At first it was Kálf Árnason who wielded most power under King Magnús. But then some people reminded the king on what side Kálf had stood at Stiklarstathir. And then it became more difficult for Kálf to have influence with the king. Once, when there were many men gathered about the king to plead their causes, a certain man appeared before him to present to him his necessary business. It was a man who has been mentioned before, Thorgeir from Súl in Vera Dale.1 The king paid no attention to his words but listened to those who were close to him. Then Thorgeir spoke to the king in such a loud voice that all heard who were near by:
(23.)
390. 2Speak thou with me,
Magnús, king!
I followed faithfully
your father Óláf.
A broken brain-pan
bore I thence,
when to death they did
the dear ruler.
But you favor
who foully left him,
the traitors who had
truck with the devil.
Then some shouted him down, and others bade Thorgeir leave the hall. The king told him to approach, and then attended to his business so that Thorgeir was well pleased, and the king promised him his friendship.
Chapter 14. Kálf Árnason Flees the Wrath of King Magnús
A short time later King Magnús was at a reception at Haug in Vera Dale. And when the king sat at table, Kálf Árnason sat on one side of him, and on the other, Einar Thambarskelfir. By that time things had gone so far that the king acted coolly toward Kálf and honored Einar most. The king said to Einar, “We two shall ride to Stiklarstathir today. I want to see the marks of what happened there.”
Einar answered, “It isn’t I who can tell you about that. Let Kálf, your foster father, go with you. He will be able to tell you what happened there.”
Now when the tables had been removed, the king made ready to go. He said to Kálf, “I shall want you to go with me to Stiklarstathir.” Kálf said that he was not bound to do so. Thereupon the king arose and said rather angrily, “Go you shall, Kálf!” Then he left the hall.
Kálf quickly dressed and said to his attendant, “You are to go to Egg and tell my men servants to bring all my belongings onto the ship before sunset.”
The king rode to Stiklarstathir, and Kálf with him. They dismounted and went to the place where the battle had been fought. Then the king said to Kálf, “Where is the place the king fell?”
Kálf answered and pointed to the place with the shaft of his spear. “Here he lay when he fell,” he said.
The king said, “And where were you then, Kálf?”
He answered, “Here where I am standing now.”
The king said, and his countenance was blood red, “In that case your axe might have reached him.”
Kálf said, “My axe did not reach him.”
Thereupon he went up to his horse, leaped on its back, and rode off together with all his men; but the king rode back to Haug. Kálf arrived in Egg by nightfall. His ship lay there ready for sailing, with all his movable goods aboard and manned with a crew of his men servants. They immediately sailed out of the fjord at night. Thereupon Kálf sailed day and night as the wind permitted. He crossed the sea westward and remained there a long time, harrying in Scotland, Ireland, and the Hebrides. Of this Bjarni Gullbrárskáld speaks in his flokk about Kálf:
(24.)
391. Well-disposed, unwavering
—worthy of that were you—
was Harald’s nephew,1 heard I,
wholly to you; until that
enemies steadily stirred up
strife between you, in envy.
Ill will come to Óláf’s
heir through this your discord.
Chapter 15. Sigvat Is Chosen by Lot to Warn the King
King Magnús appropriated Vigg, which Hrút had owned, and Kviststathir, which had been Thorgeir’s1 property; also Egg with all the goods Kálf had left behind. And he took possession of many other large estates which had belonged to those who had fallen in the yeomen’s army at Stiklarstathir. Also, he dealt out heavy punishment to those who had fought against King Óláf in that battle. Some, he drove out of the country, and from some he took great sums of money, and in the case of still others he had their cattle slaughtered. Then the farmers began to murmur and said to one another, “What can this king be thinking of, breaking thus [against us] the laws which King Hákon the Good has given us? Doesn’t he remember that we have never tolerated acts of injustice? He is likely to have the same fate as his father and other chieftains whom we have slain when we grew weary of their overbearing and lawlessness.”
This dissatisfaction was widespread throughout the country. The people of the Sogn District collected their forces and let it be known that they would fight King Magnús if he came there. King Magnús was in Horthaland then and had stayed there a very long time with a large army and seemed on the point of proceeding north to the Sogn District. The king’s friends became aware of this, and came together for a conference, twelve of them; and they agreed to cast lots to select a man to inform the king of this dissatisfaction; and it was managed in such fashion as to fall on Sigvat the Skald.
Chapter 16. Warned by Sigvat, Magnús Mends his Ways
Sigvat composed a flokk which bears the name of Bersǫglisvísur[Outspoken Verses].1 And in it he began by telling the king that they thought he had hesitated too long about acting on their advice to reconcile himself with the yeomen when they threatened to rise up against him. He spoke [this verse]:
(25.)
392. Sternly stressed it Sigvat:
“Strive not with the Sognings,
embattled ’gainst thee and bitter!”
But I shall fight if need be.
Seize we our swords then, and
sadly do as he orders,
if but thereby, king, we
bate the hateful discord.
In the same poem are also these verses:
(26.)
