(111.)
300. Flee we might our foes, though
fear I being upbraided
by the king and called a
coward and be mulcted.
Friends though fail the ruler—
false friends show their hand now—
each man owes it himself to
act for his own safety.
Chapter 169. Hárek of Thjótta Avenges Himself on Grankel
This same spring it occurred in Hálogaland that Hárek of Thjótta called to mind that Ásmund, the son of Grankel, had robbed and beaten his servants. The twenty-oared ship Hárek owned was afloat in front of his estate, all tented and decked. He had the word spread that he intended to sail south to Trondheim. On a certain evening Hárek boarded his ship with all his servants, eighty in number. They rowed during the night and arrived at Grankel’s estate when dawn broke. They surrounded the houses, attacked them, and set them on fire. Grankel burned to death inside, together with his men, but some were killed outside. Altogether, thirty people lost their lives there. After having accomplished this, Hárek returned to his estate. Ásmund [at that time] was at King Óláf’s court. Neither did anyone in Hálogaland demand compensation of Hárek for his deed nor did he offer any.
Túnsberg in the time of Saint Óláf.
Chapter 170. King Knút Subdues Norway
Knút the Powerful gathered his fleet and sailed to the Limfjord. And when all his preparations were made, he steered to Norway with all his force. He proceeded swiftly and did not stop at any place east of the [Ósló]fjord but cut across the Folden [Ósló]fjord. He dropped anchor at [the] Agthir [coast] and summoned assemblies. The farmers came down to the coast and had meetings with King Knút. And there Knút was accepted as king over all the land. He appointed men to be his stewards and took hostages from the farmers [to assure himself of their loyalty]. Not anyone opposed him. King Óláf was in Túnsberg at the time Knút’s fleet had sailed past the mouth of the Foldenfjord. King Knút proceeded north along the land. There came to him people from the districts near by and all pledged allegiance to him. King Knút lay anchored for some time in the Eikunda Sound. There Erling Skjálgsson joined him with a large force, and King Knút promised Erling that he was to have all the land to govern between [the Headland of] Stath and Rýgjarbit.1 Thereupon King Knút proceeded on his way; and to be brief, he did not stop before arriving in the Trondheim District, heading to Nitharós. Then he called for an assembly of the eight districts [of Trondheim], and at this assembly Knút was elected king of all Norway. Thórir the Hound had come from Denmark with King Knút and was present [at this assembly]. So was Hárek of Thjótta who had just arrived there. Thórir and he became landed-men under King Knút and confirmed their loyalty with oaths. King Knút gave them large revenues and the right to trade with the Finns, and on top of that, bestowed large gifts on them. All landed-men who swore allegiance to him he endowed with both revenues and chattels, giving them greater power than they had had before.
Chapter 171. Einar Thambarskelfir Is Restored to Power
King Knút had by this time brought all of Norway under his sway. He then called for assemblies, which were attended numerously by both his army and the people of the country. Then King Knút made it known that he would bestow on his kinsman, Earl Hákon, all the land which he had won on this expedition. Thereupon he led Hortha-Knút, his son, to the high-seat by his side, bestowing upon him the title of king, and therewith the realm of Denmark. King Knút demanded hostages from all landed-men and great freeholders, taking their sons or brothers, or else near kinsmen of theirs, or persons most dear to them and who seemed to him most fitting to be hostages. By so doing he made sure of their loyalty to himself, as was said before.
No sooner had Earl Hákon regained his power in Norway, than his brother-in-law, Einar Thambarskelfir, joined forces with him. He laid hold of all the revenues he had had before when the earls ruled the land. King Knút bestowed large gifts on Einar and bound him with a great show of friendship to himself; and he promised that Einar should be the greatest and most eminent man in Norway, barring those of princely race, while he wielded power over the land. He added that to him Einar seemed most fit to hold the highest dignity, by reason of his birth—both he and his son Eindrithi—excepting only the earl [Hákon]. Einar set great prize on these promises, and on his part swore loyalty to him [Knút]. Then Einar again became a man of great power.
Chapter 172. Thórarin Composes the “Head Ransom”
There was a certain man called Thórarin Loftunga [Praise-Tongue]. He was of Icelandic origin, was a great poet, and sojourned much at the court of kings and other chieftains. He was at the court of King Knút the Powerful and had composed a flokk [a minor poem without a refrain] about him. But when the king heard that Thórarin had composed a flokk about him, he was furious and commanded him to recite a drápa before him on the following day when he, the king, sat at table. And if he failed to do so, Thórarin would have to hang for his temerity, for having composed a petty drápa about him, King Knút. Thereupon Thórarin composed a refrain and inserted it in his poem, to which he added some verses or stanzas. And this is the refrain:1
(112.)
301. As Christ the heavenly kingdom,
Knút defends his country.
Knút rewarded him for his poem with fifty marks of silver. This drápa is called “Head Ransom.” Thórarin composed still another drápa about King Knút which is called Tög-drápa.2 In that drápa we are told of this expedition of King Knút, when he sailed from Denmark in the south to Norway, and this is one of the sets of verses:
(113.)
