Heimskringla by Snorri Sturluson

Author:Snorri Sturluson [Snorri Sturluson]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: University of Texas Press
Published: 1964-01-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 144. The King Proceeds South along the Land with His Fleet

But now we shall tell about the happenings touched on before, namely King Óláf’s sailing with his fleet after having ordered a levy from the land. All the landed-men from the north were with him except Einar Thambarskelfir. He had remained quietly at home on his estates ever since his return, and did not serve the king. Einar had immense possessions and maintained a magnificent standard of living even though he did not have any revenues from the king. With this fleet Óláf steered south around Cape Stath. There he was joined by a large force from the [various] districts. At the time, King Óláf had the ship which he had caused to be built the preceding winter. It was called Visund [Bison], and was a huge ship. As its figurehead it had the head of a bison, all gilded. The skald Sigvat makes mention of it [in this verse]:

(88.)

277. Bore—its beak, with red gold

burnished—his noble warship,

Serpent the Long, the unswerving

son of Tryggvi1 to battle.

Another ship did Óláf,2

oaken-planked and gold-dight

launch—the waves oft washed hard

Vísund’s horns—on seashore.

Then the king sailed south to Horthaland. He learned that Erling Skjálgsson had left the country with a large force and four or five ships. He himself had a large galley, and his sons, three ships of twenty rowers’ benches each, and they had sailed west to join Knút the Powerful. King Óláf then proceeded east [south] along the land with a huge force. He made inquiries whether people knew anything about the plans of Knút the Powerful. They all knew that he was in England. However, King Óláf was told also that Knút had ordered a levy and intended to proceed to Norway. But because King Óláf had a large force and he could not obtain certain information where he should sail for an encounter with Knút, and also because his men considered it unwise to tarry in one spot with so large an army, he came to the decision to steer his fleet south to Denmark; and on that expedition he had with him all that force which he considered most warlike and best equipped, and gave the others leave to return home, as we are told in this verse:

(89.)

278. With shaven oars Óláf

urges Vísund southward.

Cleaves the king of Sweden

crashing waves to northward.

Now then that part of his force returned home which he considered would give him the least reliable support. [After it had left] King Óláf had with him a large and well-equipped force. Composing it were most landed-men in Norway, excepting those who, as was said before, had left the country or had remained at home on their estates.

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