mountains, and over the
mountains eastwards into Gudbrandsdal. In the lines composed about Kleng
Brusason, it is said that Earl Eirik burned the town of Nidaros:--

"The king's half-finished hall,
Rafters, root, and all,
Is burned down by the river's side;
The flame spreads o'er the city wide."

43. OF KING OLAF.

King Olaf went southwards through Gudbrandsdal, and thence out
to Hedemark. In the depth of winter (A.D. 1015) he went about in
guest-quarters; but when spring returned he collected men, and went to
Viken. He had with him many people from Hedemark, whom the kings had
given him; and also many powerful people from among the bondes joined
him, among whom Ketil Kalf from Ringanes. He had also people from
Raumarike. His stepfather, Sigurd Syr, gave him the help also of a great
body of men. They went down from thence to the coast, and made ready
to put to sea from Viken. The fleet, which was manned with many fine
fellows, went out then to Tunsberg.

44. OF EARL SVEIN'S FORCES.

After Yule (A.D. 1015) Earl Svein gathers all the men of the Throndhjem
country, proclaims a levy for an expedition, and fits out ships. At that
time there were in the Throndhjem country a great number of lendermen;
and many of them were so powerful and well-born, that they descended
from earls, or even from the royal race, which in a short course of
generations reckoned to Harald Harfager, and they were also very rich.
These lendermen were of great help to the kings or earls who ruled
the land; for it was as if the lenderman had the bonde-people of each
district in his power. Earl Svein being a good friend of the lendermen,
it was easy for him to collect people. His brother-in-law, Einar
Tambaskelfer, was on his side, and with him many other lendermen; and
among them many, both lendermen and bondes, who the winter before had
taken the oath of fidelity to King Olaf. When they were ready for sea
they went directly out of the fjord, steering south along the land, and
drawing men from every district. When they came farther south, abreast
of Rogaland, Erling Skialgson came to meet them, with many people and
many lendermen with him. Now they steered eastward with their whole
fleet to Viken, and Earl Svein ran in there towards the end of Easter.
The earl steered his fleet to Grenmar, and ran into Nesjar (A.D. 1015).

45. KING OLAF S FORCES.

King Olaf steered his fleet out from Viken, until the two fl