[Incerti Auctoris Historia Danorum ab a. 826 ad a. 1140 (1157)]

[An unknown author's History of the Danes from 826-1140 (1157) CE]

I. Anno dominicedominicae incarnacionisincarnationis octingentesimo uigesimo VItosexto Haraldus rex Danorum apud Magunciam est baptizatus ab Othgario archiepiscopo, susceptus ab imperatore Luduwico, anno sexto regni sui. Cum quo frater eius Hericus et uxor regis cum magna Danorum multitudine illuminati sunt et ChristianeChristianae fidei coniuncti. Quibus in regnum suum tendentibus cum nemo doctorum facile potuisset inueniri comes, sanctus Ansgarius cum socio se ultroneum optulitobtulit Authberto. Cum quo .IIIIor.quattuor annis commorantes multos ad fidem converterunt.

I. In the 826th year of the Lord’s incarnation, Harald King of the Danes was baptized at Mainz by the archbishop Othgar, and was taken up by the ruler Louis, in the sixth year of his reign. With him his brother Heric and the wife of the king, with a large multitude of Danes, were illuminated, and they were joined to the Christian faith.[AB] As they were traveling into his kingdom, because no one of the teachers had been able to be found easily as a companion,[AB] Saint Ansgar voluntarily offered himself with his associate Authbert. Remaining with him for four years, they turned many towards faith.[AB]

Qui, reuersus archiepiscopus Hammaburgensis effectus, nunc Danos, nunc Transalbianos uisitans innumerabilem utriusque gentis multitudinem ad fidem contraxit. Deinde mortuo Lyudrico, Bremensi archiepiscopo, Liuduicus imperator, filius Liuduici, frater LotarijLotarii et Karoli, Bremensem archiepiscopatum Ansgario concessit. Hoc regali munere confessor dei ualde gauisus in Daniam perrexit.

After having returned he was made the archbishop of Hamburg, and visiting now the Danes, now the Transalbingians, he gathered a countless number of both nations towards the faith.[AB] Then, when Leuderic, the archbishop of Bremen, died,[AB] the ruler Louis, the son of Louis, the brother of Lothair and Charles, granted the title archbishop of Bremen to Ansgar.[AB] Rejoicing exceedingly at this royal gift, the confessor of God proceeded to Denmark.[AB]

Vbi regem Danorum, fratrem regis Haraldi, predictum Ericum, Christianissimum cum suo populo reddidit. Nam mortuo Haraldo iste in regnum assumptus est. Hic primum ecclesiam Sleswich erexit, data pariter sentenciasententia, ut, quisquis esse uellet in regno suo, Christianus fieret.

There he turned the King of the Danes, brother of king Harald -- the aforementioned Heric -- most Christian,[AB] along with his people. For, when Harald had died he was accepted into the kingship. He first erected a church in Schleswig, having given a pronouncement likewise, that, whoever in his kingdom wished to be, could become a Christian.[AB]

II. Interea Normanni Galliam demoliti per fluuios Ligerim, Secanam, Renum dederunt excursum. Quo timore compulsus rex FrancieFranciae Karolus terram eis concessit ad habitandum, quam et hodie possident. Deinde Daniam aggressi Hericum regem interfecerunt. Quo mortuo Hericus Puer in regnum leuatus est. De isto Herico Puero non minima dubitaciodubitatio est, utrum filius predictipraedicti Herici fuerit an non. Qui mox super Christicolas efferatus sacerdotes expulit, ecclesias claudi precepitpraecepit. Ad quem ueniens sanctus Ansgarius [non] intrepidus crudelem tyrannum de feroci leone mansuetissimum conuertit in agnum, adeo ut ipse Christianitatem susciperet et suis omnibus per edictum Christianos fieri mandaret. Tunc sacerdotes reuocati, ecclesieecclesiae sunt erecteerectae et restauraterestauratae. Insuper apud Ripam basilica exstructa est, post Sleswich secunda.

II. Meanwhile, having demolished Gaul, the Northmen made an attack by the rivers Loire and Seine and Rhine. Having been compelled by this terror, the King of Francia, Charles, granted to these men land to inhabit, which they own even to this day. Afterwards, having attacked Dania, they killed Heric the king. When he died, Heric the Child was raised up into the kingship. There was not the smallest doubt whether Heric the Child was the son of the previously mentioned Heric or not. Afterwards, having been infuriated over the Christians, he banished the priests, and ordered the churches to be closed. The [not] fearless Saint Ansgar, when he approached him, turned the merciless tyrant from a fierce lion into a most tame lamb, so much that he himself accepted Christianity, and he ordered by means of an edict to all his subjects that they become Christians. Then, the priests were recalled, the churches were set right and restored. Furthemore, a church was constructed at Ribe, the second after the one in Schleswig.

