
Chapter XXVII.
King Harald and Earl Hakon are baptized.
The Emperor Otto turned hack with his troops to Sleswick, collected his ships of war, and crossed the fiord of Sle[24] 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 Lymfiord, and took refuge in the island Morsey.[25] 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 Otto and the Danish king met upon Mors Isle. There Bishop Poppo instructed King Harald in the holy faith; and thereafter King Harald allowed himself to be baptized, and also the whole Danish army. King Hakon, while he was in Mors Isle, 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.
Chapter XXVIII.
Earl Hakon renounces the Christian faith, and plunders in Gotland.
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 south-west, and at last to west, he sailed eastward, out through the sound [26], ravaging the land on both sides. He then sailed eastward along Scania, plundering the country wherever he came. When he got east to the skerries of East Gotland, 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 lie set fire to his ships, landed his men, and went over all the country with armed hand. Earl Ottar, who ruled over Gotland, 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 Gotlands, until he came into Norway; and then he proceeded by land all the way north to Drontheim. 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 Gotland 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 ranged through Gotland 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—Tor he restores
Their temples on our Norway shores."
Chapter XXIX.
The Emperor Otto returns home.
The Emperor Otto went back to his kingdom in the Saxon land, and parted in friendship with the Danish king. It is said that the Emperor Otto stood godfather to Swend, King Harald's son, and gave him his name; so that he was baptized Otto Swend.[27] King Haraid held fast by his Christianity to his dying day.
King Burislaf went to Vendland, and his son-in-law King Olaf went with him. This battle is related also by Halfred Vandrsedaskald 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."
Chapter XXX.
Olaf's journey from Vendland.
Olaf Tryggvesson was three years in Vendland when. Geyra his queen fell sick, and she died of her illness. Olaf felt his loss so great, that he had no pleasure in Vendiand after it. lie provided himself, therefore, with war-ships, and went out again a plun¬ dering, and plundered first in Friesland, next in Saxland, and then all the way to Flanders. So says Halfred Yandrsedaskald: —
"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'[28] prey.
She rides by night: at pools of blood,
Where Friesland 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[29]—
Olaf, who foes can well repress,
Left Flemish flesh for many a meal
With his broad axe of shining steel."
Chapter XXXI.
King Olaf Tryggvesson's forays.
Thereafter Olaf Tryggvesson sailed to England, and ravaged wide around in the land. He sailed all the way north to Northumberland, where he plun¬ dered; 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[30], which he laid waste with fire and sword, and also the district called Cumberland.[31] He sailed westward from thence to Valland [32], 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 Vandrædaskald 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 spear-head.
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 bowman 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 Tryggvesson had been four years on this cruise, from the time he left Vendland till he came to the Scilly Islands.
Chapter XXXII.
King Olaf is baptized in the Scilly Islands.
While Olaf Tryggvesson 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 hade 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 Eussia, he retained no more of his name than that he was called Ola, and was Eussian. 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, hut I advise thee to he 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 cele¬ brated 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[33] 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's 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 encourage¬ ment 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.
Chapter XXXIII.
Olaf marries Gyda.
In autumn 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 Quaran, 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 Alfin, 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. Alfin 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 Ola; 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.
Chapter XXXIV.
King Olaf and Alfin's duel.
Alfin was very ill pleased with this. It was the custom then in England, if two strove for any thing, to settle the matter by single combat [34]; and now Alfin challenges Olaf Tryggvesson.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 Alfin 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 Alfin himself. He then bound him fast. It went in the same way with all Alfin's men. They were beaten down, bound, and carried to Olaf's lodging. Thereupon he ordered Alfin 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.
Chapter XXXV.
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. How 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 yon," 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.
Chapter XXXVI.
Of King Harald Gormson, and his expedition against Iceland.
The Danish king, Harald Gormson, heard that Earl Hakon had throwm 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 Solen Isles. Only five houses were left standing in Lerdal; but all the people fled up to the Fielde, 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 Birgir 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 Birgir, 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."
Chapter XXXVII.
King Harald sends a warlock in a transformed shape 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.[35] 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 land-serpents, some great, some small. When he came to Vapnaliord he went in towards the land, intending to go on shore; hut 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 Eyaliord, and he went into the fiord. Then a bird flew against him, which, was so great that its wings stretched over the mountains on either side of the fiord, and many birds, great and small, with it. Then he swam farther west, and then south into Breidafiord. When he came into the fiord a large grey bull ran against him, wading into the sea, and bellowing fearfully, and he was followed by a crowd of land-serpents. From thence he went round by Beikaness, and wanted to land at Yikarsted, 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 Vapnafiord, Eyolf Yalgerdson in Eyafiord, Thord Gellir in Breidafiord, and Thorard 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 scatt as long as he lived to Denmark.
Chapter XXXVIII.
Harald Gormson's death.
Swend, King Harald's son, who afterwards was called Tweskiæg (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. Swend collected ships of war, and gave out that he was going on a viking cruise; but when all his men were assembled, and the Jomsburg viking Palnatoke had come to his assistance, he ran into Sealand to Iseliord, where his father had been for some time with his ships ready to proceed on an expedition. Swend instantly gave battle, and the combat was severe. So many people flew to assist King Harald, that Swend was overpowered by numbers, and fled. But King Harald received a wound which ended in his death: and Swend was chosen King of Denmark. At this time Sigvald was earl over Jomsburg in Yendland. He was a son of King Strut-Harald, who had ruled over Scania. Heming, and Thorkel the Tall, were Sigvald's brothers. Bue the Thick from Bornholm, and Sigurd his brother, were also chiefs among the Jomsburg vikings: and also Yagn, a son of Aake and Thorgunna, and a sister's son of Bue and Sigurd. Earl Sigvald had taken King Swend prisoner, and carried him to Yendland, to Jomsburg, where he had forced him to make peace with Burislaf, the king of the Yends, and to take him as the peace-maker between them. Earl Sigvald was married to Astrid, a daughter of King Burislaf; and told King Swend that if he did not accept of his terms, he would deliver him into the hands of the Yends. 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 Swend should marry Gunhild, King Burislaf's daughter; and King Burislaf again Thyre, a daughter of Harald, and King Swend's sister; but that each party should retain their own dominions, and there should be peace between the countries. Then King Swend returned home to Denmark with his wife Gunhild. Their sons were Harald and Knud (Canute) the Great. At that time the Danes threatened much to bring an army into Norway against Earl Hakon.
Chapter XXXIX.
The solemn vow of the Jomsburg vikings.
King Swend 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, Strut-Haraid in Scania, and Yesete in Bornholm, father to Bue the Thick and to Sigurd, had died; and King Swend sent word to the Jomsburg vikings that Earl Sigvald, 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 Jomsburg vikings came to the festival with their bravest men, eleven ships of them from Yendland, and twenty ships from Scania. Great was the multitude of people assembled. The first day of the feast, before King Swend 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 Adalred (Ethelred), or chase him out of the country. This heirship bowl all who were at the feast drank. Thereafter for the chiefs of the Jomsburg 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 Jomsburg vikings. The third bowl was to the memory of Saint Michael, which was drunk by all. Thereafter Earl Sigvald 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 Sigvald to Norway, and not flinch from the battle so long as Sigvald would fight there. Then Bue the Thick vowed to follow them to Norway, and not flinch so long as the other Jomsburg vikings fought. At last Yagn Aakeson vowed that he would go with them to Norway, and not return until he had slain Thorkeld Leire, and gone to bed to his daughter Ingebord 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 Jomsburg 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.
Chapter XL.
Earl Eric and Earl Hakon prepare a war levy.
When Earl Eric, the son of Hakon, who at that time was in Kaumarige, heard the tidings, he immediately gathered troops, and went to the Uplands, and thence over the Fielde to Drontheim, and joined his father Earl Hakon. Thord Kolbeinson speaks of this in the lay of Eric:—
"News from the south are flying round;
The bonder comes with look profound,
Bad news of bloody battles bringings
Of steel-clad mem, of weapons ringing.
I hear that in the Danish land
Long-sided ships slide down the strand,
Ancl, floating with the rising tide,
The ocean-coursers soon will ride."
The earls Hakon and Eric had war-arrows split up and sent round the Drontheim country; and despatched messages to both the Möres, North Möre and South More, and to Raumsdal, and also north to Naumadal and Halogaland. They summond all the country to provide both men and ships. So it is said in Eric's lay:—
"The scald must now a war-song raise,—
The gallant active youth must praise,
Who o'er the ocean's field spreads forth
Ships, cutters, boats, from the far north.
His mighty fleet comes sailing by,—
From headlands many a mast we spy:
The people run to see them glide,
Mast after mast, by the coast-side."
Earl Hakon set out immediately to the south, to Möre, to reconnoitre and gather people; and Earl Eric gathered an army from the north to follow.
Chapter XLI.
The expedition of the Jomsbnrg vikings to Norway.
The Jomsburg vikings assembled their fleet in Lymfiord, from whence they went to sea with sixty sail of vessels. When they came under the coast of Agde, they steered northwards to Rogaland with their fleet, and began to plunder when they came into the earl's territory; and so they sailed north along the coast, plundering and burning. A man, by name Geirmund, sailed in a light boat with a few men northwards to Möre, and there he fell in with Earl Hakon, stood before his dinner table, and told the earl the tidings of an army from Denmark having come to the south end of the land. The earl asked if he had any certainty of it. Then Geirmund stretched forth one arm, from which the hand was cut off, and said, "Here is the token that the enemy is in the land." Then the earl questioned him particularly about this army. Geirmund says it consists of Jomsburg vikings, who have killed many people, and plundered all around. "And hastily and hotly they pushed on," says he, "and I expect it will not be long before they are upon you." On this the earl rowed into every fiord, going in along the one side of the land and out at the other, collecting men; and thus he drove along night and day. He sent spies out upon the upper ridges, and also southwards into the Fiords; and he proceeded north to meet Eric with his men. This appears from Eric's lay:—
"The earl, well skilled in war to speed
O'er the wild wave the viking-steed,
Now launched the high stems from the shore,
Which death to Sigvald's vikings bore.
Rollers beneath the ships' keels crash,
Oar-blades loud in the grey sea splash,
And they who give the ravens food
Row fearless through the curling flood."
Eric hastened southwards with his forces the shortest way he could.
Chapter XLII.
Of the Jomsburg vikings and their expedition.
Earl Sigvald steered with his fleet northwards around Stad, and came to the land at Hero Island. Although the vikings fell in with the country people, the people never told the truth about what the earl was doing; and the vikings went on pillaging and laying waste. They laid to their vessels at the outer end of Had Island, landed, plundered, and drove both men and cattle down to the ships, killing all the men able to bear arms.
As they were going back to their ships, came a bonder, walking near to Bue's troop, who said to them, "Ye are not doing like true warriors, to be driving cows and calves down to the strand, while ye should be giving chase to the bear, since ye are coming near to the bear's den."
"What says the old man?" asked some. "Can he tell us any thing about Earl Hakon?"
The peasant replies, "The earl went yesterday into the Horundar fiord with one or two ships, certainly not more than three, and then he had no news about you."
Bue ran now with his people in all haste down to the ships, leaving all the booty behind. Bue said, "Let us avail ourselves now of this news we have got of the earl, and be the first to the victory." When they came to their ships they rowed off from the land. Earl Sigvald called to them, and asked what they were about. They replied, " The earl is in the fiord;" on which Earl Sigvald with the whole fleet set off, and rowed north about the island Had.
Chapter XLIII.
Beginning of the battle with the Jomsburg vikings.
The earls Hakon and Eric lay in Halkelswick, where all their forces were assembled. They had 150 ships, and they had heard that the Jomsburg vikings had come in from sea, and lay at the island Had; and they, in consequence, rowed out to seek them. When they reached a place called Hiörungavaag they met each other, and both sides drew up their ships in line for an attack. Earl Sigvald's banner was displayed in the midst of his army, and right against it Earl Hakon arranged his force for attack. Earl Sigvald himself had 20 ships, but Earl Hakon had 60. In Earl Hakon's army were these chiefs,— Thorer Hiort from Halogaland, and Styrkar from Gimsar. In the wing of the opposite array of the Jomsburg vikings was Bue the Thick, and his brother Sigurd, with 20 ships. Against him Earl Eric laid himself with 60 ships; and with him were these chiefs, — Gudbrand Huite from the Uplands, and Thorkill Leire from Viken. In the other win 2; of the Joinsburg vikings' array was Vagn Aakeson with 20 ships; and against him stood Swend the son of Hakon, in whose division was Skiegge of Yria at Uphaug, and Rognvald of Arvig at Stad, with 60 ships. It is told in the Eric's lay thus: —
"The bonders' ships along the coast
Sailed on to meet the foemen's host;
The stout earl's ships, with eagle flight,
Rushed on the Danes in bloody fight.
The Danish ships,, of court-men full,
Were cleared of men,,—and many a hull
Was driving empty on the main,
With the warm corpses of the slain."
Eyvind Skaldaspiller says also in the " Haleygia-tal: "
"Twas at the peep of day,—
Our brave earl led the way;
His ocean-horses bounding—
His war-horns loudly sounding!
No joyful morn arose
For Yngve Frey's base foes:[36]
These Christian island-men
Wished themselves home again."
Then the fleets came together, and one of the sharpest of conflicts began. Many fell on both sides, but the most by far on Hakon's side; for the Jomsburg vikings fought desperately, sharply, and mur¬ derously, and shot right through the shields. So many spears were thrown against Earl Hakon that his armour was altogether split asunder, and he threw it off. So says Finn Halkelson:—
"The ring-linked coat of strongest mail
Could not withstand the iron hail,
Though sewed with care and elbow bent,
By Norna[37]", on its strength intent.
The fire of battle raged round,—
Odin's steel shirt flew all unbound!
The earl his ring-mail from him flung,
Its steel rings on the wet deck rung;
Part of it fell into the sea,—
A part was kept, a proof to be
How sharp and thick the arrow-flight
Among the sea-steeds in this fight."
Chapter XLIV.
Earl Sigvald's flight.
The Jomsburg vikings had larger and higher-sided ships; and both parties fought desperately. Vagn Aakeson laid his ship on board of Swend Earl Hakon's son's ship, and Swend allowed his ship to give way, and was on the point of flying. Then Earl Eric came up, and laid his ship alongside of Vagn, and then Vagn gave way, and the ships came to lie in the same position as before. Thereupon Eric goes to the other wing, which had gone back a little, and Bue had cut the ropes, intending to pursue them. Then Eric laid himself, board to board, alongside of Bue's ship, and there was a severe combat hand to hand. Two or three of Eric's ships then laid themselves upon Bue's single vessel. A thunder-storm came on at this moment, and such a heavy hail-storm that every hailstone weighed a pennyweight.[38] The Earl Sigvald cut his cable, turned his ship round, and took flight. Vagn Aakeson called to him not to fly; but as Earl Sigvald paid no attention to what he said, Vagn threw his spear at him, and hit the man at the helm. Earl Sigvald rowed away with 35 ships, leaving 25 of his fleet behind.
Chapter XLV.
Bue Digre throws himself overboard.
Then Earl Hakon laid his ship on the other side of Bue's ship, and now came heavy blows on Bue's men. Yigfus, a son of Yigaglum, took up an anvil with a sharp end, which lay upon the deck, and on which a man had welded the hilt to his sword just before, and being a very strong man cast the anvil with both hands at the head of Aslaf Holmskalle, and the end of it went into his brains. Before this no weapon could wound this Aslaf, who was Bue's foster-father, and forecastle commander, although he could wound right and left. Another man among the strongest and bravest was Haavard[39] Hogvande. In this attack Eric's men boarded Bue's ship, and went aft to the quarter-deck where Bue stood. There Thorstein Midlang cut at Bue across his nose, so that the nosepiece of his helmet was cut in two, and he got a great wound; but Bue, in turn, cut at Thorstein's side, so that "The sword cut the man through. Then Bue lifted up two chests full of gold, and called aloud, "Overboard all Bue's men," and threw himself over¬ board with his two chests. Many of his people sprang overboard with him. Some fell in the ship, for it was of no use to call for quarter. Bue's ship was cleared of people from stem to stern, and afterwards all the others, the one after the other.
Chapter XLVI.
The Jomsburg vikings bound together in one chain.
Earl Eric then laid himself alongside of Vagn's ship, and there was a brave defence; but at last this ship too was cleared, and Vagn and thirty men were taken prisoners, and bound, and brought to land. Then came up Thorkel Leire, and said, a Thou madest a solemn vow, Vagn, to kill me; but now it seems more likely that I will kill thee." Vagn and his men sat all upon a log of wood together. Thorkel had an axe in his hands, with which he cut at him who sat outmost on the log. Yagn and the other prisoners were bound so that a rope was fastened on their feet, but they had their hands free. One of them said, "I will stick this fish-bone that I have in my hand into the earth, if it be so that I know any thing, after my head is cut off." His head was cut off, but the fish-bone fell from his hand. There sat also a very handsome man with long hair, who twisted his hair over his head, put out his neck, and said, u Don't make my hair bloody." A man took the hair in his hands and held it fast. Thorkel hewed with his axe; but the viking twitched his head so strongly that he who was holding his hair fell forwards, and the axe cut off both his hands, and stuck fast in the earth. Then Earl Eric came up, and asked, "Who is that handsome man?"
