King Olaf sailed with his ships out to Tunsberg, as soon as he heard
that King Canute had turned back, and was gone south to Denmark. He then
made himself ready with the men who liked to follow him, and had then
thirteen ships. Afterwards he sailed out along Viken; but got little
money, and few men, as those only followed him who dwelt in islands, or
on outlying points of land. The king landed in such places, but got only
the money and men that fell in his way; and he soon perceived that the
country had abandoned him. He proceeded on according to the winds. This
was in the beginning of winter (A.D. 1029). The wind turned very late in
the season in their favour, so that they lay long in the Seley islands,
where they heard the news from the North, through merchants, who told
the king that Erling Skjalgson had collected a great force in Jadar, and
that his ship lay fully rigged outside of the land, together with many
other vessels belonging to the bondes; namely, skiffs, fisher-yachts,
and great row-boats. Then the king sailed with his fleet from the East,
and lay a while in Egersund. Both parties heard of each other now, and
Erling assembled all the men he could.