the bondes’ army was seen advancing with raised banners, and the multitude of these was very great.
Then Fin awakened the king, and said that the bonde-army advanced against them.
The king awoke, and said, “Why did you waken me, Fin, and did not allow me to enjoy my dream?”
Fin: “Thou must not be dreaming; but rather thou shouldst be awake, and preparing thyself against the host which is coming down upon us; or, dost thou not see that the whole bonde-crowd is coming?”
The king replies, “They are not yet so near to us, and it would have been better to have let me sleep.”
Then said Fin, “What was the dream, sire, of which the loss appears to thee so great that thou wouldst rather have been left to waken of thyself?”
Now the king told his dream, — that he seemed to see a high ladder, upon which he went so high in the air that heaven was open: for so high reached the ladder. “And when you awoke me, I was come to the highest step towards heaven.”
Fin replies, “This dream does not appear to me so good as it does to thee. I think it means that thou art fey (1); unless it be the mere want of sleep that has worked upon thee.”
ENDNOTES:
(1) Fey means doomed to die.
227. OF ARNLJOT GELLINE’S BAPTISM.
When King Olaf was arrived at Stiklestad, it happened, among other circumstances, that a man came to him; and although it was nowise wonderful that there came many men from the districts, yet this must be regarded as unusual, that this man did not appear like the other men who came to him. He was so tall that none stood higher than up to his shoulders: very handsome he was in countenance, and had beautiful fair hair. He was well armed; had a fine helmet, and ring armour; a red shield; a superb sword in his belt; and in his hand a gold-mounted spear, the shaft of it so thick that it was a handful to grasp. The man went before the king, saluted him, and asked if the king would accept his services.
The king asked his name and family, also what countryman he was.
He replies, “My family is in Jamtaland and Helsingjaland, and my name is Arnljot Gelline; but this I must not forget to tell you, that I came to the assistance of those men you sent to Jamtaland to collect scat, and I gave into their hands a silver dish, which I sent you as a token that I would be your friend.”
Then the king asked Arnljot if he was a Christian or not. He replied, “My faith has been this, to rely upon my power and strength, and which faith hath hitherto given me satisfaction; but now I intend rather to put my faith, sire, in thee.”
The king replies, “If thou wilt put faith in me thou must also put faith in what I will teach thee. Thou must believe that Jesus Christ has made heaven and earth, and all mankind, and to him shall all those who are good and rightly believing go after death.”
Arnljot answers, “I have indeed heard of the white Christ, but neither know what he proposes, nor what he rules over; but now I will believe all that thou sayest to me, and lay down my lot in your hands.”
Thereupon Arnljot was baptized. The king taught him so much of the holy faith as appeared to him needful, and placed him in the front rank of the order of battle, in advance of his banner, where also Gauka-Thorer and Afrafaste, with their men, were.
228. CONCERNING THE ARMY COLLECTED IN NORWAY.
Now shall we relate what we have left behind in our tale, — that the lendermen and bondes had collected a vast host as soon as it was reported that King Olaf was come from Russia, and had arrived in Svithjod; but when they heard that he had come to Jamtaland, and intended to proceed westwards over the keel-ridge to Veradal, they brought their forces into the Throndhjem country, where they gathered together the whole people, free and unfree, and proceeded towards Veradal with so great a body of men that there was nobody in Norway at that time who had seen so large a force assembled. But the force, as it usually happens in so great a multitude, consisted of many different sorts of people. There were many lendermen, and a great many powerful bondes; but the great mass consisted of labourers and cottars. The chief strength of this army lay in the Throndhjem land, and it was the most warm in enmity and opposition to the king.
229. OF BISHOP SIGURD.
When King Canute had, as before related, laid all Norway under his power, he set Earl Hakon to manage it, and gave the earl a court-bishop, by name Sigurd, who was of Danish descent, and had been long with King Canute. This bishop was of a very hot temper, and particularly obstinate, and haughty in his speech; but supported King Canute all he could in conversation, and was a great enemy of King Olaf. He was now also in the bondes’ army, spoke often before the people, and urged them much to insurrection against King Olaf.
230. BISHOP SIGURD’S SPEECH.
At a House-thing, at which a great many people were assembled, the bishop desired to be heard, and made the following speech: “Here are now assembled a great many men, so that probably there will never be opportunity in this poor country of seeing so great a native army; but it would be desirable if this strength and multitude could be a protection; for it will all be needed, if this Olaf does not give over bringing war and strife upon you. From his very earliest youth he has been accustomed to plunder and kill: for which purposes he drove widely around through all countries, until he turned at last against this, where he began to show hostilities against the men who were the best and most powerful; and even against King Canute, whom all are bound to serve according to their ability, and in whose scat-lands he set himself down. He did the same to Olaf the Swedish king. He drove the earls Svein and Hakon away from their heritages; and was even most tyrannical towards his own connections, as he drove all the kings out of the Uplands: although, indeed, it was but just reward for having been false to their oaths of fealty to King Canute, and having followed this King Olaf in all the folly he could invent; so their friendship ended according to their deserts, by this king mutilating some of them, taking their kingdoms himself, and ruining every man in the country who had an honourable name. Ye know yourselves how he has treated the lendermen, of whom many of the worthlest have been murdered, and many obliged to fly from their country; and how he has roamed far and wide through the land with robber-bands, burning and plundering houses, and killing people. Who is the man among us here of any consideration who has not some great injury from him to avenge? Now he has come hither with a foreign troop, consisting mostly of forest-men, vagabonds, and such marauders. Do ye think he will now be more merciful to you, when he is roaming about with such a bad crew, after committing devastations which all who followed him dissuaded him from? Therefore it is now my advice, that ye remember King Canute’s words when he told you, if King Olaf attempted to return to the country ye should defend the liberty King Canute had promised you, and should oppose and drive away such a vile pack. Now the only thing to be done is to advance against them, and cast forth these malefactors to the wolves and eagles, leaving their corpses on the spot they cover, unless ye drag them aside to out-of-the-way corners in the woods or rocks. No man would be so imprudent as to remove them to churches, for they are all robbers and evil-doers.” When he had ended his speech it was hailed with the loudest applause, and all unanimously agreed to act according to his recommendation.
231. OF THE LENDERMEN.
The lendermen who had come together appointed meetings with each other, and consulted together how they should draw up their troops, and who should be their leader. Kalf Arnason said that Harek of Thjotta was best fitted to be the chief of this army, for he was descended from Harald Harfager’s race. “The king also is particularly enraged against him on account of the murder of Grankel, and therefore he would be exposed to the severest fate if Olaf recovered the kingdom; and Harek withal is a man experienced in battles, and a man who does much for honour alone.”
Harek replies, that the men are best suited for this who are in the flower of their age. “I am now,” says he, “an old and decaying man, not able to do much in battle: besides, there is near relationship between me and King Olaf; and although he seems not to put great value upon that tie, it would not beseem me to go as leader of the hostilities against him, before any other in this meeting. On the other hand, thou, Thorer, art well suited to be our chief in this battle against King Olaf; and thou hast distinct grounds for being so, both because thou hast to avenge the death of thy relation, and also hast been driven by him as an outlaw from thy property. Thou hast also promised King Canute, as well as thy connections, to avenge the murder of thy relative Asbjorn; and dost thou suppose there ever will be a better opportunity than this of taking vengeance on Olaf for all these insults and injuries?”
Thorer replies thus to his speech: “I do not confide in myself so much as to raise the banner against King Olaf, or, as chief, to lead on this army; for the people of Throndhjem have the greatest part in this armament, and I know well their haughty spirit, and that they would not obey me, or any other Halogaland man, although I need not be reminded of my injuries to be roused to vengeance on King Olaf. I remember well my heavy loss when King Olaf slew four men, all distinguished both by birth and personal qualities; namely, my brother’s son Asbjorn, my sister’s sons Thorer and Grjotgard, and their father Olver; and it is my duty to take vengeance for each man of them. I will not conceal that I have selected eleven of my house-servants for that purpose, and of those who are the most daring; and I do not think we shall be behind others in exchanging blows with King Olaf, should opportunity be given.”
232. KALF ARNASON’S SPEECH.
Then Kalf Arnason desired to speak. “It is highly necessary,” says he, “that this business we have on hand do not turn out a mockery and child-work, now that an army is collected. Something else is needful, if we are to stand battle with King Olaf, than that each should shove the danger from himself; for we must recollect that although King Olaf has not many people compared to this army of ours, the leader of them is intrepid, and the whole body of them will be true to him, and obedient in the battle. But if we who should be the leaders of this army show any fear, and will not encourage the army and go at the head of it, it must happen that with the great body of our people the spirit will leave their hearts, and the next thing will be that each will seek his own safety. Although we have now a great force assembled, we shall find our destruction certain, when we meet King Olaf and his troops, if we, the chiefs of the people, are not confident in our cause, and have not the whole army confidently and bravely going along with us. If it cannot be so, we had better not risk a battle; and then it is easy to see that nothing would be left us but to shelter ourselves under King Olaf’s mercy, however hard it might be, as then we would be less guilty than we now may appear to him to be. Yet I know there are men in his ranks who would secure my life and peace if I would seek it. Will ye now adopt my proposal — then shalt thou, friend Thorer, and thou, Harek, go under the banner which we will all of us raise up, and then follow. Let us all be speedy and determined in the resolution we have taken, and put ourselves so at the head of the bondes’ army that they see no distrust in us; for then will the common man advance with spirit when we go merrily to work in placing the army in battle-order, and in encouraging the people to the strife.”
