Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway
them. This conversation suited well the earl's inclination, and he
carried it to the king, and begged of him to try if King Olaf would not
surrender the kingdom, or at least come to an agreement to divide it;
and many supported the earl's views.
140. CANUTE'S MESSAGE TO KING OLAF.
Canute the Great sent men from the West, from England, to Norway, and
equipped them magnificently for the journey. They were bearers of the
English king Canute's letter and seal. They came about spring (A.D.
1025) to the king of Norway, Olaf Haraldson, in Tunsberg. Now when it
was told the king that ambassadors had arrived from Canute the Great
he was ill at ease, and said that Canute had not sent messengers hither
with any messages that could be of advantage to him or his people; and
it was some days before the ambassadors could come before the king. But
when they got permission to speak to him they appeared before the king,
and made known King Canute's letter, and their errand which accompanied
it; namely, "that King Canute considers all Norway as his property, and
insists that his forefathers before him have possessed that kingdom; but
as King Canute offers peace to all countries, he will also offer peace
to all here, if it can be so settled, and will not invade Norway with
his army if it can be avoided. Now if King Olaf Haraldson wishes to
remain king of Norway, he will come to King Canute, and receive his
kingdom as a fief from him, become his vassal, and pay the scat which
the earls before him formerly paid." Thereupon they presented their
letters, which contained precisely the same conditions.
Then King Olaf replies, "I have heard say, by old stories, that the
Danish king Gorm was considered but a small king of a few people, for he
ruled over Denmark alone; but the kings who succeeded him thought that
was too little. It has since come so far that King Canute rules over
Denmark and England, and has conquered for himself a great part of
Scotland. Now he claims also my paternal heritage, and will then show
some moderation in his covetousness. Does he wish to rule over all the
countries of the North? Will he eat up all the kail in England? He shall
do so, and reduce that country to a desert, before I lay my head in his
hands, or show him any other kind of vassalage. Now ye shall tell him
these my words,--I will defend Norway with battle-axe and sword as long
as life is given me, and will pay scat to no man for my kingdom."
After this answer King Canute's ambassadors made themselves ready for
their journey home, and were by no means rejoiced at the success of
their errand.
Sigvat the skald had been with King Canute, who had given him a gold
ring that weighed half a mark. The skald Berse Skaldtorfason was also
there, and to him King Canute gave two gold rings, each weighing two
marks, and besides a sword inlaid with gold. Sigvat made this song about
it:--
"When we came o'er the wave, you cub,
When we came o'er the wave,
To me one ring, to thee two rings,
The mighty Canute gave:
One mark to me,
Four marks to thee,--
A sword too, fine and brave.
Now God knows well,
And skalds can tell,
What justice here would crave."
Sigvat the skald was very intimate with King Canute's messengers, and
asked them many questions. They answered all his inquiries about their
conversation with King Olaf, and the result of their message. They said
the king listened unwillingly to their proposals. "And we do not know,"
say they, "to what he is trusting when he refuses becoming King Canute's
vassal, and going to him, which would be the best thing he could do; for
King Canute is so mild that however much a chief may have done against
him, he is pardoned if he only show himself obedient. It is but lately
that two kings came to him from the North, from Fife in Scotland, and he
gave up his wrath against them, and allowed them to retain all the lands
they had possessed before, and gave them besides very valuable gifts."
Then Sigvat sang:--
"From the North land, the midst of Fife,
Two kings came begging peace and life;
Craving from Canute life and peace,--
May Olaf's good luck never cease!
May he, our gallant Norse king, never
Be brought, like these, his head to offer
As ransom to a living man
For the broad lands his sword has won."
King Canute's ambassadors proceeded on their way back, and had a
favourable breeze across the sea. They came to King Canute, and told
him the result of their errand, and King Olaf's last words. King Canute
replies, "King Olaf guesses wrong, if he thinks I shall eat up all the
kail in England; for I will let him see that there is something else
than kail under my ribs, and cold kail it shall be for him." The same
summer (A.D. 1025) Aslak and Skjalg, the sons of Erling of Jadar,
came from Norway to King Canute, and were well received; for Aslak was
married to Sigrid, a daughter of Earl Svein Hakonson, and she and Earl
Hakon Eirikson were brothers' children. King Canute gave these brothers
great fiefs over there, and they stood in great favour.
