After this event King Harald held a Thing of his men-at-arms, and told
them his intention to go with the army to Viborg Thing, and make himself
be proclaimed king over the whole Danish dominions, to which, he said,
he had hereditary right after his relation Magnus, as well as to Norway.
He therefore asked his men for their aid, and said he thought the
Norway man should show himself always superior to the Dane. Then Einar
Tambaskelfer replies that he considered it a greater duty to bring his
foster-son King Magnus's corpse to the grave, and lay it beside his
father, King Olaf's, north in Throndhjem town, than to be fighting
abroad and taking another king's dominions and property. He ended his
speech with saying that he would rather follow King Magnus dead than any
other king alive. Thereupon he had the body adorned in the most careful
way, so that most magnificent preparations were made in the king's ship.
Then all the Throndhjem people and all the Northmen made themselves
ready to return home with the king's body, and so the army was broken
up. King Harald saw then that it was better for him to return to Norway
to secure that kingdom first, and to assemble men anew; and so King
Harald returned to Norway with all his army. As soon as he came to
Norway he held a Thing with the people of the country, and had himself
proclaimed king everywhere. He proceeded thus from the East through
Viken, and in every district in Norway he was named king. Einar
Tambaskelfer, and with him all the Throndhjem troops, went with King
Magnus's body and transported it to the town of Nidaros, where it was
buried in St. Clement's church, where also was the shrine of King
Olaf the Saint. King Magnus was of middle size, of long and
clear-complexioned countenance, and light hair, spoke well and hastily,
was brisk in his actions, and extremely generous. He was a great
warrior, and remarkably bold in arms. He was the most popular of kings,
prized even by enemies as well as friends.