The Sagas of Olaf Tryggvason and of Harald The Tyrant (Harald Haardraade) | Page 6

in Norway. Get thou first that
kingdom. King Harald is now very old & hath but one son, a bastard,
whom he loveth but little.' To such measure did the Earl open up the
matter to Gold Harald that the younger man was in full accord with him
thereon; and thereafter did they all three take lengthy counsel, to wit,
the King, the Earl, and Gold Harald full oft. Then sent the Danish King
his men north into Norway even to Harald Grey-cloak, and they were
right well furnished for their journey, and were made welcome with
much cheer and in all courtesy were received by King Harald. They
related the tidings that Earl Hakon was in Denmark, and was lying sick
unto death and well-nigh witless; and the further tidings that Harald the
Danish King bade Harald Grey-cloak to him to take such fiefs as he and
his brothers had held aforetime in Denmark, and to that purpose bade
he Harald come to him in Jutland. Harald Grey-cloak laid the matter
before Gunnhild and other counsellors and their views were not all of
one accord, some fearing that this journey was not without peril by
reason of the men that were set over against them to be dealt with; but
the greater number were desirous that he should go by reason of the
great famine that was at this time in Norway whereby the kings could
scarce feed their men. And it was at this season that the fjord near-by
which the kings most oft abode gat its name of Harding.
In Denmark, as men had marked, the harvest had been at least of
goodly measure, so that men thought to get thence what they required
should King Harald have fief & dominion there. It was agreed therefore
ere the emissaries departed whence they had come, that when summer
was at hand Harald should hie to the Danish King, and pronounce his
adhesion to the conditions King Harald proffered.
¶ So in due course when the summer sun shone in the long hours of
night fared forth Harald Grey-cloak towards Denmark in three
longships, & one of these was steered by Arinbiorn, the 'hersir'§ of the
Fjords.§ King Harald sailed from Vik over to Limfjord and took port at
Hals, where it was told him that the Danish King was expected in a

brief space. Now when King Harald heard of this, hastened he to make
sail thither with nine ships, the which had been whiles mustered and set
in readiness to take the sea. Earl Hakon had likewise armed his men &
he also was about to set forth after the manner of a viking; at his word
twelve ships, and they large ones, set their sails. When Gold Harald had
fared forth, Earl Hakon spake to the King, saying, 'Methinks we are
like to row to war and yet pay the war-fine[§] to boot. Gold Harald will
now slay Harald Grey-cloak and thereafter take himself a kingdom in
Norway.
Thinkest thou that he will be loyal to thee when thou givest him so
much power? Thus said he in my presence last winter that he would
slay thee could he but find occasion to do so. Now will I bring Norway
under thy sway and slay Gold Harald, if thou wilt promise easy
absolution at thy hands for the deed.
Then will I be thine earl, and bind myself by oath that with thy might to
be my aid I will bring Norway under subjection under thee, and
thereafter hold lands under thy dominion & pay thee tribute. Then wilt
thou be a greater king than thy father was, inasmuch as thou shalt hold
sway over two great peoples.'
Thus was this covenanted betwixt the King and the Earl; and Hakon set
out with his men to seek Gold Harald.
¶ Gold Harald came to Hals in Limfjord, and forthwith offered battle to
Harald Grey-cloak; and Harald, albeit to him were fewer men, went
ashore, made him ready for battle & set his host in array. But or ever
the onset took place Harald Grey-cloak spoke cheering words to his
men, bade them draw their swords, and rushing first into the fray smote
on either side. Thus saith Glum Geirason in Grey-cloak's lay:
'Brave words spake the swordsman, He that dared to dye the grass
sward of battle With the blood of the foe; And when Harald bade his
men ply the swords in the strife, His manly words did them mightily
encourage.'
¶ There fell Harald Grey-cloak. Thus saith Glum Geirason:

'The bearer of the shield, He that clave longest to the ship, In death lay
stretched On the broad marge of Limfjord; On the sands at Hals Fell
the bounteous chieftain; It was his glib-tongued kinsman That