Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/194

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

182 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA XII. brother King Sigurd was the sole king of Norway as Ions: as he lived. Chapter The Danish kin<2r Nicolas, a son of Swend Ulfsson, Of the bap. married afterwards the Queen Margaret, a daughter tizi ng the Qf Kino; Insre, who had before been married to King; people of " *^ ' . *^ Smbiand. Maguus Barcfoot ; and their son was called Magnus Strong. King Magnus sent a message to King Sigurd the Crusader, and asked him if he would go with him with all his might and help to the east of the Swedish dominion, to Smoland, to baptize the inhabitants ; for the people who dwelt there had no regard for Chris- tianity, although some of them had allowed them- selves to be baptized. At that time there were many people all around in the Swedish dominions who were heathens, and many were bad Christians ; for there were some of the kings who renounced Christianity, and continued heathen sacrifices, as Blot Swein, and afterwards Eric Aarsal, had done. King Sigurd promised to undertake this journey, and the kings appointed their meeting at Ore Sound.* King Sigurd then summoned all people in Norway to a levy, both of men and ships ; and when the fleet was assembled he had about 300 ships. King Nicolas came very early to the meeting-place, and staid there a long time ; and the bonders murmured much, and said the Northmen did not intend to come. Thereupon the Danish army dispersed, and the king went away with all his fleet. King Sigurd came there soon after- wards, and was ill pleased ; but sailed east to Suma- ros, and held a House-thing, at which Sigurd spoke about King Nicolas's breach of faith ; and the North- men, on this account, determined to go marauding in his country. They first plundered a village called Tumathorp, which is not far from Lund ; and then sailed cast to the merchant-town of Calmar, where they

  • Ore Sound was the Sound, at the entrance into the Baltic.