When King Olaf sailed to Denmark, he set his course for Seeland; and
when he came there he made incursions on the land, and began to plunder.
The country people were severely treated; some were killed, some bound
and dragged to the ships. All who could do so took to flight, and made
no opposition. King Olaf committed there the greatest ravages. While
Olaf was in Seeland, the news came that King Onund Olafson of Sweden had
raised a levy, and fallen upon Scania, and was ravaging there; and then
it became known what the resolution had been that the two kings
had taken at the Gaut river, where they had concluded a union and
friendship, and had bound themselves to oppose King Canute. King Onund
continued his march until he met his brother-in-law King Olaf. When they
met they made proclamation both to their own people and to the people
of the country, that they intended to conquer Denmark; and asked the
support of the people of the country for this purpose. And it happened,
as we find examples of everywhere, that if hostilities are brought upon
the people of a country not strong enough to withstand, the greatest
number will submit to the conditions by which peace can be purchased at
any rate. So it happened here that many men went into the service of the
kings, and agreed to submit to them. Wheresoever they went they laid the
country all round subjection to them, and otherwise laid waste all with
fire and sword.
Of this foray Sigvat the skald speaks, in a ballad he composed
concerning King Canute the Great:--
"'Canute is on the sea!'
The news is told,
And the Norsemen bold
Repeat it with great glee.
And it runs from mouth to mouth--
'On a lucky day
We came away
From Throndhjem to the south.'
Across the cold East sea,
The Swedish king
His host did bring,
To gain great victory.
King Onund came to fight,
In Seeland's plains,
Against the Danes,
With his steel-clad men so bright.
Canute is on the land;
Side to side
His long-ships ride
Along the yellow strand.
Where waves wash the green banks,
Mast to mast,
All bound fast,
His great fleet lies in ranks."