to him under oath of fidelity. King Canute then returned
south to Denmark, after having conquered Norway without stroke of sword,
and he ruled now over three kingdoms. So says Halvard Hareksblese when
he sang of King Canute:--

"The warrior-king, whose blood-stain'd shield
Has shone on many a hard-fought field,
England and Denmark now has won,
And o'er three kingdoms rules alone.
Peace now he gives us fast and sure,
Since Norway too is made secure
By him who oft, in days of yore,
Glutted the hawk and wolf with gore."

184. OF KING OLAF IN HIS PROCEEDINGS.

King Olaf sailed with his ships out to Tunsberg, as soon as he heard
that King Canute had turned back, and was gone south to Denmark. He then
made himself ready with the men who liked to follow him, and had then
thirteen ships. Afterwards he sailed out along Viken; but got little
money, and few men, as those only followed him who dwelt in islands, or
on outlying points of land. The king landed in such places, but got only
the money and men that fell in his way; and he soon perceived that the
country had abandoned him. He proceeded on according to the winds. This
was in the beginning of winter (A.D. 1029). The wind turned very late in
the season in their favour, so that they lay long in the Seley islands,
where they heard the news from the North, through merchants, who told
the king that Erling Skjalgson had collected a great force in Jadar, and
that his ship lay fully rigged outside of the land, together with many
other vessels belonging to the bondes; namely, skiffs, fisher-yachts,
and great row-boats. Then the king sailed with his fleet from the East,
and lay a while in Egersund. Both parties heard of each other now, and
Erling assembled all the men he could.

185. OF KING OLAF'S VOYAGE.

On Thomasmas, before Yule (Dec. 21), the king left the harbour as soon
as day appeared. With a good but rather strong gale he sailed northwards
past Jadar. The weather was rainy, with dark flying clouds in the sky.
The spies went immediately in through the Jadar country when the king
sailed past it; and as soon as Erling heard that the king was sailing
past from the East, he let the war-horn call all the people on board,
and the whole force hastened to the ships, and prepared for battle. The
king's ship passed by Jadar at a great rate; but thereafter turned
in towards the land, intending to run up the fjords to gather men a