When Kalf had ended they all concurred in what he proposed, and all would do what Kalf thought of advantage. All desired Kalf to be the leader of the army, and to give each what place in it he chose.
233. HOW THE LENDERMEN SET UP THEIR BANNERS.
Kalf Arnason then raised his banner, and drew up his house- servants along with Harek of Thjotta and his men. Thorer Hund, with his troop, was at the head of the order of battle in front of the banner; and on both sides of Thorer was a chosen body of bondes, all of them the most active and best armed in the forces. This part of the array was long and thick, and in it were drawn up the Throndhjem people and the Halogalanders. On the right wing was another array; and on the left of the main array were drawn up the men from Rogaland, Hordaland, the Fjord districts, and Scgn, and they had the third banner.
234. OF THORSTEIN KNARRARSMID.
There was a man called Thorstein Knarrarsmid, who was a merchant and master ship-carpenter, stout and strong, very passionate, and a great manslayer. He had been in enmity against King Olaf, who had taken from him a new and large merchant-vessel he had built, on account of some manslaughter-mulct, incurred in the course of his misdeeds, which he owed to the king. Thorstein, who was with the bondes’ army, went forward in front of the line in which Thorer Hund stood, and said, “Here I will be, Thorer, in your ranks; for I think, if I and King Olaf meet, to be the first to strive a weapon at him, if I can get so near, to repay him for the robbery of the ship he took from me, which was the best that ever went on merchant voyage.” Thorer and his men received Thorstein, and he went into their ranks.
235. OF THE PREPARATIONS OF THE BONDES.
When the bondes’ men and array were drawn up the lendermen addressed the men, and ordered them to take notice of the place to which each man belonged, under which banner each should be, who there were in front of the banner, who were his side-men, and that they should be brisk and quick in taking up their places in the array; for the army had still to go a long way, and the array might be broken in the course of march. Then they encouraged the people; and Kalf invited all the men who had any injury to avenge on King Olaf to place themselves under the banner which was advancing against King Olaf’s own banner. They should remember the distress he had brought upon them; and, he said, never was there a better opportunity to avenge their grievances, and to free themselves from the yoke and slavery he had imposed on them. “Let him,” says he, “be held a useless coward who does not fight this day boldly; and they are not innocents who are opposed to you, but people who will not spare you if ye spare them.”
Kalf’s speech was received with loud applause, and shouts of encouragement were heard through the whole army.
236. OF THE KING’S AND THE BONDES’ ARMIES.
Thereafter the bondes’ army advanced to Stiklestad, where King Olaf was already with his people. Kalf and Harek went in front, at the head of the army under their banners. But the battle did not begin immediately on their meeting; for the bondes delayed the assault, because all their men were not come upon the plain, and they waited for those who came after them. Thorer Hund had come up with his troop the last, for he had to take care that the men did not go off behind when the battlecry was raised, or the armies were closing with each other; and therefore Kalf and Harek waited for Thorer. For the encouragement of their men in the battle the bondes had the field-cry — “Forward, forward, bondemen!” King Olaf also made no attack, for he waited for Dag and the people who followed him. At last the king saw Dag and his men approaching. It is said that the army of the bondes was not less on this day than a hundred times a hundred men. Sigvat the skald speaks thus of the numbers: —
“I grieve to think the king had brought Too small a force for what he sought: He held his gold too fast to bring
The numbers that could make him king. The foemen, more than two to one,
The victory by numbers won;
And this alone, as I’ve heard say, Against King Olaf turned the day.”
237. MEETING OF THE KING AND THE BONDES.
As the armies on both sides stood so near that people knew each other, the king said, “Why art thou here, Kalf, for we parted good friends south in More? It beseems thee ill to fight against us, or to throw a spear into our army; for here are four of thy brothers.”
Kalf replied, “Many things come to pass differently from what may appear seemly. You parted from us so that it was necessary to seek peace with those who were behind in the country. Now each must remain where he stands; but if I might advise, we should be reconciled.”
Then Fin, his brother, answered, “This is to be observed of Kalf, that when he speaks fairly he has it in his mind to do ill.”
The king answered, “It may be, Kalf, that thou art inclined to reconciliation; but, methinks, the bondes do not appear so peaceful.”
Then Thorgeir of Kviststad said, “You shall now have such peace as many formerly have received at your hands, and which you shall now pay for.”
The king replies, “Thou hast no occasion to hasten so much to meet us; for fate has not decreed to thee to-day a victory over me, who raised thee to power and dignity from a mean station.”
238. BEGINNING OF THE BATTLE OF STIKLESTAD.
Now came Thorer Hund, went forward in front of the banner with his troop, and called out, “Forward, forward, bondemen!” Thereupon the bondemen raised the war-cry, and shot their arrows and spears. The king’s men raised also a war-shout; and that done, encouraged each other to advance, crying out, “Forward, forward, Christ-men! cross-men! king’s men!” When the bondes who stood outermost on the wings heard it, they repeated the same cry; but when the other bondes heard them they thought these were king’s men, turned their arms against them, and they fought together, and many were slain before they knew each other. The weather was beautiful, and the sun shone clear; but when the battle began the heaven and the sun became red, and before the battle ended it became as dark as at night. King Olaf had drawn up his army upon a rising ground, and it rushed down from thence upon the bonde-army with such a fierce assault, that the bondes’ array went before it; so that the breast of the king’s array came to stand upon the ground on which the rear of the bondes’ array had stood, and many of the bondes’ army were on the way to fly, but the lendermen and their house-men stood fast, and the battle became very severe. So says Sigvat: —
“Thundered the ground beneath their tread, As, iron-clad, thick-tramping, sped
The men-at-arms, in row and rank, Past Stiklestad’s sweet grassy bank.
The clank of steel, the bowstrings’ twang, The sounds of battle, loudly rang;
And bowman hurried on advancing, Their bright helms in the sunshine glancing.”
The lendermen urged their men, and forced them to advance. Sigvat speaks of this: —
“Midst in their line their banner flies, Thither the stoutest bonde hies:
But many a bonde thinks of home, And many wish they ne’er had come.”
Then the bonde-army pushed on from all quarters. They who stood in front hewed down with their swords; they who stood next thrust with their spears; and they who stood hindmost shot arrows, cast spears, or threw stones, hand-axes, or sharp stakes. Soon there was a great fall of men in the battle. Many were down on both sides. In the first onset fell Arnljot Gelline, Gauka-Thorer, and Afrafaste, with all their men, after each had killed a man or two, and some indeed more. Now the ranks in front of the king’s banner began to be thinned, and the king ordered Thord to carry the banner forward, and the king himself followed it with the troop he had chosen to stand nearest to him in battle; and these were the best armed men in the field, and the most expert in the use of their weapons. Sigvat the skald tells of this: —
“Loud was the battle-storm there,
Where the king’s banner flamed in air. The king beneath his banner stands,
And there the battle he commands.”
Olaf came forth from behind the shield-bulwark, and put himself at the head of the army; and when the bondes looked him in the face they were frightened, and let their hands drop. So says Sigvat: —
“I think I saw them shrink with fear Who would not shrink from foeman’s spear, When Olaf’s lion-eye was cast
On them, and called up all the past. Clear as the serpent’s eye — his look No Throndhjem man could stand, but shook Beneath its glance, and skulked away, Knowing his king, and cursed the day.”
The combat became fierce, and the king went forward in the fray. So says Sigvat: —
“When on they came in fierce array, And round the king arose the fray,
With shield on arm brave Olaf stood, Dyeing his sword in their best blood. For vengeance on his Throndhjem foes, On their best men he dealt his blows; He who knew well death’s iron play,
To his deep vengeance gave full sway.”
239. THORGEIR OF KVISTSTAD’S FALL.
King Olaf fought most desperately. He struck the lenderman before mentioned (Thorgeir of Kviststad) across the face, cut off the nose-piece of his helmet, and clove his head down below the eyes so that they almost fell out. When he fell the king said, “Was it not true, Thorgeir, what I told thee, that thou shouldst not be victor in our meeting?” At the same instant Thord stuck the banner-pole so fast in the earth that it remained standing. Thord had got his death-wound, and fell beneath the banner. There also fell Thorfin Mun, and also Gissur Gullbrarskald, who was attacked by two men, of whom he killed one, but only wounded the other before he fell. So says Hofgardaref: —
“Bold in the Iron-storm was he,
Firm and stout as forest tree,
The hero who, ‘gainst two at once, Made Odin’s fire from sword-edge glance; Dealing a death-blow to the one,
Known as a brave and generous man, Wounding the other, ere he fell, —
His bloody sword his deeds showed well.”
It happened then, as before related, that the sun, although the air was clear, withdrew from the sight, and it became dark. Of this Sigvat the skald speaks: —
“No common wonder in the sky
Fell out that day — the sun on high, And not a cloud to see around,
Shone not, nor warmed Norway’s ground. The day on which fell out this fight
Was marked by dismal dusky light, This from the East I heard — the end Of our great king it did portend.”
