14 Eighth and Ninth Battles of Olaf
King Olaf was commander of all the forces when they went against Canterbury; and they fought there until they took the town, killing many people and burning the castle. So says Ottar Svarte:—
“All in the grey of morn
Broad Canterbury’s forced.
Black smoke from house-roofs borne
Hides fire that does its worst;
And many a man laid low
By the battle-axe’s blow,
Waked by the Norsemen’s cries,
Scarce had time to rub his eyes.”
Sigvat reckons this King Olaf’s eighth battle:—
“Of this eighth battle I can tell
How it was fought, and what befell,
The castle tower
With all his power
He could not take,
Nor would forsake.
The Perthmen fought,
Nor quarter sought;
By death or flight
They left the fight.
Olaf could not this earl stout
From Canterbury quite drive out.”
At this time King Olaf was entrusted with the whole land defence of England, and he sailed round the land with his ships of War. He laid his ships at land at Nyjamoda, where the troops of the Thingmen were, and gave them battle and gained the victory. So says Sigvat the skald:—
“The youthful king stained red the hair
Of Angeln men, and dyed his spear
At Newport in their hearts’ dark blood:
And where the Danes the thickest stood—
Where the shrill storm round Olaf’s head
Of spear and arrow thickest fled.
There thickest lay the Thingmen dead!
Nine battles now of Olaf bold,
Battle by battle, I have told.”
King Olaf then scoured all over the country, taking scat of the people and plundering where it was refused. So says Ottar:—
“The English race could not resist thee,
With money thou madest them assist thee;
Unsparingly thou madest them pay
A scat to thee in every way;
Money, if money could be got—
Goods, cattle, household gear, if not.
Thy gathered spoil, borne to the strand,
Was the best wealth of English land.”
Olaf remained here for three years (A.D. 1010-1012).