The king said, "llast thou killed the earl?"
"I did not kill him, for he was gone to Saint Lucius'
church."
There was a man called Ivar White, a Norwegian by
birth, who was the king's courtman and chamberlain.
The king said to him, "Go thou and kill the earl."
Ivar went to the church, and in at the choir, and thrust
liis sword through tlic earl, who died on the spot. Then
Ivar went to the king, with the bloody sword in his hand.
The king said, "Hast thou killed the earl ?"
"I have killed him," says he.
"Thou didst well."
After the earl was killed the monks closed the church,
533
THE HEIMSKRINGLA
and locked the doors. When that was told the king he
sent a message to the monks, ordering them to open the
church and sing high mass. They did as the king or-
dered; and when the king came to the church he be-
stowed on it great property, so that it had a large do-
main, by which that place was raised very high ; and these
lands have since always belonged to it. King Canute
rode down to his ships, and lay there till late in harvest
with a very large army.
164. — OF KING OLAF AND THE SWEDES.
When King Olaf and King Onund heard that King
Canute had sailed to the Sound, and lay there with a great
force, the kings held a House-thing, and spoke much
about what resolution they should adopt. King Olaf
wished they should remain there with all the fleet, and see
what King Canute would at last resolve to do. But the
Swedes held it to be unadvisable to remain until the frost
set in, and so it was determined ; and King Onund went
home with all his army, and King Olaf remained lying af-
ter them.
1G5. — OF EGIL AND TOFE.
While King Olaf lay there, he had frequently confer-
ences and consultations with his people. One night Egil
Halson and Tofe Valgautson had the watch upon the
king's ship. Tofe came from West Gautland, and was
a man of high birth. While they sat on watch they
heard much lamentation and crying among the people
who had been taken in the war, and who lay bound on the
shore at night. Tofe said it made him ill to hear such
534
SAGA OF OLAF HARALDSON
distress, and asked Egil to go with liim, and let loose
these people. This work they set about, cut the cords,
and let the people escape, and they looked upon it as a
piece of great friendship; but the king was so enraged
at it, that they themselves were in the greatest danger.
When I{gil afterwards fell sick the king for a long time
would not visit him, until many people entreated it of
him. It vexed Egil much to have done anything the
king was angry at, and he begged bis forgiveness. The
king now dismissed his wrath against Egil, laid his hands
upon the side on which Egil's pain was, and sang a
prayer; upon which the pain ceased instantly, and Egil
grew better. Tofe came, after entreaty, into reconcilia-
tion with the king, on condition that he should exhort
his father Valgaut to come to the king. He was a
heathen; but after conversation with the king he went
over to Christianity, and died instantly when he was
baptized.
16(3. — tre;achery towards king olaf.
King Olaf had now frequent conferences with his peo-
ple, and asked advice from them, and from his chiefs,
as to what he should determine upon. But there was
no unanimity among them — some considering that un-
advisable which others considered highly serviceable;
and there was much indecision in their councils. King
• Canute had always spies in King Olaf's army, who en-
tered into conversation with many of his men, offeruig
them presents and favour on account of King Canute.
]\Iany allowed themselves to be seduced, and gave prom-
535
THE HEIMSKRINGLA
ises of fidelity, and to be King Canute's men, and bring
the country into his hands if he came to Norway. This was
apparent, afterwards, of many who at first kept it con-
cealed. Some took at once money bribes, and others
were promised money afterwards ; and a great many there
were who had got great presents of money from him
before: for it may be said with truth of King Canute,
that every man who came to him, and who he thought
had the spirit of a man and would like his favour, got his
hands full of gifts and money. On this account he was
very popular, although his generosity was principally
shown to foreigners, and was greatest the greater distance
they came from.
167. KING OLAF'S consultations.
King Olaf had often conferences and meetings with
his people, and asked their counsel; but as he observed
they gave different opinions, he had a suspicion that there
must be some who spoke differently from what they re-
ally thought advisable for him, and he was thus uncertain
if all gave him due fidelity in council. Some pressed
that with the first fair wind they should sail to the Sound,
and so to Norway. They said the Danes would not dare
to attack them, although they lay with so great a force
right in the way. But the king was a man of too much
understanding not to see that this was impracticable.
