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　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　someti