He replies, "I am called Sigurd, and am Bue's son. But are all the Jomsburg vikings dead?"
Eric says, "Thou art certainly Bue's son. Wilt thou now take life and peace?"
"That depends," says he, " upon who it is that offers it."
"He offers who has the power to do it—Earl Eric."
"That will I," says he, "from his hands." And now the rope was loosened from him.
Then said Thorkel Leire, "Although thou should give all these men life and peace, earl, Vagn Aakeson shall never come from this with life." And he ran at him with uplifted axe; but the viking Skarde swung himself in the rope, and let himself fall just before Thorkel's feet, so that Thorkel fell over him, and Vagn caught the axe and mave Thorkel a death-wound. Then said the earl, "Vagn, wilt thou accept life?
"That I will," says he, "if you give it to all of us."
"Loose them from the rope," said the earl; and it was done. Eighteen were killed, and twelve got their lives.
Chapter XLVII.
Death of Gissur of Valders.
Earl Hakon, and many with him, were sitting upon a piece of wood, and a bow-string twanged from Bue's ship, and the arrow struck Gissur from Valders, who was sitting next the earl, and was clothed splendidly. Thereupon the people went on board, and found Haavard Hogvande standing on his knees at the ship's railing, for his feet had been cut off[40], and he had a bow in his hand. When they came on board the ship Haavard asked, "Who fell by that shaft?"
They answered, "A man called Gissur."
"Then my luck was less than I thought," said he.
"Great enough was the misfortune," replied they; "but thou shalt not make it greater." And they killed him on the spot.
The dead were then ransacked, and the booty brought all together to be divided; and there were twenty-five ships of the Jomsburg vikings in the booty. So says Finn Halkelson:—
"Many a viking's body lay
Dead on the deck this bloody day,
Before they cut their sun-dried ropes,
And in quick flight put all their hopes.
He whom the ravens know afar
Cleared five-and-twenty ships of war:
A proof that in the furious fight
None can withstand the Norsemen's might."
Then the army dispersed. Earl Hakon went to Drontheim, and was much displeased that Earl Eric had given quarter to Yagn Aakeson. It was said that at this battle Earl Hakon had sacrificed for victory his son, young Erling, to the gods; and instantly came the hail-storm, and the defeat and slaughter of the Jomsburg vikings.
Earl Eric went to the Uplands, and eastward by that route to his own kingdom, taking Aakeson with him. Earl Eric married Yagn to Ingebiorg, a daughter of Thorkel Leire, and gave him a good ship of war and all belonging to it, and a crew; and they parted the best of friends. Then Yagn went home south to Denmark, and became afterwards a man of great consideration, and many great people are descended from him.
Chapter XLVIII.
King Harald Grajnske's death.
Harald Grænske, as before related, was king in Westfold, and was married to Aasta, a daughter of Gudbrand Ivule. One summer Harald Grænske made an expedition to the Baltic to gather property, and he came to Sweden. Olaf Swenske was king there, a son of Eric the Yictorious, and Sigrid, a daughter of Skoglar Toste. Sigrid was then a widow, and had many and great estates in Sweden. When she heard that her foster-brother was come to the country a short distance from her, she sent men to him to invite him to a feast. He did not neglect the invitation, but came to her with a great attendance of his followers, and was received in the most friendly way. He and the queen sat in the high seat, and drank together towards the evening, and all his men were entertained in the most hospitable manner. At night, when the king went to rest, a bed was put up for him with a hanging of fine linen around it, and with costly bed-clothes; but in the lodging-house there were few men. When the king was undressed, and had gone to bed, the queen came to him, filled a bowl herself for him to drink, and was very gay, and pressed him to drink. The king was drunk above measure, and, indeed, so were they both. Then he slept, and the queen went away, and laid herself down also. Sigrid was a woman of the greatest understanding, and too clever in many things. In the morning there was also the most excellent entertainment; but then it went on as usual when people have drunk too much, that next day they take care not to exceed. The queen was very gay, and she and the king talked of many things with each other; among other things she valued her property, and the dominions she had in Sweden, as nothing less than his kingdom and property in Norway. With that observation the king was nowise pleased; and he found no pleasure in any thing after that, but made himself ready for his journey in an ill humour. On the other hand, the queen was remarkably gay, and made him many presents, and followed him out to the road. Now Harald returned about harvest to Norway, and was at home all winter; but was very silent, and cast-down. In summer he went once more to the Baltic with his ships, and steered to Sweden. He sent a message to Queen Sigrid that he wished to have a meeting with her, and she rode down to meet him. They talked together, and he soon brought out the proposal that she should marry him. She replied, that this was foolish talk for him, who was so well married already that he might think himself well off. Harald says, "Aasta is a good and clever woman; but she is not so well born as I am." Sigrid replies, "It may be that thou art of higher birth, but I think she is now pregnant with both your fortunes."[41] They exchanged but few words more before the queen rode away. King Harald was always dull in apprehension, and prepared himself again to ride up the country to meet Queen Sigrid. Many of his people dissuaded him; but nevertheless he set off with a great attendance, and came to the house in which the queen dwelt. The same evening came another king, called Visavald, from Russia, likewise to pay his addresses to Queen Sigrid. Lodging was given to both the kings, and to all their people, in a great old room of an outbuilding, and all the furniture was of the same character; but there was no want of drink in the evening, and that so strong that all were drunk, and the watch, both inside and outside, fell fast asleep. Then Queen Sigrid ordered an attack on them in the night, both with lire and sword. The house was burnt, with all who were in it, and those who slipped out were put to the sword. Sigrid said that she would make these small kings tired of coming to court her. She was afterwards called Sigrid the Haughty.
Chapter XLIX.
Birth of King Olaf, son of King Harald Grsenske.
This happened the winter after the battle of the Jomsburg vikings at Hiorunga Yaag. When Harald went up the country after Sigrid, he left Rane behind with the ships to look after the men. Now when Rane heard that Harald was cut off, he returned to Norway the shortest way he could, and told the news. He repaired first to Aasta, and related to her all that had happened on the journey, and also on what errand Harald had visited Queen Sigrid. When Aasta got these tidings she set off directly to her father to the Uplands, who received her well; but both were enraged at the design which had been laid in Sweden, and that King Harald had intended to set her in a single condition. In summer Aasta, Gudbrand's daughter, was confined, and had a boy-child, who had water poured over him, and was called Olaf. Rane himself poured water over him, and the child was brought up at first in the house of Gudbrand and his mother Aasta.
Chapter L.
About Earl Hakon.
Earl Hakon ruled over the whole outer part of Norway that lies on the sea, and had thus sixteen districts under his sway. The arrangement introduced by Ha¬ rald Haarfager, that there should be an earl in each district, was afterward continued for a long time; and thus Earl Hakon had sixteen earls under him. So says the "Yellekla"—
"Who before has ever known
Sixteen earls subdued by one?
Who has seen all Norway's land
Conquered by one brave hero's hand?
It will be long in memory held,
How Ilakon ruled by sword and shield.
When tales at the viking's mast go round,
His praise will every mouth resound."
While Earl Hakon ruled over Norway there were good crops in the land, and peace was well preserved in the country among the bonders. The earl, for the greater part of his lifetime, was therefore much beloved by the bonders; but it happened, in the longer course of time, that the earl became very intemperate in his intercourse with women, and even carried it so far that he made the daughters of people of consideration be carried away, and brought home to him; and after keeping them a week or two as concubines, he sent them home. He drew upon himself the indignation of the relations of these girls; and the bonders began to murmur loudly, as the Drontheim people have the custom of doing when any thing goes against their judgment.
Chapter LI.
Thorer Klakke's Journey to discover Olaf Tryggvesson.
Earl Hakon, in the mean time, hears some whisper Chapter that to the westward, over the North sea, was a man called Ole, who was looked upon as a king. From the conversation of some people, he fell upon the discover suspicion that he must be of the royal race of Norway. It was, indeed, said that this Ole was from Russia; but the earl had heard that Tryggve Olafsson had had a son called Olaf, who in his infancy had gone east to Russia, and had been brought up by King Valdemar. The earl had carefully inquired about this man, and had his suspicion that he must be the same person who had now come to these western countries. The earl had a very good friend called Thorer Klakke, who had been long upon viking expeditions,—sometimes also upon merchant voyages; so that he was well acquainted all around. This Thorer Earl Hakon sends over the North sea, and told him to make a merchant voyage to Dublin, as many were in the habit of doing, and carefully to discover who this Ole was. Provided he got any certainty that he was Olaf Tryggvesson, or any other of the Norwegian royal race, then Thorer should endeavour to ensnare him by some deceit, and bring him into the earl's power.
Chapter LII.
Olaf Tryggvesson comes to Norway.
On this Thorer sails westward to Ireland, and Chapter hears that Ole is in Dublin with his wife's father King Olaf Quaran. Thorer, who was a plausible man, immediately got acquainted with Ole; and as they often met, and had long conversations together, Ole began to inquire about news from Norway, and above all of the Upland kings and great people,— which of them were in life, and what dominions they now had. He asked also about Earl Hakon, and if he was much liked in the country. Thorer replies, that the earl is such a powerful man that no one dares to speak otherwise than he would like; but that comes from there being nobody else in the country to look to. " Yet, to say the truth, I know it to be the mind of many brave men, and of whole communities, that they would much rather see a king of Harald Haarfager's race come to the kingdom. But we know of no one suited for this, especially now that it is proved how vain every attack on Earl Hakon must be.'7 As they often talked together in the same strain, Ole disclosed to Thorer his name and family, and asked him his opinion, and whether he thought the bonders would take him for their king if he were to appear in Norway. Thorer encouraged him very eagerly to the enterprise, and praised him and his talents highly. Then Olaf's inclination to go to the heritage of his ancestors became strong. Olaf sailed accordingly, accompanied by Thorer, with five ships; first to the Ebudes[42] and from thence to the Orkneys. At that time Earl Sigurd, Lodver's son, lay in Osmundswall [43], in the island South Ronaldsa, with a ship of war, on his way to Caithness. Just at the same time Olaf was sailing with his fleet from the westward to the islands, and ran into the same harbour, because Pentland Firth was not to be passed at that tide. When the king was informed the earl was there, he made him be called; and when the earl came on board to speak with the king, after a few words only had passed between them, the king says the earl must allow himself to be baptized, and all the people of the country also, or he should be put to death directly; and he assured the earl he would lay waste the islands with fire and sword, if the people did not adopt Christianity. In the position the earl found himself, he preferred becoming Christian, and he and all who were with him were baptized. Afterwards the earl took an oath to the king, went into his service, and gave him his son, whose name was Whelp, or Dog, as an hostage; and the king took Whelp to Norway with him. Thereafter Olaf went out to sea to the eastward, and made the land at Moster Island, where he first touched the ground of Norway. He had high mass sung in a tent, and afterwards on the spot a church was built. Thorer Klakke said now to the king, that the best plan for him would be not to make it known who he was, or to let any report about him get abroad; but to seek out Earl Hakon as fast as possible, and fall upon him by surprise. King Olaf did so, sailing northward day and night, when wind permitted, and did not let the people of the country know who it was that was sailing in such haste. When he came north to Agdaness[44], he heard that the earl was in the fiord, and was in discord with the bonders. On hearing this, Thorer saw that things were going in a very different way from what he expected; for after the battle with the Jomsburg vikings all men in Xorway were the most sincere friends of the earl on account of the victory he had gained, and of the peace and security he had given to the country; and now it unfortunately turns out that a great chief has come to the country at a time when the bonders are in arms against the earl.
Chapter LIII.
Eari Ha-kon's flight.
Earl Hakon was at a feast in Melhouse in Guldal. There was a powerful bonder, by name Orm Lyrgia, who dwelt in Boness, who had a wife called Gudrun, a daughter of Bergthor of Lunde, She was called the Lunde-sun; for she was the most beautiful of women. The earl sent his slaves to Orm, with the errand that they should bring Orm's wife, Gudrun, to the earl. The thralls tell their errand, and Orm bids them first seat themselves to breakfast; but before they had done eating, many people from the neighbourhood, to whom Orm had sent notice, had gathered together: and now Orm declared he would not send Gudrun with the messengers. Gudrun told the thralls to tell the earl that she would not come to him, unless he sent Thora of Rimol after her. Thora was a woman of great influence, and one of the earl's best beloved. The thralls say that they will come another time, and both the bonder and his wife would be made to repent of it; and they departed with many threats. Orm, on the other hand, sent out a message-token to all the neighbouring country, and with it the message to attack Earl Hakon with weapons and kill him. He sent also a message to Haldor in Skirdingsted, who also sent out his message-token. A short time before, the earl had taken away the wife of a man called Bryniolf, and there had very nearly been an insurrection about that business. Having now again got this message-token, the people made a general revolt, and set out all to Melhouse. When the earl heard of this, he left the house with his followers, and concealed himself in a deep glen, now called Earl's Dale. Later in the day, the earl got news of the bonders' army. They had beset all the roads; but believed the earl had escaped to his ships, which his son Erlend, a remarkably handsome and hopeful young man, had the command of. When night came the earl dispersed his people, and ordered them to go through the forest roads into Orkadal; "for nobody will molest you," said he, "when I am not with you. Send a message to Erlend to sail out of the fiord, and meet me in More. In the mean time I will conceal myself from the bonders." Then the earl went his way with one thrall or slave, called Karker, attending him. There was ice upon the river of Guldal, and the earl drove his horse upon it, and left his coat lying upon the ice. They then went to a hole, since called the Earl's Hole, where they slept. When Karker awoke he told his dream,—that a black threatening man had come into the hole, and was angry that people should have entered it; and that the man had said, "Ulle is dead." The earl said that his son Erlend must be killed. Karker slept again, and was again disturbed in his sleep; and when he awoke he told his dream,—that the same man had again appeared to him, and bade him tell the earl that all the Sounds were closed. From this dream the earl began to suspect that it betokened a short life to him. They stood up, and went to the house of Rimol. The earl now sends Karker to Thora, and begs of her to come secretly to him. She did so, and he took it very kind of her, and begged her to conceal him for a few nights until the army of the bonders had dispersed. "Here about my house," said she, "you will be hunted after, both inside and outside; for many know that I would willingly help you if I can. There is but one place about the house where they could never expect to find such a man as you, and that is the swine-stye." When they came there the earl said, u Well, let it be made ready for us; as to save our life is the first and foremost concern." The slave dug a great hole in it, bore away the earth that he dug out, and laid wood over it. Thora brought the tidings to the earl that Olaf Tryggvesson had come from sea into the fiord, and had killed his son Erlend. Then the earl and Karker both went in the hole. Thora covered it with wood, and threw earth and dung over it, and drove the swine upon the top of it. The swine-stye was under a great stone.
Chapter LIV.
Friend's death.
Olaf Tryggvesson came from sea into the fiord with five long-ships, and Erlend, Earl Hakon's son, rowed towards him with three ships. When the vessels came near to each other, Erlend suspected they might be enemies, and turned towards the land. When Olaf and his followers saw long-ships coming in haste out of the fiord, and rowing towards them, they thought Earl Hakon must be here; and they put out all oars to follow them. As soon as Erlend and his ships got near the land they rowed aground instantly, jumped overboard, and took to the land; but at the same instant Olaf's ship came up with them. Olaf saw a remarkably handsome man swimming in the water, and laid hold of a tiller and threw it at him. The tiller struck Erlend, the son of Hakon the earl, on the head, and clove it to the brain; and there left Erlend his life. Olaf and his people killed many; but some escaped, and some were made prisoners, and got life and freedom that they might go and tell what had happened. They learned then that the bonders had driven away Earl Hakon, and that he had fled, and his troops were all dispersed.
Chapter LV.
Earl Hakon's death.
The bonders then met Olaf, to the joy of both, and they made an agreement together. The bonders took Olaf to be their king, and resolved, one and all, to seek out Earl Hakon. They went up Guldal; for it seemed to them likely that if the earl was concealed in any house it must be at Rimol, for Thora was his dearest friend in that valley. They come up, therefore, and search every where, outside and inside the house, but could not find him. Then Olaf held a House Thing or council out in the yard, and stood upon a great stone which lay beside the swine-stye, and made a speech to the people, in which he promised to enrich the man with rewards and honours who should kill the earl. This speech was heard by the earl and the thrall Karker. There was a little daylight admitted to them.
"Why art thou so pale," says the earl, "and now again black as earth? Thou hast not the intention to betray me?"
"By no means," replies Karker.
"We were born on the same night," says the earl, "and the time will be short between our deaths." King Olaf went away in the evening. When night came the earl kept himself awake; but Karker slept, and was disturbed in his sleep. The earl woke him, and asked him u what he was dreaming of?" He answered, "I was at Lade, and Olaf Tryggvesson was laying a gold ring about my neck." The earl says, "It will be a red ring Olaf will lay about thy neck if he catches thee. Take care of that! From me thou shalt enjoy all that is good, therefore betray me not."