At the same time Dag Hringson came up with his people, and began to put his men in array, and to set up his banner; but on account of the darkness the onset could not go on so briskly, for they could not see exactly whom they had before them. They turned, however, to that quarter where the men of Hordaland and Rogaland stood. Many of these circumstances took place at the same time, and some happened a little earlier, and some a little later.
240. KING OLAF’S FALL.
On the one side of Kalf Arnason stood his two relations, Olaf and Kalf, with many other brave and stout men. Kalf was a son of Arnfin Arnmodson, and a brother’s son of Arne Arnmodson. On the other side of Kalf Arnason stood Thorer Hund. King Olaf hewed at Thorer Hund, and struck him across the shoulders; but the sword would not cut, and it was as if dust flew from his reindeer-skin coat. So says Sigvat: —
“The king himself now proved the power Of Fin-folk’s craft in magic hour,
With magic song; for stroke of steel Thor’s reindeer coat would never feel, Bewitched by them it turned the stroke Of the king’s sword, — a dust-like smoke Rose from Thor’s shoulders from the blow Which the king though would end his foe.”
Thorer struck at the king, and they exchanged some blows; but the king’s sword would not cut where it met the reindeer skin, although Thorer was wounded in the hands. Sigvat sang thus of it: —
“Some say that Thorer’s not right bold; Why never yet have I been told
Of one who did a bolder thing
Than to change blows with his true king. Against his king his sword to wield,
Leaping across the shield on shield Which fenced the king round in the fight, Shows the dog’s (1) courage — brave, not bright.”
The king said to Bjorn the marshal, “Do thou kill the dog on whom steel will not bite.” Bjorn turned round the axe in his hands, and gave Thorer a blow with the hammer of it on the shoulder so hard that he tottered. The king at the same moment turned against Kalf and his relations, and gave Olaf his death-wound. Thorer Hund struck his spear right through the body of Marshal Bjorn, and killed him outright; and Thorer said, “It is thus we hunt the bear.” (2) Thorstein Knarrarsmid struck at King Olaf with his axe, and the blow hit his left leg above the knee. Fin Arnason instantly killed Thorstein. The king after the wound staggered towards a stone, threw down his sword, and prayed God to help him. Then Thorer Hund struck at him with his spear, and the stroke went in under his mail-coat and into his belly. Then Kalf struck at him on the left side of the neck. But all are not agreed upon Kalf having been the man who gave him the wound in the neck. These three wounds were King Olaf’s death; and after the king’s death the greater part of the forces which had advanced with him fell with the king. Bjarne Gullbrarskald sang these verses about Kalf Arnason: —
“Warrior! who Olaf dared withstand, Who against Olaf held the land,
Thou hast withstood the bravest, best, Who e’er has gone to his long rest.
At Stiklestad thou wast the head; With flying banners onwards led
Thy bonde troops, and still fought on, Until he fell — the much-mourned one.”
Sigvat also made these verses on Bjorn: —
“The marshal Bjorn, too, I find,
A great example leaves behind,
How steady courage should stand proof, Though other servants stand aloof.
To Russia first his steps he bent, To serve his master still intent;
And now besides his king he fell, — A noble death for skalds to tell.”
ENDNOTES:
(1) Thorer’s name was Hund — the dog; and a play upon Thorer Hund’s name was intended by the skald. — L. (2) Bjorn, the marshal’s name, signifies a bear. — L.
241. BEGINNING OF DAG HRINGSON’S ATTACK.
Dag Hringson still kept up the battle, and made in the beginning so fierce an assault that the bondes gave way, and some betook themselves to flight. There a great number of the bondes fell, and these lendermen, Erlend of Gerde and Aslak of Finey; and the banner also which they had stood under was cut down. This onset was particularly hot, and was called Dag’s storm. But now Kalf Arnason, Harek of Thjotta, and Thorer Hund turned against Dag, with the array which had followed them, and then Dag was overwhelmed with numbers; so he betook himself to flight with the men still left him. There was a valley through which the main body of the fugitives fled, and men lay scattered in heaps on both sides; and many were severely wounded, and many so fatigued that they were fit for nothing. The bondes pursued only a short way; for their leaders soon returned back to the field of battle, where they had their friends and relations to look after.
240. KING OLAF’S MIRACLE SHOWN TO THORER HUND.
Thorer Hund went to where King Olaf’s body lay, took care of it, laid it straight out on the ground, and spread a cloak over it. He told since that when he wiped the blood from the face it was very beautiful; and there was red in the cheeks, as if he only slept, and even much clearer than when he was in life. The king’s blood came on Thorer’s hand, and ran up between his fingers to where he had been wounded, and the wound grew up so speedily that it did not require to be bound up. This circumstance was testified by Thorer himself when King Olaf’s holiness came to be generally known among the people; and Thorer Hund was among the first of the king’s powerful opponents who endeavoured to spread abroad the king’s sanctity.
243. OF KALF ARNASON’S BROTHERS.
Kalf Arnason searched for his brothers who had fallen, and found Thorberg and Fin. It is related that Fin threw his dagger at him, and wanted to kill him, giving him hard words, and calling him a faithless villain, and a traitor to his king. Kalf did not regard it, but ordered Fin and Thorberg to be carried away from the field. When their wounds were examined they were found not to be deadly, and they had fallen from fatigue, and under the weight of their weapons. Thereafter Kalf tried to bring his brothers down to a ship, and went himself with them. As soon as he was gone the whole bonde-army, having their homes in the neighbourhood, went off also, excepting those who had friends or relations to look after, or the bodies of the slain to take care of. The wounded were taken home to the farms, so that every house was full of them; and tents were erected over some. But wonderful as was the number collected in the bonde-army, no less wonderful was the haste with which this vast body was dispersed when it was once free; and the cause of this was, that the most of the people gathered together from the country places were longing for their homes.
244. OF THE BONDES OF VERADAL.
The bondes who had their homes in Veradal went to the chiefs Harek and Thorer, and complained of their distress, saying, “The fugitives who have escaped from the battle have proceeded up over the valley of Veradal, and are destroying our habitations, and there is no safety for us to travel home so long as they are in the valley. Go after them with war-force, and let no mother’s son of them escape with life; for that is what they intended for us if they had got the upper hand in the battle, and the same they would do now if they met us hereafter, and had better luck than we. It may also be that they will linger in the valley if they have nothing to be frightened for, and then they would not proceed very gently in the inhabited country.” The bondes made many words about this, urging the chiefs to advance directly, and kill those who had escaped. Now when the chiefs talked over this matter among themselves, they thought there was much truth in what the bondes said. They resolved, therefore, that Thorer Hund should undertake this expedition through Veradal, with 600 men of his own troops. Then, towards evening, he set out with his men; and Thorer continued his march without halt until he came in the night to Sula, where he heard the news that Dag Hringson had come there in the evening, with many other flocks of the king’s men, and had halted there until they took supper, but were afterwards gone up to the mountains. Then Thorer said he did not care to pursue them up through the mountains, and he returned down the valley again, and they did not kill many of them this time. The bondes then returned to their homes, and the following day Thorer, with his people, went to their ships. The part of the king’s men who were still on their legs concealed themselves in the forests, and some got help from the people.
245. OF THE KING’S BROTHER, HARALD SIGURDSON.
Harald Sigurdson was severely wounded; but Ragnvald Brusason brought him to a bonde’s the night after the battle, and the bonde took in Harald, and healed his wound in secret, and afterwards gave him his son to attend him. They went secretly over the mountains, and through the waste forests, and came out in Jamtaland. Harald Sigurdson was fifteen years old when King Olaf fell. In Jamtaland Harald found Ragnvald Brusason; and they went both east to King Jarisleif in Russia, as is related in the Saga of Harald Sigurdson.
246. OF THORMOD KOLBRUNARSKALD.
Thormod Kolbrunarskald was under King Olaf’s banner in the battle; but when the king had fallen, the battle was raging so that of the king’s men the one fell by the side of the other, and the most of those who stood on their legs were wounded. Thormod was also severely wounded, and retired, as all the others did, back from where there was most danger of life, and some even fled. Now when the onset began which is called Dag’s storm, all of the king’s men who were able to combat went there; but Thormod did not come into that combat, being unable to fight, both from his wound and from weariness, but he stood by the side of his comrade in the ranks, although he could do nothing. There he was struck by an arrow in the left side; but he broke off the shaft of the arrow, went out of the battle, and up towards the houses, where he came to a barn which was a large building. Thormod had his drawn sword in his hand; and as he went in a man met him, coming out, and said, “It is very bad there with howling and screaming; and a great shame it is that brisk young fellows cannot bear their wounds: it may be that the king’s men have done bravely to-day, but they certainly bear their wounds very ill.”
Thormod asks. “What is thy name?”
He called himself Kimbe.
Thormod: “Wast thou in the battle, too?”
“I was with the bondes, which was the best side,” says he.
“And art thou wounded any way?” says Thormod.
“A little,” said Kimbe. “And hast thou been in the battle too?”
Thormod replied, “I was with them who had the best.”
“Art thou wounded?” says Kimbe.