302. Knút neath the sun.3
My courtly friend
in strength with his fleet
did fare thither.
Out of the Limfjord
my liege-lord steered
a fleet of frigates
fair-dight and numerous.
(114.)
303. Feared Agthir’s folk
the feeder-of-ravens’
coming greatly,
though cowed not easily.
With gold was garnished
our great lord’s dragon.
To see it was better
than being told of it.
(115.)
304. And outside Listi
light-footed sea-steeds
coal-black darted
past Deer-Head Ness.4
Eikunda Sound
to the south of it
with surf-hogs was
wholly covered.
(116.)
305. ‘Round high Hjornagli5
hurriedly scudded
Knút’s free housecarls,
carrying full sail.
Stately ’round Stath the
stags-of-the-sea fared:
the warriors’ fleet was
wondrously dight.
(117.)
306. Slender sail-ships
swiftly advancing
bore long hulls there
bravely past Stim.6
Sturdily strode thus
steeds-of-eelhome7
so that north to Nith8
neared the king’s fleet.
(118.)
307. Gave to his nephew
niggardly nowise,
the Jutes’ overlord
all of Norway;
and to his son the
scion-of-Skjold gave,
the dusky-ones’9 feeder,
Denmark wholly.
Here we learn that for the poet actuality exceeded the telling with regard to King Knút’s expedition; because Thórarin prided himself on having been on this expedition when Knút sailed to Norway.
Chapter 173. King Knút Sails South
The men whom King Óláf had sent east to Gautland after his ships sailed with those which seemed seaworthy to them. The others they burned, but had along with them the equipment and other goods belonging to the king and his men. They sailed west as soon as they learned that King Knút had
departed north to Norway, steering east [north] through Eyrar Sound and continuing to Vík, where they met King Óláf and delivered to him his ships. He was in Túnsberg at the time, and when he learned that King Knút was proceeding north along the land, he sailed into the Óslófjord and into the expanse of water called Drafn, where he stayed until King Knút’s fleet had sailed south again. On his journey south along the land, Knút held assemblies in every district, and in every district they swore him allegiance and gave him hostages. He sailed east across the Foldenfjord to [Sarps]borg and held an assembly there, and there as everywhere the land surrendered to him. Then King Knút sailed south to Denmark, having won Norway without shedding a drop of blood. So then he ruled over three great countries. As says Hallvarth Háreksblesi1 in a poem he composed on King Knút:
(119.)
308. Over England governs—
all the better is the
peace for that—the peerless
prince, and over Denmark.
Also has the onset-
Óthin,2 the warlike ruler,
he who hawks’ and ravens’
hunger sates, won o’er Norway.
Chapter 174. King Óláf and Erling Have Recognizance of Each Other
As soon as King Óláf learned that King Knút had sailed south to Denmark, he steered his ships to Túnsberg. Thereupon, with all those who would follow him, he proceeded from there with thirteen ships along the coast of Vík, but received few reinforcements, whether of men or goods, except from those who lived on islands or outer headlands. So the king did not proceed inland but picked up what lay in his way of men and chattels. He saw that he had lost his land through treachery. Then he proceeded whenever the wind was favorable. That was at the beginning of winter, and they had to wait long for favorable breezes. For a long time they lay anchored in the Soley Islands,1 and there they learned the news from merchants who came from the north that Erling Skjálgsson had collected a large force in Jathar. His warship floated before the land ready to sail, and there was a great number of other ships belonging to the farmers. They were skiffs, boats for fishing with nets, and large rowboats. The king proceeded west with his force and for a while lay anchored in Eikunda Sound. Then both had recognizance of each other, and Erling drew together as many reinforcements as he could.
Chapter 175. Erling Skjálgsson Pursues King Óláf
At Thomasmas [December 21st], before Yule, the king left 1028 harbor early at dawn. There was a very good, stiff breeze, and with it he sailed north, rounding Jathar. The weather was rainy, with drifting fog, now and then. News travelled the landway over Jathar that the king was skirting the land on the sea side. And as soon as Erling became aware that the king came sailing from the east he gave the horn signal for all his men to come down to the ships. Then all his men boarded the ships and prepared for battle. But the king’s fleet swiftly rounded Jathar and made for the inner passage. There he intended to enter the fjords and recruit chattels and men. Erling sailed after him with a large force and a great number of ships. His ships sailed swiftly since they had on board nothing but the crews and their weapons. Erling’s own warship sailed much faster than the other vessels, so he had its sail furled to wait for the others. Then Óláf perceived that Erling and his fleet were catching up with him, for the king’s ships were heavily laden and water-logged since they had been in the water all summer and fall and also that winter. He considered that there would be great odds against him if he were to fight all of Erling’s fleet at once. So he had the word passed from ship to ship to lower the sails, but gradually, and reefing them from below, and so was done.1 Erling and his men observed that. Then Erling called out to his ships to sail faster. “You see,” he said, “that their sails are lowered, and [yet] they are pulling away from us.” Then he had the sail of his galley unfurled, and then she leapt forward fast.