He knew also that Olaf Trygvason had found it quite
otherwise, as to the Danes not daring to fight, when he
with a few people went into battle against a great body
of them. The king also knew that in King Canute's
536
SAGA OF OLAF IIARALDSON
army there were a great many Norwegians ; therefore he
entertained the suspicion that those who gave this advice
were more favourable to King Canute than to him. King
Olaf came at last to the determination, from all these con-
siderations, that the people who would follow him should
make themselves ready to proceed by land across Gaut-
land, and so to Norway, "But our ships," said he, "and
all things that we cannot take with us, I will send east-
ward to the Swedish king's dominions, and let them be
taken care of for us there."
1C8. HARKK OF* THJOTTa's VOYAGE.
Harek of Thjotta replied thus to the king's speech : "It
is evident that I cannot travel on foot to Norway. I am
old and heavy, and little accustomed to walking. Besides,
I am unwilling to part with my ship; for on that ship and
its apparel I have bestowed so much labour, that it would
go much against my inclination to put her into the hands
of my enemies."
The king said, "Come along wdth us, Harek, and we
shall carry thee when thou art tired of walking." Then
Harek sang these lines : —
"I'll mount my ocean steed. Though Canute Mock the Sound,
And o'er the sea I'll speed; Rather than walk the ground,
Forests and hills are not for me, — And leave ray ship, I'll see
I love the moving sea, What my ship will do for me."
Then King Olaf let everything be put in order for the
journey. The people had their walking clothing and
weaixDns, but their other clothes and effects they packed
upon such horses as they could get. Then he sent off
people to take his ships east to Calmar. There he li.ul
537
THE HEIMSKRINGLA
the vessels laid up, and the ships' apparel and other goods
taken care of. Harek did as he had said, and waited for
a wind, and then sailed west to Scania, until, about the
decline of the day, he came with a fresh and fair wind
to the eastward of Holar. There he let the sail and the
vane, and flag and mast be taken down, and let the upper
works of the ship be covered over with some grey tilt-
canvas, and let a few men sit at the oars in the fore part
and aft, but the most were sitting low down in the vessel.
When Canute's watchmen saw the ship, they talked
with each other about what ship it miglit be, and made
the guess that it must be one loaded with herrings or salt,
as they only saw a few men at the oars; and the ship,
besides, appeared to them grey, and wanting tar, as if
burnt up by the sun, and they saw also that it was deeply
loaded. Now when Harek came farther through the
Sound, and past the fleet, he raised the mast, hoisted sail,
and set up his gilded vane. The sail was white as snow,
and in it were red and blue stripes of cloth interwoven.
When the king's men saw the ship sailing in this state,
they told the king that probably King Olaf had sailed
through them. But King Canute replies, that King Olaf
was too prudent a man to sail with a single ship through
King Canute's fleet, and thought it more likely to be
Harek of Thjotta, or the like of him. Many believed the
truth to be that King Canute knew of this expedition of
Harek, and that it would not have succeeded so if they
had not concluded a friendship beforehand with each
other; which seemed likely, after King Canute's and
Harek's friendly understanding l)ecame generally known.
538
SAGA OF OLAf HARALDSON
Harek made this song as he sailed northward round
the isle of Vedrey : —
"The widows of Lund may smile They may laugh or smile,
through their tears, But outside tlu^lr isle
The Danish girls may have their Old Harek still on to his North land
Jeers ; steers."
Harek went on his way, and never stopped till he came
north to Halogaland, to his own house in Thjotta.
169. — KING OLAF's course FROM SVITHJOD.
When King Olaf began his journey, he came first into
Smaland, and then into West Gautland. He marched
quietly and peaceably, and the country people gave him
all assistance on his journey. Thus he proceeded until
he came into Viken, and north through Viken fo Sarps-
borg, where he remained, and ordered a winter alx)de to
be prepared (1028). Then he gave most of the chiefs
leave to return home, but kept the lendermen b)- him
whom he thought the most serviceable. There were
with him also all the sons of Arne Arnmodson, and they
stood in great favour with the king. Geller Thorkel-
son, who the summer before had come from Iceland, also
came there to the king, as before related.
