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Olaf did； new and infinite field for it！ Christianity in Norway had the like
fertility as in other countries； or even rose to a higher； and what Dahlmann
thinks； exuberant pitch； in the course of the two centuries which followed
that of Olaf。 Him all testimony represents to us as a most righteous no less
than most religious king。 Continually vigilant； just； and rigorous was
Olaf's administration of the laws； repression of robbery； punishment of
injustice； stern repayment of evil…doers； wherever he could lay hold of
them。
Among the Bonder or opulent class； and indeed everywhere； for the
poor too can be sinners and need punishment； Olaf had； by this course of
conduct； naturally made enemies。 His severity so visible to all； and the
justice and infinite beneficence of it so invisible except to a very few。 But；
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at any rate； his reign for the first ten years was victorious； and might have
been so to the end； had it not been intersected； and interfered with； by
King Knut in his far bigger orbit and current of affairs and interests。 Knut's
English affairs and Danish being all settled to his mind； he seems；
especially after that year of pilgrimage to Rome； and association with the
Pontiffs and Kaisers of the world on that occasion； to have turned his more
particular attention upon Norway； and the claims he himself had there。 Jarl
Hakon； too； sister's son of Knut； and always well seen by him； had long
been busy in this direction； much forgetful of that oath to Olaf when his
barge got canted over by the cable of two capstans； and his life was given
him； not without conditions altogether！
About the year 1026 there arrived two splendid persons out of England；
bearing King Knut the Great's letter and seal； with a message； likely
enough to be far from welcome to Olaf。 For some days Olaf refused to see
them or their letter； shrewdly guessing what the purport would be。 Which
indeed was couched in mild language； but of sharp meaning enough： a
notice to King Olaf namely； That Norway was properly； by just heritage；
Knut the Great's； and that Olaf must become the great Knut's liegeman；
and pay tribute to him； or worse would follow。 King Olaf listening to these
two splendid persons and their letter； in indignant silence till they quite
ended； made answer： 〃I have heard say； by old accounts there are； that
King Gorm of Denmark ＇Blue…tooth's father； Knut's great…grandfather＇
was considered but a small king； having Denmark only and few people to
rule over。 But the kings who succeeded him thought that insufficient for
them； and it has since come so far that King Knut rules over both
Denmark and England； and has conquered for himself a part of Scotland。
And now he claims also my paternal bit of heritage； cannot be contented
without that too。 Does he wish to rule over all the countries of the North？
Can he eat up all the kale in England itself； this Knut the Great？ He shall
do that； and reduce his England to a desert； before I lay my head in his
hands； or show him any other kind of vassalage。 And so I bid you tell him
these my words： I will defend Norway with battle…axe and sword as long
as life is given me； and will pay tax to no man for my kingdom。〃 Words
which naturally irritated Knut to a high degree。
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Next year accordingly （year 1027）； tenth or eleventh year of Olaf's
reign； there came bad rumors out of England： That Knut was equipping an
immense army；land…army； and such a fleet as had never sailed before；
Knut's own ship in it；a Gold Dragon with no fewer than sixty benches of
oars。 Olaf and Onund King of Sweden； whose sister he had married； well
guessed whither this armament was bound。 They were friends withal； they
recognized their common peril in this imminence； and had； in repeated
consultations； taken measures the best that their united skill （which I find
was mainly Olaf's but loyally accepted by the other） could suggest。 It was
in this year that Olaf （with his Swedish king assisting） did his grand feat
upon Knut in Lymfjord of Jutland； which was already spoken of。 The
special circumstances of which were these：
Knut's big armament arriving on the Jutish coasts too late in the season；
and the coast country lying all plundered into temporary wreck by the two
Norse kings； who shrank away on sight of Knut； there was nothing could
be done upon them by Knut this year；or； if anything； what？ Knut's ships
ran into Lymfjord； the safe…sheltered frith； or intricate long straggle of
friths and straits； which almost cuts Jutland in two in that region； and lay
safe； idly rocking on the waters there； uncertain what to do farther。 At last
he steered in his big ship and some others； deeper into the interior of
Lymfjord； deeper and deeper onwards to the mouth of a big river called
the Helge （_Helge…aa_； the Holy River； not discoverable in my poor maps；
but certainly enough still existing and still flowing somewhere among
those intricate straits and friths）； towards the bottom of which Helge river
lay； in some safe nook； the small combined Swedish and Norse fleet；
under the charge of Onund； the Swedish king； while at the top or source；
which is a biggish mountain lake； King Olaf had been doing considerable
engineering works； well suited to such an occasion； and was now ready at
a moment's notice。 Knut's fleet having idly taken station here； notice from
the Swedish king was instantly sent； instantly Olaf's well…engineered
flood…gates were thrown open； from the swollen lake a huge deluge of
water was let loose； Olaf himself with all his people hastening down to
join his Swedish friend； and get on board in time； Helge river all the while
alongside of him； with ever…increasing roar； and wider…spreading deluge；
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hastening down the steeps in the night…watches。 So that； along with Olaf or
some way ahead of him； came immeasurable roaring waste of waters upon
Knut's negligent fleet； shattered； broke； and stranded many of his ships；
and was within a trifle of destroying