2 2 8 Norway and the Norwegians 



in addition to those regions of which I have just 

 spoken, he had travelled through Sweden into Eussia 

 and back again. 



Olaf brought his army to a place called Verdal. 

 There had gone a war-token throughout all the country, 

 and the rugged bonders of the Throndhjem district had 

 collected under their leaders to oppose the king. Cnut 

 himself was not in the country ; but some of the chief 

 men of Norway, whom the Dane had loaded with 

 favours, and still more with promises, and brought 

 heartily over to his side, were ready to support his 

 cause. At the head of the army hostile to Olaf was 

 Kalf Arnason. But all the other sons of Arni were in 

 the king's army.^ 



' King Olaf was armed thus : — He had a gold-mounted 

 helmet on his head, and had in one hand a white 

 shield, on which the holy cross was inlaid in gold. In 

 his other hand he had a lance, which to the present day 

 stands beside the altar in Christ Church (Throndhjem 

 Cathedral). In his belt he had a sword, which w^as 

 called Hneitir, which was remarkably sharp, and of 



1 My notes, -written at the time of a visit to the field of Stiklestad, the 

 site of the approaching Ijattle between Olaf and the bonders, and the 

 most interesting battlefield in Norway, give the following directions to 

 the traveller who is going in search of it : — To get to Stiklestad you go by 

 steamer from Throndhjem and land at Tronaes. You follow thence the 

 only road you can take, turning to the right when you come to the tele- 

 graph posts, and going along by them. You then pass over a little bridge, 

 and ascend a small hill. You take the first tiu-n to the left after passing 

 the bridge, and at the ridge of the hill. You then walk along a slightly 

 elevated plateau between two watercourses — it is only the further one that 

 contains anything worthy the name of a river— and keep straight on till 

 you see the churcli of Stiklestad or Verdal rising before you. The position 

 which St. Olaf held is well defined by the slope of the ground, and you see 

 opposite the low hill do\\'n which the bonders' army was seen advancing 

 with banners displayed. If in doubt, ask for Veien til Stik'sia, 