Chapter 176. The King Overcomes Erling by a Ruse
King Óláf steered his ships in toward and behind the Island of Bókn, so that the fleets lost sight of each other. Then the king ordered his men to lower the sails and row into a narrow sound which opens there, and there all his ships gathered. A rocky headland projected beyond them. All the crew then armed for battle. Erling sailed toward the sound, and before he knew it he encountered the whole royal fleet rowing at him. Erling’s men lowered the sail and seized their arms. But the king’s force surrounded them on all sides. Then there began a most violent battle, and soon Erling’s men fell thickly. Erling stood on the raised afterdeck of his ship. He was helmet clad, with his shield before him, and had his sword in his hand.
The skald Sigvat had remained behind in Vík, and there learned of these tidings. He was a great friend of Erling’s and had received presents from him and had been his guest. Sigvat composed a flokk about Erling’s fall, and this stanza occurs in it:
(120.)
309. Out shoved Erling then his
oaken warship—he who
reddened ravens’ talons—
ready to fight King Óláf.
Side by side his vessel
sithen came to lie ’mong
whelming hosts—when hand to
hand they fought—of others.
Then Erling’s force was overcome, and as soon as men came to close quarters and the king’s men began to board Erling’s warship, everyone fell at his post. The king himself strode forward, dealing hard blows. As says Sigvat:
(121.)
310. Eager for war, Óláf
endlong the ship went fighting.
Thick lay the fallen on floor-boards.
Fell the fray at Tungur.1
With red blood ran the sailors’-
road2 north of broad Jathar.
Gushed warm gore from deep wounds—
grimly fought the sea-king.
So complete was the slaughter of Erling’s crew that not a single man was left standing at the end except he alone. Men neither asked for quarter nor would they have received any if they had asked. Neither was there a chance for flight, because vessels lay all about Erling’s warship. We are told reliably that no man attempted to flee. As says Sigvat still further:
(122.)
311. All of Erling’s crew fell—
outside Bókn Isle cleared his
warship’s deck the wily
warlord—north of Tungur.
Alone on stern stood up,
stouthearted, the son of
Skjálg as, far from friends, he
fought full long ’gainst many.
Then Erling was attacked both from the mast of his own ship and from other ships. There was a large space on the raised afterdeck, elevated very high above the other ships, and no one could assail it except by bowshots or, in a fashion, by spear thrusts, and Erling warded them all off. He defended himself so nobly that no one could remember any one man having stood off the attack of so many so long; and never did he attempt to escape nor did he ask quarter. As says Sigvat:
(123.)
312. Quarter from the king’s men
cried down Skjálg’s avenger3
steadfastly, though the storm-of-
steel was nowise bated:
greater hero hardly
harbors ever sithen
the wide welkin-bottom4
washed by salty sea waves.
King Óláf at that moment was advancing aft from the mast and saw how Erling defended himself. The king then accosted him and spoke thus, “You are facing us today, Erling.”
He replied, “Face to face should fight eagles.” These words are mentioned by Sigvat:
(124.)
313. “Face to face,” said Erling,
“fight the eagles”—he who
fended his father’s lands ’gainst
foes, nor e’er desisted—
when out at Útstein5 he with
Óláf spoke. Before, he
eager was to urge to
onset sharp against him.
Then the king said, “Will you swear allegiance to me,
Erling?”
“That I will,” he said. Then he took off his helmet and laid down sword and shield and went forward toward the mast. The king pricked him on his chin with the point of his axe and said, “A mark he shall bear, the betrayer of his king.” At that moment, Áslák Fitjaskalli rushed forward and with his axe struck Erling on the head so that it pierced his brain, and that was his death.
Then King Óláf said to Áslák, “Wretch that you are, to strike him down. With that blow you struck Norway out of my hand.”
Áslák said, “Bad it is, sir king, if you consider that I harmed you with that blow. I had thought I would strike Norway into your hand with it. But if I have harmed you, sir king, and if I have earned your displeasure by my deed, then I am indeed in an evil plight because I am likely to have earned the ill-will and hate of so many men by it that I shall rather need your support and friendship.” The king said that so it should be.
Thereupon the king ordered every man to return to his ship and make ready as fast as possible to continue on their journey. “We shall not,” he said, “rob the slain here. Let each keep what he has gotten.” Thereupon the men boarded their ships and made ready to be off the fastest they could. But just as they were ready to proceed, the ships of the farmers’ fleet swept into the sound from the south. Then it happened, as is often the case when men suffer a strong blow and lose their leaders, that they also lose their initiative, being without leadership. None of the sons of Erling were there. Nothing came of the attack of the farmers, and the king sailed north on his way. The farmers took the body of Erling, prepared it for burial, and brought it home to Soli, together with all who had fallen. Erling’s loss was bitterly lamented, and it has been the general opinion of men that Erling Skjálgsson had been the noblest and most powerful of men in Norway, excepting only those of princely rank. Sigvat composed also this verse [about him]:
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