that the part of your war-force which has now run away is the most
worthless, and of least resistance; but now I see here all your
chiefs and leaders, and I know well that the people who belong to the
court-troops (1) are by far the best suited to carry arms. We have here
chosen men and superb ships, and we can very well lie all winter in our
ships, as viking's custom is. But Canute cannot lie long in Helga river;
for the harbour will not hold so many vessels as he has. If he steers
eastward after us, we can escape from him, and then people will soon
gather to us; but if he return to the harbours where his fleet can lie,
I know for certain that the desire to return home will not be less
in his army than in ours. I think, also, we have ravaged so widely in
summer, that the villagers, both in Scania and in Halland, know well
whose favour they have to seek. Canute's army will thus be dispersed
so widely, that it is uncertain to whom fate may at the last give the
victory; but let us first find out what resolution he takes."

Thus King Olaf ended his speech, and it found much applause, and his
advice was followed. Spies were sent into King Canute's army, and both
the kings Olaf and Onund remained lying where they were.

ENDNOTES: (1) The thingmen, or hired body-guard attending the court.--L.

162. OF KING CANUTE AND EARL ULF.

When King Canute saw that the kings of Norway and Sweden steered
eastward with their forces along the coast, he sent men to ride night
and day on the land to follow their movements. Some spies went forward,
others returned; so that King Canute had news every day of their
progress. He had also spies always in their army. Now when he heard that
a great part of the fleet had sailed away from the kings, he turned back
with his forces to Seeland, and lay with his whole fleet in the Sound;
so that a part lay on the Scania side, and a part on the Seeland side.
King Canute himself, the day before Michaelmas, rode with a great
retinue to Roeskilde. There his brother-in-law, Earl Ulf, had prepared a
great feast for him. The earl was the most agreeable host, but the king
was silent and sullen. The earl talked to him in every way to make him
cheerful, and brought forward everything which he thought would amuse
him; but the king remained stern, and speaking little. At last the earl
proposed to him a game at chess, which he agreed to; and a chess-board
was produced, and they played together. Earl Ulf wa