“Not much to signify,” replies Thormod.
As Kimbe saw that Thormod had a gold ring on his arm, he said, “Thou art certainly a king’s man. Give me thy gold ring, and I will hide thee. The bondes will kill thee if thou fallest in their way.”
Thormod says, “Take the ring if thou canst get it: I have lost that which is more worth.”
Kimbe stretched out his hand, and wanted to take the ring; but Thormod, swinging his sword, cut off his hand; and it is related that Kimbe behaved himself no better under his wound than those he had been blaming just before. Kimbe went off, and Thormod sat down in the barn, and listened to what people were saying. The conversation was mostly about what each had seen in the battle, and about the valour of the combatants. Some praised most King Olaf’s courage, and some named others who stood nowise behind him in bravery. Then Thormod sang these verses: —
“Olaf was brave beyond all doubt, — At Stiklestad was none so stout;
Spattered with blood, the king, unsparing, Cheered on his men with deed and daring. But I have heard that some were there Who in the fight themselves would spare; Though, in the arrow-storm, the most
Had perils quite enough to boast.”
247. THORMOD’S DEATH.
Thormod went out, and entered into a chamber apart, in which there were many wounded men, and with them a woman binding their wounds. There was fire upon the floor, at which she warmed water to wash and clean their wounds. Thormod sat himself down beside the door, and one came in, and another went out, of those who were busy about the wounded men. One of them turned to Thormod, looked at him, and said, “Why art thou so dead-pale? Art thou wounded? Why dost thou not call for the help of the wound- healers?” Thormod then sang these verses: —
“I am not blooming, and the fair
And slender girl loves to care
For blooming youths — few care for me; With Fenja’s meal I cannot fee.
This is the reason why I feel
The slash and thrust of Danish steel; And pale and faint, and bent with pain, Return from yonder battle-plain.”
Then Thormod stood up and went in towards the fire, and stood there awhile. The young woman said to him, “Go out, man, and bring in some of the split firewood which lies close beside the door.” He went out and brought in an armful of wood, which he threw down upon the floor. Then the nurse-girl looked him in the face, and said, “Dreadfully pale is this man — why art thou so?” Then Thormod sang: —
“Thou wonderest, sweet sprig, at me, A man so hideous to see:
Deep wounds but rarely mend the face, The crippling blow gives little grace. The arrow-drift o’ertook me, girl, — A fine-ground arrow in the whirl
Went through me, and I feel the dart Sits, lovely girl, too near my heart.”
The girl said, “Let me see thy wound, and I will bind it.” Thereupon Thormod sat down, cast off his clothes, and the girl saw his wounds, and examined that which was in his side, and felt that a piece of iron was in it, but could not find where the iron had gone in. In a stone pot she had stirred together leeks and other herbs, and boiled them, and gave the wounded men of it to eat, by which she discovered if the wounds had penetrated into the belly; for if the wound had gone so deep, it would smell of leek. She brought some of this now to Thormod, and told him to eat of it. He replied, “Take it away, I have no appetite for my broth.” Then she took a large pair of tongs, and tried to pull out the iron; but it sat too fast, and would in no way come, and as the wound was swelled, little of it stood out to lay hold of. Now said Thormod, “Cut so deep in that thou canst get at the iron with the tongs, and give me the tongs and let me pull.” She did as he said. Then Thormod took a gold ring from his hand, gave it to the nurse-woman, and told her to do with it what she liked. “It is a good man’s gift,” said he: “King Olaf gave me the ring this morning.” Then Thormod took the tongs, and pulled the iron out; but on the iron there was a hook, at which there hung some morsels of flesh from the heart, — some white, some red. When he saw that, he said, “The king has fed us well. I am fat, even at the heart-roots;” and so saying he leant back, and was dead. And with this ends what we have to say about Thormod.
248. OF SOME CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE BATTLE.
King Olaf fell on Wednesday, the 29th of July (A.D. 1030). It was near mid-day when the two armies met, and the battle began before half-past one, and before three the king fell. The darkness continued from about half-past one to three also. Sigvat the skald speaks thus of the result of the battle: —
“The loss was great to England’s foes, When their chief fell beneath the blows By his own thoughtless people given, — When the king’s shield in two was riven. The people’s sovereign took the field, The people clove the sovereign’s shield. Of all the chiefs that bloody day,
Dag only came out of the fray.”
And he composed these: —
“Such mighty bonde-power, I ween,
With chiefs or rulers ne’er was seen. It was the people’s mighty power
That struck the king that fatal hour. When such a king, in such a strife,
By his own people lost his life, Full many a gallant man must feel
The death-wound from the people’s steel.”
The bondes did not spoil the slain upon the field of battle, for immediately after the battle there came upon many of them who had been against the king a kind of dread as it were; yet they held by their evil inclination, for they resolved among themselves that all who had fallen with the king should not receive the interment which belongs to good men, but reckoned them all robbers and outlaws. But the men who had power, and had relations on the field, cared little for this, but removed their remains to the churches, and took care of their burial.
249. A MIRACLE ON A BLIND MAN.
Thorgils Halmason and his son Grim went to the field of battle towards evening when it was dusk, took King Olaf’s corpse up, and bore it to a little empty houseman’s hut which stood on the other side of their farm. They had light and water with them. Then they took the clothes off the body, swathed it in a linen cloth, laid it down in the house, and concealed it under some firewood so that nobody could see it, even if people came into the hut. Thereafter they went home again to the farmhouse. A great many beggars and poor people had followed both armies, who begged for meat; and the evening after the battle many remained there, and sought lodging round about in all the houses, great or small. It is told of a blind man who was poor, that a boy attended him and led him. They went out around the farm to seek a lodging, and came to the same empty house, of which the door was so low that they had almost to creep in. Now when the blind man had come in, he fumbled about the floor seeking a place where he could lay himself down. He had a hat on his head, which fell down over his face when he stooped down. He felt with his hands that there was moisture on the floor, and he put up his wet hand to raise his hat, and in doing so put his fingers on his eyes. There came immediately such an itching in his eyelids, that he wiped the water with his fingers from his eyes, and went out of the hut, saying nobody could lie there, it was so wet. When he came out of the hut he could distinguish his hands, and all that was near him, as far as things can be distinguished by sight in the darkness of light; and he went immediately to the farm-house into the room, and told all the people he had got his sight again, and could see everything, although many knew he had been blind for a long time, for he had been there, before, going about among the houses of the neighbourhood. He said he first got his sight when he was coming out of a little ruinous hut which was all wet inside. “I groped in the water,” said he, “and rubbed my eyes with my wet hands.” He told where the hut stood. The people who heard him wondered much at this event, and spoke among themselves of what it could be that produced it: but Thorgils the peasant and his son Grim thought they knew how this came to pass; and as they were much afraid the king’s enemies might go there and search the hut, they went and took the body out of it, and removed it to a garden, where they concealed it, and then returned to the farm, and slept there all night.
250. OF THORER HUND.
The fifth day (Thursday), Thorer Hund came down the valley of Veradal to Stiklestad; and many people, both chiefs and bondes, accompanied him. The field of battle was still being cleared, and people were carrying away the bodies of their friends and relations, and were giving the necessary help to such of the wounded as they wished to save; but many had died since the battle. Thorer Hund went to where the king had fallen, and searched for his body; but not finding it, he inquired if any one could tell him what had become of the corpse, but nobody could tell him where it was. Then he asked the bonde Thorgils, who said, “I was not in the battle, and knew little of what took place there; but many reports are abroad, and among others that King Olaf has been seen in the night up at Staf, and a troop of people with him: but if he fell in the battle, your men must have concealed him in some hole, or under some stone-heap.” Now although Thorer Hund knew for certain that the king had fallen, many allowed themselves to believe, and to spread abroad the report, that the king had escaped from the battle, and would in a short time come again upon them with an army. Then Thorer went to his ships, and sailed down the fjord, and the bonde-army dispersed, carrying with them all the wounded men who could bear to be removed.
251. OF KING OLAF’S BODY.
Thorgils Halmason and his son Grim had King Olaf’s body, and were anxious about preserving it from falling into the hands of the king’s enemies, and being ill-treated; for they heard the bondes speaking about burning it, or sinking it in the sea. The father and son had seen a clear light burning at night over the spot on the battlefield where King Olaf’s body lay, and since, while they concealed it, they had always seen at night a light burning over the corpse; therefore they were afraid the king’s enemies might seek the body where this signal was visible. They hastened, therefore, to take the body to a place where it would be safe. Thorgils and his son accordingly made a coffin, which they adorned as well as they could, and laid the king’s body in it; and afterwards made another coffin in which they laid stones and straw, about as much as the weight of a man, and carefully closed the coffins. As soon as the whole bonde-army had left Stiklestad, Thorgils and his son made themselves ready, got a large rowing-boat, and took with them seven or eight men, who were all Thorgil’s relations or friends, and privately took the coffin with the king’s body down to the boat, and set it under the foot-boards. They had also with them the coffin containing the stones, and placed it in the boat where all could see it; and then went down the fjord with a good opportunity of wind and weather, and arrived in the dusk of the evening at Nidaros, where they brought up at the king’s pier. Then Thorgils sent some of his men up to the town to Bishop Sigurd, to say that they were come with the king’s body. As soon as the bishop heard this news, he sent his men down to the pier, and they took a small rowing-boat, came alongside of Thorgil’s ship, and demanded the king’s body. Thorgils and his people then took the coffin which stood in view, and bore it into the boat; and the bishop’s men rowed out into the fjord, and sank the coffin in the sea. It was now quite dark. Thorgils and his people now rowed up into the river past the town, and landed at a place called Saurhlid, above the town. Then they carried the king’s body to an empty house standing at a distance from other houses, and watched over it for the night, while Thorgils went down to the town, where he spoke with some of the best friends of King Olaf, and asked them if they would take charge of the king’s body; but none of them dared to do so. Then Thorgils and his men went with the body higher up the river, buried it in a sand-hill on the banks, and levelled all around it so that no one could observe that people had been at work there. They were ready with all this before break of day, when they returned to their vessel, went immediately out of the river, and proceeded on their way home to Stiklestad.
