MAGNUS CLAIM* I-:.\<; I.AXD. 497 



"Svein, son of Knut the Great, ruled Norway for soim 

 winters; he was a child, and his mother Alfifa ruled for th.- 

 most part, and was greatly disliked by the people. Tin- 

 Throendir (men of Thrandheim) were blamed because tin -\ 

 had slain Olaf Haraldsou the Saint. The chief Kalf Arnasoii, 

 who had been the leader in the battle against Olaf, had been 

 promised by Knut jarldom over the whole of Norway, and felt 

 disappointed " (St. Olaf's Saga, c. 261). 



" As soon as the spring came Kalf Arnason made his own 

 ship ready, and sailed westward to England, for he had heard 

 that King Kuut had gone early in the season from Denmark 

 westward to England. Kalf Arnason went to Knut at once 

 when he reached England, and was received by him very well, 

 and had a talk with him. It ended by Knut asking Kalf to 

 head the rising against Olaf the Stout in Norway, if he came 

 back to the land ; and then said : ' I will give thee jarldom, 

 and let thee rule Norway. Hakon, my kinsman, shall come 

 to me, which is best for him, for his mind is thus that I do not 

 think he will shoot a spear against Olaf, should they meet.' 

 Kalf listened, and agreed to take the honour, and the. plan 

 was arranged by them. Kalf made ready to go home, and at 

 parting Knut gave him costly gifts " (St. Olaf's Saga, c. 194). 



The following passage is of interest in connection with the 

 early history of England and its conquest by William the 

 Norman : 



" When Magnus the Good (son of St. Olaf) had got the 

 Danish realm, he sent messengers westward to England. They 

 went to King Edward (Jatvard) and delivered the letters and 

 the seal of the king. In the letters this followed after the 

 greeting of King Magnus : ' It is likely that you have heard 

 of the treaty made between me and Horda-Knut, that the one 

 who lived after the other was dead without sous, should possess 

 the lands and the tegns (subjects) of the other. Now it has 

 happened, as I know you have heard, that I have inherited 

 the Danish realm after Horda-Knut. He owned, when he died, 

 England no less than Denmark; now I claim England to br 

 mine, according to a lawful agreement. I want thee to give 

 up thy realm to me, or else I will take it with the help of a 

 host both from Denmark and Norway. lie who gets the 

 victory will then rule the lands.' 



"When Edward had read these letters, he answered: -It 

 is known to all people in this land that my father, King 

 ^Ethelred (Adalrad), was rightfully born to this realm, both 

 of yore and of late. We, his sons, were four. After he was 



VOL. II. 2 K 