170. OF SIGVAT THE SKALD.
Sigvat the skald had long been in King Olaf's house-
hold, as before related, and the king made him his mar-
shal. Sigvat had no talent for speaking in prose; but in
skaldcraft he was so practised, that the verses came as
readily from his tongue as if he were speaking in usual
language. He had made a mercantile journey to Nor-
539
THE HEIMSKRINGLA
mandy, and in the course of it had come to England,
wliere he met King Canute, and obtained permission
from him to sail to Norway, as before related. When he
came to Norway he proceeded straight to King Olaf, and
found him at Sarpsborg. He presented himself before
the king just as he was sitting down to table. Sigvat
saluted him. The king looked at Sigvat and was silent.
Then Sigvat sang : —
"Great king ! thy marshal is come Great king ! what seat here shall he
home, take
No more by land or sea to roam, For the king's honour — not his sake?
But by thy side For all seats here
Still to abide. To me are dear."
Then was verified the old saying, that "many are the
ears of a king;" for King Olaf had heard all about Sig-
vat's journey, and that he had spoken with Canute. He
says to Sigvat, "I do not know if thou art my marshal,
or hast become one of Canute's men." Sigvat said: —
"Canute, whose golden gifts display Two masters at a time, I said,
A generous heart, would have me Were one too many for men bred
stay. Where truth and virtue, shown to
Service in his great court to take, all,
And my own Norway king forsake. Make all men true in Olafs hall.
Then King Olaf told Sigvat to take his seat where he
before used to sit ; and in a short time Sigvat was in as
high favour with the king as ever.
171. 01- KRLING SKJAIXSON AND HIS SONS.
Erling Skjalgson and all his sons had been all summer
in King Canute's army, in the retinue of Earl Hakon.
Thorer Hund was also there, and was in high esteem.
Now when King Canute heard that King Olaf had gone
overland to Norway, he discharged his army, and gave
all men leave to go to their winter abodes. There was
SAGA OP OLAF IIARALDSON
then in Denmark a c^reat army of foreigners, 1x>th English,
Norwegians, and men of other countries, who had joined
the expedition in summer. In autumn (1027) Erling
Skjalgson went to Norway with his men, and received
great presents from King Canute at parting; but Thorer
Hund remained behind in King Canute's court. With
Erling went messengers from King Canute well provided
with money ; and in winter they travelled through all the
country, paying the money which King Canute had
promised to many in autumn for their assistance. They
gave presents in money, iDesides, to many wdiose friend-
ship could be purchased for King Canute. They received
much assistance in their travels from Erling. In this way
it came to pass that many turned their support to King
Canute, promised him their services, and agreed to op-
pose King Olaf. Some did this openly, but many more
concealed it from the public. King Olaf heard this news,
for many had something to tell him about it ; and the con-
versation in the court often turned ui>on it. Sigvat the
skald made a song u^yDii it : —
"The base traitors ply
With purses of gold.
Wanting to buy
What is not to be sold, —
The king's life and throne
Wanting to buy :
But our souls are our own,
And to hell we'll not hie.
No pleasure in heaven.
As we know full well.
To the traitor is given, —
His soul is his hell."
Often also the conversation turned upon how ill it be-
seemed Earl Hakon to raise his hand in arms against
King Olaf, who had given him his life when he fell into
the king's power; but Sigvat was a particular friend of
Earl Hakon, and when he heard the earl spoken against
he sang: —
13
541-
THh HEIMSKRINGLA
■•Our own court people we may
blame,
If they take gold to their own
shame.
Their king and country to betray.
With those who give it'a not the
same.
From them we have no faith to
claim :
'Tis we are wrong, if we give way."
172. OF KING OIvAF's PRESENTS AT YULE.
King Olaf gave a great feast at Yule, and many great
people had come to him. It was the seventh day of Yule,
that the king, with a few persons, among whom was
Sigvat. who attended him day and night, went to a house
in which the king's most precious valuables were kept.
He had, according to his custom, collected there with
great care the valuable presents he was to make on New
Year's eve. There was in the house no small number of
gold-mounted swords; and Sigvat sang: —
A sword the skald would gladly take,
And use it for his master's sake :
In favour once he stood,
And a sword has stained in blood."
"The swords stand there.
All bright and fair, —
Those oars that dip in blood :
If I in favour stood,
I too might have a share.
The king took a sword of which the handle was
twisted round with gold, and the guard was gold-
mounted, and gave it to him. It was a valuable article;
but the gift was not seen without envy, as will appear
hereafter.