252. OF THE BEGINNING OF KING SVEIN ALFIFASON’S GOVERNMENT.
Svein, a son of King Canute, and of Alfifa, a daughter of Earl Alfrin, had been appointed to govern Jomsborg in Vindland. There came a message to him from his father King Canute, that he should come to Denmark; and likewise that afterwards he should proceed to Norway, and take that kingdom under his charge, and assume, at the same time, the title of king of Norway. Svein repaired to Denmark, and took many people with him from thence, and also Earl Harald and many other people of consequence attended him. Thorarin Loftunga speaks of this in the song he composed about King Svein, called the “Glelogn Song”: —
“‘Tis told by fame,
How grandly came
The Danes to tend
Their young king Svein.
Grandest was he,
That all could see;
Then, one by one,
Each following man
More splendour wore
Than him before.”
Then Svein proceeded to Norway, and his mother Alfifa was with him; and he was taken to be king at every Law-thing in the country. He had already come as far as Viken at the time the battle was fought at Stiklestad, and King Olaf fell. Svein continued his journey until he came north, in autumn, to the Throndhjem country; and there, as elsewhere, he was received as king.
253. OF KING SVEIN’S LAWS.
King Svein introduced new laws in many respects into the country, partly after those which were in Denmark, and in part much more severe. No man must leave the country without the king’s permission; or if he did, his property fell to the king. Whoever killed a man outright, should forfeit all his land and movables. If any one was banished the country, and all heritage fell to him, the king took his inheritance. At Yule every man should pay the king a meal of malt from every harvest steading, and a leg of a three-year old ox, which was called a friendly gift, together with a spand of butter; and every house-wife a rock full of unspun lint, as thick as one could span with the longest fingers of the hand. The bondes were bound to build all the houses the king required upon his farms. Of every seven males one should be taken for the service of war, and reckoning from the fifth year of age; and the outfit of ships should be reckoned in the same proportion. Every man who rowed upon the sea to fish should pay the king five fish as a tax, for the land defence, wherever he might come from. Every ship that went out of the country should have stowage reserved open for the king in the middle of the ship. Every man, foreigner or native, who went to Iceland, should pay a tax to the king. And to all this was added, that Danes should enjoy so much consideration in Norway, that one witness of them should invalidate ten of Northmen (1).
When these laws were promulgated the minds of the people were instantly raised against them, and murmurs were heard among them. They who had not taken part against King Olaf said, “Now take your reward and friendship from the Canute race, ye men of the interior Throndhjem who fought against King Olaf, and deprived him of his kingdom. Ye were promised peace and justice, and now ye have got oppression and slavery for your great treachery and crime.” Nor was it very easy to contradict them, as all men saw how miserable the change had been. But people had not the boldness to make an insurrection against King Svein, principally because many had given King Canute their sons or other near relations as hostages; and also because no one appeared as leader of an insurrection. They very soon, however, complained of King Svein; and his mother Alfifa got much of the blame of all that was against their desire. Then the truth, with regard to Olaf, became evident to many.
ENDNOTES:
(1) This may probably have referred not to witnesses of an act, but to the class of witnesses in the jurisprudence of the Middle Ages called compurgators, who testified not the fact, but their confidence in the statements of the accused; and from which, possibly, our English bail for offenders arose. — L.
254. OF KING OLAF’S SANCTITY.
This winter (A.D. 1031) many in the Throndhjem land began to declare that Olaf was in reality a holy man, and his sanctity was confirmed by many miracles. Many began to make promises and prayers to King Olaf in the matters in which they thought they required help, and many found great benefit from these invocations. Some in respect of health, others of a journey, or other circumstances in which such help seemed needful.
255. OF EINAR TAMBASKELFER.
Einar Tambaskelfer was come home from England to his farm, and had the fiefs which King Canute had given him when they met in Throndhjem, and which were almost an earldom. Einar had not been in the strife against King Olaf, and congratulated himself upon it. He remembered that King Canute had promised him the earldom over Norway, and at the same time remembered that King Canute had not kept his promise. He was accordingly the first great person who looked upon King Olaf as a saint.
256. OF THE SONS OF ARNE.
Fin Arnason remained but a short time at Eggja with his brother Kalf; for he was in the highest degree ill-pleased that Kalf had been in the battle against King Olaf, and always made his brother the bitterest reproaches on this account. Thorberg Arnason was much more temperate in his discourse than Fin; but yet he hastened away, and went home to his farm. Kalf gave the two brothers a good long-ship, with full rigging and other necessaries, and a good retinue. Therefore they went home to their farms, and sat quietly at home. Arne Arnason lay long ill of his wounds, but got well at last without injury of any limb, and in winter he proceeded south to his farm. All the brothers made their peace with King Svein, and sat themselves quietly down in their homes.
257. BISHOP SIGURD’S FLIGHT.
The summer after (A.D. 1031) there was much talk about King Olaf’s sanctity, and there was a great alteration in the expressions of all people concerning him. There were many who now believed that King Olaf must be a saint, even among those who had persecuted him with the greatest animosity, and would never in their conversation allow truth or justice in his favour. People began then to turn their reproaches against the men who had principally excited opposition to the king; and on this account Bishop Sigurd in particular was accused. He got so many enemies, that he found it most advisable to go over to England to King Canute. Then the Throndhjem people sent men with a verbal message to the Uplands, to Bishop Grimkel, desiring him to come north to Throndhjem. King Olaf had sent Bishop Grimkel back to Norway when he went east into Russia, and since that time Grimkel had been in the Uplands. When the message came to the bishop he made ready to go, and it contributed much to this journey that the bishop considered it as true what was told of King Olaf’s miracles and sanctity.
258. KING OLAF THE SAINT’S REMAINS DISINTERRED.
Bishop Grimkel went to Einar Tambaskelfer, who received him joyfully. They talked over many things, and, among others, of the important events which had taken place in the country; and concerning these they were perfectly agreed. Then the bishop proceeded to the town (Nidaros), and was well received by all the community. He inquired particularly concerning the miracles of King Olaf that were reported, and received satisfactory accounts of them. Thereupon the bishop sent a verbal message to Stiklestad to Thorgils and his son Grim, inviting them to come to the town to him. They did not decline the invitation, but set out on the road immediately, and came to the town and to the bishop. They related to him all the signs that had presented themselves to them, and also where they had deposited the king”s body. The bishop sent a message to Einar Tambaskelfer, who came to the town. Then the bishop and Einar had an audience of the king and Alfifa, in which they asked the king’s leave to have King Olaf’s body taken up out of the earth. The king gave his permission, and told the bishop to do as he pleased in the matter. At that time there were a great many people in the town. The bishop, Einar, and some men with them, went to the place where the king’s body was buried, and had the place dug; but the coffin had already raised itself almost to the surface of the earth. It was then the opinion of many that the bishop should proceed to have the king buried in the earth at Clement’s church; and it was so done. Twelve months and five days (Aug. 3, A.D. 1031), after King Olaf’s death his holy remains were dug up, and the coffin had raised itself almost entirely to the surface of the earth; and the coffin appeared quite new, as if it had but lately been made. When Bishop Grimkel came to King Olaf’s opened coffin, there was a delightful and fresh smell. Thereupon the bishop uncovered the king’s face, and his appearance was in no respect altered, and his cheeks were as red as if he had but just fallen asleep. The men who had seen King Olaf when he fell remarked, also, that his hair and nails had grown as much as if he had lived on the earth all the time that had passed since his fall. Thereupon King Svein, and all the chiefs who were at the place, went out to see King Olaf’s body. Then said Alfifa, “People buried in sand rot very slowly, and it would not have been so if he had been buried in earth.” Afterwards the bishop took scissors, clipped the king’s hair, and arranged his beard; for he had had a long beard, according to the fashion of that time. Then said the bishop to the king and Alfifa, “Now the king’s hair and beard are such as when he gave up the ghost, and it has grown as much as ye see has been cut off.” Alfifa answers, “I will believe in the sanctity of his hair, if it will not burn in the fire; but I have often seen men’s hair whole and undamaged after lying longer in the earth than this man’s.” Then the bishop had live coals put into a pan, blessed it, cast incense upon it, and then laid King Olaf’s hair on the fire. When all the incense was burnt the bishop took the hair out of the fire, and showed the king and the other chiefs that it was not consumed. Now Alfifa asked that the hair should be laid upon unconsecrated fire; but Einar Tambaskelfer told her to be silent, and gave her many severe reproaches for her unbelief. After the bishop’s recognition, with the king’s approbation and the decision of the Thing, it was determined that King Olaf should be considered a man truly holy; whereupon his body was transported into Clement’s church, and a place was prepared for it near the high altar. The coffin was covered with costly cloth, and stood under a gold embroidered tent. Many kinds of miracles were soon wrought by King Olaf’s holy remains.
