Olaf Trygvason had been all winter (A.D. 980) in Vindland, as before
related, and went the same winter to the baronies in Vindland which
had formerly been under Queen Geira, but had withdrawn themselves from
obedience and payment of taxes. There Olaf made war, killed many
people, burnt out others, took much property, and laid all of them under
subjection to him, and then went back to his castle. Early in spring
Olaf rigged out his ships and set off to sea. He sailed to Skane and
made a landing. The people of the country assembled, and gave him
battle; but King Olaf conquered, and made a great booty. He then sailed
eastward to the island of Gotland, where he captured a merchant vessel
belonging to the people of Jamtaland. They made a brave defence; but the
end of it was that Olaf cleared the deck, killed many of the men, and
took all the goods. He had a third battle in Gotland, in which he
also gained the victory, and made a great booty. So says Halfred
Vandredaskald:--
"The king, so fierce in battle-fray,
First made the Vindland men give way:
The Gotlanders must tremble next;
And Scania's shores are sorely vexed
By the sharp pelting arrow shower
The hero and his warriors pour;
And then the Jamtaland men must fly,
Scared by his well-known battle-cry."