L\ \(Hi]\'AY. 



law, and told him about the message of Knut and tin- claim 

 he laid to Norway ; and hinted that he thought it' hunt 

 subjugated Norway, Onund would have short shrift in Swedish 

 realm, and that it would be a good plan if they allied them- 

 selves against him. 



" Knut went that autumn to Denmark, and remained there 

 during the winter, with many men. He was told that mes- 

 sengers had been sent from the King of Norway to the Kin- 

 of Sweden, and back again, and that some .great events \\riv 

 about to happen. Knut sent men in the winter to Sweden to 

 Onund with rich presents and friendly words, and said that it 

 would be to his advantage not to interfere in the quarrels 

 betw r een him and Olaf the Stout, for his country should be 

 at peace with him. When the messengers came to Onund 

 they presented the gifts of Knut, with his offers of friend- 

 ship. Onund did not receive their message well, and they 

 thought that he was much inclined to friendship \\itii 

 Olaf. They went back and told Knut this, and that he 

 could expect no friendship from Onund " (St. Olaf's Saga, cc. 

 139-142). 



The great chief Erling Skjalgsson and all his sons were 

 with Knut the Great when he fought against St. Olaf and 

 Onund, King of Sweden, in the river Helga. 



" In the autumn he went back to Norway with his men, 

 and at parting got large gifts from King Knut. Messengers 

 of Knut went with him to Norway, having a great deal of 

 loose property with them; in the winter they went about fin- 

 land, and paid the money which Knut had promised tin- people 

 that autumn. They travelled under the protection of Erling 

 Skjalgsson. Many men became the friends of Knut, and 

 promised to fight against Olaf; some did it openly, and many 

 others secretly " (St. Olaf's Saga, c. 171). 



"Knut got together his host, and went to Limafjord (Lim- 

 fjorden) and sailed to Norway ; he hurried onward, and did not 

 stop at the land east of Vik. He sailed past the Yestfold to 

 Agdir, where he summoned a Thing. ... He was there chosen 

 king over the whole land; he then filled the stewardships 

 (offices) with new men, and took hostages from tin- land ; no 

 man spoke against him. Olaf was in Tunsberg when the host 

 of Knut went past the Fold. Knut went northwards along 

 the shore, and there came to him men from the herads, and 

 all paid homage to him; he stayed in Eikundasund for some 

 while. There Erling Skjalgsson came to him with many men. 



