engers, and
asked them many questions. They answered all his inquiries about their
conversation with King Olaf, and the result of their message. They said
the king listened unwillingly to their proposals. "And we do not know,"
say they, "to what he is trusting when he refuses becoming King Canute's
vassal, and going to him, which would be the best thing he could do; for
King Canute is so mild that however much a chief may have done against
him, he is pardoned if he only show himself obedient. It is but lately
that two kings came to him from the North, from Fife in Scotland, and he
gave up his wrath against them, and allowed them to retain all the lands
they had possessed before, and gave them besides very valuable gifts."
Then Sigvat sang:--

"From the North land, the midst of Fife,
Two kings came begging peace and life;
Craving from Canute life and peace,--
May Olaf's good luck never cease!
May he, our gallant Norse king, never
Be brought, like these, his head to offer
As ransom to a living man
For the broad lands his sword has won."

King Canute's ambassadors proceeded on their way back, and had a
favourable breeze across the sea. They came to King Canute, and told
him the result of their errand, and King Olaf's last words. King Canute
replies, "King Olaf guesses wrong, if he thinks I shall eat up all the
kail in England; for I will let him see that there is something else
than kail under my ribs, and cold kail it shall be for him." The same
summer (A.D. 1025) Aslak and Skjalg, the sons of Erling of Jadar,
came from Norway to King Canute, and were well received; for Aslak was
married to Sigrid, a daughter of Earl Svein Hakonson, and she and Earl
Hakon Eirikson were brothers' children. King Canute gave these brothers
great fiefs over there, and they stood in great favour.

141. KING OLAF'S ALLIANCE WITH ONUND THE KING OF SVITHJOD.

King Olaf summoned to him all the lendermen, and had a great many people
about him this summer (A.D. 1025), for a report was abroad that King
Canute would come from England. People had heard from merchant vessels
that Canute was assembling a great army in England. When summer was
advanced, some affirmed and others denied that the army would come. King
Olaf was all summer in Viken, and had spies out to learn if Canute was
come to Denmark. In autumn (A.D. 1025) he sent messengers eastward
to Svithjod to his brother-in-law King Onund, and let