They then kept themselves awake both; the one, as it were, watching upon the other. But towards day the earl suddenly dropped asleep; but his sleep was so unquiet that he drew his heels under him, and raised his neck, as if going to rise, and screamed dreadfully high. On this Karker, dreadfully alarmed, drew a large knife out of his belt, stuck it in the earl's throat, and cut it across, and killed Earl Hakon. Then Karker cut off the earl's head, and ran away. Late in the day he came to Lade, where he delivered the earl's head to King Olaf, and told all these circumstances of his own and Earl Hakon's doings. Olaf had him taken out and beheaded.
Chapter LVI.
Earl Hakon's head.
King Olaf, and a vast number of bonders with him, then went out to Nidarholm[45], and had with them the heads of Earl Hakon and Karker. This holm was used then for a place of execution of thieves and illdoers, and there stood a gallows on it. He had the heads of the earl and of Karker hung upon it, and the whole army of the bonders cast stones at them, screaming and shouting that the one worthless fellow had followed the other. They then sent up to Guldal for the earl's dead body. So great was the enmity of the Drontheim people against Earl Hakon, that no man could venture to call him by any other name than Hakon the Bad; and he was so called long after those days. Yet, sooth to say of Earl Hakon, he was in many respects fitted to be a chief: first, because he was descended from a high race; then because he had understanding and knowledge to direct a government; also manly courage in battle to gain victories, and good luck in killing his enemies. So says Thorleif Randfeldson:—
"In Norway's land was never known
A braver earl than the brave Hakon.
At sea,, beneath the clear moon's light,
No braver man e'er sought the fight.
Nine kings to Odin's wide domain
Were sent, by Hakon's right hand slain!
So well the raven-flocks were fed—
So well the wolves were filled with dead!"
Earl Hakon was very generous; but the greatest misfortunes attended even such a chief at the end of his days: and the great cause of this was that the time was come when heathen sacrifices and idolatrous worship were doomed to fall, and the holy faith and good customs to come in their place.
Chapter LVII.
Olaf Tryggvesson elected king at a General Thing.
Olaf Tryggvesson was chosen at Drontheim by the General Thing to be the king over the whole country, as Harald Haarfager had been. The whole public and the people throughout all the land would listen to nothing else than that Olaf Tryggvesson should be king. Then Olaf went round the whole country, and brought it under his rule, and all the people of Norway gave in their submission; and also the chiefs in the Uplands and in Yiken, who before had held their lands as fiefs from the Danish king, now became King Olaf's men, and held their lands from him. He went thus through the whole country during the first winter and the following summer. Earl Eric, the son of Earl Hakon, his brother Swend, and their friends and relations, fled out of the country, and went east to Sweden to King Olaf the Swede, who gave them a good reception. So says Thord Kolbeinsson:—
"O thou whom bad men drove away,
After the bonders, by foul play,
Took Hakon's life! Fate will pursue
These bloody wolves, and make them rue.
When the host came from out the West,
Like some tall stately war-ship's mast,
I saw the son of Tryggve stand,
Surveying proud his native land."
And again,—
"Eric has more upon his mind,
Against the new Norse king designed,
Than by his Words he seems to show—
And truly it may well he so.
Stubborn and stiff are Drontheim men,
But Drontheim's earl may come again;
In Swedish land he knows no rest—
Fierce wrath is gathering in his breast."
Chapter LVIII.
Lodin's marriage.
Lodin was the name of a man from Viken who was rich and of good family. He went often on merchant voyages, and sometimes on viking cruises. It happened one summer that he went on a merchant voyage with much merchandise in a ship of his own. He directed his course first to Esthonia, and was there at a market in summer. To the place at which the market was held many merchant goods were brought, and also many thralls or slaves for sale. There Lodin saw a woman who was to be sold as a slave; and on looking at her he knew her to be Astrid, Eric's daughter, who had been married to King Tryggve. But now she was altogether unlike what she had been when he last saw her; for now she was pale, meagre in countenance, and ill clad. He went up to her, and asked her how matters stood with her. She replied, "It is heavy to be told; for I have been sold as a slave, and now again I am brought here for sale. "After speaking together a little Astrid knew him, and begged him to buy her, and bring her home to her friends. "On this condition," said he, "I will bring thee home to Norway,—that thou wilt marry me." Now as Astrid stood in great need, and moreover knew that Lodin was a man of high birth, rich, and brave, she promised to do so for her ransom. Lodin accordingly bought Astrid, took her home to Norway with him, and married her with her friends' consent. Their children were Thorkel Nefia, Ingerid, and Ingegird. Ingeborg and Astrid were daughters of Astrid by King Tryggve. Eric Biodaskalle's sons were Sigurd Karlshoved, Jostein, and Thorkel Dydnil, who were all rich and brave people who had estates east in the country. In Viken, in the east, dwelt two brothers, rich and of good descent; one called Thorgeir, and the other Hyrning; and they married Lodin and Astrid's daughters, Ingerid and Ingegird.
Chapter LIX.
King Olaf baptizes the country of Viken.
When Harald Gormson, king of Denmark, had adopted Christianity, he sent a message over all his kingdom that all people should be baptized, and converted to the true faith. He himself followed his message, and used power and violence where nothing else would do. He sent two earls, Urguthriot and Brimilskior, with many people to Norway, to proclaim Christianity there. In Viken, which stood directly under the king's power, this succeeded, and many were baptized of the country folk. But when Swend Forked-beard, immediately after his father King Haraid's death, went out on war expeditions in Saxonland, Friesland, and at last in England, the Northmen who had taken up Christianity returned back to heathen sacrifices, just as before; and the people in the north of the country did the same. But now that Olaf Tryggvesson was king of Norway, he remained long during the summer in Viken, where many of his relatives and some of his brothers-in-law were settled, and also many who had been great friends of his father; so that he was received "with the greatest affection. Olaf called together his mother's brothers, his stepfather Lodin, and his brothers-in-law Thorgeir and Hyrning, to speak with them, and to disclose with the greatest care the business which he desired they themselves should approve of, and support with all their power; namely, the proclaiming Christianity over all his kingdom. He would, he declared, either bring it to this, that all Norway should be Christian, or die. "I shall make you all," said he, "great and mighty men in promoting this work; for I trust to you most, as blood relations or brothers-in-law." All agreed to do what he asked, and to follow him in what he desired. King Olaf immediately made it known to the public that he recommended Christianity to all the people in his kingdom, which message was well received and approved of by those who had before given him their promise; and these being the most powerful among the people assembled, the others followed their example, and all the inhabitants of the east part of Viken allowed themselves to be baptized. The king then went to the north part of Viken, and invited every man to accept Christianity; and those who opposed him he punished severely, killing some, mutilating others, and driving some into banishment. At length he brought it so far, that all the kingdom which his father King Tryggve had ruled over, and also that of his relation Harald Grsenske, accepted of Christianity; and during that summer and the following winter all Viken was made Christian.
Chapter LX.
Of the Hordaland people.
Early in spring King Olaf set out from Viken with a great force northwards to Agder, and proclaimed that every man should be baptized. And thus the people received Christianity, for nobody dared oppose the king's will, wheresoever he came. In Hordaland, however, were many bold and great men of Horde-Kaari's race. He, namely, had left four sons,—the first Thorleif Spaake; the second, Ogmund father of Thorolf Skialg, who was father of Erling of Sole; the third was Thord, father of the Herse Klyp who killed King Sieve Gunhild's son; and lastly, Olmod father of Askel, whose son was Aslak Fitiaskalle; and that family branch was the greatest and most considered in Hordaland. Now when this family heard the bad tidings, that the king was coming along the country from the eastward with a great force, and was breaking the ancient law of the people, and imposing punishment and hard conditions on all who opposed him, the relatives appointed a meeting to take counsel with each other, for they knew the king would come down upon them at once; and they all resolved to appear in force at the Gula Thing, there to hold a conference with King Olaf Tryggvesson.
Chapter LXI.
Rogaland baptized.
When King Olaf came to Rogaland, he immediately summoned the people to a Thing; and when the bonders received the message-token for a Thing, they assembled in great numbers well armed. After they had come together, they resolved to choose three men, the best speakers of the whole, who should answer King Olaf, and argue with the king; and especially should decline to accept of any thing against the old law, even if the king should require it of them. Now when the bonders came to the Thing:, and the Thing was formed, King Olaf arose, and at first spoke good-humouredly to the people; but they observed he wanted them to accept Christianity, with all his fine words: and in the conclusion he let them know that those who should speak against him, and not submit to his proposal, must expect his displeasure and punishment, and all the ill that it was in his power to inflict. When he had ended his speech, one of the bonders stood up, who was considered the most eloquent, and who had been chosen as the first who should reply to King Olaf. But when he would begin to speak such a cough seized him, and such a difficulty of breathing, that he could not bring out a word, and had to sit down again. Then another bonder stood up, resolved not to let an answer be wanting, although it had gone so ill with the former; but he became so confused that he could not find a word to say, and all present set up a laughter, amid which the bonder sat down again. And now the third stood up to make a speech against King Olaf's; but when he began he became so hoarse and husky in his throat, that nobody could hear a word he said, and he also had to sit down. There was none of the bonders now to speak against the king, and as nobody answered him there was no opposition; and it came to this, that all agreed to what the king had proposed. All the people of the Thing accordingly were baptized before the Thing was dissolved.
Chapter LXII.
Filing Skialgsson's wooing.
King Olaf went with his men-at-arms to the Gula Thing; for the bonders had sent him word that they would reply there to his speech. When both parties had come to the Thing, the king desired first to have a conference with the chief people of the country; and when the meeting was numerous the king set forth his errand,—that he desired them, according to his proposal, to allow themselves to be baptized. Then said Olmod the Old, " We relations have considered together this matter, and have come to one resolution. If thou thinkest, king, to force us who are related together to such things as to break our old law, or to bring us under thyself by any sort of violence, then will we stand against thee with all our might: and be the victory to him to whom fate ordains it. But if thou, king, wilt advance our relations' fortunes, then thou shalt have leave to do as thou desirest, and we will all serve thee with zeal in thy purpose."
The king replies, "What do ye propose for obtaining this agreement? "
Then answers Olmod, "The first is, that thou wilt give thy sister Astrid in marriage to Erling Skialgsson, our relation, whom we look upon as the most hopeful young man in all Korway."
King Olaf replied, that this marriage appeared to him also very suitable; "as Erling is a man of good birth, and a good-looking man in appearance: but Astrid herself must answer to this proposal."
Thereupon the king spoke to his sister. She said, "It is but of little use that I am a king's sister, and a king's daughter, if I must marry a man who has no high dignity or office. I will rather wait a few years for a better match."
Chapter LXIII.
Hordaland baptized.
King Olaf took a falcon that belonged to Astrid, plucked off all its feathers, and then sent it to her. Then said Astrid, "Angry is my brother." And she stood up, and went to the king, who received her kindly; and she said, that she left it to the king to determine her marriage. "I think," said the king, "that I must have power enough in this land to raise any man I please to high dignity." Then the king ordered Olmod and Erling to be called to a conference, and all their relations; and the marriage was determined upon, and Astrid betrothed to Erling. Thereafter the king held the Thing, and recommended Christianity to the bonders; and as Olmod, and Erling, and all their relations, took upon themselves the most active part in forwarding the king's desire, nobody dared to speak against it; and all the people were baptized, and adopted Christianity.
Chapter LXIV.
Erling Skialgsson's wedding.
Erling Skialgsson held his wedding in summer, and a great many people were assembled at it. King Olaf was also there, and offered Erling an earldom. Erling replied thus: "All my relations have been hersers only, and I will take no higher title than they have; but this I will accept from thee, king, that thou makest me the greatest of that title in the country." The king consented; and at his departure the king invested his brother-in-law Erling with all the land north of the Sogn fiord, and east to the Lidandisness[46], on the same terms as Harald Haarfager had given land to his sons, as before related.
Chapter LXV.
Districts of Ram and the Fiords baptized.
The same harvest King Olaf summoned the bonders to a Thing of the four districts at Drogseid, in Stad; and there the people from Sogn, the Fiord district, South More, and Raumsdal, were summoned to meet. King Olaf came there with a great many people who had followed him from the eastward, and also with those who had joined him from Rogaland and Hordaland. When the king came to the Thing, he proposed to them there, as elsewhere, Christianity; and as the king had such a powerful host with him, they were frightened. The king offered them two conditions,—either to accept Christianity, or to fight. But the bonders saw they were in no condition to fight the king, and resolved, therefore, that all the people should agree to be baptized. The king proceeded afterwards to North More, and baptized all that district. He then sailed to Lade, in Drontheim; had the temple there rased to the ground; took all the ornaments and all property out of the temple, and from the gods in it; and among other things the great gold ring which Earl Hakon had ordered to be made, and which hung in the door of the temple; and then had the temple burnt. But when the bonders heard of this, they sent out a war-arrow as a token through the whole district, ordering out a warlike force, and intended to meet the king with it. In the mean time King Olaf sailed with a war-force out of the Fiord along the coast northward, intending to proceed to Halogaland, and baptize there. When he came north to the Bear Islands, he heard from Halogaland that a force was assembled there to defend the country against the king. The chiefs of this force were Harek of Thiotto, Thorer Hiort from Yaage, and Eyvind Kinnreif. Now when King Olaf heard this, he turned about and sailed southwards along the land; and when he got south of Stad proceeded at his leisure, and came early in winter all the way east to Viken.
Chapter LXVI.
King Olaf proposes marriage to Queen Sigrid the Haughty.
Queen Sigrid in Sweden, who had for surname the Haughty, sat in her mansion, and during the same winter messengers went between King Olaf and Sigrid to propose his courtship to her, and she had no objection; and the matter was fully and fast resolved upon. Thereupon King Olaf sent to Queen Sigrid the great gold ring he had taken from the temple door of Lade, which was considered a distinguished ornament. The meeting for concluding the business was appointed to be in spring on the frontier, at the Gotha river. Now the ring which King Olaf had sent Queen Sigrid was highly prized by all men; yet the queen's goldsmiths, two brothers, who took the ring in their hands, and weighed it, spoke quietly to each other about it, and in a manner that made the queen call them to her, and ask "what they smiled at?" But they would not say a word, and she commanded them to say what it was they had discovered. Then they said the ring is false. Upon this she ordered the ring to be broken in pieces, and it was found to be copper inside. Then the queen was enraged, and said that Olaf would deceive her in more ways than this one. In the same year King Olaf went into Ringarike, and there the people also were baptized.
Chapter LXVII.
Olaf Haraldsson baptized.
Aasta, the daughter of Gudbrand, soon after the fall of Harald Gramske married again a man who was called Sigurd Syr, who was a king in Ringarike. Sigurd was a son of Halfdan, and grandson of Sigurd Rise, who was a son of Harald Haarfager. Olaf, the son of Aasta and Harald Gramske, lived with Aasta, and was brought up from childhood in the house of his stepfather, Sigurd Syr. Now when King Olaf Tryggvesson came to Ringarike to spread Christianity, Sigurd Syr and his wife allowed themselves to be baptized, along with Olaf her son; and Olaf Tryggvesson was godfather to Olaf, the stepson of Harald Gramske. Olaf was then three years old. King Olaf returned from thence to Viken, where he remained all winter. He had now been three years king in Norway.
Chapter LXVIII.
Meeting of King Olaf and Sigrid the Haughty at Konghelle.
Early in spring King Olaf went eastwards to Konghelle to the meeting with Queen Sigrid; and when they met the business was considered about which the winter before they had held communication, namely, their marriage; and the business seemed likely to be concluded. But when Olaf insisted that Sigrid should let herself be baptized, she answered thus:— "I must not part from the faith which I have held, and my forefathers before me; and, on the other hand, I shall make no objection to your believing in the god that pleases you best." Then King Olaf was enraged, and answered in a passion, "Why should I care to have thee, an old faded woman, and a heathen jade? and therewith struck her in the face with his glove which he held in his hands, rose up, and they parted. Sigrid said, "This may some day be thy death. The king set off to Viken, the queen to Sweden.
Chapter LXIX.
The burning of warlocks.
Then the king proceeded to Viken, and held a Thing, at which he declared in a speech that all the men of whom it should he known to a certainty that they dealt with evil spirits, or in witchcraft, or were sorcerers, should he banished forth of the land. Thereafter the king had all the neighbourhood ransacked after such people, and called them all before him; and when they were brought to the Thing there was a man among them called Eyvind Kellda, a grandson of Rognvald Rettilbein, Harald Haarfager's son. Eyvind was a sorcerer, and particularly knowing in witchcraft. The king let all these men be seated in one room, which was well adorned, and made a great feast for them, and gave them strong drink hi plenty. Row when they were all very drunk, he ordered the house to be set on fire, and it and all the people within it were consumed, all but Eyvind Kellda, who contrived to escape by the smoke-hole in the roof. And when he had got a long way off, he met some people on the road going to the king, and he told them to tell the king that Eyvind Kellda had slipped away from the fire, and would never come again in King Olaf's power, but would carry on his arts of witchcraft as much as ever. When the people came to the king with such a message from Eyvind, the king was ill pleased that Eyvind had escaped death.
