Every summer he went out on a viking cruise, sometimes to the West sea, sometimes to the Baltic, sometimes south to Flanders, and had a well-armed cutter (snekkia) of twenty benches of rowers.He had been also at Nesjar, and given his aid to the king; and when they separated the king promised him his favour, and Eyvind, again, promised to come to the king's aid whenever he was required.This winter (A.D.1017) Eyvind was at the Yule feast of the king, and received goodly gifts from him.Brynjolf Ulfalde was also with the king, and he received a Yule present from the king of a gold-mounted sword, and also a farm called Vettaland, which is a very large head-farm of the district.
Brynjolf composed a song about these gifts, of which the refrain was --"The song-famed hero to my hand Gave a good sword, and Vettaland."The king afterwards gave him the title of Lenderman, and Brynjolf was ever after the king's greatest friend.
61.THRAND WHITE'S MURDER.
This winter (A.D.1017) Thrand White from Throndhjem went east to Jamtaland, to take up scat upon account of King Olaf.But when he had collected the scat he was surprised by men of the Swedish king, who killed him and his men, twelve in all, and brought the scat to the Swedish king.King Olaf was very ill-pleased when he heard this news.
62.CHRISTIANITY PROCLAIMED IN VIKEN.
King Olaf made Christian law to be proclaimed in Viken, in the same way as in the North country.It succeeded well, because the people of Viken were better acquainted with the Christian customs than the people in the north; for, both winter and summer, there were many merchants in Viken, both Danish and Saxon.The people of Viken, also, had much trading intercourse with England, and Saxony, and Flanders, and Denmark; and some had been on viking expeditions, and had had their winter abode in Christian lands.
63.HROE'S FALL.
About spring-time (A.D.1017) King Olaf sent a message that Eyvind Urarhorn should come to him; and they spake together in private for a long time.Thereafter Eyvind made himself ready for a viking cruise.He sailed south towards Viken, and brought up at the Eikreys Isles without Hising Isle.There he heard that Hroe Skialge had gone northwards towards Ordost, and had there made a levy of men and goods on account of the Swedish king, and was expected from the north.Eyvind rowed in by Haugasund, and Hroe came rowing from the north, and they met in the sound and fought.Hroe fell there, with nearly thirty men; and Eyvind took all the goods Hroe had with him.Eyvind then proceeded to the Baltic, and was all summer on a viking cruise.
64.FALL OF GUDLEIK AND THORGAUT.
There was a man called Gudleik Gerske, who came originally from Agder.He was a great merchant, who went far and wide by sea, was very rich, and drove a trade with various countries.He often went east to Gardarike (Russia), and therefore was called Gudleik Gerske (the Russian).This spring (A.D.1017) Gudleik fitted out his ship, and intended to go east in summer to Russia.
King Olaf sent a message to him that he wanted to speak to him;and when Gudleik came to the king he told him he would go in partnership with him, and told him to purchase some costly articles which were difficult to be had in this country.Gudleik said that it should be according to the king's desire.The king ordered as much money to be delivered to Gudleik as he thought sufficient, and then Gudleik set out for the Baltic.They lay in a sound in Gotland; and there it happened, as it often does, that people cannot keep their own secrets, and the people of the country came to know that in this ship was Olaf the Thick's partner.Gudleik went in summer eastwards to Novgorod, where he bought fine and costly clothes, which he intended for the king as a state dress; and also precious furs, and remarkably splendid table utensils.In autumn (A.D.1017), as Gudleik was returning from the east, he met a contrary wind, and lay for a long time at the island Eyland.There came Thorgaut Skarde, who in autumn had heard of Gudleik's course, in a long-ship against him, and gave him battle.They fought long, and Gudleik and his people defended themselves for a long time; but the numbers against them were great, and Gudleik and many of his ship's crew fell, and a great many of them were wounded.Thorgaut took all their goods, and King Olaf's, and he and his comrades divided the booty among them equally; but he said the Swedish king ought to have the precious articles of King Olaf, as these, he said, should be considered as part of the scat due to him from Norway.
Thereafter Thorgaut proceeded east to Svithjod.These tidings were soon known; and as Eyvind Urarhorn came soon after to Eyland, he heard the news, and sailed east after Thorgaut and his troop, and overtook them among the Swedish isles on the coast, and gave battle.There Thorgaut and the most of his men were killed, and the rest sprang overboard.Eyvind took all the goods and all the costly articles of King Olaf which they had captured from Gudleik, and went with these back to Norway in autumn, and delivered to King Olaf his precious wares.The king thanked him in the most friendly way for his proceeding, and promised him anew his favour and friendship.At this time Olaf had been three years king over Norway (A.D.1015-1017).
65.MEETING OF OLAF AND RAGNVALD.