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o the Eyrarsund； where he found eleven viking ships； and instantly attacked them。 It ended in his gaining the victory； and clearing the viking ships of all their men。 So says Guthorm Sindre：
〃Hakon the Brave； whose skill all know To bend in battle storm the bow； Rushed o'er the waves to Sealand's tongue； His two war…ships with gilt shields hung； And cleared the decks with his blue sword That rules the fate of war； on board Eleven ships of the Vindland men。 Famous is Hakon's name since then。〃
8。 KING HAKON'S EXPEDITION TO DENMARK。
Thereafter King Hakon carried war far and wide in Sealand； plundering some； slaying others； taking some prisoners of war； taking ransom from others； and all without opposition。 Then Hakon proceeded along the coast of Skane； pillaging everywhere； levying taxes and ransome from the country； and killing all vikings； both Danish and Vindish。 He then went eastwards to the district of Gautland； marauded there； and took great ransom from the country。 So says Guthorm Sindre：
〃Hakon； who midst the battle shock Stands like a firmly…rooted oak； Subdued all Sealand with the sword： From Vindland vikings the sea…bord Of Scania swept； and； with the shield Of Odin clad； made Gautland yield A ransom of the ruddy gold； Which Hakon to his war…men bold Gave with free hand； who in his feud Against the arrow…storm had stood。〃
King Hakon returned back in autumn with his army and an immense booty； and remained all the winter （A。D。 946） in Viken to defend it against the Danes and Gautlanders； if they should attack it。
9。 OF KING TRYGVE。
In the same winter King Trygve Olafson returned from a viking cruise in the West sea； having before ravaged in Ireland and Scotland。 In spring （A。D。 946） King Hakon went north； and set his brother's son； King Trygve； over Viken to defend that country against enemies。 He gave him also in property all that he could reconquer of the country in Denmark； which the summer before King Hakon had subjected to payment of scat to him。 So says Guthorm：
〃King Hakon； whose sharp sword dyes red The bright steel cap on many a head； Has set a warrior brave and stout The foreign foeman to keep out； To keep that green land safe from war Which black Night bore to dwarf Annar （1）。 For many a carle whose trade's to wield The battle…axe； and swing the shield； On the swan's ocean…skates has come； In white…winged ships； across the foam； Across the sea； from far Ireland； To war against the Norseman's land。〃
ENDNOTES： （1） The dwarf Annar was the husband of Night； and Earth was their daughter。 L。
10。 OF GUNHILD S SONS。
King Harald Gormson ruled over Denmark at that time。 He took it much amiss that King Hakon had made war in his dominions； and the report went that he would take revenge； but this did not take place so soon。 When Gunhild and her sons heard there was enmity between Denmark and Norway； they began to turn their course from the West。 They married King Eirik's daughter； Ragnhild； to Arnfin； a son of Thorfin Hausakljufer； and as soon as Eirik's sons went away； Thorfin took the earldom again over the Orkney Islands。 Gamle Eirikson was somewhat older than the other brothers； but still he was not a grown man。 When Gunhild and her sons came from the westward to Denmark； they were well received by King Harald。 He gave them great fiefs in his kingdom； so that they could maintain themselves and their men very well。 He also took Harald Eirikson to be his foster…son； set him on his knee； and thereafter he was brought up at the Danish king's court。 Some of Eirik's sons went out on viking expeditions as soon as they were old enough； and gathered property； ravaging all around in the East sea。 They grew up quickly to be handsome men； and far beyond their years in strength and perfection。 Glum Geirason tells of one of them in the Grafeld song：
〃I've heard that； on the Eastland coast； Great victories were won and lost。 The king； whose hand is ever graced With gift to skald； his banner placed On； and still on； while； midst the play Of swords； sung sharp his good sword's sway As strong in arm as free of gold； He thinn'd the ranks of warriors bold。〃
Then Eirik's sons turned northwards with their troops to Viken and marauded there； but King Trygve kept troops on foot with which he met them； and they had many a battle； in which the victory was sometimes on one side； and sometimes on the other。 Sometimes Eirik's sons plundered in Viken； and sometimes Trygve in Sealand and Halland。