Immediately after Yule (1028) the king began his
journey to the Uplands ; for he had a great many people
about him, but had received no income that autumn from
tlie North countr}-, for there had been an armament in
summer, and the king had laid out all the revenues he
could command; and also he had no vessels with which
he and his people could go to the North. At the' same
time he had news from the North, from which he could
542
SAGA OF OLAF HARALDSON
see tint there \v(>iil(l ])e no safety for him in that quarter,
unless lie went with a g^reat force. For these reasons he
determined to proceed through the Uplands, although it
was not so long a time since he had been there in guest-
quarters as the law prescribes, and as the kings usually
had the custom of observing in their visits. When he
came to the Uplands the lendermen and the richest lx)ndes
invited him to be their guest, and thus lightened his ex-
penses.
173.^-01^ BJORN THE BAIUFP.
There was a man called Bjorn who was of Gautland
family, and a friend and acquaintance of Queen Astrid,
and in some way related to her. She had given him
farm-management and other offices in the upper part of
Hedemark. He had also the management of Osterdal
district. Bjorn was not in esteem with the king, nor
liked by the bondes. It happened in a hamlet w-hich
Bjorn ruled over, that many swine and cattle were miss-
ing; therefore Bjorn ordered a Thing to be called to ex-
amine the matter. Such pillage he attributed chiefly to
I the people settled in forest-farms far from other men ; by
i which he referred particularly to those who dwelt in Os-
jterdal, for that district was very thinly inhabited, and
full of lakes and forest-cleanings, and but in few places
was any great neighboin-hood together.
174. — OF raud's sons.
There was a man called Raud who dwelt in Osterdal.
His wife was called Ragnhild ; and his sons, Dag and
543
THE HEIMSKRINGLA
Sigurd, were men of great talent. The}' were present at
the Thing, made a reply in defence of the Osterdal people,
and removed the accusation from them. Bjorn thought
they were too pert in their answer, and too fine in their
clothes and weajx^ns ; and therefore turned his speech
against these brothers, and said it was not unlikely they
may have committed these thefts. They denied it, and
the Thing closed. Soon after King Olaf, with his reti-
nue, came to guest-quarters in the house of bailiff Bjorn.
The matter which had been before the Thing was then
complained of to the king; and Bjorn said that Raud's
sons appeared to him to have committed these thefts. A
messenger was sent for Raud's sons; and vrhen they ap-
peared before the king he said they had not at all the ap-
pearance of thieves, and acquitted them. Thereupon
they invited the king, with all his retinue^ to a three days'
entertainment at their father's ; and although Bjorn dis-
suaded him from it, the king went. At Raud's there was
a very excellent feast. The king asked Raud what people
he and his wife were. Raud answered that he was orig-
inally a Swedish man, rich and of high birth ; "but I ran
away with the wife I have ever since had, and she is a
sister of King Hring Dagson." The king then remem-
bered both their families. He found that father and sons
were men of understanding, and asked them what they
could do. Sigiu-d said he could interpret dreams, and
determine the time of the day although no heavenly l3odies
could be seen. The king made trial of his art, and found
it was as Sigurd had said. Dag stated, as his accom-
plishment, that he could see the misdeeds and vices of
544
SAGA OF OLAF HARALDSON
every man who came under his eye, wlien he chose to
observe him closely. Tlie l<ing told him to declare what
faults of disposition he saw in the king himself. Dag
mentioned a fault which the king was sensible he really
had. Then the king asked what fault the bailiff Bjorn
had. Dag said Bjorn was a thief; and told also where
l^jorn had concealed on his farm the bones, horns, and
hides of the cattle he had stolen in autumn; "for he com-
mitted," said Dag, "all the thefts in autumn which he
accuses other people of." Dag also told the king the
places where the king should go after leaving them.
When the king departed from Raud's house he was ac-
companied on the way, and presented with frieudly gifts;
and Raud's sons remained with the king. The king went
first to Bjorn's, and found there that all Dag had told
him was true. Upon which he drove Bjoni out of the
country ; and he had to thank the queen that he preserved
life and limbs,
175. — tiiorer's death.
