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157。 OF KING CANUTE'S SHIP THE DRAGON。
Canute the Great was at last ready with his fleet； and left the land； and a vast number of men he had； and ships frightfully large。 He himself had a dragon…ship； so large that it had sixty banks of rowers； and the head was gilt all over。 Earl Hakon had another dragon of forty banks； and it also had a gilt figure… head。 The sails of both were in stripes of blue； red； and green； and the vessels were painted all above the water…stroke； and all that belonged to their equipment was most splendid。 They had also many other huge ships remarkably well fitted out； and grand。 Sigvat the skald talks of this in his song on Canute：
〃Canute is out beneath the sky Canute of the clear blue eye！ The king is out on the ocean's breast； Leading his grand fleet from the West。 On to the East the ship…masts glide； Glancing and bright each long…ship's side。 The conqueror of great Ethelred； Canute； is there； his foemen's dread： His dragon with her sails of blue； All bright and brilliant to the view； High hoisted on the yard arms wide； Carries great Canute o'er the tide。 Brave is the royal progress fast The proud ship's keel obeys the mast； Dashes through foam； and gains the land； Raising a surge on Limfjord's strand。〃
It is related that King Canute sailed with this vast force from England； and came with all his force safely to Denmark； where he went into Limfjord； and there he found gathered besides a large army of the men of the country。
158。 HARDAKNUT TAKEN TO BE KING IN DENMARK。
Earl Ulf Sprakalegson had been set as protector over Denmark when King Canute went to England； and the king had intrusted his son Hardaknut in the earl's hands。 This took place the summer before （A。D。 1026）； as we related。 But the earl immediately gave it out that King Canute had； at parting； made known to him his will and desire that the Danes should take his son Hardaknut as king over the Danish dominions。 〃On that account；〃 says the earl； 〃he gave the matter into our hands； as I； and many other chiefs and leading men here in the country； have often complained to King Canute of the evil consequences to the country of being without a king； and that former kings thought it honour and power enough to rule over the Danish kingdom alone； and in the times that are past many kings have ruled over this kingdom。 But now there are greater difficulties than have ever been before； for we have been so fortunate hitherto as to live without disturbance from foreign kings； but now we hear the king of Norway is going to attack us； to which is added the fear of the people that the Swedish king will join him； and now King Canute is in England。〃 The earl then produced King Canute's letter and seal； confirming all that the earl asserted。 Many other chiefs supported this business； and in consequence of all these persuasions the people resolved to take Hardaknut as king； which was done at the same Thing。 The Queen Emma had been principal promoter of this determination； for she had got the letter to be written； and provided with the seal； having cunningly got hold of the king's signet； but from him it was all concealed。 Now when Hardaknut and Earl Ulf heard for certain that King Olaf was come from Norway with a large army； they went to Jutland； where the greatest strength of the Danish kingdom lies； sent out message…tokens； and summoned to them a great force； but when they heard the Swedish king was also come with his army； they thought they would not have strength enough to give battle to both； and therefore kept their army together in Jutland； and resolved to defend that country against the kings。 The whole of their ships they assembled in Limfjord； and waited thus for King Canute。 Now when they heard that King Canute had come from the West to Limfjord they sent men to him； and to Queen Emma； and begged her to find out if the king was angry at them or not； and to let them know。 The queen talked over the matter with him； and said； 〃Your son Hardaknut will pay the full mulct the king may demand； if he has done anything which is thought to be against the king。〃 He replies； that Hardaknut has not done this of his own judgement。 〃And therefore；〃 says he； 〃it has turned out as might have been expected； that when he； a child； and without understanding； wanted to be called king； the country； when any evil came and an enemy appeared； must be conquered by foreign princes； if our might had not come to his aid。 If he will have any reconciliation with me let him come to me； and lay down the mock title of king he has given himself。〃 The queen sent these very words to Hardaknut； and at the same time she begged him not to decline coming； for； as she truly observed； he had no force to stand against his father。 When this message came to Hardaknut he asked the advice of the earl and other chief people who were with him； but it was soon found that when the people heard King Canute the Old was arrived they all streamed to him； and seemed to have no confidence but in him alone。 Then Earl Ulf and his fellows saw they had but two roads to take； either to go to the king and leave all to his mercy； or to fly the country。 All pressed Hardaknut to go to his father； which advice he followed。 When they met he fell at his father's feet； and laid his seal； which accompanied the kingly title； on his knee。 King Canute took Hardaknut by the hand； and placed him in as high a seat as he used to sit in before。 Earl UIf sent his son Svein； who was a sister's son of King Canute； and the same age as Hardaknut； to the king。 He prayed for grace and reconciliation for his father； and offered himself as hostage for the earl。 King Canute ordered him to tell the earl to assemble his men and ships； and come to him； and then they would talk of reconciliation。 The earl did so。
159。 FORAY IN SCANIA。
When King Olaf and King Onund heard that King Canute was come from the West； and also that he had a vast force； they sailed east to Scania； and allowed themselves to ravage and burn in the districts there； and then proceeded eastward along the land to the frontier of Sweden。 As soon as the country people heard that King Canute was come from the West； no one thought of going into the service of the two kings。
Now the kings sailed eastward along the coast； and brought up in a river called Helga； and remained there some time。 When they heard that King Canute was coming eastward with his forces against them； they held a council； and the result was； that King Olaf with his people went up the country to the forest； and to the lake out of which the river Helga flows。 There at the riverhead they made a dam of timber and turf； and dammed in the lake。 They also dug a deep ditch； through which they led several waters； so that the lake waxed very high。 In the river…bed they laid large logs of timber。 They were many days about this work； and King Olaf had the management of this piece of artifice； but King Onund had only to command the fleet and army。 When King Canute heard of the proceedings of the two kings； and of the damage they had done to his dominions； he sailed right against them to where they lay in Helga river。 He had a War…force which was one half greater than that of both the kings together。 Sigvat speaks of these things：
〃The king； who shields His Jutland fields From scaith or harm By foeman's arm； Will not allow Wild plundering now： ‘The greatest he； On land or sea。'〃
160。 BATTLE IN HELGA RIVER。
One day； towards evening； King Onund's spies saw King Canute coming sailing along； and he was not far off。 Then King Onund ordered the war…horns to sound； on which his people struck their tents； put on their weapons； rowed out of the harbour and east round the land； bound their ships together； and prepared for battle。 King Onund made his spies run up the country to look for King Olaf； and tell him the news。 Then King Olaf broke up the dam； and let the river take its course。 King Olaf travelled down in the night to his ships。 When King Canute came outside the harbour； he saw the forces of the kings ready for battle。 He thought that it would be too late in the day to begin the fight by the time his forces could be ready； for his fleet required a great deal of room at sea； and there was a long distance between the foremost of his ships and the hindmost； and between those outside and those nearest the land； and there was but little wind。 Now； as Canute saw that the Swedes and Norwegians had quitted the harbour； he went into it with as many ships as it could hold； but the main strength of the fleet lay without the harbour。 In the morning； when it was light； a great part of the men went on shore； some for amusement； some to converse with the people of other ships。 They observed nothing until the water came rushing over them like a waterfall； carrying huge trees； which drove in among their ships； damaging all they struck； and the water covered all the fields。 The men on shore perished； and many who were in the ships。 All who could do it cut their cables； so that the ships were loose； and drove before the stream； and were