Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/278

 270 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA VII. CHAl'TEK. CLXXXI. Of King Canute. Chapter CLXXXII. OfThora- rin Lof- tunge. When King Canute had laid the whole of Norway under his authority, he called together a numerous Thing, both of his own people and of the people of the country ; and at it he made proclamation, that he made his relation Earl Hakon the governor-in-chief of all the land in Norway that he had conquered in this expedition. In like manner he led his son Harda- knut to the high seat at his side, gave him the title of king, and therewith the whole Danish dominion. King Canute took as hostages from all lendermen and great bonders in Norway either their sons, bro- thers, or other near connections, or the men who were dearest to them and appeared to him most suit- able ; by which he, as before observed, secured their fidelity to him. As soon as Earl Hakon had attained this power in Norway his brother-in-law, Einar Tambarskelver, made an agreement with him, and received back all the fiefs he formerly had possessed while the earls ruled the country. King Canute gave Einar great gifts, and bound him by great kind- ness to his interests ; and promised that Einar should be the greatest and most important man in Norway, among those who did not hold the highest dignity, as long as he had power over the country. He added to this, that Einar appeared to him the most suitable man to hold the highest title of honour in Norway if no earls remained, and his son Endrid also, on ac- count of his high birth. Einar placed a great value on these promises, and, in return, promised the greatest fidelity. Einar' s chiefship began anew with this. There was a man by name Thorarin Loftunge, an Icelander by birth, and a great scald, who had been much with the kings and other great chiefs. He was now with King Canute the Great, and had composed a flock, or short poem, in his praise. When the king heard of this he was very angry, and ordered him to