259. OF KING OLAF’S MIRACLES.
In the sand-hill where King Olaf’s body had lain on the ground a beautiful spring of water came up and many human ailments and infirmities were cured by its waters. Things were put in order around it, and the water ever since has been carefully preserved. There was first a chapel built, and an altar consecrated, where the king’s body had lain; but now Christ’s church stands upon the spot. Archbishop Eystein had a high altar raised upon the spot where the king’s grave had been, when he erected the great temple which now stands there; and it is the same spot on which the altar of the old Christ church had stood. It is said that Olaf’s church stands on the spot on which the empty house had stood in which King Olaf’s body had been laid for the night. The place over which the holy remains of King Olaf were carried up from the vessel is now called Olaf’s Road, and is now in the middle of the town. The bishop adorned King Olaf’s holy remains, and cut his nails and hair; for both grew as if he had still been alive. So says Sigvat the skald: —
“I lie not, when I say the king
Seemed as alive in every thing:
His nails, his yellow hair still growing, And round his ruddy cheek still flowing, As when, to please the Russian queen, His yellow locks adorned were seen;
Or to the blind he cured he gave A tress, their precious sight to save.”
Thorarin Loftunga also composed a song upon Svein Alfifason, called the “Glelogn Song”, in which are these verses: —
“Svein, king of all,
In Olaf’s hall
Now sits on high;
And Olaf’s eye
Looks down from heaven,
Where it is given
To him to dwell:
Or here in cell,
As heavenly saint,
To heal men’s plaint,
May our gold-giver
Live here for ever!
“King Olaf there
To hold a share
On earth prepared,
Nor labour spared
A seat to win
From heaven’s great King;
Which he has won
Next God’s own Son.
“His holy form,
Untouched by worm,
Lies at this day
Where good men pray,
And nails and hair
Grow fresh and fair;
His cheek is red,
His flesh not dead.
“Around his bier,
Good people hear
The small bells ring
Over the king,
Or great bell toll;
And living soul
Not one can tell
Who tolls the bell.
“Tapers up there,
(Which Christ holds dear,)
By day and night
The altar light:
Olaf did so,
And all men know
In heaven he
From sin sits free.
“And crowds do come,
The deaf and dumb,
Cripple and blind,
Sick of all kind,
Cured to be
On bended knee;
And off the ground
Rise whole and sound.
“To Olaf pray
To eke thy day,
To save thy land
From spoiler’s hand.
God’s man is he
To deal to thee
Good crops and peace;
Let not prayer cease.
“Book-prayers prevail,
If, nail for nail (1),
Thou tellest on,
Forgetting none.”
Thorarin Loftunga was himself with King Svein, and heard these great testimonials of King Olaf’s holiness, that people, by the heavenly power, could hear a sound over his holy remains as if bells were ringing, and that candles were lighted of themselves upon the altar as by a heavenly fire. But when Thorarin says that a multitude of lame, and blind, and other sick, who came to the holy Olaf, went back cured, he means nothing more than that there were a vast number of persons who at the beginning of King Olaf’s miraculous working regained their health. King Olaf’s greatest miracles are clearly written down, although they occurred somewhat later.
ENDNOTES:
(1) Before the entrance of the temples or churches were posts called Ondveigis-sulor, with nails called Rigin-naglar — the gods’ nails — either for ornament, or, as Schoning suggests, to assist the people in reckoning weeks, months, festivals, and in reckoning or keeping tale of prayers repeated, and to recall them to memory, in the same way as beads are used still by the common people in Catholic countries for the same purpose. — L.
260. OF KING OLAF’S AGE AND REIGN.
It is reckoned by those who have kept an exact account, that Olaf the Saint was king of Norway for fifteen years from the time Earl Svein left the country; but he had received the title of king from the people of the Uplands the winter before. Sigvat the skald tells this: —
“For fifteen winters o’er the land King Olaf held the chief command,
Before he fell up in the North:
His fall made known to us his worth. No worthier prince before his day
In our North land e’er held the sway, Too short he held it for our good;
All men wish now that he had stood.”
Saint Olaf was thirty-five years old when he fell, according to what Are Frode the priest says, and he had been in twenty pitched battles. So says Sigvat the skald: —
“Some leaders trust in God — some not; Even so their men; but well I wot
God-fearing Olaf fought and won
Twenty pitched battles, one by one, And always placed upon his right
His Christian men in a hard fight. May God be merciful, I pray,
To him — for he ne’er shunned his fray.”
We have now related a part of King Olaf’s story, namely, the events which took place while he ruled over Norway; also his death, and how his holiness was manifested. Now shall we not neglect to mention what it was that most advanced his honour. This was his miracles; but these will come to be treated of afterwards in this book.
261. OF THE THRONDHJEM PEOPLE.
King Svein, the son of Canute the Great, ruled over Norway for some years; but was a child both in age and understanding. His mother Alfifa had most sway in the country; and the people of the country were her great enemies, both then and ever since. Danish people had a great superiority given them within the country, to the great dissatisfaction of the people; and when conversation turned that way, the people of the rest of Norway accused the Throndhjem people of having principally occasioned King Olaf the Holy’s fall, and also that the men of Norway were subject, through them, to the ill government by which oppression and slavery had come upon all the people, both great and small; indeed upon the whole community. They insisted that it was the duty of the Throndhjem people to attempt opposition and insurrection, and thus relieve the country from such tyranny; and, in the opinion of the common people, Throndhjem was also the chief seat of the strength of Norway at that time, both on account of the chiefs and of the population of that quarter. When the Throndhjem people heard these remarks of their countrymen, they could not deny that there was much truth in them, and that in depriving King Olaf of life and land they had committed a great crime, and at the same time the misdeed had been ill paid. The chiefs began to hold consultations and conferences with each other, and the leader of these was Einar Tambaskelfer. It was likewise the case with Kalf Arnason, who began to find into what errors he had been drawn by King Canute’s persuasion. All the promises which King Canute had made to Kalf had been broken; for he had promised him the earldom and the highest authority in Norway: and although Kalf had been the leader in the battle against King Olaf, and had deprived him of his life and kingdom, Kalf had not got any higher dignity than he had before. He felt that he had been deceived, and therefore messages passed between the brothers Kalf, Fin, Thorberg, and Arne, and they renewed their family friendship.
262. OF KING SVEIN’S LEVY.
When King Svein had been three years in Norway (A.D. 1031-33), the news was received that a force was assembled in the western countries, under a chief who called himself Trygve, and gave out that he was a son of Olaf Trygvason and Queen Gyda of England. Now when King Svein heard that foreign troops had come to the country, he ordered out the people on a levy in the north, and the most of the lendermen hastened to him; but Einar Tambaskelfer remained at home, and would not go out with King Svein. When King Svein’s order came to Kalf Arnason at Eggja, that he should go out on a levy with King Svein, he took a twenty-benched ship which he owned, went on board with his house-servants, and in all haste proceeded out of the fjord, without waiting for King Svein, sailed southwards to More, and continued his voyage south until he came to Giske to his brother Thorberg. Then all the brothers, the sons of Arne, held a meeting, and consulted with each other. After this Kalf returned to the north again; but when he came to Frekeysund, King Svein was lying in the sound before him. When Kalf came rowing from the south into the sound they hailed each other, and the king’s men ordered Kalf to bring up with his vessel, and follow the king for the defence of the country. Kalf replies, “I have done enough, if not too much, when I fought against my own countrymen to increase the power of the Canute family.” Thereupon Kalf rowed away to the north until he came home to Eggja. None of these Arnasons appeared at this levy to accompany the king. He steered with his fleet southwards along the land; but as he could not hear the least news of any fleet having come from the west, he steered south to Rogaland, and all the way to Agder; for many guessed that Trygve would first make his attempt on Viken, because his forefathers had been there, and had most of their strength from that quarter, and he had himself great strength by family connection there.
263. KING TRYGVE OLAFSON’S FALL.
When Trygve came from the west he landed first on the coast of Hordaland, and when he heard King Svein had gone south he went the same way to Rogaland. As soon as Svein got the intelligence that Trygve had come from the west he returned, and steered north with his fleet; and both fleets met within Bokn in Soknarsund, not far from the place where Erling Skjalgson fell. The battle, which took place on a Sunday, was great and severe. People tell that Trygve threw spears with both hands at once. “So my father,” said he, “taught me to celebrate mass.” His enemies had said that he was the son of a priest; but the praise must be allowed him that he showed himself more like a son of King Olaf Trygvason, for this Trygve was a slaughtering man. In this battle King Trygve fell, and many of his men with him; but some fled, and some received quarter and their lives. It is thus related in the ballad of Trygve: —
“Trygve comes from the northern coast, King Svein turns round with all his host; To meet and fight, they both prepare, And where they met grim death was there. From the sharp strife I was not far, — I heard the din and the clang of war; And the Hordaland men at last gave way, And their leader fell, and they lost the day.”