Chapter LXX.
Eyvind Kellda's death.
When spring came King Olaf went out to Viken, and was on visits to his great farms. He sent notice over all Viken that he would call out an army in summer, and proceed to the north parts of the country. Then he went north to Agder; and when Easter was approaching he took the road to Rogaland with 300 men, and came on Easter evening north to Augvaldsness, in Kormt Island, where an Easter feast was prepared for him. That same night came Eyvind Kellda to the island with a well-manned long-ship, of which the whole crew consisted of sorcerers, and other dealers with evil spirits. Eyvind went from his ship to the land with his followers, and there they played many of their pranks of witchcraft. Eyvind clothed them with caps of darkness, and so thick a mist that the king and his men could see nothing of them; but when they came near to the house of Augvaldsness, it became clear day. Then it went differently from what Eyvind had intended; for now there came just such a darkness over him and his comrades in witchcraft as they had made before, so that they could see no more from their eyes than from the back of their heads, but went round and round in a circle upon the island. When the king's watchmen saw them going about, without knowing what people these were, they told the king. Thereupon he rose up with his people, put on his clothes, and when he saw Eyvind with his men wandering about he ordered his men to arm, and examine what folk these were. The king's men discovered it was Eyvind, took him and all his company prisoners, and brought them to the king. Eyvind now told all he had done on his journey. Then the king ordered them all to be taken out to a skerry which was under water in flood tide, and there to be left bound. Eyvind and all with him left their lives on this rock, and the skerry is still called the Skerry of Shrieks.
Chapter LXXI.
Of King Olaf and Odin's apparition.
It is related that once on a time King Olaf was at a feast at this Augvaldsness, and one eventide there came to him an old man very gifted in words, and with a broad-brimmed hat upon his head. He was one-eyed, and had something to tell of every land. He entered into conversation with the king; and as the king found much pleasure in the guest's speech, he asked him concerning many things, to which the guest gave good answers: and the king sat up late in the evening. Among other things, the king asked him if he knew who the Augvald had been who had given his name both to the ness and to the house. The guest replied, that this Augvald was a king, and a very valiant man, and that he made great sacrifices to a cow which he had with him wherever he went, and considered it good for his health to drink her milk. This same King Augvald had a battle with a king called Varin, in which battle Augvald fell. He was buried under a mound close to the house; "and there stands his stone over him, and close to it his cow also is laid." Such and many other things, and ancient events, the king inquired after. Now, when the king had sat late into the night, the bishop reminded him that it was time to go to bed, and the king did so. But after the king was undressed, and had laid himself in bed, the guest sat upon the footstool before the bed, and still spoke long with the king; for after one tale was ended, he still wanted a new one. Then the bishop observed to the king, it was time to go to sleep, and the king did so; and the guest went out. Soon after the king awoke, asked for the guest, and ordered him to be called; but the guest was not to be found. The morning after, the king ordered his cook and cellar-master to be called, and asked if any strange person had been with them. They said, that as they were making ready the meat a man came to them, and observed that they were cooking very poor meat for the king's table; whereupon he gave them two thick and fat pieces of beef, which they boiled with the rest of the meat. Then the king ordered that all the meat should be thrown away, and said this man can be no other than the Odin whom the heathen have so long worshipped; and added, "but Odin shall not deceive us."
Chapter. LXXII.
The Thing in Drontheim.
King Olaf collected a great army in the east of the country towards summer, and sailed with it north to Nidaros in the Drontheim country. From thence he sent a message-token over all the fiord, calling the people of eight different districts to a Thing; hut the bonders changed the Thing-token into a war-token, and called together all men, free and unfree[47]
in all the Drontheim land. Now when the king met the Thing, the whole people came fully armed. After the Thing was seated, the king spoke, and invited them to adopt Christianity; but he had only spoken a short time when the bonders called out to him to be silent, or they would attack him and drive him away. "We did so" said they, "with Hakon foster-son of Athelstan, when he brought us the same message, and we held him in quite as much respect as we hold thee." When King Olaf saw how incensed the bonders were, and that they had such a war force that he could make no resistance, he turned his speech as if he would give way to the bonders, and said, "I wish only to be in a good understanding with you as of old; and I will come to where ye hold your greatest sacrifice festival, and see your customs, and thereafter we shall consider which to hold by." And in this all agreed; and as the king spoke mildly and friendly with the bonders, their anger was appeased, and their conference with the king went off peacefully. At the close of it a midsummer sacrifice was fixed to take place in Mære[48], and all chiefs and great bonders were to attend it as usual. The king was to be at it. Chapter LXXIII.
Of Skiaegge, or Iron Beard.
There was a great bonder called Skiaegge, and sometimes Iron Skiaegge, or Iron Beard, who dwelt in Ophaug in Yriar. He spoke first at the Thing to Olaf; and was the foremost man of the bonders in speaking against Christianity. The Thing was concluded in this way for that time,—the bonders returned home, and the king went to Lade.
Chapter LXXIV.
The feast at Lade.
King Olaf lay with his ships in the river Kid, and had thirty vessels, which were manned with many brave people; but the king himself was often at Lade with his court attendants. As the time now was approaching at which the sacrifices should be made at Msere, the king prepared a great feast at Lade, and sent a message to the districts of Strind, Guladal, and out to Orkadal, to invite the chiefs and other great bonders. When the feast was ready, and the chiefs assembled, there was a handsome entertainment the first evening, at which plenty of liquor went round, and the guests were made very drunk. The night after they all slept in peace. The following morning, when the king was dressed, he had the early mass sung before him; and when the mass was over, ordered to sound the trumpets for a House Thing: upon which all his men left the ships to come up to the Thing. When the Thing was seated, the king stood up, and spoke thus:—" We held a Thing at Froste, and there I invited the bonders to allow themselves to be baptized; but they, on the other hand, invited me to offer sacrifice to them gods, as King Hakon, Athelstan's foster-son, had done; and thereafter it was agreed upon between us that we should meet at Mære, and there make a great sacrifice. Now if I, along with you, shall turn again to making sacrifice, then will I make the greatest of sacrifices that are in use; and I will sacrifice men. But I will not select slaves or malefactors for this, but will take the greatest men only to be offered to the gods; and for this I select Orm Lyrgia of Medalhouse, Styrkar of Gimsar, Kaare of Gryting, Asbiorn Thorbergson of Varness, Orm of Lyra, Haldor of Sldrdfngstedia;" and besides these he named five others of the principal men. All these, he said, he would offer in sacrifice to the gods for peace and a fruitful season; and ordered them to be laid hold of immediately. Now when the bonders saw that they were not strong enough to make head against the king, they asked for peace, and submitted wholly to the king's pleasure. So it was settled that all the bonders who had come there should be baptized, and should take an oath to the king to hold by the right faith, and to renounce sacrifice to the gods. The king then kept all these men as hostages who came to his feast, until they sent him their sons, brothers, or other near relations.
Chapter LXXV.
Of the Thing in Drontheim.
King Olaf wrent in with all his forces into the Drontheim country; and when he came to Masre all among the chiefs of the Drontheim people who were most opposed to Christianity were assembled, and had with them all the great bonders who had before made sacrifice at that place. There was thus a greater multitude of bonders than there had been at the Froste Thing. Now the king let the people be summoned to the Thing, where both parties met armed; and when the Thing was seated the king made a speech, in which he told the people to go over to Christianity. Jernskisegge replies on the part of bonders, and says that the will of the bonders is now, as formerly, that the king should not break their laws. "We want, king," said he, "that thou shouldst offer sacrifice, as other kings before thee have done." All the bonders applauded his speech with a loud shout, and said they would have all things according to what Skisegge said. Then the king said he would go into the temple of their gods with them, and see what the practices were when they sacrificed. The bonders thought well of this proceeding, and both parties went to the temple.
Chapter LXXVI.
The Drontheim people baptized.
Now King Olaf entered into the temple with some few of his men and a few bonders; and when the king came to where their gods were, Thor, as the most considered among their gods, sat there adorned with gold and silver. The king lifted up his goldinlaid axe which he carried in his hands, and struck Thor so that the image rolled down from its seat. Then the king's men turned to and threw down all the gods from their seats; and while the king was in the temple, Jernskiægge was killed outside of the temple doors, and the king's men did it. When the king came forth out of the temple he offered the bonders two conditions,—that all should accept of Christianity forthwith, or that they should fight with him. But as Skiægge was killed, there was no leader in the bonders' army to raise the banner against King Olaf; so they took the other condition, to surrender to the king's will and obey his order. Then King Olaf had all the people present baptized, and took hostages from them for their remaining true to Christianity; and he sent his men round to every district, and no man in the Drontheim country opposed Christianity, but all people took baptism.
Chapter LXXVII.
Of the building of the town in the Drontheim country.
King Olaf with his people went out to Nidaros, and made houses on the flat side of the river Nid, which he raised to be a merchant town, and gave people ground to build houses upon. The king's house he had built just opposite the ships' creek; andhe transported to it, in harvest, all that was necessary for his winter residence, and had many people about him there.
Chapter LXXVIII.
King Olaf's marriage.
King Olaf appointed a meeting with the relations of Jernskiægge, and offered them the compensation or penalty for his bloodshed; for there were many bold men who bad an interest in that business. Jernskiægge bad a daughter called Gudrun; and at last it was agreed upon between the parties that the king should take her in marriage. When the weddingday came King Olaf and Gudrun went to bed together. As soon as Gudrun, the first night they lay together, thought the king was asleep, she drew a knife, with which she intended to run him through; but the king saw it, took the knife from her, got out of bed, and went to his men, and told them what had happened. Gudrun also took her clothes, and went away along with all her men who had followed her thither. Gudrun never came into the king's bed again.
Chapter LXXIX.
Building of the ship Crane.
The same autumn King Olaf laid the keel of a great long-ship out on the strand at the river Nid. It was a snække[49]; and he employed many carpenters upon her, so that early hi winter the vessel was ready. It had thirty benches for rowers, was high in stem and stern, but was not broad. The king called this ship the Crane. After Jernskiasgge's death his body was carried to Yriar, and lies there in the Skisegge mound on Osteraad.
Chapter LXXX.
Thangbrand the priest goes to Iceland.
When King Olaf Tryggvesson had been two years lung of Norway, there was a Saxon priest in his house who was called Thangbrand, a passionate, ungovernable man, and a great man-slayer; but he was a good scholar, and a clever man. The king would not have him in his house upon account of his misdeeds; but gave him the errand to go to Iceland, and bring that land to the Christian faith. The king gave him a merchant vessel; and, as far as we know of this voyage of his, he landed first in Iceland at Ostfiord, in the southern Alftafiord, and passed the winter in the house of Hall of Sidu. Thangbrand proclaimed Christianity in Iceland, and on his persuasion Hall and all his house-people, and many other chiefs, allowed themselves to be baptized; but there were many more who spoke against it. Thorvald Yeile and Veterlid the scald composed a satire about Thangbrand; but he killed them both outright. Thangbrand was two years in Iceland, and was the death of three men before he left it.
Chapter LXXXI.
Of Sigurd and Hauk.
There was a man called Sigurd, and another called Hauk, both of Halogaland, who often made merchant voyages. One summer they had made a voyage westward to England; and when they came back to Norway they sailed northwards along the coast, and at North More they met King Olaf's people. When it was told the king that some Halogaland people were come who were heathen, he ordered the steersmen to be brought to him, and he asked them if they would consent to be baptized; to which they replied, no. The king spoke with them in many ways, but to no purpose. He then threatened them with death and torture; but they would not allow themselves to be moved. He then had them laid in irons, and kept them in chains in his house for some time, and often conversed with them, but in vain. At last one night they disappeared, without any man being able to conjecture how they got away. But about harvest they came north to Harek of Thiottö, who received them kindly, and with whom they stopped all winter, and were hospitably entertained.
Chapter LXXXII.
Of Harek of Thiottö.
It happened one good-weather day in spring that Harek was at home in his house with only few people, and time hung heavy on his hands. Sigurd asked him if he would row a little for amusement. Harek was willing; and they went to the shore, and drew down a six-oared skiff; and Sigurd took the mast and rigging belonging to the boat out of the boathouse, for they often used to sail when they went for amusement on the water. Harek went out into the boat to hang the rudder. The brothers Sigurd and Hauk, who were very strong men, were fully armed, as they were used to go about at home among the peasants. Before they went out to the boat they threw into her some butter-kits and a bread-chest, and carried between them a great keg of ale. When they had rowed a short way from the island the brothers hoisted the sail, while Harek was seated at the helm; and they sailed away from the island. Then the two brothers went aft to where Harek the bonder was sitting; and Sigurd says to him, "Now thou must choose one of these conditions,—first, that we brothers direct this voyage; or, if not, that we bind thee fast and take the command; or, third, that we kill thee." Harek saw how matters stood with him. As a single man, he was not better than one of those brothers, even if he had been as well armed; so it appeared to him wisest to let them determine the course to steer, and bound himself by oath to abide by this condition. On this Sigurd took the helm, and steered south along the land, the brothers taking particular care that they did not encounter people. The wind was very favourable; and they held on sailing along until they came south to Drontheim and to Nidaros, where they found the king. Then the king called Harek to him, and in a conference desired him to be baptized. Harek made objections; and although the king and Harek talked over it many times, sometimes in the presence of other people, and sometimes alone, they could not agree upon it. At last the king says to Harek, "Now thou mayst return home, and I will do thee no injury; partly because we are related together, and partly that thou mayst not have it to say that I caught thee by a trick: but know for certain tbat I intend to come north next summer to visit you Halogalanders, and ye shall then see if I am not able to punish those who reject Christianity." Harek was well pleased to get away as fast as he could. King Olaf gave Harek a good boat of ten or twelve pair of oars, and let it be fitted out with the best of every thing needful; and besides he gave Harek thirty men, all lads of mettle, and well appointed.
Chapter LXXXIII.
Eyvind Kinnrif's Death.
Harek of Thiottö went away from the town as fast as he could; but Hauk and Sigurd remained in the king's house, and both took baptism. Harek pursued his voyage until he came to Thiotto. He sent immediately a message to his friend Eyvind Kinnrif, .with the word that he had been with King Olaf; but would not let himself be cowed down to accept Christianity. The message at the same time informed him that King Olaf intended coming to the north in summer against them, and they must be at their posts to defend themselves; it also begged Eyvind to come and visit him, the sooner the better. When this message was delivered to Eyvind, he saw how very necessary it was to devise some counsel to avoid falling into the king's hands. He set out, therefore, in a light vessel with a few hands as fast as he could. When he came to Thiotto he was received by Harek in the most friendly way, and they immediately entered into conversation -with each other behind the house. When they had spoken together but a short time, King Olaf's men, who had secretly followed Harek to the north, came up, and took Eyvind prisoner, and carried him away to their ship. They did not halt on their voyage until they came to Drontheim, and presented themselves to King Olaf at Nidaros. Then Eyvind was brought up to a conference with the king, who asked him to allow himself to be baptized, like other people; but Eyvind decidedly answered he would not. The king still, with persuasive words, urged him to accept Christianity, and both he and the bishop used many suitable arguments; but Eyvind would not allow himself to be moved. The king offered him gifts and great fiefs, but Eyvind refused all. Then the king threatened him with tortures and death, but Eyvind was steadfast. Then the king ordered a pan of glowing coals to be placed upon Eyvind's belly, which burst asunder. Eyvind cried, "Take away the pan, and I will say something before I die," which also was done. The king said, "Wilt thou now, Eyvind, believe in Christ?" "No," said Eyvind, "I can take no baptism; for I am an evil spirit put into a man's body by Lapland sorcery, because in no other way could my father and mother have a child." With that died Eyvind, who had been one of the greatest sorcerers.
Chapter LXXXIV.
Halogaland made Christian.
The spring after King Olaf fitted out and manned his ships, and commanded himself his ship the Crane. He had many and smart people with him; and when hew as ready, he sailed northwards with his fleet past. Byrd Isle, and to Halogaland. Wheresoever he came to the land, or to the islands, he held a Thing, and told the people to accept the right faith, and to be baptized. No man dared to say any thing against it, and the whole country he passed through was made Christian. King Olaf was a guest in the house of Harek of Thiottö, who was baptized with all his people. At parting the king gave Harek good presents; and he entered into the king's service, and got fiefs, and the privileges of lendsman from the king.
Chapter LXXXV.
Thorer Hiort's death.