393. Hákon fell at Fitjar:
folk named him the Good, and
held most high and loved him,
halt who called on outlaws;
folk e’er and aye remember
Æthelstān’s foster son:2 they
keep his laws right loyally,
loath e’er to forget him.
(27.)
394. Right were rich and poor to
rally round the Óláfs:
these kings gave their crops and
cattle the peace they needed:
both Harald’s heir and Tryggvi’s
hardy son strove e’er to
heed and uphold the even-
handed laws made by them.
(28.)
395. Beware lest wroth thou wax at
warnings, frankly uttered
by men of wisdom, mainly
meant for thine own honor.
But they lie, worse laws thy
lieges have now, say they,
prince, than which were promised,
previously at Úlf Sound.3
(29.)
396. Whoever eggs thee, atheling,
eager for battle—oft thy
blade with blood is red—to
break thy promise given?
Constant a king should e’er be,
keeping his pledges. Nowise
folk-warder, befits thee
false to be and mainsworn.
(30.)
397. Whoever eggs thee, atheling,
to axe the farmers’ cattle?
Unheard for hero is’t to
harry in his country.
To youthful king such cursed
counsel never was given:
weary of sack thy warriors,
ween I, wrathful the farmers.
(31.)
398. Guard thee ’gainst the groundless
gossip of folk which borne is
hitherward—one’s hand should,
hanger-of-thieves, move slowly.
A
faithful friend is he who,
feeder-of-greedy ravens,
gives thee goodly warning:
the gorge of yeomen has risen!
(32.)
399. Warning take thou, warlord—
wise is’t to stave off danger—
hoary men of whom I
heard are set against thee;
’tis parlous, prince, if franklins
put their heads together,
suddenly grow silent,
sinking noses cloakward.
(33.)
400. This they ever think on:
thou, king, takest from them
farmlands that their fathers
farmed: they rise against thee!
Robbery recks it the yeoman,
routed from his freehold
by high-handed rulings
of henchmen, at thy bidding.
This warning the king took in good part. Many others also pleaded like words before the king. The result was that the king took counsel with the wisest men, and they agreed on the laws [to be followed]. Thereupon King Magnús ordered the law-book written down which is still kept in Trondheim and is called Grágás [Grey Goose].4 King Magnús then became popular and beloved of all the people. Because of this he was called Magnús the Good.
Chapter 17. Of the Successors of King Knút
Harald, the king of the English, died five years after the death of Knút the Powerful, his father. He was interred at the side of his father in Winchester. After his death, Hortha-Knút, Harald’s brother, another son of Knút the Old, succeeded him on the throne of England. He then was king of both England and the Danish realm. This dominion he ruled for two years. He died from sickness in England and is buried in Winchester by the side of his father. After his death, Eadward the Good was made king of England. He was the son of King Æthelred and Queen Emma, the daughter of Richard, the earl of Rouen. King Eadward was the brother of Harald and Hortha-Knút by the same mother. Gunnhild was the name of the daughter of Knút the Old and Emma. She was married to Emperor Henry [Heinrich] in Saxland [Germany]. He was called Henry the Generous. Gunnhild lived for three years in Saxland before she became sick. She died two years after the demise of King Knút, her father.
Chapter 18. Magnús Succeeds Hortha-Knút
King Magnús Óláfsson learned of the death of Hortha-Knút. Thereupon he at once sent his envoys south to Denmark with the message to the men who had bound themselves with oaths, the time the covenant and the special terms were drawn up between Hortha-Knút and him, and reminded them of their words; and he added that he would right away in the following summer come to Denmark himself with his army; and concluded by saying that he would take possession of the entire Danish realm, according to the covenant and special terms agreed upon, or else fall in combat with his army. Thus says Arnór Jarlaskáld:
(34.)
401. Powerful the prince’s
parlance—and deeds followed—
as the wilding-wolf-brood’s
warlike-sater swore that
ready he was, to ravening
ravens a prey, in grimmest
shield-clash fighting fey to
fall, or else rule Denmark.
Chapter 19. King Magnús Sails to Denmark
Thereupon King Magnús collected his forces. He summoned to him stewards and powerful yeomen and got himself warships. And when these forces came together they proved to be picked men, excellently outfitted. He had seventy ships when he sailed from Norway. Thus says Thjóthólf:
(35.)
402. Forthwith, fearless, didst thou
fare to eastward, since that
seventy sailships had been
summoned by thy stewards;
south then foamed they swiftly—
salt waves Vísund cleft—with
hoisted sails and halyards
holding secret converse.
Here it is mentioned that King Magnús then had [the ship called] the great Bison, which Holy King Óláf had had built. It had more than thirty seats [for rowers]. On the stem was the head of a bison; on the stern, its tail. The head and tail and both “necks”1 were all gilded. This is mentioned by Arnór Jarlaskáld:
(36.)
403. 2 Hatefully, the spume and spindrift
spattered ’gainst the poop and rudder,
gusts of wind did shake the galleys’
gold-decked yard-arms, low them bending,
as you steered past Stafang3 southward
steadfastly—the waters parted—
up above there burned like fire
burnished mastheads—toward Denmark.
