s in the evening in a heavy
storm, and the wind blowing out of Pentland Firth. They who believe this
report say the vessel drove out among the breakers of the ocean; but
with certainty people knew only that Earl Hakon was missing in the
ocean, and nothing belonging to the ship ever came to land. The same
autumn some merchants came to Norway, who told the tidings that were
going through the country of Earl Hakon being missing; and all men
knew that he neither came to Norway nor to England that autumn, so that
Norway that winter was without a head.

196. OF BJORN THE MARSHAL.

Bjorn the marshal sat at home on his farm after his parting from King
Olaf. Bjorn was a celebrated man; therefore it was soon reported far and
wide that he had set himself down in quietness. Earl Hakon and the other
chiefs of the country heard this also, and sent persons with a verbal
message to Bjorn. When the messengers arrived Bjorn received them well;
and afterwards Bjorn called them to him to a conference, and asked their
business. He who was their foreman presented to Bjorn the salutations of
King Canute, Earl Hakon, and of several chiefs. "King Canute," says he,
"has heard much of thee, and that thou hast been long a follower of King
Olaf the Thick, and hast been a great enemy of King Canute; and this
he thinks not right, for he will be thy friend, and the friend of all
worthy men, if thou wilt turn from thy friendship to King Olaf and
become his enemy. And the only thing now thou canst do is to seek
friendship and protection there where it is most readily to be found,
and which all men in this northern world think it most honourable to be
favoured with. Ye who have followed Olaf the Thick should consider how
he is now separated from you; and that now ye have no aid against King
Canute and his men, whose lands ye plundered last summer, and whose
friends ye murdered. Therefore ye ought to accept, with thanks, the
friendship which the king offers you; and it would become you better if
you offered money even in mulct to obtain it."

When he had ended his speech Bjorn replies, "I wish now to sit quietly
at home, and not to enter into the service of any chief."

The messenger answers, "Such men as thou art are just the right men to
serve the king; and now I can tell thee there are just two things for
thee to choose,--either to depart in peace from thy property, and wander
about as thy comrade Olaf is doing; or, which is evidently better,