There was a bonder, by name Baud the Strong, who dwelt in Godö Isle in Salten fiord. Baud was a very rich man, who had many house servants; and likewise was a powerful man, who had many Laplanders in his service when he wanted them. Baud was a great idolater, and very skilful in witchcraft, and was a great friend of Thorer Hiort, before spoken of. Both were great chiefs. Now when they heard that King Olaf was coming with a great force from the south to Halogaland, they gathered together an army, ordered out ships, and they too had a great force on foot. Baud had a large ship, with a gilded head formed like a dragon, which ship had thirty rowing benches, and even for that kind of ship was very large. Thorer Hiort had also a large ship. These men sailed southwards with their ships against King Olaf, and as soon as they met gave battle. A great battle there was, and a great fall of men; but principally on the side of the Halogalanders, whose ships were cleared of men, so that a great terror came upon them. Baud rowed with his dragon out to sea, and set sail. Baud had always a fair wind wheresoever he wished to sail, which came from his arts of witchcraft; and, to make a short story, he came home to Godo Isle. Thorer Hiort fled from the ships up to the land; but King Olaf landed people, followed those who fled, and killed them. Usually the king was the foremost in such skirmishes, and was so now. When the king saw where Thorer Hiort, who was quicker on foot than any man, was running to, he ran after him with his dog Vig. The king said, "Vig! Vig! catch Hiorten."[50] Vig ran straight in upon him; on which Thorer halted, and the king threw a spear at him. Thorer struck with his sword at the dog, and gave him a great wound; but at the same moment the king's spear flew under Thorer's arm, and went through and through him, and came out at his other side. There Thorer left his life; but Vig was carried wounded to the ships.
Chapter LXXXVI.
King Olaf's voyage to Godö.
King Olaf gave life and freedom to all the men who asked it and agreed to become Christian. King Olaf sailed with his fleet northwards along the coast, and baptized all the people among whom he came; and when he came north to Salten fiord[51], he intended to sail into it to look for Rand, but a dreadful tempest and storm was raging in the fiord. They lay there a whole week, in which the same weather was raging within the fiord; while without there was a fine brisk -wind only, fair for proceeding north along the land. Then the king continued his voyage north to Omd, in Hind island, where all the people submitted to Christianity. Then the king turned about and sailed to the south again; but when he came to the north side of Salten fiord, the same tempest was blowing, and the sea ran high out from the fiord, and the same kind of. storm prevailed for several days while the king was lying there. Then the king applied to Bishop Sigurd, and asked him if he knew any counsel about it; and the bishop said he would try if God would give him power to conquer these arts of the Devil.
Chapter LXXXVII.
Of Bishop Sigurd, and of Raud's being tortured.
Bishop Sigurd took all his mass robes and went forward to the bow of the king's ship; ordered tapers to be lighted, and incense to be brought out. Then he set the crucifix upon the stem of the vessel, read the Evangelist and many prayers, besprinkled the whole ship with holy water, and then ordered the ship-tent to be stowed away, and to row into the fiord. The king ordered all the other ships to follow him. Now when all was ready on board the Crane to row, she went into the fiord without the rowers finding any wind; and the sea was curled about their keel track like as in a calm, so quiet and still was the water; yet on each side of them the waves were lashing up so high that they hid the sight of the mountains. And so the one ship followed the other in the smooth sea track; and they proceeded this way the whole day and night, until they reached Godö Isle. Now when they came to Raud's house his great ship, the dragon, was afloat close to the land. King Olaf went up to the house immediately with his people; made an attack on the loft in which Raud was sleeping, and broke it open. The men rushed in: Raud was taken and bound, and of the people with him some were killed and some made prisoners. Then the king's men went to a lodging in which Raud's house servants slept, and killed some, bound others, and beat others. Then the king ordered Raud to be brought before him, and offered him baptism. "And," says the king, "I will not take thy property from thee, but rather be thy friend, if thou wilt make thyself worthy to be so." Raud exclaimed with all his might against the proposal, saying he would never believe in Christ, and making his scoff of God. Then the king was wroth, and said Raud should die the worst of deaths. And the king ordered him to be bound to a beam of wood, with his face uppermost, and a round pin of wood to be set between his teeth to force his mouth open. Then the king ordered an adder to be stuck into the mouth of him; but the serpent would not go into his mouth, but shrunk back when Raud breathed against it. Now the king ordered a hollow branch of an angelica root to be stuck into Raud's mouth; others say the king put his horn into his mouth, and forced the serpent to go in by holding a red hot-iron before the opening. So the serpent crept into the mouth of Raud and down his throat, and gnawed its way out of his side; and thus Raud perished. King Olaf took here much gold and silver, and other property of weapons, and many sorts of precious effects; and all the men who were with Raud he either had baptized, or if they refused had them killed or tortured. Then the king took the dragon-ship which Raud had owned, and steered it himself; for it was a much larger and handsomer vessel than the Crane. In front it had a dragon's head, and aft a crook, which turned up, and ended with the figure of the dragon's tail. The carved work on each side of the stem and stern was gilded. This ship the king called the Serpent. When the sails were hoisted they represented, as it were, the dragon's wings; and the ship was the handsomest in all Norway. The islands on which Raud dwelt were called Gilling and Hsering; but the whole islands together were called Godö Isles, and the current between the isles and the mainland the Godö Stream. King Olaf baptized the whole people of the fiord, and then sailed southwards along the land; and on this voyage happened much and various things, which are set down in tales and sagas,—namely, how witches and evil spirits tormented his men, and sometimes himself; but we will rather write about what occurred when King Olaf made Norway Christian, or in the other countries in which he advanced Christianity. The same autumn Olaf with his fleet returned to Drontheim, and landed, at Nidaros, where he took up his winter abode. What I am now going to write about concerns the Icelanders.
Chapter LXXXVIII.
Of the Icelanders.
Kiartan Olafsson, a son's son of Hoskuld, and a daughter's son of Egil Skalagrimson, came the same autumn from Iceland to Nidaros, and he was considered to be the most agreeable and hopeful man of any born in Iceland. There was also Haldor, a son of Gudmund of Modrovald; and Kolbein, a son of Thord, Frey's godar, and a brother's son of Brenno-Flose; together with Swerting, a son of the godar Runolf. All these were heathens; and besides them there were many more,—some men of power, others common men of no property. There came also from Iceland considerable people, who, by Thangbrand's help, had been made Christians; namely, Gissur White, a son of Teit Retilbiornson; and his mother was Alofa, daughter of Herse Bodvar who was the viking Kare's son. Bodvar's brother was Sigurd father of Eric Biodascalla whose daughter Astrid was King Olaf's mother. Hialte Skeggiason was the name of another Iceland man, who was married to Yilborg, Gissur White's daughter. Hialte was also a Christian; and King Olaf was very friendly to his relations Gissur and Hialte, who lived with him. But the Iceland men who directed the ships, and were heathens, tried to sail away as soon as the king came to the town of Nidaros, for they were told the king forced all men to become Christians; but the wind came stiff against them, and drove them back to Nidarholm. They who directed the ships were Thorarin Hefiulsson, the scald Halfred Ottarson, Brand the Generous, and Thorleik Brand's son. It was told the king that there were Icelanders with ships there, and all were heathen, and wanted to fly from a meeting with the king. Then the king sent them a message forbidding them to sail, and ordering them to bring their ships up to the town, which they, did, but without discharging the cargoes. They carried on their dealings and held a market at the king's pier. In spring they tried three times to slip away, but never succeeded; so they continued lying at the king's pier. It happened one fine day that many set out to swim for amusement, and among them was a man who distinguished himself above the the others in all bodily exercises. Kiartan challenged Halfred Yandraodaskald to try himself in swimming against this man, but he declined it. "Then will I make a trial," said Kiartan, casting off his clothes, and springing into the water. Then he set after the man, seizes hold of his foot, and dives with him under water. I hey come up again, and without speaking a word dive again, and are much longer under water than the first time. They come up again, and without saying a word dive a third time, until Kiartan thought it was time to come up again, which, however, he could in no way accomplish, which showed sufficiently the difference in their strength. They were under water so long that Kiartan was almost drowned. They then came up, and swam to land. This Northman asked what the Icelander's name was. Kiartan tells his name.
He says, "Thou art a good swimmer; but art thou expert also in other exercises?"
Kiartan replied, that such expertness was of no great value.
The Northman asks, "Why dost thou not inquire of me such things as I have asked thee about?"
Kiartan replies, "It is all one to me who thou art, or what thy name is."
"Then will I," says he, "tell thee: I am Olaf Tryggvesson."
He asked Kiartan much about Iceland, which he answered generally, and wanted to withdraw as hastily as he could; but the king said, "Here is a cloak which I will give thee, Kiartan." And Kiartan took the cloak with many thanks.
Chapter LXXXIX.
Of the baptism of the Icelanders.
Chapter XC.
Halfred the scald baptized.
handsome man, and of ready and agreeable speech. After the king and Kiartan had conversed a little, the king asked him to adopt Christianity. Kiartan replies, that he would not say no to that, if he thereby obtained the king's friendship; and as the king promised him the fullest friendship, they were soon agreed. The next day Kiartan was baptized, together with his relation Bolle Thorleikson, and all their fellow-travellers. Kiartan and Bolle were the king's guests as long as they were in their white baptismal clothes, and the king had much kindness for them. Wherever they came they were looked upon as people of distinction.
As King Olaf one day was walking in the street some men met him, and he who went the foremost saluted the king. The king asked the man his name, and he called himself Halfred.
"Art thou the scald?" said the king.
"I can compose poetry," replied he.
"Wilt thou then adopt Christianity, and come into my service?" asked the king.
"If I am baptized," replies he, "it must be on one condition,—that thou thyself art my godfather; for no other will I have."
The king replies, "That I will do." And Halfred was baptized, the king holding him during the baptism.
Afterwards the king said, "Wilt thou enter into my service?"
Halfred replied, "I was formerly in Earl Hakon's court; but now I will neither enter into thine nor into any other service, unless thou promise me it shall never be my lot to be driven away from thee."
"It has been reported to me," said the king, "that thou art neither so prudent nor so obedient as to fulfil my commands."
"In that case," replied Halfred, "put me to death."
"Thou art a scald who composes difficulties," says the king; "but into my service, Halfred, thou shalt saga be received."
Halfred says, "If I am to be named the composer of difficulties[52] what dost thou give me, king, on my name-day?"
The king gave him a sword without a scabbard, and said, " How compose me a song upon this sword, and let the word sword be in every line of the verses." Halfred sang thus: —
"This sword of swords is my reward.
For him who knows to wield a sword,
And with his sw'ord to serve his lord,
Yet wants a sword, his lot is hard.
I would I had my good lord's leave
For this good sword a sheath to choose:
I'm worth three swords where men swords use,
But for the sword-sheath now I grieve."
Then the king gave him the scabbard, observing that the word sword was wanting in one line of his strophe. "But there are three swords at least in two other lines," says Halfred. "So it is," replies the king.[53]—Out of Halfred's lays we have taken the most of the true and faithful accounts that are here related about Olaf Tryggvesson.
Chapter XCI.
Thangbrand the priest returns from Iceland.
The same harvest Thanff brand the priest came back from Iceland to King Olaf, and told the ill success of his journey; namely, that the Icelanders had made lampoons about him; and that some even sought turns from Iceland. to kill him, and there was little hope of that country ever being made Christian. King Olaf was so enraged at this, that he ordered all the Icelanders to be assembled by sound of horn, and was going to kill all who were in the town; but Kiartan, Gissur, and Hialte, with the other Icelanders who had become Christians, went to him, and said, 66 King, thou must not fall from thy word,—that however much any man may irritate thee, thou wilt forgive him if he turn from heathenism and become Christian. All the Icelanders here are willing to be baptized; and through them we may find means to bring Christianity into Iceland: for there are many amongst them, sons of considerable people in Iceland, whose friends can advance the cause; but the priest Thangbrand proceeded there as he did here in the court, with violence and manslaughter, and such conduct the people there would not submit to." The king hearkened to these remonstrances; and all the Iceland men who were there were baptized.
Chapter XCII.
Of King Olaf's feats.
King Olaf was more expert in all exercises than any man in Norway whose memory is preserved to us in sagas; and he was stronger and more agile than most men, and many stories are written down about it. One is, that he ascended the Smalsor Horn[54], and fixed his shield upon the very peak. Another is, that one of his followers had climbed up the peak after him, until he came to where he could neither get up nor down; but the king came to his help, climbed up to him, took him under his arm, and bore him to the flat ground. King Olaf could run across the oars outside of the vessel while his men were rowing the Serpent. He could play with three daggers, so that one was always in the air, and he took the one falling by the handle. He could walk all round upon the ship's rails, could strike and cut equally well with both hands, and could cast two spears at once. King Olaf was a very merry frolicsome man; gay and social; had great taste in every thing; was very generous; was very finical in his dress, but in battle he exceeded all in bravery. He was distinguished for cruelty when he was enraged, and tortured many of his enemies. Some he burnt in fire; some he had torn in pieces by mad dogs; some he had mutilated, or cast down from high precipices. On this account his friends were attached to him warmly, and his enemies feared him greatly; and thus he made such a fortunate advance in his undertakings, for some obeyed his will out of the friendliest zeal, and others out of dread.
Chapter XCIII.
Of the baptism of Leif Ericsson.
Leif, a son of Eric Rode, who first settled in Greenland, came this summer from Greenland to Norway; and as he met king Olaf he adopted Christianity, and passed the winter with the king.
Chapter XCIV.
Fall of Gudrod, the last of Eric's and Gunliild's sons.
Gudrod, a son of Eric Bloodyaxe and Gunhild the Mother of Kings, had been ravaging in the western countries ever since he fled from Norway before the Earl Hakon. But the summer before mentioned, when King Olaf Tryggvesson had ruled four years over Norway, Gudrod came to the country, and had many ships of war with him. He had sailed from England; and when he thought himself near to the Norway coast, he steered south along the land, to the quarter where it was least likely King Olaf would be. Gudrod sailed in this way south to Viken; and as soon as he came to the land began to plunder, to subject the people to him, and to demand that they should accept of him as king. Now as the country people saw that a great army was come upon them, they desired peace and terms. They offered King Gudrod to send a Thing-message over all the country, and to accept of him at the Thing as king, rather than suffer from his army; but they desired delay until a fixed day, while the token of the Thing's assembling was going round through the land. The king demanded maintenance during the time this delay lasted. The bonders pre¬ ferred entertaining the king as a guest, by turns, as long as he required it; and the king accepted of the proposal to go about with some of his men as a guest from place to place in the land, while others of his men remained to guard the ships. When King Olaf's relations, Hyrning and Thorgeir, heard of this, they gathered men, fitted out ships, and went northwards to Viken. They came in the night with their men to a place at which King Gudrod was living as a guest, and attacked him with fire and weapons; and there King Gudrod fell, and most of his followers. Of those who were with his ships some were killed, some slipped away and fled to great distances; and now were all the sons of Eric and Gunhild dead.
Chapter XCV.
The building of the ship Long Serpent.
The winter after King Olaf came from Halogaland, he had a great vessel built at Ladehammer[55], which was larger than any ship in the country, and of which the beam-knees are still to be seen. The length of keel that rested upon the grass was seventy-four ells. Thorberg Shafting was the man's name who was the master-builder of the ship; but there were many others besides,—some to fell wood, some to shape it, some to make nails, some to carry timber[56]; and all that was used was of the best. The ship was both long and broad and high-sided, and strongly timbered. While they were planking the ship, it happened that Thorberg had to go home to his farm upon some urgent business; and as lie remained there a long time, the ship was planked up on both sides when he came back. In the evening the king went out, and Thorberg with him, to see how the vessel looked, and every body said that never was seen so large and so beautiful a ship of war. Then the king returned to the town. Early next morning the king returns again to the ship, and Thorberg with him. The carpenters were there before them, but all were standing idle with their arms across. The king asked "what was the matter?" They said the ship was destroyed; for somebody had gone from stem to stern, and cut one deep notch after the other down the one side of the planking. When the king came nearer he saw it was so, and said, with an oath, "The man shall die who has thus destroyed the vessel out of envy, if he can be discovered, and I shall bestow a great reward on whoever finds him out."
"I can tell you,.king," says Thorberg, "who has done this piece of work."
"I don't think," replies the king, "that any one is so likely to find it out as thou art."
"Thorberg says, "I will tell you, king, who did it. I did it myself."
"The king says, "Thou must restore it all to the same condition as before, or thy life shall pay for it."
Then Thorberg went and chipped the planks until the deep notches were all smoothed and made even with the rest; and the king and all present declared that the ship was much handsomer on the side of the hull which Thorberg had chipped, and bade him shape the other side in the same way, and gave him great thanks for the improvement. Afterwards Thorberg was the master-builder of the ship until she was entirely finished. The ship was a dragon, built after the one the king had captured in Halogaland; but this ship was far larger, and more carefully put together in all her parts. The king called this ship Serpent the Long, and the other Serpent the Short. The long Serpent had thirty-four benches for rowers. The head and the arched tail were both gilt, and the bulwarks were as high as in sea-going ships. This ship was the best and most costly ship ever made in Norway.
Chapter XCVI.
Of Earl Eric, the son of Hakon.
Earl Eric, the son of Earl Hakon, and his brother, with many other valiant men their relations, had left the country after Earl Hakon's fall. Earl Eric went eastward to Sweden, to Olaf the Swedish king, and he and his people were well received. King Olaf gave the earl peace and freedom in the land, and great fiefs; so that he could support himself and his men well. Thord Kolbeinsson speaks of this in the verses before given[57]. Many people who fled from the country on account of King Olaf Tryggvesson came out of Norway to Earl Eric; and the earl resolved to fit out ships and go a cruising, in order to get property for himself and his people. First he steered to Gotland, and lay there long in summer watching for merchant vessels sailing towards the land, or for vikings. Sometimes he landed and ravaged all round upon the seacoasts. So it is told in the "Banda-drapa:"—
"Eric, as we have lately heard,
Has waked the song of shield and sword,—
Has waked the slumbering storm of shields
Upon the vikings' water-fields:
From Gotland's lonely shore has gone
Far up the land, and battles won;
And o'er the sea his name is spread,
To friends a shield, to foes a dread."