King Magnús sailed from Agthir across to Jutland. Thus says Arnór:
(37.)
404. Say I shall how sailed the
Sognings’ doughty ruler
Vísund, listing leeward,
loaded with rime, to Denmark.
His stems then turned the stalwart
strife-awakener—met him
joyfully the gentry—
Jutland-ward to harbor.
Chapter 20. Magnús Is Accepted as King of Denmark
Now when King Magnús arrived in Denmark he was well received. He straightway held an assembly and meetings with the countrymen and asked to be received [as king] as had been agreed upon. And because the chieftains who wielded the greatest power in Denmark were bound by oaths to King Magnús and meant to stay by them, they advocated this strongly before the people. A contributing factor was that Knút the Powerful had passed away and all his progeny were dead; and also, that the sanctity of Holy King Óláf and his miracles had become known in all the lands.
Chapter 21. King Magnús Returns to Norway
Then King Magnús had the Vébjorg1 Assembly summoned. That is where the Danes choose their kings, both formerly and now. And at this assembly the Danes accepted Magnús Óláfsson as king over all the Danish realm. King Magnús stayed in Denmark for a long time in summer, and all the people received him well and showed him obedience. He set then men over all the country in both hundreds and districts, and gave the revenues to men of eminence. But as autumn approached he returned with his army to Norway and lay anchored in the [Gaut Elf] River for some time.
Chapter 22. Svein Úlfsson Declares Himself King Magnús’ Vassal
Svein was the name of the son of Earl Úlf, the son of Thorgils Sprakalegg. Svein’s mother was Ástríth, the daughter of King Svein Forkbeard. She was the sister of King Knút the Powerful by the same father and of King Óláf Eiríksson of Sweden by the same mother. Their mother was Queen Sigríth the Haughty, the daughter of Skoglar-Tósti. Svein Úlfsson had been staying for a long time at the court of the Swedish kings, his relatives, from the time his father, Earl Úlf had fallen—as is written in the story of King Knút the Old, he had his kinsman Úlf killed in Hróiskelda.1 Because of this, Svein Úlfsson did not stay in Denmark afterwards.
Svein Úlfsson was an exceedingly handsome man. He was of large stature and strong build, the greatest athlete, besides being a man of great intelligence. It was said by all who knew him that he had all the qualities that mark the good leader. Svein Úlfsson came to meet King Magnús when he lay anchored in the [Gaut Elf] River, as was written before. The king received him well. Also there were many who spoke for Svein, for he had a most engaging personality. And he himself pleaded his cause before the king eloquently and shrewdly. The outcome was that Svein declared himself King Magnús’ vassal. Then the king and Svein discussed many matters in private.
Chapter 23. Magnús Appoints Svein to Rule Denmark in His Absence
One day when King Magnús sat in his high-seat, and a great many men were about him, Svein Úlfsson sat on the foot-board in front of the king. The king began to speak as follows:
“To the chieftains and all the people I wish to make known the decision which I have come to. To me has come here a most excellent man, both as to family and himself, Svein Úlfsson. He has now become my vassal and has given me assurances as to that. But as you
know, all Danes have this summer sworn allegiance to me, and now the land will be without a ruler when I leave it. But as you know also it is much exposed to incursions of the Wends, Kurlanders, and other tribes along the Baltic, as well as of Saxons. Again, I have promised [the Danes] to give them a chieftain for the protection of the land and for governing it. I do not know of any man as well suited for that, in every way, as is Svein Úlfsson. He has the birth to be a chieftain. Now then I shall appoint him my earl and give into his hands the Danish realm, to rule while I am in Norway; just as Knút the Powerful set Earl Úlf, his father, as chieftain over Denmark while he himself was in England.”
Einar Thambarskelfir said, “Too great an earl, too great an earl, foster son!”
Then the king said wrathfully, “Little understanding you think I am showing; but to me it seems that you think some too great to be earls and some, not man enough [to be so].”
Thereupon the king stood up and took a sword and fastened it in Svein’s belt. Then he took a shield and fastened it on his shoulder, and last he set a helmet on Svein’s head and bestowed the title of earl on him, giving him such revenues as Ulf, his father, had had before. Thereupon a shrine with holy reliques was brought before them. Upon it Svein laid his hands and swore allegiance to King Magnús. Thereupon the king led the earl to share his high-seat with him. Of this speaks Thjóthólf in this verse:
(38.)
405. In proper person Úlf’s son
pledges gave to Magnús.
Solemn oaths did swear there
Svein, with hands on shrine laid.
Saint Óláf’s heir drew up
oaths while on the River—
would that his word had not been
worthless—for him to swear to.
Thereupon Earl Svein journeyed to Denmark and was well received there by all the people. He surrounded himself with a bodyguard and soon became a great chieftain. During the winter he travelled widely about the land and made fast friends with men of eminence. He was also popular with the people.
Chapter 24. King Magnús Destroys Jómsborg
Heimskringla Page 65