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134 NOTES ,
affected leaders from Olaf’s cause. Boyesen says : “The separatist tend-
encies of the old tribal magnates had triumphed over the national
idea represented by King Olaf. It was they and not King Knut who, in
order to gratify their own greed for power, had destroyed the national
unity.”’ Chief among these leaders were Einar Tambarskjelver (at that
time abroad) ; the two Halagoland chieftains, Haarek fra Tjotta and
Tore Hund paa Bjarkoy; and Kaly Arnesson, Haarek’s brother-in-
law. Under these circumstances, the only course open to King Olaf was
to flee from the country. He crossed the mountains into Sweden, whence
he made his way to Russia (Gardarike), where he was welcomed by
King Jarislaf, who was wedded to the Ingigerd whom Olaf had wooed
in his earlier years. This was in 1029, and for a year following Olaf
remained in Gardarike, plunged in deep melancholy at the thought of
his lost kingdom, and almost resolved to renounce his ambition, make
a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and become a monk. But late that year,
Bjorn Stallare, a chieftain who had gone over to Knut for a time, but
who now wished to return to his old allegiance, sought Olaf out at the
court of Jarislaf, bringing the news that the regent, Earl Haakon, had
been lost at sea, and urging Olaf to make the attempt to re-conquer
his kingdom. “He letted not his journey till he came east into Garth-
realm to King Olaf in winter, about Yuletide. The king was right glad
when Bjorn met him, and asked for many tidings from the north from
Norway. Bjorn said the earl was lost, and the land left without a ruler.
At these tidings the men were right glad who had followed King Olaf
out of Norway, and had had there lands and home. Many other tidings
from Norway Bjorn told to the king, such as he was greatly wistful
to know. Then the king asked after his friends as to how they kept
faith with him, and Bjorn said that was all with ups and downs; and
therewith Bjorn stood up and fell at the feet of the king, and took
his foot about, and said : ‘ All in God’s power and thine, O king! I have
taken money from the men of Knut, and sworn fealty to them; but
now will I follow thee, and never sunder from thee while we are both
alive.’
“The king answers: ‘Stand up speedily, Bjorn; thou shalt be in
peace with me. Boot this to God. I may wot that few men will be now
in Norway who will keep their faith with me, when such as thou turn
off. And true it is, that men sit there in great trouble, because I am
far off, and they sit before the unpeace of my foes.’
“Bjorn told the king who mostly took the lead in raising up hatred
against the king and his men. Thereto he named the sons of Erling of
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