11。 KING HAKON AS A LAW…GIVER。
As long as Hakon was king in Norway； there was good peace between the bondes and merchants； so that none did harm either to the life or goods of the other。 Good seasons also there were； both by sea and land。 King Hakon was of a remarkably cheerful disposition； clever in words； and very condescending。 He was a man of great understanding also； and bestowed attention on law… giving。 He gave out the Gula…thing's laws on the advice of Thorleif Spake （the Wise）； also the Frosta…thing's laws on the advice of Earl Sigurd； and of other Throndhjem men of wisdom。 Eidsiva…thing laws were first established in the country by Halfdan the Black； as has before been written。
12。 THE BIRTH OF EARL HAKON THE GREAT。
King Hakon kept Yule at Throndhjem； and Earl Sigurd had made a feast for him at Hlader。 The night of the first day of Yule the earl's wife； Bergljot； was brought to bed of a boy…child； which afterwards King Hakon poured water over； and gave him his own name。 The boy grew up； and became in his day a mighty and able man； and was earl after his father； who was King Hakon's dearest friend。
13。 OF EYSTEIN THE BAD。
Eystein； a king of the Uplands； whom some called the Great； and some the Bad； once on a time made war in Throndhjem； and subdued Eyna district and Sparbyggia district； and set his own son Onund over them； but the Throndhjem people killed him。 Then King Eystein made another inroad into Throndhjem； and ravaged the land far and wide； and subdued it。 He then offered the people either his slave； who was called Thorer Faxe； or his dog； whose name was Saur； to be their king。 They preferred the dog； as they thought they would sooner get rid of him。 Now the dog was； by witchcraft； gifted with three men's wisdom； and when he barked； he spoke one word and barked two。 A collar and chain of gold and silver were made for him； and his courtiers carried him on their shoulders when the weather or ways were foul。 A throne was erected for him； and he sat upon a high place； as kings are used to sit。 He dwelt on Eyin Idre （Idre Isle）； and had his mansion in a place now called Saurshaug。 It is told that the occasion of his death was that the wolves one day broke into his fold； and his courtiers stirred him up to defend his cattle； but when he ran down from his mound； and attacked the wolves； they tore him into pieces。 Many other extraordinary things were done by this King Eystein against the Throndhjem people； and in consequence of this persecution and trouble； many chiefs and people fled and left their udal properties。
14。 JAMTALAND AND HELSINGJALAND。
Ketil Jamte； a son of Earl Onund of Sparabu； went eastward across the mountain ridge； and with him a great multitude； who took all their farm…stock and goods with them。 They cleared the woods； and established large farms； and settled the country afterwards called Jamtaland。 Thorer Helsing； Ketil's grandson； on account of a murder； ran away from Jamtaland and fled eastward through the forest； and settled there。 Many people followed； and that country； which extends eastward down to the seacoast； was called Helsingjaland； and its eastern parts are inhabited by Swedes。 Now when Harald Harfager took possession of the whole country many people fled before him； both people of Throndhjem and of Naumudal districts； and thus new settlers came to Jamtaland； and some all the way to Helsingjaland。 The Helsingjaland people travelled into Svithiod for their merchandise； and thus became altogether subjects of that country。 The Jamtaland people； again； were in a manner between the two countries； and nobody cared about them； until Hakon entered into friendly intercourse with Jamtaland； and made friends of the more powerful people。 Then they resorted to him； and promised him obedience and payment of taxes； and became his subjects； for they saw nothing but what was good in him； and being of Norwegian race they would rather stand under his royal authority than under the king of Sweden： and he gave them laws； and rights to their land。 All the people of Helsingjaland did the same； that is； all who were of Norwegian race； from the other side of the great mountain ridge。
15。 HAKON SPREADS CHRISTIANITY。
King Hakon was a good Christian when he came to Norway； but as the whole country was heathen； with much heathenish sacrifice； and as many great people； as well as the favour of the common people； were to be conciliated； he resolved to practice his Christianity in private。 But he kept Sundays； and