When King Svein had been three years in Norway (A.D. 1031-33), the news
was received that a force was assembled in the western countries, under
a chief who called himself Trygve, and gave out that he was a son of
Olaf Trygvason and Queen Gyda of England. Now when King Svein heard that
foreign troops had come to the country, he ordered out the people on a
levy in the north, and the most of the lendermen hastened to him; but
Einar Tambaskelfer remained at home, and would not go out with King
Svein. When King Svein's order came to Kalf Arnason at Eggja, that he
should go out on a levy with King Svein, he took a twenty-benched ship
which he owned, went on board with his house-servants, and in all haste
proceeded out of the fjord, without waiting for King Svein, sailed
southwards to More, and continued his voyage south until he came to
Giske to his brother Thorberg. Then all the brothers, the sons of Arne,
held a meeting, and consulted with each other. After this Kalf returned
to the north again; but when he came to Frekeysund, King Svein was lying
in the sound before him. When Kalf came rowing from the south into the
sound they hailed each other, and the king's men ordered Kalf to bring
up with his vessel, and follow the king for the defence of the country.
Kalf replies, "I have done enough, if not too much, when I fought
against my own countrymen to increase the power of the Canute family."
Thereupon Kalf rowed away to the north until he came home to Eggja.
None of these Arnasons appeared at this levy to accompany the king. He
steered with his fleet southwards along the land; but as he could not
hear the least news of any fleet having come from the west, he steered
south to Rogaland, and all the way to Agder; for many guessed that
Trygve would first make his attempt on Viken, because his forefathers
had been there, and had most of their strength from that quarter, and he
had himself great strength by family connection there.