Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway
his neck, and in a few days he was quite well, to the great joy of his
mother and all his relations. Then first came Olaf into the repute of
having as much healing power in his hands as is ascribed to men who have
been gifted by nature with healing by the touch; and afterwards when his
miracles were universally acknowledged, this also was considered one of
his miracles.
201. KING OLAF BURNS THE WOOD SHAVINGS ON HIS HAND FOR HIS SABBATH BREACH.
It happened one Sunday that the king sat in his highseat at the dinner
table, and had fallen into such deep thought that he did not observe
how time went. In one hand he had a knife, and in the other a piece
of fir-wood from which he cut splinters from time to time. The
table-servant stood before him with a bowl in his hands; and seeing what
the king was about, and that he was involved in thought, he said, "It is
Monday, sire, to-morrow." The king looked at him when he heard this,
and then it came into his mind what he was doing on the Sunday. Then the
king ordered a lighted candle to be brought him, swept together all the
shavings he had made, set them on fire, and let them burn upon his
naked hand; showing thereby that he would hold fast by God's law and
commandment, and not trespass without punishment on what he knew to be
right.
202. OF KING OLAF.
When King Olaf had resolved on his return home, he made known his
intention to King Jarisleif and Queen Ingegerd. They dissuaded him
from this expedition, and said he should receive as much power in their
dominions as he thought desirable; but begged him not to put himself
within the reach of his enemies with so few men as he had. Then King
Olaf told them of his dream; adding, that he believed it to be God's
will and providence that it should be so. Now when they found he was
determined on travelling to Norway, they offered him all the assistance
to his journey that he would accept from them. The king thanked them
in many fine words for their good will; and said that he accepted
from them, with no ordinary pleasure, what might be necessary for his
undertaking.
203. OF KING OLAF'S JOURNEY FROM RUSSIA.
Immediately after Yule (A.D. 1080), King Olaf made himself ready; and
had about 200 of his men with him. King Jarisleif gave him all the
horses, and whatever else he required; and when he was ready he set off.
King Jarisleif and Queen Ingegerd parted from him with all honour;
and he left his son Magnus behind with the king. The first part of his
journey, down to the sea-coast, King Olaf and his men made on the
ice; but as spring approached, and the ice broke up, they rigged their
vessels, and when they were ready and got a wind they set out to sea,
and had a good voyage. When Olaf came to the island of Gotland with
his ships he heard the news--which was told as truth, both in Svithjod,
Denmark, and over all Norway--that Earl Hakon was missing, and Norway
without a head. This gave the king and his men good hope of the issue
of their journey. From thence they sailed, when the wind suited, to
Svithjod, and went into the Maelar lake, to Aros, and sent men to
the Swedish King Onund appointing a meeting. King Onund received
his brother-in-law's message in the kindest manner, and went to him
according to his invitation. Astrid also came to King Olaf, with the
men who had attended her; and great was the joy on all sides at this
meeting. The Swedish king also received his brother-in-law King Olaf
with great joy when they met.
204. OF THE LENDERMEN IN NORWAY.
Now we must relate what, in the meantime, was going on in Norway. Thorer
Hund, in these two winters (A.D. 1029-1030), had made a Lapland journey,
and each winter had been a long time on the mountains, and had gathered
to himself great wealth by trading in various wares with the Laplanders.
He had twelve large coats of reindeer-skin made for him, with so much
Lapland witchcraft that no weapon could cut or pierce them any more than
if they were armour of ring-mail, nor so much. The spring thereafter
Thorer rigged a long-ship which belonged to him, and manned it with his
house-servants. He summoned the bondes, demanded a levy from the most
northern Thing district, collected in this way a great many people,
and proceeded with this force southwards. Harek of Thjotta had also
collected a great number of people; and in this expedition many
people of consequence took a part, although these two were the most
distinguished. They made it known publicly that with this war-force they
were going against King Olaf, to defend the country against him, in case
he should come from the eastward.
205. OF EINAR TAMBASKELFER.
Einar Tambaskelfer had most influence in the outer part of the
Throndhjem country after Earl Hakon's death was no longer doubtful; for
he and his son Eindride appeared to be the nearest heirs to the movable
property the earl had possessed. Then Einar remembered the promises and
offers of friendship which King Canute had made him at parting; and
he ordered a good vessel which belonged to him to be got ready, and
embarked with a great retinue, and when he was ready sailed southwards
along the coast, then set out to sea westwards, and sailed without
stopping until he came to England. He immediately waited on King Canute,
who received him well and joyfully. Then Einar opened his business
to the king, and said he was come there to see the fulfillment of the
promises the king had made him; namely, that he, Einar, should have
the highest title of honour in Norway if Earl Hakon were no more. King
Canute replies, that now the circumstances were altered. "I have now,"
said he, "sent men and tokens to my son Svein in Denmark, and promised
him the kingdom of Norway; but thou shalt retain my friendship, and get
the dignity and title which thou art entitled by birth to hold. Thou
shalt be lenderman with great fiefs, and be so much more raised above
other lendermen as thou art more able than they." Einar saw sufficiently
how matters stood with regard to his business, and got ready to return
home; but as he now knew the king's intentions, and thought it probable
if King Olaf came from the East the country would not be very peaceable,
it came into his mind that it would be better to proceed slowly, and not
to be hastening his voyage, in order to fight against King Olaf, without
his being advanced by it to any higher dignity than he had before. Einar
accordingly went to sea when he was ready; but only came to Norway after
the events were ended which took place there during that summer.
