Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/339

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 327 inclination to go with the army to the East against the saga xvi. heathens, of whom we have enough before us in the East country, than to kill Christian people here, although they have well deserved it." All the others had a greater desire for a foray ; but the king ruled, and they all returned back to Denmark without effect- ing their purpose. They pillaged, however, all around in the distant islands, or where the king was not in the neighbourhood. They then returned south to Denmark without doing any thing. As soon as Erlins: heard that a Danish force had Chapter V V TT T T T come to Yiken, he ordered a levy through all the land, of Eriing's both of men and ships, so that there was a great expedition assemblage of men in arms ; and with this force he proceeded eastward along the coast. But when he came to Lindisness, he heard that the Danish army had returned south to Denmark, after plundering all around them in Viken. Then Erling gave all the people of the levy permission to return home ; but he himself and some lendermen, with many vessels, sailed to Jutland after the Danes. When they came to a place called Dyrsaa, the Danes who had returned from the expedition lay there with many ships. Erling gave them battle, and there was a fight, in which the Danes soon fled with the loss of many people ; and Erling and his men plundered the ships and the town, and made a great booty, with which they returned to Norway. Thereafter, for a time, there was hostility between Norway and Denmark. The princess Christina went south in autumn to Chapter Denmark, to visit her relation King Waldemar, who of Eriing's was her cousin. The king received her kindly, and ^^^^'^1^1°" gave her fiefs in his kingdom, so that she could sup- mark. port her household well. She often conversed wdth the king, who was remarkably kind towards her. In the spring following Christina sent to Erling, and begged him to pay a visit to the Danish king, and Y 4