2 1 2 Norivay and the Norwegians 



The new king caused, we are told, inquiry to be made 

 into the condition of Iceland (from a ' believer's ' point 

 of view) and of the Orkneys; and was little satisfied by 

 what he heard. 



The early years of Olaf's reign were largely occupied 

 by his disputes and negotiations with his namesake, 

 the King of Sweden. Ohaf Skattkonung had, we know, 

 taken part in the battle of Svold. Ever since then the 

 Swedish boundaries had been advanced at the expense 

 of Norway. Olaf Haraldsson determined to readjust the 

 boundaries of his kingdom as in the days of Harald Fair- 

 hair. The result was constant disputes between the 

 two kings ; until the Swede became furiously incensed 

 ao-ainst the Norseman, and swore that he would make 

 a complete levy of his subjects, and would burn and 

 harry in Norway from south to north. The Norse 

 king, on his side, was constantly attacking the Swedes 

 who dwelt just over his southern boundary, which, in 

 those days, was the Gota river ; and the west Goth- 

 landers, who suffered most from these attacks, were 

 earnestly desirous of a peace between the two countries. 

 Before lonor the Norse Olaf made friends with Eogn- 

 vald, the Earl of West Gothland, whose wife was a 

 descendant of Harald Fairhair. The earl was anxious, 

 both for the sake of his subjects and of his friendship 

 for the King of Norway, to further a peace between the 

 two countries. Olaf Haraldsson was, on his side, ready 

 enough to open negotiations ; but it was said that the 

 Swedish king was so incensed with his rival, ' that fat 

 fellow,' as he called him, that he would not even hear 

 his name spoken. 



Howbeit Olaf the Thick appointed an embassy to 