206. OF THE CHIEF PEOPLE IN NORWAY.
The chiefs in Norway had their spies east in Svithjod, and south in
Denmark, to find out if King Olaf had come from Russia. As soon as these
men could get across the country, they heard the news that King Olaf was
arrived in Svithjod; and as soon as full certainty of this was obtained,
the war message-token went round the land. The whole people were called
out to a levy, and a great army was collected. The lendermen who were
from Agder, Rogaland, and Hordaland, divided themselves, so that some
went towards the north, and some towards the east; for they thought they
required people on both sides. Erling's sons from Jadar went eastward,
with all the men who lived east of them, and over whom they were chiefs;
Aslak of Finey, and Erlend of Gerde, with the lendermen north of them,
went towards the north. All those now named had sworn an oath to King
Canute to deprive Olaf of life, if opportunity should offer.
207. OF HARALD SIGURDSON'S PROCEEDINGS.
Now when it was reported in Norway that King Olaf was come from the East
to Svithjod, his friends gathered together to give him aid. The most
distinguished man in this flock was Harald Sigurdson, a brother of King
Olaf, who then was fifteen years of age, very stout, and manly of growth
as if he were full-grown. Many other brave men were there also; and
there were in all 600 men when they proceeded from the uplands, and went
eastward with their force through Eid forest to Vermaland. From thence
they went eastward through the forests to Svithjod and made inquiry
about King Olaf's proceedings.
208. OF KING OLAF'S PROCEEDINGS IN SVITHJOD.
King Olaf was in Svithjod in spring (A.D. 1030), and had sent spies from
thence to Norway. All accounts from that quarter agreed that there was
no safety for him if he went there, and the people who came from the
north dissuaded him much from penetrating into the country. But he had
firmly resolved within himself, as before stated, to go into Norway; and
he asked King Onund what strength King Onund would give him to conquer
his kingdom. King Onund replied, that the Swedes were little inclined
to make an expedition against Norway. "We know," says he, "that the
Northmen are rough and warlike, and it is dangerous to carry hostility
to their doors, but I will not be slow in telling thee what aid I can
give. I will give thee 400 chosen men from my court-men, active and
warlike, and well equipt for battle; and moreover will give thee leave
to go through my country, and gather to thyself as many men as thou
canst get to follow thee." King Olaf accepted this offer, and got ready
for his march. Queen Astrid, and Ulfhild the king's daughter, remained
behind in Svithjod.
209. KING OLAF ADVANCES TO JARNBERALAND.
Just as King Olaf began his journey the men came to him whom the Swedish
king had given, in all 400 men, and the king took the road the Swedes
showed him. He advanced upwards in the country to the forests, and came
to a district called Jarnberaland. Here the people joined him who had
come out of Norway to meet him, as before related; and he met here his
brother Harald, and many other of his relations, and it was a joyful
meeting. They made out together 1200 men.
210. OF DAG HRINGSON.
There was a man called Dag, who is said to have been a son of King
Hring, who fled the country from King Olaf. This Hring, it is said
further, had been a son of Dag, and grandson of Hring, Harald Harfager's
son. Thus was Dag King Olaf's relative. Both Hring the father, and Dag
the son, had settled themselves in Svithjod, and got land to rule over.
In spring, when Olaf came from the East to Svithjod, he sent a message
to his relation Dag, that he should join him in this expedition with
all the force he could collect; and if they gained the country of Norway
again, Dag should have no smaller part of the kingdom under him than
his forefathers had enjoyed. When this message came to Dag it suited his
inclination well, for he had a great desire to go to Norway and get
the dominion his family had ruled over. He was not slow, therefore, to
reply, and promised to come. Dag was a quick-speaking, quick-resolving
man, mixing himself up in everything; eager, but of little
understanding. He collected a force of almost 1200 men, with which he
joined King Olaf.
211. OF KING OLAF'S JOURNEY.
King Olaf sent a message before him to all the inhabited places he
passed through, that the men who wished to get goods and money, and
share of booty, and the lands besides which now were in the hands of his
enemies, should come to him, and follow him. Thereafter King Olaf led
his army through forests, often over desert moors, and often over large
lakes; and they dragged, or carried the boats, from lake to lake. On
the way a great many followers joined the king, partly forest settlers,
partly vagabonds. The places at which he halted for the night are since
called Olaf's Booths. He proceeded without any break upon his journey
until he came to Jamtaland, from which he marched north over the keel
or ridge of the land. The men spread themselves over the hamlets, and
proceeded, much scattered, so long as no enemy was expected; but always,