KINGS OF NORWAY. 41 " My prayer, I trusty will not be vain — saga vii. No gold by it have I to gain ; All that the king himself here wins Is not red gold, but a few skins.* It is not right that these poor men Their harbour-dues should pay again. That they paid once I know is true; Remit, great king, what scarce is due." Earl Swend and Einar Tambarskelver gathered a Chapter XLII large armed force, with which they came by the ofEarf upper road into Gaulardal, and so down to Nidaros, Swend - with nearly 2000 men. King Olaf 's men were out upon the Gaular ridge, and had a guard on horseback. They became aware that a force was coming down the Gaulardal, and they brought word of it to the king about midnight. The king got up immediately, ordered the people to be wakened, and they went on board of the ships, bearing all their clothes and arms on board, and all that they could take with them, and then rowed out of the river. Then came the earl's men to the town at the same moment, took all the Christmas provision, and set fire to the houses. King Olaf went out of the fiord down to Orkedal, and there landed the men from their ships. From Orkedal they went up to the Fielde, and over the Fielde east- wards into Gudbrandsdal. In the lines composed about Klaeng Brusason, it is said that Earl Eric burned the town of Nidaros : — " The king's half-finished hall, Rafters, roof, and all, Is burned down by the river's side; The flame spreads o'er the city wide." King Olaf went southwards through Gudbrands- Chapter XLIII dal, and thence out to Hedemark. In the depth of of King' winter he went about in guest-quarters ; but when olaf - spring returned he collected men, and went to Viken. He had with him many people from Hede-
- The harbour or anchorage dues were paid in skins, or other pro-
ducts of Iceland.
