Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/205

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 197 SAGA VII, of their errand, and King Olaf r 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 Aslak and Skialg, the sons of Erling of Jederen, came from Norway to King Canute, and were well received ; for Aslak was married to Sigrid, a daughter of Earl Swend Hakonsson, and she and Earl Hakon Ericsson were brothers' children. King Canute gave these brothers great fiefs over there, and they stood in great favour. Kino; Olaf summoned to him all the lendermen, Chapter. 1 • CXLI and had a great many people about him this summer, Ki ' for a report was abroad that King Canute would come ? laf ' s a }- from England. People had heard from merchant Onundthe vessels that Canute was assembling a great army in Sweden 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 he sent messengers eastward to Sweden to his brother- in-law King Onund, and let him know King Canute's demand upon Norway ; adding, that, in his opinion, if Canute subdued Norway, King Onund would not long enjoy the Swedish dominions in peace. He thought it advisable, therefore, that they should unite for their defence. "And then," said he, " we will have strength enough to hold out against Canute." King Onund received King Olaf 's message favourably, and replied to it, that he for his part would make common cause with King Olaf, so that each of them should stand by the one who first required help with all the strength of his kingdom, In these messages between them it was also determined that they should have a meeting, and consult with each other. The following winter King Onund intended to travel across West Gotland, o 3