Afterwards Earl Eric sailed south to Vendland, and at Staurin found some viking ships, and gave them battle. Eric gained the victory, and slew the vikings. So it is told in the " Banda-drapa:"—
"Earl Eric, he who stoutly wields
The battle-axe in storm of shields,
With his long-ships surprised the foe
At Staurin, and their strength laid low.
Many a corpse floats round the shore;
The strand with dead is studded o'er;
The raven tears their sea-bleached skins—
The land thrives well when Eric wins."
Chapter. XCVII.
Earl Eric's foray on the Baltic coasts.
Earl Eric sailed back to Sweden in autumn, and staid there all winter; but in spring he fitted out his war force again, and sailed up the Baltic. When he came to Valdemar's dominions he began to plunder and kill the inhabitants, and burn the dwellings every where as he came along, and to lay waste the country. He came to Aldeigioburg[58] and besieged it until he took the castle; and he killed many people, broke down and burned the castle, and then carried destruction all around far and wide in Russia. So it is told in the "Banda-drapa:"—
"The generous earl, brave and hold,
Who scatters his bright shining gold,
Eric, with fire-scattering hand,
Wasted the Russian monarch's land,—
With arrow-shower, and storm of war,
Wasted the land of Waldemar.
Aldeigia burns, and Eric's might
Scours through all Russia by its light."
Earl Eric was five years in all on this foray; and when he returned from Russia he ravaged all Adalsyssel and Eysyssel[59], and took there four viking ships from the Danes, and killed every man on board. So it is told in the "Banda-drapa:"—
"Among the isles flies round the word,
That Eric's blood-devouring sword
Has flashed like fire in the Sound,
And wasted all the land around.
And Eric too, the bold in fight,
Has broken down the robber-might
Of four great vikings, and has slain
All of the crew—nor spared one Dane.
In Gotland he has seized the town,
In Syssels harried up and down;
And all the people in dismay
Fled to the forests far away.
By land or sea, in field or wave.
What can withstand this earl brave?
All fly before his fiery hand—
God save the earl, and keep the land."
When Eric had been a year in Sweden he went over to Denmark to King Swend the Forked-bearded, the Danish king, and courted his daughter Gyda. The proposal was accepted, and Earl Eric married Gyda; and a year after they had a son, who was called Hakon. Earl Eric was in the winter in Denmark, or sometimes in Sweden; but in summer he went a cruising.
Chapter XCVIII.
King Swend's marriage.
The Danish king, Swend Forked Beard[60], was married to Gunhild, a daughter of Burislaf king of the Vends. But in the times we have just been speaking of it happened that Queen Gunhild fell sick, and died. Soon after King Swend married Sigrid the Haughty, a daughter of Skoglar Toste, and mother of the Swedish king Olaf; and by means of this relationship there was great friendship between the kings and Earl Eric, Hakon's son.
Chapter XCIX.
King Burislaf's marriage.
Burislaf, the king of the Vends, complained to his relation Earl Sigvald, that the agreement was broken which Sigvald had made between King Swend and King Burislaf, by which Burislaf was to get in marriage Thyri, Harald's daughter, a sister of King Swend: but that marriage had not proceeded, for Thyri had given a positive no to the proposal to marry her to an old and heathen king. "Now," said King Burislaf to Earl Sigvald, "I must have the promise fulfilled." And he told Earl Sigvald to go to Denmark, and bring him Thyri as his queen. Earl Sigvald loses no time, but goes to King Swend of Denmark; explains to him the case; and brings it so far by his persuasion, that the king delivered his sister Thyri into his hands. With her went some female attendants, and her foster-father, by name Otsur Aakeson, a man of great power, and some other people. In the agreement between the king and the earl, it was settled that Thyri should have in property the possessions which Queen Gunhild had enjoyed in Vendland, besides other great properties as bride-gifts. Thyri wept sorely, and went very unwillingly. When the earl came to Vendland, Burislaf held his wedding with Queen Thyri, and received her in marriage; but as long as she was among heathens she would neither eat nor drink with them, and this lasted for seven days.
Chapter C.
King Olaf gets Thyri in marriage.
It happened one night that Queen Thyri and Otsur ran away in the dark, and into the woods, and, to be short in our story, came at last to Denmark. But there Thyri did not dare to remain, knowing that if her brother King Swend heard of her, he would send her back directly to Vendland. She went on, therefore, secretly to Xorway, and never stayed her journey until she fell in with King Olaf, by whom she was kindly received. Thyri related to the king her sorrows, and entreated his advice in her need, and protection in his kingdom. Thyri was a well-spoken woman, and the king had pleasure in her conversation. He saw she was a handsome woman, and it came into his mind that she would be a good match; so he turns the conversation that way, and asks if she will marry him. Mow, as she saw that her situation was such that she could not help herself, and considered what a luck it was for her to marry so celebrated a man, she bade him to dispose himself of her hand and fate; and, after nearer conversation, King Olaf took Thyri in marriage. This wedding was held in harvest, after the king returned from Halogaland; and King Olaf and Queen Thyri remained all winter at Kidaros. The following spring Queen Thyri complained often to King Olaf, and wept bitterly over it, that she who had so great property in Vendland had no goods or possessions here in the country that were suitable for a queen; and sometimes she would entreat the king with fine words to get her property restored to her, and saying that King Burislaf was so great a friend of King Olaf that he would not deny King Olaf any thing if they were to meet. But when King Olaf's friends heard of such speeches, they dissuaded him from any such expedition. It is related that the king one day early in spring was walking in the street, and met a man in the market with many, and, for that early season, remarkably large angelica roots. The king took a great stalk of the angelica in his hand, and went home to Queen Thyri's lodging. Thyri sat in her room weeping as the king came in. The king said, "See here, queen, is a great angelica stalk, which I give thee." She threw it away, and said "A greater present Harald Gormson gave to my mother; and he was not afraid to go out of the land and take his own. That was shown when he came here to Norway, and laid waste the greater part of the land, and seized on all the scatt and revenues; and thou darest not go across the Danish dominions for this brother of mine, King Swend." As she spoke thus, King Olaf sprang up, and answered with a loud oath, "Never did I fear thy brother King Swend; and if we meet he shall give way before me!"
Chapter CI.
Olaf's levy for war.
Soon after the king convoked a Thing in the town, and proclaimed to all the public, that in summer he would go abroad upon an expedition out of the country, and would raise both ships and men from every district; and at the same time fixed how many ships he would have from the whole Drontheim fiord. Then he sent his message-token south and north, both along the sea coast and up in the interior of the country, to let an army be gathered. The king ordered the Long Serpent to be put into the water, along with all his other ships both small and great. He himself steered the Long Serpent. When the crews were taken out for the ships, they were so carefully selected that no man on board the Long Serpent was older than sixty or younger than twenty years, and all were men distinguished for strength and courage. Those who were Olaf's body-guard were in particular chosen men, both of the country and foreigners[61] and the boldest and strongest,
Chapter CII.
The crew on board of the Long Serpent.
Ulf Rode was the name of the man who bore King Olaf's banner, and was in the forecastle of the Long Serpent; and with him was Kiolbiorn the marshal, and Yikar of Tiundaland, and Thorstein Oxefod, brothers of Arnliot Gellina. By the bulkhead next the forecastle were Yakur Elfski Raumason, Birse Bollason the Strong, An Skyti from Jemteland, Thrand Rame from Thelemark, and his brother Uthyrmer. Besides these, were, of Halogaland men, Thrand Skialge and Ogmund Sandi, Lodver Lang from Saltvig, and Harek Huase; together with these Drontheim men—Ketil Hane, Thorfin Eisli, Haavard and his brothers from Orkadal. The following were in the fore-hold: Biorn from Studio, Bork from the Fiorde, Thorgrim Thiodolfson from Huin, Asbiorn and Orm, Thord from Mardarlog, Thorstein White from Ofrostad, Arnor from Msere, Halstein and Hauk from the Fiord district, Eyvind Snaker, Berga BestiH, Halkel from Fialer, Olaf Dr eng, Arnfin from Sogn, Sigurd Bilde, Einar from Hordaland, and Fin and Ketil from Rogaland, and Griotgard the Brisk. The following were in the hold next the mast: Einar Tambarskelver, who was not reckoned as fully experienced, being only eighteen years old; Halstein Hlifarson, Thorolf, Ivar Smette, and Orm Skoganef. Many other valiant men were in the Serpent, although we cannot tell all their names. In every half division of the hold were eight men, and each and all chosen men; and in the fore-hold were thirty men. It was a common saying among people, that the Long Serpent's crew was as distinguished for bravery, strength, and daring, among other men, as the Long Serpent was distinguished among other ships. Thorkel Nefia, the king's brother, commanded the Short Serpent; and Thorkel Dyrdil and Jostein, the king's mother's brothers, had the Crane; and both these ships were well manned. King Olaf had eleven large ships from Drontheim, besides vessels with twenty rowers' benches, smaller vessels, and provision-vessels.
Chapter. CII.
Iceland baptized.
When King Olaf had nearly rigged out his fleet in Nidaros, he appointed men over the Drontheim country in all districts and communities. He also sent to SAGA VI. Iceland Gissur White and Hialte Skeggiason, to pro¬ claim Christianity there; and sent with them a priest called Thormod, along with several men in holy orders. But he retained with him, as hostages, four Icelanders whom he thought the most important; namely, Kiartan Olafsson, Haldor Gudmundsson, Kolbein Thordsson, and Swerting Bunalfsson. Of Gissur and Hialte's progress, it is related that they came to Iceland before the All-thing, and went to the Thing; and in that Thing Christianity was introduced by law into Iceland, and in the course of the summer all the people were baptized.
Chapter CIV.
Greenland baptized.
The same spring King Olaf also sent Leif Ericsson Chapter to Greenland to proclaim Christianity there, and Leif went there that summer. In the ocean he took up the crew of a ship which had been lost, and who were clinging to the wreck. He also found Vinland the Good; arrived about harvest in Greenland; and had with him for it a priest and other teachers, with whom he went to Brattalid to lodge with his father Eric. People called him afterwards Leif the Lucky: but his father Eric said that his luck and ill luck balanced each other; for if Leif had saved a wreck in the ocean, he had brought a hurtful person with him to Greenland, and that was the priest.[62]
Chapter CV.
Earl Rognvald sends messengers to King Olaf.
The winter after King Olaf had baptized Halogaland, he and Queen Thyri were in Nidaros; and the summer before Queen Thyri had brought King Olaf a boy-child, which was both stout and promising, and was called Harald, after its mother's father. The king and queen loved the infant exceedingly, and rejoiced in the hope that it would grow up and inherit after its father; but it lived barely a year after its birth, which both took much to heart. In that winter were many Icelanders and other clever men in King Olaf's house, as before related. His sister Ingeborg, Tryggve's daughter, was also at the court at that time. She was beautiful in appearance, modest and frank with the people, had a steady manly judgment, and was beloved of all. She was very fond of the Icelanders who were there, but most of Kiartan Olafsson, for he had been longer than the others in the king's house; and he found it always amusing to converse with her, for she had both understanding and cleverness in talk. The king was always gay and full of mirth in his intercourse with the people; and often asked about the manners of the great men and chiefs in the neighbouring countries, when strangers from Denmark or Sweden came to see him. The summer before Halfred Vandrsedaskald had come from Gotland, where he had been with Earl Rognvald, Ulf's son, who had lately come to the government of Wester Gotland. Ulf, Rognvald's father, was a brother of Sigrid the Haughty; so that King Olaf the Swede and Earl Rognvald were brother and sister's children. Halfred told Olaf many things about the earl: he said he was an able chief, excellently fitted for governing, generous with money, brave, and steady in friendship. Halfred said also that the earl desired much the friendship of King Olaf, and had spoken of making court to Ingeborg, Tryggve's daughter. The same winter came embassadors from Gotland, and fell in with King Olaf in the north, in Nidaros, and brought the message which Halfred had spoken of,—that the earl desired to be King Olaf's entire friend, and wished to become his brother-in-law by obtaining his sister Ingeborg in marriage. Therewith the embassadors laid before the king sufficient tokens in proof that in reality they came from the earl on this errand. The king listened with approbation to their speech; but said that Ingeborg herself must determine on his assent to the marriage, The king then talked to his sister about the matter, and asked her opinion about it. She answered to this effect,—"I have been with you for some time, and you have shown brotherly care and tender respect for me ever since you came to the country. I will agree therefore to your proposal about my marriage, provided that you do not marry me to a heathen man." The king said it should be as she wished. The king then spoke to the embassadors; and it was settled before they departed that in summer Earl Rognvald should meet the king in the east parts of the country, to enter into the fullest friendship with each other, and when they met they would settle about the marriage. With this reply the earls messengers went westward, and King Olaf remained all winter in Kidaros in great splendour, and with many people about him.
Chapter CVI.
King Olaf begins his expedition to Vendland.
King Olaf proceeded in summer with his ships and men southwards along the land, and past Stad. With him were Queen Thyri and Ingeborg, Tryggve's daughter, the king's sister. Many of his friends also joined him, and other persons of consequence who had prepared themselves to travel with the king. The first man among these was his brother-in-law, Erling Skialgsson, who had with him a large ship of thirty benches of rowers, and which was in every respect well equipt. His brothers-in-law Hyrning and Thorgeir also joined him, each of whom for himself steered a large vessel; and many other powerful men besides followed him. With all this war-force he sailed south¬ wards along the land; but when he came south as far as Eogaland he stopped there, for Erling Skialgsson had prepared for him a splendid feast at Sole. There Earl Kognvald, Ulf's son, from Gotland, came to meet the king, and to settle the business which had been proposed in winter in the messages between them, namely, the marriage with Ingeborg the king's sister. Olaf received him kindly; and when the matter came to be spoken of, the king said he would keep his word, and marry his sister Ingeborg to him, provided he would accept the true faith, and make all his subjects he ruled over in his land be baptized. The earl agreed to this, and he and all his followers were baptized. Now was the feast enlarged that Erling had prepared, for the earl held his wedding there with Ingeborg the king's sister. King Olaf had now married off all his sisters. The earl, with Ingeborg, set out on his way home; and the king sent learned men with him to baptize the people in Gotland, and to teach them the right faith and morals. The king and the earl parted in the greatest friendship.
Chapter CVII.
King Olaf's expedition to Vendland.
After his sister Ingeborg's wedding, the king made ready in all haste to leave the country with his army, which was both great and made up of fine men. When he left the land and sailed southwards he had sixty ships of war, with which he sailed past Denmark, and in through the Sound, and on to Yendland. He appointed a meeting with King Burislaf; and when the kings met, they spoke about the property which King Olaf demanded, and the conference went off peaceably, as a good account was given of the properties which King Olaf thought himself entitled to there. He passed here much of the summer, and found many of his old friends.
Chapter CVIII.
Conspiracy of the kings of Sweden and Denmark and Earl Eric against King Olaf.
The Danish king, Swend Forked Beard, was married, as before related, to Sigrid the Haughty. Sigrid was King Olaf Tryggvesson's greatest enemy; the cause of which, as before said, was that King Olaf had broken off with her, and had struck her in the face. She urged 'King Swend much to give battle to King Olaf Tryggvesson; saying that he had reason enough, as Olaf had married his sister Thyri without his leave, " and that your predecessors would not have submitted to." Such persuasions Sigrid had often in her mouth; and at last she brought it so far that Swend resolved firmly on doing so. Early in spring King Swend sent messengers eastward into Sweden, to his brother-in-law Olaf, the Swedish king, and to Earl Eric; and informed them that King Olaf of Norway was levying men for an expedition, and intended in summer to go to Vendland. To this news the Danish king added an invitation to the Swedish king and Earl Eric to meet King Swend with an army, so that all together they might make an attack on King Olaf Tryggvesson. The Swedish king and Earl Eric were ready enough for this, and immediately assembled a great fleet and an army through all Sweden, with which they sailed southwards to Denmark, and arrived there before King Olaf Tryggvesson had sailed to the eastward. Haldor the Unchristian tells of this in his lay on Earl Eric:—
"The king-subduer raised a host
Of warriors on the Swedish coast.
The brave went southwards to the tight,
Who love the sword-storm's gleaming light;
The brave, who fill the wild wolf's mouth,
Followed bold Eric to the south;
The brave, who sport in blood—each one
With the bold earl to sea is gone."
Chapter CIX.
Earl Sigvald's treacherous plans.
