One day he went out and sang: — Early in winter Sigvat went westward over the ridge of the country to Jamtaland, and onwards to Helsingjaland, and came to Svithjod. Otto, also, the Duke of Brunsvik, who had married Ulfhild, King Olaf the Saint's daughter, and the sister of King Magnus, came to him with a great troop. In winter (A.D. 1043), he went much about the country, and made friends among the powerful chiefs; and, indeed, he was beloved by all the people of the land. So at last the king consulted the most prudent men, who ordered all affairs according to law. They proceeded through Svithjod on foot to Helsingjaland. He had held many battles, and had gained the victory in all. Now I would have you get ready to seek out the enemy, and give battle the moment we find him by rowing all to attack, and being all ready for battle."
Alfhild wanted to have a seat next to the king, but Astrid called Alfhild her slave-woman, as indeed she had formerly been when Astrid was queen of Norway and King Olaf ruled the land, and therefore would on no account let her have a seat beside her, and they could not lodge in the same house. One day, as Sigvat was walking in the street, he saw the king's men at play, and he sang: — Sigvat then went to his farm; and as he heard that many men upbraided him with having deserted King Olaf, he made these verses: — Sigvat was ill at ease in his home. When the king awoke he told his dream to his men, and the day was then dawning. It was held to be the proper Thing for settling disputes between kings in Norway.—L. So says Thiodolf: — Earl Svein went thereafter to Denmark, and the whole nation received him well. He then went on to Seeland, where he was also well received, and the whole country joined him. King Magnus, during the whole night, threw hand-spears. And in this letter there stood, along with a salutation from King Magnus, these words:—"Ye must have heard of the agreement which I and Hardaknut made,—that he of us two who survived the other should have all the land and people which the deceased had possessed. Thereupon the men put on their weapons, each man making himself and his place ready; and then they stretched themselves to their oars. Now he died, and then it was the resolution of all the people of the country to take me for king here in England. he would come with his army to Denmark to take possession of his Danish dominions, in terms of the agreement, or to fall in the field with his army. So says Od Kikinaskald: — King Magnus had three battles with Svein Ulfson. Arnor, the earls' skald, tells of this in the poem on Magnus: — In spring Magnus sailed from the East to Svithjod. Kalf stretched out his spear-shaft, and said, "There he lay when he fell." Then Magnus boarded Svein's ship, followed by his men; and one after the other came up, and made so stout an assault that Svein's men gave way, and King Magnus first cleared that ship, and then the rest, one after the other.
Be not afraid of heathens, although they be many; for I shall be with thee in the battle.
She spoke long and cleverly in this strain; but when she had ended many replied thus: "The Swedes made no honourable progress in Norway when they followed King Olaf his father, and now no better success is to be expected, as this man is but in years of boyhood; and therefore we have little inclination for this expedition." He went immediately to Queen Astrid, and was with her a long time, and was a welcome guest. So says Arnor: —Here it is related that when King Magnus and his fellow-travellers sailed from the East to Svithjod, they brought up at Sigtuna.
The king said to Einar, "Let us ride to-day to Stiklestad. When the tables were removed, the king made himself ready, and said to Kalf, "Thou must go with me to Stiklestad." The same winter (A.D. 1043), in which Svein Ulfson was raised to the government of the whole Danish dominions, and had made friends of a great number of the principal chiefs in Denmark, and obtained the affections of the people, he assumed by the advice of many of the chiefs the title of king. As soon as the king had made known this resolution all his men followed it, turned their ship's bows, and hoisted sail. Kalf replied, "My axe did not come near him;" and immediately went to his horse, sprang on horseback, and rode away with all his men; and the king rode back to Haug. After this, Magnus never saw Annabeth and his two uncles again. It contributed also that King Canute the Great, and all his descendants, were dead; and a third assistance was, that his father King Olaf's sanctity and miracles were become celebrated in all countries. When King Magnus heard of this, he ordered a large fleet and army to be levied in Denmark, and sailed in summer to Vindland with all his forces, which made a very large army altogether. Now when King Edward had read this letter, he replied thus: "It is known to all men in this country that King Ethelred, my father, was udal-born to this kingdom, both after the old and new law of inheritance.