Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/281

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 273 with his fleet into Oslo fiord *, and into a branch of it sagavh. called Drafnf, where he lay quiet until King Canute's fleet had sailed southwards again. On this expedition which King Canute made from the North along the coast, he held a Thing in each district, and in every Thing the country was bound by oath in fealty to him, and hostages were given him. He went east- ward across the mouths of the fiords to Sarpsburg, and held a Thing there, and, as elsewhere, the country was surrendered 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." King Olaf sailed with his ships out to Tunsberg, as Chapter soon as he heard that King Canute had turned back, oYKhf IV ' and was gone south to Denmark. He then made oiafand himself ready with the men who liked to follow him, C eed P ings. 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. The wind turned very late in the season in their favour, VOL. II. T
 * Now Christiania fiord. -f Drammen fiord.