Part 37

And thus saith Stein Herdason in the lay of Olaf:

'His heritage 'gainst Svein The warlike King defended In that merchant town where resteth (Great is he) the saintly King.'

|| But a compact was come to betwixt the kings at the time of this mustering, & peace ensued in the lands. King Magnus was afterwards stricken with a sickness, the rift-worm sickness, and when he had lain abed for some time died he at Nidaros, and there was buried. He was a King right well-beloved of all the people.

NOTES

These notes, with few exceptions, are taken from Professor Gustav Storm's Norwegian version of the Heimskringla, from which this translation of the Saga of Olaf Tryggvason and of Harald Hardrad (Harald the Tyrant) is made.

ETHEL H. HEARN.

For this e-text, the word or phrase referenced in the note is shown in {braces} before the page-and-line citation. Moved markers are individually noted.

"Translator" refers to the English translation (the present text).]

{King Valdamar} Page 12, line 11. Vladimir the Great of Russia (980-1015) became Grand Duke of Novgorod in 970. [Marker printed after "high favour" on following page.]

{'hersir'} Page 19, line 25. The head of a 'her,' i.e., a hundred families. The territory inhabited by them was called a 'herath.' The 'hersir' seems to have combined the offices of commander in time of war, and religious head of his tribe. --Translator.

{the Fjords} Ibid. Nordfiord and Soendfiord.

{war-fine} Page 20, line 1. Those who absented themselves when the ships were called out for war, or who came to a wrong place of meeting, or at a wrong time, were compelled to pay a war-fine.

{Vingulmark} Page 28, line 31. This is not in accord with page 22, line 2, in which Vingulmark is mentioned as being given to Harald the Grenlander. Perhaps the error is on the page aforesaid, as on page 53, line 30, Harald is described as King of Vestfold only.

{Vindland (Wendland)} Page 30, line 14. The present North Germany, from eastern Holstein to eastern Prussia. [Marker printed after "good havens" on next line.]

{Burizlaf} Page 30, line 17. I.e., Boleslaw. By 'Burislav,' as mentioned here, must not be understood Boleslaw I of Poland (992-1025), but his father Miesco or Mieczyslaw (964-992).

{Emperor Otta} Page 31, line 12. The Emperor Otta is the Emperor Otho II (973-983). His march on Denmark did not take place in 988 as Snorri calculates, but late in the autumn of 974. Nor was the Emperor's object the conversion of King Harald, for the latter had accepted Christianity about 960-- but to bring Denmark under his own vassalage.

{Danavirki} Page 31, line 18. The Danavirki, or Danish wall, began in the east at the head of the Slefjord, and extended to the west only as far as the Traeaa, the tributary river of the isthmus, and not to the sea. [Marker printed after "his call" earlier in sentence.]

{likewise King Burizlaf} Page 32, line 24. It is not historical that Burislaw (or Miesco) accompanied the Emperor to the Danish wall; nor was Olaf Tryggvason, who was not full grown in 974, with him.

{saintly bishop} Page 33, line 33. As early as 968 Vidkund of Corvey, in his chronicle of that year, mentions Poppo's miracle and its effect in causing Harald to embrace Christianity. The incident must be ascribed to about the year 906.

{other learned men} Page 34, line 12. 'Learned men' means men trained in the learning of the Church, that is to say, belonging to the priesthood.

{Gat answer Fret} Page 35, line 3. 'Go to Fret' (?) means to consult the gods by means of the so-called 'blotspaan,' or sacrificial shavings. These, and pieces of wood (perhaps inscribed with runes) were disposed in a particular manner, for the purpose of gaining information from the gods as to the future.

{Gyda} Page 39, line 6. Gyda was the daughter of Olaf Kvaran, and not his sister. Olaf Kvaran died an old man in 980. [Correct line reference is 7.]

{holmgangsman} Page 40, line 3. 'Holmgang' so called in Norway because the two combatants retired alone to a holm or uninhabited islet to fight. --Translator.

{across the isthmus} Page 48, line 1. Mandseidet in Stadland.

{Vissavald} Page 55, line 15. The Russian name Wsevolod.

{King Olaf Kvaran} Page 57, line 22. According to English sources Olaf was lying with his fleet off Southampton during the winter of 994-995. He received instruction there in Christianity from English bishops, and was confirmed in the spring of 995, on which occasion King Ethelred was his sponsor. He returned home to his country early in the summer.

{Rimul} Page 59, line 28. Rimul now the farm of Romol (Guldalen) on the west side of the Gula river, opposite Melhus.

{Urgutherjot and Brimiskiar, Page 66 bottom.} Note missing.