The Danish king, Nikolas, a son of Svein Ulfson, married afterwards the
Queen Margaret, a daughter of King Inge, who had before been married to
King Magnus Barefoot; and their sons were Nikolas and Magnus the Strong.
King Nikolas sent a message to King Sigurd the Crusader, and asked him
if he would go with him with all his might and help him to the east
of the Swedish dominion, Smaland, to baptize the inhabitants; for the
people who dwelt there had no regard for Christianity, although some of
them had allowed themselves to be baptized. At that time there were many
people all around in the Swedish dominions who were heathens, and many
were bad Christians; for there were some of the kings who renounced
Christianity, and continued heathen sacrifices, as Blotsvein, and
afterwards Eirik Arsale, had done. King Sigurd promised to undertake
this journey, and the kings appointed their meeting at Eyrarsund. King
Sigurd then summoned all people in Norway to a levy, both of men and
ships; and when the fleet was assembled he had about 300 ships. King
Nikolas came very early to the meeting-place, and stayed there a long
time; and the bondes murmured much, and said the Northmen did not intend
to come. Thereupon the Danish army dispersed, and the king went away
with all his fleet. King Sigurd came there soon afterwards, and was ill
pleased; but sailed east to Svimraros, and held a House-thing, at which
Sigurd spoke about King Nikolas's breach of faith, and the Northmen,
on this account, determined to go marauding in his country. They first
plundered a village called Tumathorp, which is not far from Lund; and
then sailed east to the merchant-town of Calmar, where they plundered,
as well as in Smaland, and imposed on the country a tribute of
1500 cattle for ship provision; and the people of Smaland received
Christianity. After this King Sigurd turned about with his fleet, and
came back to his kingdom with many valuable articles and great booty,
which he had gathered on this expedition; and this levy was called the
Calmar levy. This was the summer before the eclipse. This was the only
levy King Sigurd carried out as long as he was king.