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ed； Olaf Haraldson heard that Olaf the Swedish king was assembling an army； and also that he had laid iron chains across Stoksund （the channel between the Maelar lake and the sea）； and had laid troops there； for the Swedish king thought that Olaf Haraldson would be kept in there till frost came； and he thought little of Olaf's force knowing he had but few people。 Now when King Olaf Haraldson came to Stoksund he could not get through； as there was a castle west of the sound； and men…at…arms lay on the south； and he heard that the Swedish king was come there with a great army and many ships。 He therefore dug a canal across the flat land Agnafit out to the sea。 Over all Svithjod all the running waters fall into the Maelar lake； but the only outlet of it to the sea is so small that many rivers are wider； and when much rain or snow falls the water rushes in a great cataract out by Stoksund； and the lake rises high and floods the land。 It fell heavy rain just at this time； and as the canal was dug out to the sea； the water and stream rushed into it。 Then Olaf had all the rudders unshipped and hoisted all sail aloft。 It was blowing a strong breeze astern； and they steered with their oars； and the ships came in a rush over all the shallows； and got into the sea without any damage。 Now went the Swedes to their king； Olaf； and told him that Olaf the Great had slipped out to sea； on which the king was enraged against those who should have watched that Olaf did not get away。 This passage has since been called King's Sound； but large vessels cannot pass through it； unless the waters are very high。 Some relate that the Swedes were aware that Olaf had cut across the tongue of land； and that the water was falling out that way； and they flocked to it with the intention to hinder Olaf from getting away； but the water undermined the banks on each side so that they fell in with the people； and many were drowned： but the Swedes contradict this as a false report； and deny the loss of people。 The king sailed to Gotland in harvest； and prepared to plunder； but the Gotlanders assembled； and sent men to the king； offering him a scat。 The king found this would suit him； and he received the scat； and remained there all winter。 So says Ottar Svarte：
〃Thou seaman…prince！ thy men are paid： The scat on Gotlanders is laid； Young man or old To our seamen bold Must pay； to save his head： The Yngling princes fled； Eysvssel people bled； Who can't defend the wealth they have Must die； or share with the rover brave。〃
7。 THE SECOND BATTLE。
It is related here that King Olaf； when spring set in； sailed east to Eysyssel； and landed and plundered； the Eysyssel men came down to the strand and grave him battle。 King Olaf gained the victory； pursued those who fled； and laid waste the land with fire and sword。 It is told that when King Olaf first came to Eysvssel they offered him scat； and when the scat was to be brought down to the strand the king came to meet it with an armed force； and that was not what the bondes there expected； for they had brought no scat； but only their weapons with which they fought against the king； as before related。 So says Sigvat the skald：
〃With much deceit and bustle To the heath of Eysyssel The bondes brought the king； To get scat at their weapon…thing。 But Olaf was too wise To be taken by surprise； Their legs scarce bore them off O'er the common test enough。〃
8。 THE THIRD BATTLE。
After this they sailed to Finland and plundered there； and went up the country。 All the people fled to the forest； and they had emptied their houses of all household goods。 The king went far up the country； and through some woods； and came to some dwellings in a valley called Herdaler； where； however； they made but small booty； and saw no people； and as it was getting late in the day； the king turned back to his ships。 Now when they came into the woods again people rushed upon them from all quarters； and made a severe attack。 The king told his men to cover themselves with their shields； but before they got out of the woods he lost many people； and many were wounded； but at last； late in the evening； he got to the ships。 The Finlanders conjured up in the night； by their witchcraft； a dreadful storm and bad weather on the sea； but the king ordered the anchors to be weighed and sail hoisted； and beat off all night to the outside of the land。 The king's luck prevailed more than the Finlanders' witchcraft； for he had the luck to beat round the Balagard's side in the night。 and so got out to sea。 But the Finnish army proceeded on land； making the same progress as the king made with his ships。 So says Sigvat：
〃The third fight was at Herdaler； where The men of Finland met in war The hero of the royal race； With ringing sword…blades face to face。 Off Balagard's shore the waves Ran hollow； but the sea…king saves His hard…pressed ship； and gains the lee Of the east coast through the wild sea。〃
9。 THE FOURTH BATTLE IN SUDERVIK。
King Olaf sailed from thence to Denmark； where he met Thorkel the Tall； brother of Earl Sigvalde； and went into partnership with him； for he was just ready to set out on a cruise。 They sailed southwards to the Jutland coast； to a place called Sudervik； where they overcame many viking ships。 The vikings； who usually have many people to command； give themselves the title of kings； although they have no lands to rule over。 King Olaf went into battle with them； and it was severe； but King Olaf gained the victory； and a great booty。 So says Sigvat：
〃Hark！ hark！ The war…shout Through Sudervik rings； And the vikings bring out To fight the two kings。 Great honour； I'm told； Won these vikings so bold： But their bold fight was vain； For the two brave kings gain。〃
10。 THE FIFTH BATTLE IN FRIESLAND。
King Olaf sailed from thence south to Friesland； and lay under the strand of Kinlima in dreadful weather。 The king landed with his men； but the people of the country rode down to the strand against them； and he fought them。 So says Sigvat：
〃Under Kinlima's cliff； This battle is the fifth。 The brave sea…rovers stand All on the glittering sand； And down the horsemen ride To the edge of the rippling tide： But Olaf taught the peasant band To know the weight of a viking's hand。〃
11。 DEATH OF KING SVEIN FORKED BEARD。
The king sailed from thence westward to England。 It was then the case that the Danish king； Svein Forked Beard； was at that time in England with a Danish army； and had been fixed there for some time； and had seized upon King Ethelred's kingdom。 The Danes had spread themselves so widely over England； that it was come so far that King Ethelred had departed from the country； and had gone south to Valland。 The same autumn that King Olaf came to England； it happened that King Svein died suddenly in the night in his bed； and it is said by Englishmen that Edmund the Saint killed him； in the same way that the holy Mercurius had killed the apostate Julian。 When Ethelred； the king of the English； heard this in Flanders； he returned directly to England； and no sooner was he come back； than he sent an invitation to all the men who would enter into his pay； to join him in recovering the country。 Then many people flocked to him； and among others； came King Olaf with a great troop of Northmen to his aid。 They steered first to London； and sailed into the Thames with their fleet； but the Danes had a castle within。 On the other side of the river is a great trading place； which is called Sudvirke。 There the Danes had raised a great work； dug large ditches； and within had built a bulwark of stone； timber； and turf； where they had stationed a strong army。 King Ethelred ordered a great assault； but the Danes defended themselves bravely； and King Ethelred could make nothing of it。 Between the castle and Southwark （Sudvirke） there was a bridge； so broad that two wagons could pass each other upon it。 On the bridge were raised barricades； both towers and wooden parapets； in the direction of the river； which were nearly breast high； and under the bridge were piles driven into the bottom of the river。 Now when the attack was made the troops stood on the bridge everywhere； and defended themselves。 King Ethelred was very anxious to get possession of the bridge； and he called together all the chiefs to consult how they should get the bridge broken down。 Then said King Olaf he would attempt to lay his fleet alongside of it； if the other ships would do the same。 It was then determined in this council that they should lay their war forces under the bridge； and each made himself ready with ships and men。
12。 THE SIXTH BATTLE。
King Olaf ordered great platforms of floating wood to be tied together with hazel bands； and for this he took down old houses； and with these； as a roof； he covered over his ships so widely； that it reached over the ships' sides。 Under this screen he set pillars so high and stout； that there both was room for swinging their sword