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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
Magnus。 Magnus； I perceive； was； like his Father； a skilful as well as
valiant fighter by sea and land； Magnus； with good battalions； and
probably backed by immediate alliance with Heaven and St。 Olaf； as was
then the general belief or surmise about him； could not easily be beaten。
And the truth is； he never was； by Harda…Knut or any other。 Harda…Knut's
last transaction with him was； To make a firm Peace and even Family…
treaty sanctioned by all the grandees of both countries； who did indeed
mainly themselves make it； their two Kings assenting： That there should
be perpetual Peace； and no thought of war more； between Denmark and
Norway； and that； if either of the Kings died childless while the other was
reigning； the other should succeed him in both Kingdoms。 A magnificent
arrangement； such as has several times been made in the world's history；
but which in this instance； what is very singular； took actual effect；
drunken Harda… Knut dying so speedily； and Magnus being the man he
was。 One would like to give the date of this remarkable Treaty； but cannot
with precision。 Guess somewhere about 1040：＇17＇ actual fruition of it
came to Magnus； beyond question； in 1042； when Harda…Knut drank that
wassail bowl at the wedding in Lambeth； and fell down dead； which in the
Saxon Chronicle is dated 3d June of that year。 Magnus at once went to
Denmark on hearing this event； was joyfully received by the headmen
there； who indeed； with their fellows in Norway； had been main contrivers
of the Treaty； both Countries longing for mutual peace； and the end of
such incessant broils。
Magnus was triumphantly received as King in Denmark。 The only
unfortunate thing was； that Svein Estrithson； the exile son of Ulf； Knut's
Brother…in…law； whom Knut； as we saw； had summarily killed twelve years
before； emerged from his exile in Sweden in a flattering form； and
proposed that Magnus should make him Jarl of Denmark； and general
administrator there； in his own stead。 To which the sanguine Magnus； in
spite of advice to the contrary； insisted on acceding。 〃Too powerful a Jarl；〃
said Einar Tamberskelverthe same Einar whose bow was heard to break
in Olaf Tryggveson's last battle （〃Norway breaking from thy hand； King！〃）；
who had now become Magnus's chief man； and had long been among the
highest chiefs in Norway； 〃too powerful a Jarl；〃 said Einar earnestly。 But
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
Magnus disregarded it； and a troublesome experience had to teach him
that it was true。 In about a year； crafty Svein； bringing ends to meet； got
himself declared King of Denmark for his own behoof； instead of Jarl for
another's： and had to be beaten and driven out by Magnus。 Beaten every
year； but almost always returned next year； for a new beating；almost；
though not altogether； having at length got one dreadful smashing…down
and half…killing； which held him quiet for a while；so long as Magnus
lived。 Nay in the end； he made good his point； as if by mere patience in
being beaten； and did become King himself； and progenitor of all the
Kings that followed。 King Svein Estrithson； so called from Astrid or
Estrith； his mother； the great Knut's sister； daughter of Svein Forkbeard by
that amazing Sigrid the Proud； who _burnt_ those two ineligible suitors of
hers both at once； and got a switch on the face from Olaf Tryggveson；
which proved the death of that high man。
But all this fine fortune of the often beaten Estrithson was posterior to
Magnus's death； who never would have suffered it； had he been alive。
Magnus was a mighty fighter； a fiery man； very proud and positive；
among other qualities； and had such luck as was never seen before。 Luck
invariably good； said everybody； never once was beaten；which proves；
continued everybody； that his Father Olaf and the miraculous power of
Heaven were with him always。 Magnus； I believe； did put down a great
deal of anarchy in those countries。 One of his earliest enterprises was to
abolish Jomsburg； and trample out that nest of pirates。 Which he managed
so completely that Jomsburg remained a mere reminiscence thenceforth；
and its place is not now known to any mortal。
One perverse thing did at last turn up in the course of Magnus： a new
Claimant for the Crown of Norway； and he a formidable person withal。
This was Harald； half…brother of the late Saint Olaf； uncle or half…uncle；
therefore； of Magnus himself。 Indisputable son of the Saint's mother by St。
Olaf's stepfather； who was； himself descended straight from Harald
Haarfagr。 This new Harald was already much heard of in the world。 As an
ardent Boy of fifteen he had fought at King Olaf's side at Stickelstad；
would not be admonished by the Saint to go away。 Got smitten down there；
not killed； was smuggled away that night from the field by friendly help；
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
got cured of his wounds； forwarded to Russia； where he grew to man's
estate； under bright auspices and successes。 Fell in love with the Russian
Princess； but could not get her to wife； went off thereupon to
Constantinople as _Vaeringer_ （Life…Guardsman of the Greek Kaiser）；
became Chief Captain of the Vaeringers； invincible champion of the poor
Kaisers that then were； and filled all the East with the shine and noise of
his exploits。 An authentic _Waring_ or _Baring_； such the surname we
now have derived from these people； who were an important institution in
those Greek countries for several ages： Vaeringer Life…Guard； consisting
of Norsemen； with sometimes a few English among them。 Harald had
innumerable adventures； nearly always successful； sing the Skalds； gained
a great deal of wealth； gold ornaments； and gold coin； had even Queen
Zoe （so they sing； though falsely） enamored of him at one time； and was
himself a Skald of eminence； some of whose verses； by no means the
worst of their kind； remain to this day。