Thorer, a son of Olver of Eggja, a stepson of Kalf
Arnason, and a sister's son of Thorer Hund, was a re-
markably handsome man, stout and strong. He was at
this time eighteen years old ; had made a good marriage
in Hedemark, by which he got great wealth ; and was
besides one of the most popular of men, and formed to
be a chief. He invited the king and his retinue home to
him to a feast. The king accepted the invitation, went to
Thorer's, and was well received. The entertainment was
very splendid; they were excellently treated, and all that
545
THE HEIMSKRINGLA
was set before the guests was of the best that could be
got. The king and his people talked among themselves
of the excellence of everything, and knew not what they
should admire the most, — whether Thorer's house out-
side, or the inside furniture, the table service, or the
liquors, or the host who gave them such a feast. But
Dag said little about it. The king used often to speak
to Dag, and ask him about various things; and he had
proved the truth of all that Dag had said, both of things
that had happened or were to happen, and therefore the
king had much confidence in what he said. The king
called Dag to him to have a private conversation together,
and spoke to him about many things. Afterwards the
king turned the conversation on Thorer, — what an ex-
cellent man Thorer was, and what a superb feast he had
made for them. Dag answered but little to this, but
agreed it was true what the king said. The king then
asked Dag what disposition or faith he found in Thorer.
Dag replied that he must certainly consider Thorer of a
good disposition, if he 1>e really what most people believe
him to be. The king told him to answer direct what he
was asked, and said that it was his duty to do so. Dag
replies, "Then thou must allow me to determine the pun-
ishment if I disclose his faith." Tlie king replied that
he would not submit his decision to another man, but
again ordered Dag to reply to what he asked.
Dag replies, "The sovereign's order goes before all.
1 find this disposition in Thorer, as in so many others,
that he is too greedy of money." j
The king: "Is he then a thief, or a robber?"
546
SAGA OF OLAF HARALDSON
"He is neither."
"What is he then?"
"To win money he is a traitor to his sovereign. He
has taken money from King Canute the Great for thy
head."
The l<ing asks, "What proof hast thou of the truth of
this?"
Dag: "He has upon his right arm, above the elbow, a
thick gold ring, which King Canute gave him, and which
he lets no man see."
This ended their conference, and the king was very
wroth. Now as the king sat at table, and the guests
had drunk a while with great mirth, and Thorer went
round to see the guests well served, the king ordered
Thorer to be called to him. He went up before the table,
and laid his hands upon it.
The king asked, "How old a man art thou, Thorer?"
He answered, "I am eighteen years old."
"A stout man thou art for those years, and thou hast
been fortunate also."
Then the king took his right hand, and felt it towards
the elbow.
Thorer said, "Take care, for I have a boil upon my
arm."
The king held his hand there, and felt there was some-
thing hard under it. "Hast thou not heard," said he,
"that I am a physician? Let me see the lx)il."
As Thorer saw it was of no use to conceal it longer,
he took ofif the ring and laid it on the table.
The king asked if that was the gift of King Canute.
547
THE HEIMSKRINGLA
Thorer replied that he coiild not deny it was.
The king ordered him to be seized and laid in irons.
Kalf came up and entreated for mercy, and offered money
for him, which also was seconded by many ; but the king-
was so wroth that nolxxily could get in a word. He said
Thorer should suffer the doom he had prepared for him-
self. Thereupon he ordered Thorer to be killed. This
deed was much detested in the Uplands, and not less in
the Throndhjem country, where many of Thorer's con-
nections were. Kalf took the death of this man much
to heart, for he had been his foster-son in childhood.
176. THE FALL OF GRJOTGARD.
Grjotgard Olverson, Thorer's brother, and the eldest
of the brothers, was a very wealthy man, and had a great
troop of people about him. He lived also at this time in
Hedemark. \Mien he heard that Thorer had been killed,
he made an attack upon the places where the king's g^oods
and men were; but, between whiles, he kept himself in
the forest and other secret places. When the king heard
of this disturbance, he had inquiry made about Grjot-
gard's haunts, and found out that he had taken up night-
quarters not far from where the king was. King Olaf
set out in the night-time, came there about day-dawn, and
placed a circle of men round the house in which Grjot-
gard was sleeping. Grjotgard and his men, roused by
the stir of people and clash of arms, ran to their weap-
ons, and Grjotgard himself sprang to the front room.
He asked who commanded the troop; and it was answered
him, "King Olaf was come there." Grjotgard asked if
548
SAGA OF OLAF HARALDSON
the king would hear his words. The king:, who stood
at the door, said that Grjotgard might spenk what he
pleased, and he would hear his words. Grjotgard said,
"I do not beg for mercy;" and at the same moment he