This battle is also told of in the ballad about King Svein, thus: —
“My girl! it was a Sunday morn,
And many a man ne’er saw its eve, Though ale and leeks by old wives borne The bruised and wounded did relieve.
‘Twas Sunday morn, when Svein calls out, `Stem to stem your vessels bind;’
The raven a mid-day feast smells out, And he comes croaking up the wind.”
After this battle King Svein ruled the country for some time, and there was peace in the land. The winter after it (A.D. 1034) he passed in the south parts of the country.
264. OF THE COUNSELS OF EINAR TAMBASKELFER AND KALF ARNASON.
Einar Tambaskelfer and Kalf Arnason had this winter meetings and consultations between themselves in the merchant town (1). Then there came a messenger from King Canute to Kalf Arnason, with a message to send him three dozen axes, which must be chosen and good. Kalf replies, “I will send no axes to King Canute. Tell him I will bring his son Svein so many, that he shall not think he is in want of any.”
ENDNOTES:
(1) Nidaros, or Throndhjem, is usually called merely the merchant town. — L.
265. OF EINAR TAMBASKELFER AND KALF ARNASON’S JOURNEY.
Early in spring (A.D. 1034) Einar Tambaskelfer and Kalf Arnason made themselves ready for a journey, with a great retinue of the best and most select men that could be found in the Throndhjem country. They went in spring eastward over the ridge of the country to Jamtaland, from thence to Helsingjaland, and came to Svithjod, where they procured ships, with which in summer they proceeded east to Russia, and came in autumn to Ladoga. They sent men up to Novgorod to King Jarisleif, with the errand that they offered Magnus, the son of King Olaf the Saint, to take him with them, follow him to Norway, and give him assistance to attain his father’s heritage and be made king over the country. When this message came to King Jarisleif he held a consultation with the queen and some chiefs, and they all resolved unanimously to send a message to the Northmen, and ask them to come to King Jarisleif and Magnus; for which journey safe conduct was given them. When they came to Novgorod it was settled among them that the Northmen who had come there should become Magnus’s men, and be his subjects; and to this Kalf and the other men who had been against King Olaf at Stiklestad were solemnly bound by oath. On the other hand, King Magnus promised them, under oath, secure peace and full reconciliation; and that he would be true and faithful to them all when he got the dominions and kingdom of Norway. He was to become Kalf Arnason’s foster-son; and Kalf should be bound to do all that Magnus might think necessary for extending his dominion, and making it more independent than formerly.
SAGA OF MAGNUS THE GOOD.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS.
Magnus reigned from A.D. 1035 to 1047, when he died. During the last year of his reign his half-brother Harald Sigurdson was his co-regent.
The history of Magnus is treated in “Agrip.”, ch. 28-32; in “Fagrskinna”, ch. 119-146; in “Fornmannasogur”, part vi., and in “Knytlinga Saga”.
The skalds quoted in this saga are: Arnor the earls’ skald (Arnor Jarlaskald), Sigvat, Thjodulf, Bjarne Gullbrarskald, Thorgeir Flek, Od Kikinaskald.
1. MAGNUS OLAFSON’S JOURNEY FROM THE WEST.
After Yule Magnus Olafson began his journey from the East from Novgorod to Ladoga, where he rigged out his ships as soon as the ice was loosened in spring (A.D. 1035). Arnor, the earls’ skald, tells of this in the poem on Magnus: —
“It is no loose report that he,
Who will command on land and sea, In blood will make his foeman feel
Olaf’s sword Hneiter’s sharp blue steel. This generous youth, who scatters gold, Norway’s brave son, but ten years old, Is rigging ships in Russia’s lake,
His crown, with friend’s support, to take.”
In spring Magnus sailed from the East to Svithjod. So says Arnor: —
“The young sword-stainer called a Thing, Where all his men should meet their king: Heroes who find the eagle food
Before their lord in arms stood. And now the curved plank of the bow
Cleaves the blue sea; the ocean-plough By grey winds driven across the main, Reaches Sigtuna’s grassy plain.”
Here it is related that when King Magnus and his fellow- travellers sailed from the East to Svithjod, they brought up at Sigtuna. Emund Olafson was then king in Svithjod. Queen Astrid, who had been married to King Olaf the Saint, was also there. She received very gladly and well her stepson King Magnus, and summoned immediately a numerous Thing of Swedes at a place called Hangtar. At the Thing Queen Astrid spoke these words: “Here is come to us a son of Olaf the Saint, called Magnus, who intends to make an expedition to Norway to seek his father’s heritage. It is my great duty to give him aid towards this expedition; for he is my stepson, as is well known to all, both Swedes and Norwegians. Neither shall he want men or money, in so far as I can procure them or have influence, in order that his strength may be as great as possible; and all the men who will support this cause of his shall have my fullest friendship; and I would have it known that I intend myself to go with him on this attempt, that all may see I will spare nothing that is in my power to help him.” She spoke long and cleverly in this strain; but when she had ended many replied thus: “The Swedes made no honourable progress in Norway when they followed King Olaf his father, and now no better success is to be expected, as this man is but in years of boyhood; and therefore we have little inclination for this expedition.” Astrid replies, “All men who wish to be thought of true courage must not be deterred by such considerations. If any have lost connections at the side of King Olaf, or been themselves wounded, now is the time to show a man’s heart and courage, and go to Norway to take vengeance.” Astrid succeeded so far with words and encouragement that many men determined to go with her, and follow King Magnus to Norway. Sigvat the skald speaks of this:–
“Now Astrtd, Olaf’s widowed Queen, — She who so many a change had seen, — Took all the gifts of happier days,
Jewels and rings, all she could raise, And at a Thing at Hangrar, where
The Swedes were numerous, did declare What Olaf’s son proposed to do,
And brought her gifts — their pay — in view.
“And with the Swedes no wiser plan, To bring out every brave bold man,
Could have been found, had Magnus been The son himself of the good queen.
With help of Christ, she hoped to bring Magnus to be the land’s sole king,
As Harald was, who in his day
Obtained o’er all the upper sway.
“And glad are we so well she sped, — The people’s friend is now their head; And good King Magnus always shows
How much be to Queen Astrid owes. Such stepmothers as this good queen
In truth are very rarely seen;
And to this noble woman’s praise The skald with joy his song will raise.”
Thiodolf the skald also says in his song of Magnus: —
“When thy brave ship left the land, The bending yard could scarce withstand The fury of the whistling gale,
That split thy many-coloured sail; And many a stout ship, tempest-tost,
Was in that howling storm lost
That brought them safe to Sigtuna’s shore, Far from the sound of ocean’s roar.”
2. MAGNUS’S EXPEDITION FROM SVITHJOD.
King Magnus set out on his journey from Sigtuna with a great force, which he had gathered in Svithjod. They proceeded through Svithjod on foot to Helsingjaland. So says Arnor, the earl’s skald: —
“And many a dark-red Swedish shield Marched with thee from the Swedish field. The country people crowded in,
To help Saint Olaf’s son to win; And chosen men by thee were led,
Men who have stained the wolf’s tongue red. Each milk-white shield and polished spear Came to a splendid gathering there.”
Magnus Olafson went from the East through Jamtaland over the keel-ridge of the country and came down upon the Throndhjem district, where all men welcomed the king with joy. But no sooner did the men of King Svein, the son of Alfifa, hear that King Magnus Olafson was come to the country, than they fled on all sides and concealed themselves, so that no opposition was made to King Magnus; for King Svein was in the south part of the country. So says Arnor, the earls’ skald: —
“He who the eagle’s talons stains
Rushed from the East on Throndhjem’s plains; The terror of his plumed helm
Drove his pale foemen from the realm. The lightning of thy eye so near,
Great king! thy foemen could not bear, Scattered they fled — their only care If thou their wretched lives wilt spare.”
3. MAGNUS MADE KING.
Magnus Olafson advanced to the town (Nidaros), where he was joyfully received. He then summoned the people to the Eyra- thing (1); and when the bondes met at the Thing, Magnus was taken to be king over the whole land, as far as his father Olaf had possessed it. Then the king selected a court, and named lendermen, and placed bailiffs and officers in all domains and offices. Immediately after harvest King Magnus ordered a levy through all Throndhjem land, and he collected men readily; and thereafter he proceeded southwards along the coast.
ENDNOTES:
(1) Eyra Thing, held on the ayr of the river Nid, that is, on the spit of sand, still called an ayr in the north of Scotland, dividing a lake, pond, or river-mouth from the sea. At the Thing held here the kings of Norway were chosen and proclaimed. It was held to be the proper Thing for settling disputes between kings in Norway. — L.