At the same time that King Swend sent a message to Sweden for an army, he sent Earl Sigvald to Vendland to spy out King Olaf Tryggvesson's proceedings, and to bring it about by cunning devices that King Swend and King Olaf should fall in with each other. So Sigvald sets out to go to Yendland. First, he came to Jomsburg, and then he sought out King Olaf Tryggvesson. There was much friendship in their conversation, and the earl got himself into great favour with the king. Astrid, the earl's wife, King Burislaf's daughter, was a great friend of King Olaf Tryggvesson, particularly on account of the connection which had been between them when Olaf was married to her sister Geira. Earl Sigvald was a prudent, ready-minded man; and as he had got a voice in King Olaf's council, he put him off much from sailing homewards, finding various reasons for delay. Olaf's people were in the highest degree dissatisfied with this; for the men were anxious to get home, and they lay ready to sail, waiting only for a wind. At last Earl Sigvald got a secret message from Denmark that the Swedish king's army was arrived from the east, and that Earl Eric's also was ready; and that all these chiefs had resolved to sail eastwards to Vendland, and wait for King Olaf at an island which is called Svald.[63] They also desired the earl to contrive matters so that they should meet King Olaf there.
Chapter CX.
King Olaf's voyage from Vendland.
There came first a flying report to Vendland that the Danish king, Swend, had fitted out an army; and it was soon whispered that he intended to attack King Olaf. But Earl Sigvald says to King Olaf, "It never can be King Swend's intention to venture with the Danish force alone, to give battle to thee with such a powerful army; but if thou hast any suspicion that evil is on foot, I will follow thee with my force (at that time it was considered a great matter to have Jomsburg vikings with an army), and I will give thee eleven manned ships." The king accepted this offer; and as the light breeze of wind that came was favourable, he ordered the ships to get under weigh, and the war-horns to sound the departure. The sails were hoisted; and all the small vessels, sailing fastest, got out to sea before the others. The earl, who sailed nearest to the king's ship, called to those on board to tell the king to sail in his keel-track: "For I know where the water is deepest between the islands and in the sounds, and these large ships require the deepest." Then the earl sailed first with his eleven ships, and the king followed with his large ships, also eleven in number; but the whole of the rest of the fleet sailed out to sea. Now when Earl Sigvald came sailing close under the island Svald, a skiff rowed out to inform the earl that the Danish king's army was lying in the harbour before them. Then the earl ordered the sails of his vessels to be struck, and they rowed in under the island. Haldor the Unchristian says:—
"From out the south bold Tryggve's son
With one-and-seventy ships came on,
To dye his sword in bloody fight,
Against the Danish foeman's might.
But the false earl the king betrayed;
And treacherous Sigvald, it is said,
Deserted from King Olaf's fleet,
And basely fled, the Danes to meet."
It is said here that King Olaf and Earl Sigvald had seventy sail of vessels and one more, when they sailed from the south.
Chapter CXI.
The consultation of the kings.
The Danish king Swend, the Swedish king Olaf, and Earl Eric, were there with all their forces. The weather being line and clear sunshine, all these chiefs, with a great suite, went out on the isle to see the vessels sailing out at sea, and many of them crowded together; and they saw among them one large and glancing ship. The two kings said, "That is a large and very beautiful vessel: that will be the Long Serpent."
Earl Eric replied, "That is not the Long Serpent." And he was right; for it was a ship belonging to Endric of Grimsar.
Soon after they saw another vessel coming sailing along much larger than the first; then says King Swend, "Olaf Tryggvesson must be afraid, for he does not venture to sail with the figure-head of the dragon upon his ship."
Says Earl Eric, "That is not the king's ship yet; for I know that ship by the coloured stripes of cloth in her sail. That is Erling Skialgsson. Let him sail; for it is the better for us that this ship is away from Olaf's fleet, so well equipt as she is."
Soon after they saw and knew Earl Sigvald's ships, which turned in and laid themselves under the island. Then they saw three ships coming along under sail, and one of them very large. King Swend ordered his men to go to their ships, "for there comes the Long Serpent."
Earl Eric says, "Many other great and stately vessels have they besides the Long Serpent. Let us wait a little."
Then said many, "Earl Eric will not fight and avenge his father; and it is a great shame that it should be told that we lay here with so great a force, and allowed King Olaf to sail out to sea before our eyes."
But when they had spoken thus for a short time, they saw four ships coming sailing along, of which one had a large dragon-head richly gilt. Then King Swend stood up, and said, "That dragon shall carry me this evening high, for I shall steer it."
Then said many, "The Serpent is indeed a wonderfully large and beautiful vessel, and it shows a great mind to have built such a ship."
Earl Eric said so loud that several persons heard him, "If King Olaf had no other vessels but only that one, King Swend would never take it from him with the Danish force alone."
Thereafter all the people rushed on board their ships, took down the tents[64], and in all haste made ready for battle.
While the chiefs were speaking among themselves as above related, they saw three very large ships coming sailing along, and at last after them a fourth, and that was the Long Serpent. Of the large ships which had gone before, and which they had taken for the Long Serpent, the first was the Crane; the one after that was the Short Serpent; and when they really saw the Long Serpent all knew, and nobody had a word to say against it, that it must be Olaf Tryggvesson who was sailing in such a vessel; and they went to their ships to arm for the fight. An agreement had been concluded among the chiefs, King Swend, King Olaf the Swede, and Earl Eric, that they should divide Norway among them in three parts, in case they succeeded against Olaf Tryggvesson; but that he of the chiefs who should first board the Serpent should have her, and all the booty found in her, and each should have the ships he cleared for himself. Earl Eric had a large ship of war which he used upon his viking expeditions; and there was an iron beard or comb above on both sides of the stem, and below it a thick iron plate as broad as the combs, which went down quite to the gunnel.[65]
Chapter CXII.
Of King Olaf's people.
When Earl Sigvald with his vessels rowed in under the island, Thorkel Dyrdil of the Crane, and the other ship commanders who sailed with him, saw that he turned his ships towards the isle, and thereupon let fall the sails, and rowed after him, calling out, and asking why he sailed that way. The earl answered, that he was waiting for King Olaf, as he feared there were enemies in the way. They lay upon their oars until Thorkel Nefia came up with the Short Serpent and the three ships which followed him. When they told them the same they too struck sail, and let the ships drive, waiting for King Olaf. But when the king sailed in towards the isle, the whole enemies' fleet came rowing within them out to the Sound. When they saw this they begged the king to hold on his way, and not risk battle with so great a force. The king replied, high on the quarterdeck where he stood, " Strike the sails; never shall men of mine think of flight. I never fled from battle. Let God dispose of my life, but flight I shall never take." It was done as the king commanded. Halfred tells of it thus: —
"And far and wide the saying bold
Of the brave warrior shall he told.
The king, in many a fray well tried;
To his brave champions round him cried;
'My men shall never learn from me
From the dark weapon-cloud to flee.'
Nor were the brave words spoken then
Forgotten by his faithful men."
Chapter CXIII.
King Olaf's ships are closed up for battle.
King Olaf ordered the war-horns to sound for all his ships to close up to each other. The king's ship lay in the middle of the line, and on one side lay the Little Serpent, and on the other the Crane; and as they made fast the stems together[66], the Long Serpent's saga vi. stem and the short Serpent's were made fast together; but when the king saw it he called out to his men, and ordered them to lay the larger ship more in advance, so that its stern should not lie so far behind in the fleet.
Then says Ulf the Red, "If the Long Serpent is to lie as much more ahead of the other ships as she is longer than them, we shall have hard work of it here on the forecastle."
The king replies, "I did not think I had a fore¬ castle man afraid as well as red." [67]
Says Ulf, "Defend thou the quarterdeck as I shall the forecastle."
The king had a bow in his hands, and laid an arrow on the string, and aimed at Ulf.
Ulf said, "Shoot another way, king, where it is more needful: my work is thy gain."
Chapter CXIV.
Of King Olaf.
King Olaf stood on the Serpent's quarterdeck, high Chapter over the others. He had a gilt shield, and a helmet 0fKiny inlaid with gold; over his armour he had a short red coat, and was easy to be distinguished from other men. When King Olaf saw that the scattered forces of the enemy gathered themselves together under the banners of their ships, he asked, "Who is the chief of the force right opposite to us?"
He was answered, that it was King Swend with the Danish army.
The king replies, "We are not afraid of these soft Danes, for there is no bravery in them; but who are the troops on the right of the Danes?"
He was answered, that it was King Olaf with the Swedish forces.
"Better it were," says King Olaf, "for these Swedes to be sitting at home killing their sacrifices, than to be venturing under our weapons from the Long Serpent. But who owns the large ships on the larboard side of the Danes?"
"That is Earl Eric Hakonson," say they. The king replies, "He, methinks, has good reason for meeting us; and we may expect the sharpest conflict with these men, for they are Norsemen like ourselves."
Chapter XXV.
The Battle begins.
The kings now laid out their oars, and prepared to The battle attack. King Swend laid his ship against the Long begms. Serpent. Outside of him Olaf the Swede laid himself, and set his ship's stem against the outermost ship of King Olaf's line; and on the other side lay Earl Eric. Then a hard combat began. Earl Sigvald held back with the oars on his ships, and did not join the fray. So says Skule Thorsteinson, who at that time was with Earl Eric: —
"I followed Sigvald in my youth,
And gallant Eric; and in truth,
Tho' now I am grown stiff and old,
In the spear-song I once was hold.
Where arrows whistled on the shore
Of Swalder fiord my shield I bore,
And stood amidst the loudest clash
When swords on shields made fearful crash."
And Halfred also sings thus:—
"In truth, I think the gallant king,
Midst such a foemen's gathering,
Would he the better of some score
Of his tight Drontheim lads, or more;
For many a chief has run away,
And left our brave king in the fray,
Two great kings' power to withstand,
And one great earl's, with his small hand.
The king who dares such mighty deed
A hero for his scald would need."
Chapter CXVI.
Flight of King Swend and King Olaf the Swede.
This battle was one of the severest told of, and many were the people slain. The forecastle men of the Long Serpent, the Little Serpent, and the Crane, threw grapplings and stem chains into King Swend's ship, and nsed their weapons well against the people standing below them, for they cleared the decks of all the ships they could lay fast hold of; and King Swend, and all the men who escaped, fled to other vessels, and laid themselves out of bow-shot. It went with this force just as King Olaf Tryggvesson had foreseen. Then King Olaf the Swede laid himself in their place; but when he came near the great ships it went with him as with them, for he lost many men and some ships, and was obliged to get away. But Earl Eric laid the Iron Beard side by side with the outermost of King Olaf's ships, thinned it of men, cut the cables, and let it drive. Then he laid alongside of the next, and fought until he had cleared it of men also. Now all the people who were in the smaller ships began to run into the larger, and the earl cut them loose as fast as he cleared them of men. The Danes and Swedes laid themselves now out of shooting distance all around Olaf's ship; but Earl Eric lay always close alongside of the ships, and used his swords and battle-axes, and as fast as people fell in his vessel others, Danes and Swedes, came in their place. So says Haldor: —
"Sharp was the clang of shield and sword,
And shrill the song of spears on board,
And whistling arrows thickly flew
Against the Serpent's gallant crew.
And still fresh foemen, it is said,
Earl Eric to her long side led;
Whole armies of his Danes and Swedes,
Wielding on high their blue sword-blades."
Then the fight became most severe, and many people fell. But at last it came to this, that all King Olaf Tryggvesson's ships were cleared of men except the Long Serpent, on board of which all who could still carry their arms were gathered. Then Iron Beard lay side by side with the Serpent, and the tight went on with battle-axe and sword. So says Haldor:—
Hard pressed on ever side by foes,
The Serpent reels beneath the blows;
Crash go the shields around the bow!
Breat-plates and breasts pierced thro' and thro'!
Jn the sword-storm the Holm beside,
The Iron Beard lay alongside
The king's Long Serpent of the sea—
Fate gave the earl the victory."
Chapter. CXVII.
Of Earl Eric.
Earl Eric was in the forehold of his ship, where a cover of shields [68] had been set up. In the fight, both hewing weapons, sword, and axe, and the thrust of spears had been used; and all that could be used as weapon for casting was cast. Some used bows, some threw spears with the hand. So many weapons were cast into the Serpent, and so thick flew spears and arrows, that the shields could scarcely receive them; for on all sides the Serpent was surrounded by war ships. Then King Olaf's men became so mad with rage, that they ran on board of the enemies' ships, to get at the people with stroke of sword and kill them; but many did not lay themselves so near the Serpent, in order to escape the close encounter with battle-axe or sword; and thus the most of Olaf's men went over¬ board and sank under their weapons, thinking they were fighting on plain ground. So says Halfred:—
The daring lads shrink not from death,—
O'erboard they leap, and sink beneath
The Serpent's keel: all armed they leap,
And down they sink five fathoms deep.
The foe was daunted at their cheers:
The king, who still the Serpent steers,
In such a strait—beset with foes—
Wanted but some more lads like those."
Chapter CXVIII.
Of Einar Tambarskelver.
Einar Tambarskelver, one of the sharpest of bow-shooters, stood by the mast, and shot with his bow. Einar shot an arrow at Earl Eric, which hit the tiller-end just above the earl's head so hard that it entered the wood up to the arrow-shaft. The earl looked that way, and asked if they knew who had shot; and at the same moment another arrow flew between his hand and his side, and into the stuffing of the chief's stool, so that the barb stood far out on the other side. Then said the earl to a man called Ein,—but some say he was of Finn (Laplander) race, and was a superior archer,"Shoot that tall man by the mast." Fin shot; and the arrow hit the middle of Einar's bow just at the moment that Einar was drawing it, and the bow was split in two parts.
"What is that," cried King Olaf, "that broke with such a noise?"
"Norway, king, from thy hands," cried Einar. "No! not quite so much as that," says the king; " take my bow, and shoot," flinging the bow to him. Einar took the bow, and drew it over the head of the arrow. "Too weak, too weak," said he, "for the bow of a mighty king!" and, throwing the bow aside, he took sword and shield, and fought valiantly.
Chapter Chapter CXIX.
Olaf gives his men sharp swords.
The king stood on the gangways of the Long Serpent, and shot the greater part of the day; sometimes with the bow, sometimes with the spear, and always throwing two spears at once. He looked down over the ship's side, and saw that his men struck briskly with their swords, and yet wounded but seldom. Then he called aloud, " Why do ye strike so gently that ye seldom cut?" One among the people answered, "The swords are blunt and full of notches." Then the king went down into the forehold, opened the chest under the throne, and took out many sharp swords, which he handed to his men; but as he stretched down his right hand with them, some observed that blood was running down under his steel glove, but no one knew where he was wounded.
Chapter. CXX.
The Serpent boarded.
Desperate was the defence in the Serpent, and there was the heaviest destruction of men done by the forecastle crew, and those of the forehold, for in both places the men were chosen men, and the ship was highest; but in the middle of the ship the people were thinned. Now when Earl Eric saw there were but few people remaining beside the ship's mast, he determined to board; and he entered the Serpent with four others. Then came Hyrning, the king's brother-in-law, and some others against him, and there was the most severe combat; and at last the earl was forced to leap back on board the Iron Beard again, and some who had accompanied him were killed, and others wounded. Thord Kolbeinsson alludes to this:—
"On Odin's deep, all wet with bloody
The helm-adorned hero stood;
And gallant Hyrning honour gained
Clearing all round with sword deep stained.
The high Fielde peaks shall fall,
Ere men forget this to recall."
Now the fight became hot indeed, and many men fell on board the Serpent; and the men on board of her began to be thinned off, and the defence to be weaker. The earl resolved to board the Serpent again, and again he met with a warm reception. When the forecastle men of the Serpent saw what he was doing, they went aft and made a desperate fight; but so many men of the Serpent had Mien, that the ship's sides were in many places quite bare of defenders; and the earl's men poured in all around into the vessel, and all the men who were still able to defend the ship crowded aft to the king, and arrayed themselves for his defence. So says Haldor the Unchristian:—
"Eric cheers on his men,—
'On to the charge again!'
The gallant few
Of Olaf's crew
Must refuge take
On the quarter-deck.
Around the king
They stand in ring;
Their shields enclose
The king from foes,
And the few who still remain
Fight madly, but in vain.
Eric cheers on his men—
'On to the charge again!'"
Chapter CXXI.
The Serpent's decks cleared.
Kolbiorn the marshal, who had on clothes and arms like the king's, and was a remarkably stout and handsome man, went up to the king on the quarter-deck. The battle was still going on fiercely even in the forehold.[69] But as many of the earl's men had now got into the Serpent as could find room, and his ships lay all round her, and few were the people left in the Serpent for defence against so great a force; and in a short time most of the Serpent's men fell, brave and stout though they were. King Olaf and Kolbiorn the marshal both sprang overboard, each on his own side of the ship; but the earl's men had laid out boats around the Serpent, and killed those who leaped over-board. Now when the king had sprung overboard, they tried to seize him with their hands, and bring him to Earl Eric; but King Olaf threw his shield over his head, and sank beneath the waters. Kolbiorn held his shield behind him to protect himself from the spears cast at him from the ships which lay round the Serpent, and he fell so upon his shield that it came under him, so that he could not sink so quickly. He was thus taken and brought into a boat, and they supposed he was the king. He was brought before the earl; and when the earl saw it was Kolbiorn, and not the king, he gave him his life. At the same moment all of King Olaf’s men who were in life sprang overboard from the Serpent; and Thorkel Nefia, the king’s brother, was the last of all the men who sprang overboard. It is thus told concerning the king by Halfred:—
The Serpent and the Crane
Lay wrecks upon the main.