141. KING OLAF'S ALLIANCE WITH ONUND THE KING OF SVITHJOD.
King Olaf summoned to him all the lendermen, and had a great many people
about him this summer (A.D. 1025), for a report was abroad that King
Canute would come from England. People had heard from merchant vessels
that Canute was assembling a great army in England. When summer was
advanced, some affirmed and others denied that the army would come. King
Olaf was all summer in Viken, and had spies out to learn if Canute was
come to Denmark. In autumn (A.D. 1025) he sent messengers eastward
to Svithjod to his brother-in-law King Onund, and let him know King
Canute's demand upon Norway; adding, that, in his opinion, if Canute
subdued Norway, King Onund would not long enjoy the Swedish dominions
in peace. He thought it advisable, therefore, that they should unite
for their defence. "And then," said he, "we will have strength enough
to hold out against Canute." King Onund received King Olaf's message
favourably, and replied to it, that he for his part would make common
cause with King Olaf, so that each of them should stand by the one
who first required help with all the strength of his kingdom. In these
messages between them it was also determined that they should have a
meeting, and consult with each other. The following winter (A.D. 1026)
King Onund intended to travel across West Gautland, and King Olaf made
preparations for taking his winter abode at Sarpsborg.
142. KING CANUTE'S AMBASSADORS TO ONUND OF SVITHJOD.
In autumn King Canute the Great came to Denmark, and remained there
all winter (A.D. 1026) with a numerous army. It was told him that
ambassadors with messages had been passing between the Swedish and
Norwegian kings, and that some great plans must be concerting between
them. In winter King Canute sent messengers to Svithjod, to King Onund,
with great gifts and messages of friendship. He also told Onund that
he might sit altogether quiet in this strife between him and Olaf the
Thick; "for thou, Onund," says he, "and thy kingdom, shall be in peace
as far as I am concerned." When the ambassadors came to King Onund
they presented the gifts which King Canute sent him, together with the
friendly message. King Onund did not hear their speech very willingly,
and the ambassadors could observe that King Onund was most inclined to
a friendship with King Olaf. They returned accordingly, and told King
Canute the result of their errand, and told him not to depend much upon
the friendship of King Onund.
143. THE EXPEDITION TO BJARMALAND.
This winter (A.D. 1026) King Olaf sat in Sarpsborg, and was surrounded
by a very great army of people. He sent the Halogalander Karle to the
north country upon his business. Karle went first to the Uplands, then
across the Dovrefield, and came down to Nidaros, where he received as
much money as he had the king's order for, together with a good ship,
such as he thought suitable for the voyage which the king had ordered
him upon; and that was to proceed north to Bjarmaland. It was settled
that the king should be in partnership with Karle, and each of them have
the half of the profit. Early in spring Karle directed his course to
Halogaland, where his brother Gunstein prepared to accompany him, having
his own merchant goods with him. There were about twenty-five men in the
ship; and in spring they sailed north to Finmark. When Thorer Hund heard
this, he sent a man to the brothers with the verbal message that he
intended in summer to go to Bjarmaland, and that he would sail with
them, and that they should divide what booty they made equally between
them. Karle sent him back the message that Thorer must have twenty-five
men as they had, and they were willing to divide the booty that might
be taken equally, but not the merchant goods which each had for himself.
When Thorer's messenger came back he had put a stout long-ship he owned
into the water, and rigged it, and he had put eighty men on board of
his house-servants. Thorer alone had the command over this crew, and he
alone had all the goods they might acquire on the cruise. When Thorer
was ready for sea he set out northwards along the coast, and found Karle
a little north of Sandver. They then proceeded with good wind. Gunstein
said to his brother, as soon as they met Thorer, that in his opinion
Thorer was strongly manned. "I think," said he, "we had better turn back
than sail so entirely in Thorer's power, for I do not trust him." Karle
replies, "I will not turn back, although if I had known when we were at
home on Langey Isle that Thorer Hund would join us on this voyage with
so large a crew as he has, I would have taken more hands with us." The
brothers spoke about it to Thorer, and asked what was the meaning of
his taking more people with him than was agreed upon between them. He
replies, "We have a large ship which requires many hands, and methinks
there cannot be too many brave lads for so dangerous a cruise." They
went in summer as fast in general as the vessels could go. When the wind
was light the ship of the brothers sailed fastest, and they separated;
but when the wind freshened Thorer overtook them. They were seldom
together, but always in sight of each other. When they came to
Bjarmaland they went straight to the merchant town, and the market
began. All who had money to pay with got filled up with goods. Thorer
also got a number of furs, and of beaver and sable skins. Karle had a
considerable sum of money with him, with which he purchased skins and
furs. When the fair was at an end they went out of the Vina river, and
then the truce of the country people was also at an end. When they came
out of the river they held a seaman's council, and Thorer asked the
crews if they would like to go on the land and get booty.
They replied, that they would like it well enough, if they saw the booty
before their eyes.
Thorer replies, that there was booty to be got, if the voyage proved
fortunate; but that in all probability there would be danger in the
attempt.
All said they would try, if there was any chance of booty. Thorer
explained, that it was so established in this land, that when a rich
man died all his movable goods were divided between the dead man and his
heirs. He got the half part, or the third part, or sometimes less, and
that part was carried out into the forest and buried,--sometimes under a
mound, sometimes in the earth, and sometimes even a house was built over
it. He tells them at the same time to get ready for this expedition at
the fall of day. It was resolved that one should not desert the other,
and none should hold back when the commander ordered them to come on