504 SOME EXPEDITIONS AND DEEDS OF GREAT VIKINGS. 



would let it be, seeing that I am your kinsman. Maybe I 

 shall search for friendship where it is far more undeserved ; 

 and I may find a chief who is less afraid to plan great things 

 than thou, king.' Then they parted, and not on very friendly 

 terms " (Harald Hardradi's Saga, c. 81). 



" Tosti then changed his journey and went to Norway to 

 Harald Hardradi, who was in Vik. Tosti told the king his 

 errand, and all about his journey since he had left England, 

 and asked him to help him to get his realm there. The 

 king answered that the Northmen were not willing to go to 

 England and make warfare under an English chief. ' It is 

 said that the English are not to be much trusted. Tosti 

 asked : ' Is it true, what I heard in England, that thy kins- 

 man Magnus sent men to King Edward with the message 

 that he owned England as well as Denmark, and had inherited 

 them after Horda-Knut, as they had sworn.' The King an- 

 swered : ' Why had he it not if he were its owner ?' Tosti said : 

 * Why hast thou not Denmark, as Magnus before thee ? ' 

 The king answered : ' The Danes need not boast to us North- 

 men ; many marks have we left on those kinsmen of thine 

 (often have we defeated them). Tosti continued : ' If thou 

 wilt not tell me I will tell thee ; Magnus got Denmark 

 because the chiefs in the land helped him, and thou didst not 

 get it because all the people were against thee ; Magnus did 

 not fight fur England, because all the people of the land 

 wanted to have Edward for king. If thou wouldst get 

 England, I can contrive that the greater part of the chiefs 

 there will be thy iriends and helpers ; I lack nothing but 

 the name of king to equal my brother Harald. All know 

 that a greater warrior than thou has never been born in the 

 Northern lands, and it seems to me strange that thou didst 

 fight fifteen years for Denmark and wilt not try for England, 

 which is easy for thee to get.' Harald thought carefully about 

 the jaii's words, and saw that there was much truth in them, 

 and moreover was willing to get the realm. He and the javl 

 spoke often together ; they decided that they would go in the 

 summer to England, and win it. Harald sent word over the 

 whole of Norway, and made a half levy. This was very much 

 talked about, and there were guesses as to the result of the 

 expedition. Some reckoned up the great deeds of Harald, and 

 said it would not be impossible to him ; but others thought 

 that England would be difficult to win, that there was an 

 immense mass of people there, and the warriors called Tliinga- 

 mannalid so valiant, that one was better than two of Harald's 

 best men. Tosti jarl sailed in the spring westward to 

 Flspmingjaland (Flanders) to meet the men who had followed 



