LATTER. LI II. Earl KINGS OF NORWAY. 51 Earl Swend went westward with his forces to saga vn. Russia, and passed the summer in marauding there ; c H ; but on the approach of autumn returned with his ships to Sweden. There he fell into a sickness, which Swend's death. proved fatal. After the earl's death some of the people who had followed him remained in Sweden ; others went to Helsingialand, thence to Jemteland, and so from the east over the dividing ridge of the country to the Drontheim district, where they told all that had happened upon their journey: and thus the truth of Earl Swend's death was known. Einar Tambarskelver, and the people who had fol- Chatter lowed him, went in winter to the Swedish king, and or the were received in a friendly manner. There were also ^ on ^ helm among them many who had followed the earl. The Swedish king took it much amiss that Olaf the Thick had set himself down in his scatt-lands, and driven the earl out of them, and therefore he threatened the king with his heaviest vengeance when opportunity offered. He said that Olaf ought not to have had the presumption to take the dominions which the earl had held of him ; and all the Swedish king's men agreed with him. But the Drontheim people, when they heard for certain that the earl was dead, and could not be expected back to Norway, turned all to obe- dience to King Olaf. Many came from the interior of the Drontheim country, and became King Olaf 's men ; others sent word and tokens that they would serve him. Then, in autumn, he went into the inte- rior of Drontheim, and held Things with the bonders, and was received as king in each district. He re- turned to Nidaros, and brought there all the king's scatt and revenue, and had his winter seat provided there. King Olaf built a king's house in Nidaros, and in Chatter it was a large room for his court, with doors at both 0f Ki ' ends. The king's high seat was in the middle of the OIafs , , ° a household. E 2