On his sword he cast a glance,—
With it he saw no chance.
To his marshal, who of yore
Many a war-chance had come o’er,
He spoke a word — then drew in breath,
And sprang to his deep-sea death.”
Chapter CXXII.
Of the report among the people of the island.
Earl Sigvald, as before related, came from Yend- land, in company with King Olaf, with ten ships; but the eleventh ship was manned with the men of Astrid, the king’s daughter, the wife of Earl Sigvald. Now when King Olaf sprang overboard, the whole army raised a shout of victory; and then Earl Sigvald and his men put their oars in the water and rowed towards the battle. Ilaldor the Unchristian tells of it thus:—
“Then first the Vendland vessels came
Into the fight with little fame;
The fight still lingered on the wave,
Tho’ hope was gone with Olaf brave.
War, like a full-fed ravenous beast,
Still oped her grim jaws for the feast.
The few who stood now quickly fled,
When the shout told—'Olaf is dead!'"
But the Vendland cutter, in which Astrid's men were, rowed back to Vendland; and the report went immediately abroad, and was told by many, that King Olaf had cast off his coat of mail under water, and had swam, diving under the long-ships, until he came to the Yendland cutter, and that Astrid's men had conveyed him to Vendland and many tales have been made since about the adventures of Olaf the king. Halfred speaks thus about it:—
"Does Olaf live? or is he dead?
Has he the hungry ravens fed?
I scarcely know what I should say,
For many tell the tale each way.
This I can say, nor fear to lie,
That he was wounded grievously,—
So wounded in this bloody strife,
He scarce could come away with life."
But however this may have been, King Olaf Tryggvesson never came back again to his kingdom of Norway. Halfred Vandrædaskald speaks also thus about it:—
"The witness who reports this thing
Of Tryggvesson, our gallant king,
Once served the king, and truth should tell,
For Olaf hated lies like hell.
If Olaf 'scaped from this sword-thing,
Worse fate, I fear, befell our king
Than people guess, or e'er can know,
For he was hemm'd in by the foe.
From the far east some news is rife
Of king sore wounded saving life;
His death, too sure, leaves me no care
For cobweb rumours in the air.
It never was the will of fate
That Olaf from such perilous strait
Should 'scape with life: this truth may grieve—
'What people wish they soon believe.'"
Chapter CXXIII.
Of Earl Eric the son of Hakon.
By this victory Earl Eric Hakonson became owner of the Long Serpent, and made a great booty besides; and he steered the Serpent from the battle. So says Haldor:—
"Olaf, with glittering helmet crowned,
Had steered the Serpent through the Sound;
And people dressed their boats, and cheered,
As Olaf's fleet in splendour steered.
But the descendant of great Hemming,
Whose race tells many a gallant sea-king,
His blue sword in red life-blood stained,
And bravely Olaf's long-ship gained."
Swend, a son of Earl Hakon, and Earl Eric's brother, was engaged at this time to marry Holmfrid, a daughter of King Olaf the Swedish king. Now when Swend the Danish king, Olaf the Swedish king, and Earl Eric divided the kingdom of Norway between them, King Olaf got four districts in the Drontheim country, and also the districts of More and Raumsdal; and in the east part of the land he got Ranrige, from the Gotha river to Swinesund. Olaf gave these dominions into Earl Swend's hands, on the same conditions as the sub-kings or earls had held them formerly from the upper-king of the country. Earl Eric got four districts in the Drontheim country, and Halogaland, Naumadal, the Fiord districts, Sogn, Hordaland, Rogaland, and North Agder, all the way to the Naze. So says Thord Kolbeinsson:—
"All chiefs within our land
On Eric's side now stand:
Erling alone, I know,
Remains Earl Eric's foe.
All praise our generous earl,—
He gives, and is no churl:
All men are well content
Fate such a chief has sent.
From Veg to Agder they,
Well pleased, the earl obey;
And all will by him stand,
To guard the Norsemen's land.
And now the news is spread
That mighty Swend is dead,
And luck is gone from those
Who were the Norsemen's foes."
The Danish king Swend retained Viken as he had held it before, but he gave Raumarike and Hedemark to Earl Eric. Swend Hakonson got the title of earl from Olaf the Swedish king. Swend was one of the handsomest men ever seen. The earls Eric and Swend both allowed themselves to be baptized, and took up the true faith; but as long as they ruled in Norway they allowed every one to do as he pleased in holding by his Christianity. But, on the other hand, they held fast by the old laws, and all the old rights and customs of the land, and were excellent men and good rulers. Earl Eric had most to say of the two brothersin all matters of government.
END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.
London:
Printed by A. Spottiswoode,
New-Street-Square.
- ↑ Olaf Tryggvesson reigned from about the year 995 to the year 1000.
King Olaf, it will he remembered., was one of Harald Haarfager's sons; King Tryggve Olafsson was the son of this Olaf, and this Olaf Tryggvesson the son of Tryggve.
- ↑ Lymfiord, running in from the Baltic across the peninsula of Jutland, is only divided by a narrow neck of land from the North Sea. This neck has within these fifteen years been washed away, and there is now a channel into the Baltic by this new passage for small craft.
- ↑ This brings the reign of Harald Greyskin to about the year 975.
- ↑ The ancient family of Scollay in Orkney may probably derive their name from this chief.
- ↑ Loke's game is war.
- ↑ The name of Odin.
- ↑ Byrda, now Boro, in the parish of Biorn Isles, on the coast, near the mouth of the Namsen river, or Naumadal.
- ↑ Sogne fiord.
- ↑ This marking out a champ clos for battle appears to have been common among the Northmen.
- ↑ Earl Hakon, from his victories over them, is called the foe of the Vendland men.
- ↑ Narve was the son of Loke; and the sword was called Narve's weapon.
- ↑ Things were generally held on nesses or tongues accessible by water, as roads were not formed.
- ↑ The original figure of expression is, "hater of the fire of the bow's seat:" viz. the seat of the bow is the hand; the fire of the hand the gold-rings worn on the fingers; the hater of this fire he who does not care for it, but parts with it readily—the generous man.
- ↑ Vindland or Vendland—the land of the Vends or Vands, the Sclavonic people who then occupied the coast from the Vistula to Holstein. The Vendland of the saga is the present Mecklenburg, Pomerania, and East Prussia.
- ↑ Danaverki. 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 Eyder and Sle, constructed by Harald Blaatand to oppose the progress of Charlemagne. Some traces of it still exist.
- ↑ The large part of Sweden, or of the country on the Swedish side of the Sound, called Scania, belonged in the earliest times to the kingdom of Denmark.
- ↑ Jemteland is the province still so called on the Swedish side of a ridge of hills, or keel of the peninsula, at the head of the Bothnian Gulph.
- ↑ Saxonland, or Germany.
- ↑ Frakkaland, or Frankland, is France.
- ↑ Friesland, the low countries about the Ems.
- ↑ Vendland is the present Pomerania and Mecklenburg down to the Gulph of Lubeck.
- ↑ Holsetta-land is Holstein.
- ↑ Earl Hakon. Hordaland is often used for Norway by the scald.
- ↑ The fiord now called Slie runs up to the town of Sleswick.
- ↑ Morsey is now called Mors, an island in the Lymfiord.
- ↑ Eyrarsund is the sound betwixt Scaland and Sweden, which is still called Ore Sound by the Norwegians.
- ↑ This was Swend, or Swein, afterwards the conqueror of England, and father of Canute the Great.
- ↑ Ravens were the witches' horses.
- ↑ Odin's dress is full armour.
- ↑ Bretland, the land of the Britons, or Wales.
- ↑ Kumraland, or Cumberland; but one of the MSS. of Snorro's work appeals to have Kauraland. which would rather indicate Cornwall, and would correspond better with Olaf's voyage from Wales to Valland.
- ↑ Valland is the west coast of France, from the Seine to the Loire.
- ↑ The shield of the Northmen appears to have been not the round, but the narrow oblong shield. We read of the men sleeping under their shields, and of being carried upon the shield when wounded. It must have been long-shaped.
- ↑ Holm-gang; so called because the combatants went to a holm or uninhabited isle to fight in Norway.
- ↑ It is probable that all this chapter is intended for satire on people in the different localities of Iceland mentioned; but we have not the clew to the wit.
- ↑ The Danes, being Christians, were particularly obnoxious to the heathen Norsemen and the scald.
- ↑ Norna, one of the Fates, stands here for women, whose business it was to sew the rings of iron upon the cloth which made these ring-mail coats or shirts. Some of these may be seen in the Museum of Northern Antiquities at Copenhagen. The needles, although some of them were of gold, appear to have been without eyes, and used like shoemakers' awls.
- ↑ Eyri, a piece of money (ore), equal to an ounce weight.
- ↑ This name Havard or Ilaavard, common among the Northmen., appears to be the English name Howard., and left by them in Northumberland and East Anglia.
- ↑ This traditionary talc of a warrior fighting on his knees after his legs, were cut off, appears to have been a popular idea among the Northmen, and is related by their descendants in the ballad of Chevy Chase.
- ↑ This refers to Saint Olaf, Aasta's son by Harald.
- ↑ Pinkerton proves with great learning that Hebrides is a name arising from an error in printing or transcribing, the Hebudes being the true name—the Eybode, or island habitations. Sudreya, or South Isles, is the saga name of the Hebudes, from their situation relatively to Iceland, Fsero, Orkney, and other islands under the dominion of Norway. This name is still preserved in the title of the bishop,—viz. Sodor and Man.
- ↑ Osmundswall is the name of a harbour in the island of Walls, opposite to South Ronaldsa, still used for waiting a tide favourable for crossing Pentland Firth.
- ↑ Agdaness, the south point of the mouth of Drontheim fiord.
- ↑ Now Munkholm, opposite to the town of Drontheim.
- ↑ The Naze of Norway is called Lindisness and Lidandisness in the saga.
- ↑ "Thegn oc Thrael" is the expression in the Icelandic text; and the term Thegn or Thane occurs rarely, if at all, in any other passage of the early sagas. Bonde, it is evident, was a word applied only to landowners; and to this general meeting all men of the highest and of the lowest class, and not merely the men having right as bonders to sit in the Law Things, were summoned by the bonders. Thegn has been a more comprehensive term than Bonde, and means here a free proprietor of any kind of property. The bonders or landed proprietors only are spoken of at Law Things, and no mention of thegns is made at Things, or on any other occasion.
- ↑ At Mære, the site of the ancient temple in the Drontheim district, a large mound still remains with the name Mære.
- ↑ A snække appears to have been a denomination of one class of long- ships or ships of war. The word snek is still used in the north of Scotland for quick, nimble; and the word snekka probably denoted the Qualities we understand by a cutter or fast vessel. A dragon appears to have been applied to a heavier class of ships of war. The ships of burden, last-ships, appear to have been built on a different model.
- ↑ Hiorten signifies the deer or hart.
- ↑ The Salten fiord is more celebrated in the north of Norway, and more dreaded, than the famous Maelstrom. It is a large fiord within; but the throat through which the vast mass of water has to run in and out at flood and ebb is so narrow, that it makes a very heavy and dangerous race or roost for many miles out in the sea, especially in ebb, when the whole body of water is returning to the ocean. The stream can only be crossed during a few minutes at still water, when flood or ebb has not begun to run, unless at a great distance from the jaws of this singular gulph.
- ↑ Vandrædascald—the despair of scalds, or the difficult scald.
- ↑ From this dialogue, which we may fairly take as a true representation of the tone of conversation, and very likely of the words, between a king and a man of literature or scald in the 10th century, it may be inferred that there was a considerable taste for the compositions of scalds, and for intellectual effort; but that this taste was gratified by the art of verse-making—by the reproduction of words, letters, metres, in difficult technical circumstances—much more than by the spirit of poetry. It is likely that in all ages, and even among individuals, the taste for the simple and natural in poetry is the last, not the first, developed taste. It is the savage who loves frippery in dress, and in what addresses itself to taste.
- ↑ Now called Hornelen,—an inaccessible peak or needle on the summit of a mountain in Bremanger.
- ↑ Ladehammar,—the knob or point of land below the house of Lade., still known by the same name. Lade is close to Drontheim.
- ↑ This division of labour and trades, and this building of a vessel equal in length to a frigate of forty guns, give a curious peep at the civilisation of these pagans in the 10th century, and of the state of the useful arts among them. We need not be surprised that a people who had master-carpenters among them had scalds—the useful and the fine arts keep some kind of pace together.
- ↑ In the verses given in Chapter 57 of this Saga.
- ↑ Aldeigioborg is the town at Aldeigia or the Ladoga lake, and is supposed to be the present town of Notaburg, on an island in this lake.
- ↑ Estland was the country along the Gulph of Finland, as far west as the Vistula; and Eysyssel was the district of the islands of Osel and others along this coast. Adalsyssel was the district on the mainland opposite to Eysyssel.
- ↑ Sweinn or Swend Forked Beard (Tiuguskegg) was the conqueror of England,, and father of Canute the Great. We retain the word swein in swain, boatswain, coxswain, and other words, in the same signification as swein and swend have in the northern languages. He was the son of King Harald Gormson, whose father, Gorm the Old, was the first sole king of Denmark. Gorm the Old, Harald Haarfager, and Eric Emundsson of Sweden, were contemporaries, and three remarkable men, who, about the middle of the 9th century, got the supreme power in their respective dominions, and put down the small kings. Eric the Victorious, a grandson of Eric Emundsson, gained a battle at Fyrisvol, near Upsal, in 983, against his brother's son, Styrbiorn the Strong, who was aided by Harald Gormson of Denmark; and in the war which ensued between Sweden and Denmark, Swein, Harald's son, was driven from his kingdom. Eric's first wife was Sigrid the Haughty. He divorced her after she had a son by him called Olaf. This Olaf, called Olaf the Swede, and the Lap-king, from having been king while still in his nurse's lap, w'as the Olaf of whom so much is related in the Saga of Saint Olaf. This Sigrid, the same who burnt Harald Graenske, and whom Olaf Tryggvesson insulted by striking her with his glove, married Swein, who recovered hack his kingdom by this marriage from his stepson, Olaf the Swede. According to the saga, this Sigrid's desire of revenge for the insult she had received from Olaf Tryggvesson occasioned the combination which defeated and slew Olaf. The peace, established by this marriage between Sweden and Denmark, enabled Swein to leave his dominions and make war in England. Olaf the Swede died in 1024, and was the first Christian king of Sweden.
- ↑ Foreigners were kept in pay even at that time in the body-guard of the kings.
- ↑ There are eight chapters here in Peringskiold's edition of the Heiraskringla which relate to the discovery of Vinland, and are taken from the Codex Flatoyensis, but are not in the manuscripts of the Heimskringla known to the Danish antiquaries. They are supposed to have been an interpolation in the manuscript which Peringskiold had before him, but which is not now to be found. That they are an interpolation is manifest, because they have no reference to or connection with the events or personages before them or after them in Snorro's narrative, and interrupt Olaf Tryggvesson's history at the most interesting and important period; but all Snorro's incidents and personages in his episodes reappear and conduce to his story, as in real life, or as in Homer's practice or Horace's precepts of the construction of an epic. This artistical management of his tale is one of the beauties of Snorro's work, and of the internal evidences of its general truth_, which will not have escaped the reader's notice. The eight chapters are given in the Appendix.
- ↑ This island has been somewhere between the south-east end of the Isle of Rugen and the continent; but no such isle now exists, and the antiquary is forced to conjecture it may have been lost in the 14th century, when many changes took place in the coast land of the Baltic.
- ↑ The ship-tents or tilts, under which, the crews appear to have lived when not under sail.
- ↑ It seems to have been an iron plate with spikes on the top; all round the stem and sides of the ship; to prevent boarding.
- ↑ The mode of fighting in sea battles appears, from this and manyother descriptions, to have been for each party to bind together the stems and sterns of their own ships, forming them thus into a compact body as soon as the fleets came within fighting distance, or within spears' throw. They appear to have fought principally from the forecastles; and to have used grappling-irons for dragging a vessel out of the line, or within hoarding distance.
- ↑ There is a rhyme or pun here—Raudan oc Ragan. Afraid—Ragan, is similar in alliterative rhyme to Raudan—Red, the name of Ulf; and Raudan oc Ragan make a line of alliterative verse.
- ↑ Both in land and sea fights the commanders appear to have been protected from missile weapons,—stones, arrows, spears,— by a shieldburg; that is, by a party of men bearing shields surrounding them in such a way that the shields were a parapet, covering those within the circle. The Romans had a similar military arrangement of shields in sieges—the testudo.
- ↑ From the occasional descriptions of vessels in this and other battles, it may be inferred that even the Long Serpent, described in the 95th Chapter as of 150 feet of keel, was only decked fore and aft; the 34 benches for rowers occupying the open area in the middle, and probably gangways running along the sides for communicating from the quarter-deck to the forecastle.