4. KING SVEIN’S FLIGHT.
King Svein Alfifason was staying in South Hordaland when he heard this news of war. He immediately sent out war-tokens to four different quarters, summoned the bondes to him, and made it known to all that they should join him with men and ships to defend the country. All the men who were in the neighbourhood of the king presented themselves; and the king formed a Thing, at which in a speech he set forth his business, and said he would advance against Magnus O1afson and have a battle with him, if the bondes would aid his cause. The king’s speech was not very long, and was not received with much approbation by the bondes. Afterwards the Danish chiefs who were about the king made long and clever speeches; but the bondes then took up the word, and answered them; and although many said they would follow Svein, and fight on his side, some refused to do so bluntly, some were altogether silent, and some declared they would join King Magnus as soon as they had an opportunity. Then King Svein says, “Methinks very few of the bondes to whom we sent a message have appeared here; and of those who have come, and tell us to our face that they will join King Magnus as soon as they can, we shall have as little benefit as of those who say they will sit at home quietly. It is the same with those who say nothing at all. But as to those who promise to help us, there are not more than every other man; and that force will avail us little against King Magnus. It is my counsel, therefore, that we do not trust to these bondes; but let us rather go to the land where all the people are sure and true to us, and where we will obtain forces to conquer this country again.” As soon as the king had made known this resolution all his men followed it, turned their ship’s bows, and hoisted sail. King Svein sailed eastward along the land, and then set right over to Denmark without delay, and Hardaknut received his brother Svein very kindly. At their first meeting Hardaknut offered King Svein to divide the kingdom of Denmark with him, which offer King Svein accepted.
5. KING MAGNUS’S JOURNEY TO NORWAY.
In autumn (A.D. 1035) King Magnus proceeded eastward to the end of the country, and was received as king throughout the whole land, and the country people were rejoiced at his arrival.
6. DEATH OF KING CANUTE THE GREAT AND HIS SON SVEIN.
King Svein, Canute’s son, went to Denmark, as before related, and took part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn King Canute the Great died in England, the 13th November, forty years old, and was buried at Winchester. He had been king of Denmark for twenty-seven years, and over Denmark and England together twenty-four years, and also over Norway for seven years. King Canute’s son Harald was then made king in England. The same winter (A.D. 1036) King Svein, Alfifa’s son, died in Denmark. Thiodolf the skald made these lines concerning King Magnus: —
“Through Sweden’s dirty roads the throng Followed the king in spearmen strong. Svein doth fly, in truth afraid,
And partly by his men betrayed;
Flying to Denmark o’er the sea,
He leaves the land quite clear to thee.”
Bjarne Gullbrarskald composed the following lines concerning Kalf Arnason: —
“By thee the kings got each his own, — Magnus by thee got Norway’s throne;
And Svein in Denmark got a seat, When out of Norway he was beat.
Kalf! It was you who showed the way To our young king, the battle-lover, — From Russia to his father’s sway
You showed the way, and brought him over.”
King Magnus ruled over Norway this winter (A.D. 1036), and Hardaknut over Denmark.
7. RECONCILIATION BETWEEN HARDAKNUT AND KING MAGNUS.
The following spring (A.D. 1036) the kings on both sides ordered out a levy, and the news was that they would have a battle at the Gaut river; but when the two armies approached each other, the lendermen in the one army sent messengers to their connections and friends in the other; and it came to a proposal for a reconciliation between the two kings, especially as, from both kings being but young and childish, some powerful men, who had been chosen in each of the countries for that purpose, had the rule of the country on their account. It thus was brought about that there was a friendly meeting between the kings, and in this meeting a peace was proposed; and the peace was to be a brotherly union under oath to keep the peace towards each other to the end of their lives; and if one of them should die without leaving a son, the longest liver should succeed to the whole land and people. Twelve of the principal men in each kingdom swore to the kings that this treaty should be observed, so long as any one of them was in life. Then the kings separated, and each returned home to his kingdom; and the treaty was kept as long as both lived.
8. OF QUEEN ASTRID.
Queen Astrid, who had been married to King Olaf the Saint, came to Norway with King Magnus her stepson, as before related, and was held by him deservedly in great honour and esteem. Then came also Alfhild, King Magnus’s mother, to the court, and the king received her with the greatest affection, and showed her great respect. But it went with Alfhild, as it does with many who come to power and honour, that pride keeps pace with promotion. She was ill pleased that Queen Astrid was treated with more respect, had a higher seat, and more attention. Alfhild wanted to have a seat next to the king, but Astrid called Alfhild her slave-woman, as indeed she had formerly been when Astrid was queen of Norway and King Olaf ruled the land, and therefore would on no account let her have a seat beside her, and they could not lodge in the same house.
9. OF SIGVAT THE SKALD.
Sigvat the skald had gone to Rome, where he was at the time of the battle of Stiklestad.
He was on his way back from the South when he heard tidings of King O1af’s fall, which gave him great grief. He then sang these lines: —
“One morning early on a hill,
The misty town asleep and still, Wandering I thought upon the fields.
Strewed o’er with broken mail and shields, Where our king fell, — our kind good king, Where now his happy youthful spring?
My father too! — for Thord was then One of the good king’s chosen men.”
One day Sigvat went through a village, and heard a husband lamenting grievously over the loss of his wife, striking his breast, tearing his clothes, weeping bitterly, and saying he wanted to die; and Sigvat sang these lines: —
“This poor man mourns a much-loved wife, Gladly would he be quit of life.
Must love be paid for by our grief? The price seems great for joy so brief. But the brave man who knows no fear
Drops for his king a silent tear, And feels, perhaps, his loss as deep
As those who clamour when they weep.”
Sigvat came home to Norway to the Throndhjem country, where he had a farm and children. He came from the South along the coast in a merchant vessel, and as they lay in Hillarsund they saw a great many ravens flying about. Then Sigvat said: —
“I see here many a croaking raven
Flying about the well-known haven: When Olaf’s ship was floating here,
They knew that food for them was near; When Olaf’s ship lay here wind-bound, Oft screamed the erne o’er Hillar sound, Impatient for the expected prey,
And wont to follow to the fray.”
When Sigvat came north to the town of Throndhjem King Svein was there before him. He invited Sigvat to stay with him, as Sigvat had formerly been with his father King Canute the Great; but Sigvat said he would first go home to his farm. One day, as Sigvat was walking in the street, he saw the king’s men at play, and he sang: —
“One day before I passed this way, When the king’s guards were at their play, Something there was — I need not tell — That made me pale, and feel unwell.
Perhaps it was I thought, just then, How noble Olaf with his men,
In former days, I oft have seen
In manly games upon this green.”
Sigvat then went to his farm; and as he heard that many men upbraided him with having deserted King Olaf, he made these verses: —
“May Christ condemn me still to burn In quenchless fire, if I did turn,
And leave King Olaf in his need, — My soul is free from such base deed.
I was at Rome, as men know well
Who saw me there, and who can tell That there in danger I was then:
The truth I need not hide from men.”
Sigvat was ill at ease in his home. One day he went out and sang: —
“While Olaf lived, how smiled the land! Mountain and cliff, and pebbly strand. All Norway then, so fresh, so gay,
On land or sea, where oft I lay. But now to me all seems so dready,
All black and dull — of life I’m weary; Cheerless to-day, cheerless to-morrow — Here in the North we have great sorrow.”
Early in winter Sigvat went westward over the ridge of the country to Jamtaland, and onwards to Helsingjaland, and came to Svithjod. He went immediately to Queen Astrid, and was with her a long time, and was a welcome guest. He was also with her brother King Emund, and received from him ten marks of proved silver, as is related in the song of Canute. Sigvat always inquired of the merchants who traded to Novgorod if they could tell him any news of Magnus Olafson. Sigvat composed these lines at that time: —
“I ask the merchant oft who drives His trade to Russia, `How he thrives, Our noble prince? How lives he there? And still good news — his praise — I hear. To little birds, which wing their way Between the lands, I fain would say,
How much we long our prince to see, They seem to hear a wish from me.”
10. OF KING MAGNUS’S FIRST ARRIVAL IN SVITHJOD.
Immediately after Magnus Olafson came to Svithjod from Russia, Sigvat met him at Queen Astrid’s house, and glad they all were at meeting. Sigvat then sang: —
“Thou art come here, prince, young and bold! Thou art come home! With joy behold
Thy land and people. From this hour I join myself to thy young power.
I could not o’er to Russie hie, — Thy mother’s guardian here was I.
It was my punishment for giving
Magnus his name, while scarcely living.”
Afterwards Sigvat travelled with Queen Astrid, and followed Magnus to Norway. Sigvat sang thus: —
“To the crowds streaming to the Thing, To see and hear Magnus their king,
Loudly, young king, I’ll speak my mind — `God to His people has been kind.’
If He, to whom be all the praise, Give us a son in all his ways
Like to his sire, no folk on earth Will bless so much a royal birth.”
Now when Magnus became king of Norway Sigvat attended him, and was his dearest friend. Once it happened that Queen Astrid and Alfhild the king’s mother had exchanged some sharp words with each other, and Sigvat said: —
“Alfhild! though it was God’s will To raise thee — yet remember still
The queen-born Astrid should not be Kept out of due respect by thee.”
11. KING OLAF’S SHRINE.
King Magnus had a shrine made and mounted with gold and silver, and studded with jewels. This shrine was made so that in shape and size it was like a coffin. Under it was an arched way, and above was a raised roof, with a head and a roof-ridge. Behind were plaited hangings; and before were gratings with padlocks,