III. Eo tempore collectis <suis> rex crudelissimus Normannorum Ywar, filius Lothpardi, quem ferunt ossibus caruisse, cuius fratres Ingvar et Vbbi et Byorn et Vlf aquilonis gentibus prefueruntpraefuerunt, reges eciametiam Danorum uocauit in auxilium ad destruendum regnum Francorum. Reges dico, quia tunc temporis multi fuerunt reges in Dania. Nam, ut referunt, <fuerunt> duo aliquando in Iucia, in Fyunia terciustertius, in Selandia .IIIIus.quartus, in Scania .Vus.quintus; aliquando duo per totam Daniam; aliquando eciametiam unus per totam Daniam; aliquando unus per totam Angliam simul et Daniam, ut post docebimus.

III. At this time, with his men having been gathered together, Ywar, son of Lothpardus, most cruel king of the Northmen, whom they say lacked bones -- whose brothers Ingvar, Ubbi, Byorn, and Vlf ruled the people of the North -- called also the kings of the Danes to his aid to destroy the kingdom of the Franks. Kings I say, because at that time there were many kings in Dania. For, just as they say, there were two at one time in Jutland, there was a third in Fyn, a fourth in Sjælland, and a fifth in Scania; sometimes two throughout all of Dania; sometimes one throughout the whole of Dania, sometimes one throughout the whole of Dania and Anglia simultaneously, as I will inform you afterwards.

Igitur Ywar Brittaniam classe pecijtpetiit et crudele preliumproelium cum regibus Anglorum conseruit. Ibi reges Nordumbrorum Ielle atque Osbertus ceciderunt, ac Denunolf et Berrunolf de prelioproelio fugerunt. Edmundus, rex sanctissimus orientalium Saxonum, qui sepesaepe antea uictor extiteratexstiterat, [et] tunc uictus et in prelioproelio captus, manibus post terga ligatis pro Christi confessione flagellatus ac deinde sagittatus, ad ultimum decollatus gloriosam martyrijmartyrii coronam adeptus est. HecHaec prima Nordumbrorum plaga taliter gesta est in Anglia.

Therefore, Ywar attacked Britannia with a fleet, and joined in cruel battle against the kings of the Angli. There, the kings of Northumbrians, Ielle and Osberht, died, and Denunolf and Berrunolf fled from battle. Edmund, the most sacred king of the East-Saxons, who had been a conqueror often beforehand, [and] at this time was conquered and captured in battle, with his hands bound behind his back, was whipped for confession of Christ, and then shot with an arrow, and finally having been decapitated he obtained the glorious crown of martyrdom. This first disaster of the Northumbrians was conducted in such a manner in Anglia.

Inde promotus rex Ingwar cum nouem aquilonis regibus classem diuisit, aliosque reges in Galliam destinauit, alios in Germaniam. Quorum pars uecta per Albiam Saxoniam inuasit ibique ducem Brunonem cum decem comitibus occurrentem sibi occidit. Cum quibus duo episcopi trucidati sunt.

Moving on from there, King Ingwar divided the fleet with the nine kings of the North. He appointed some of the kings to go into Gaul, and others to go into Germania. Part of them, having been conveyed through Albia, invaded Saxonia, and there killed Duke Bruno with his ten companions rushing to meet them. With them, two bishops were slaughtered.

Deinde Traiectum oppidum inuadunt urbemque solo tenus prosternunt, in qua Rabodus tunc claruit episcopus. Ad ultimum Renum transeunt, Coloniam et Treueros incendunt, Aquisgrani <palaciumpalatium> stabulum equis suis fecerunt, urbes cum ciuibus <obruerunt>, mulieres cum infantibus in ore gladijgladii trucidauerunt, ecclesias sanctas cum fidelibus aut incenderunt aut subuerterunt. Maguncia ob metum eorum instaurari cepitcoepit. Tunc Fresia eciametiam a Danis depopulata est.

Next, they attacked the town of Traiectum, and destroyed the city down to the ground, in which the bishop Radboud was flourishing at that time. They traversed to the end of the Rhine, and they burned Cologne and Treveri; they made the palace in Aquisgranum a stable for their horses, and they overthrew the cities with their citizens, and they cut the women to pieces along with their babies with the edges of their swords. They either burned or destroyed the holy churches together with the faithful people. Mainz began to be repaired on account of the fear of them. Then Frisia too was sacked by the Danes.

IV. HecHaec dum agerentur, Hericus rex defunctus est, et in regnum Frothi leuatus est; quem Unni, Bremensis archiepiscopus, baptizauit. ExtimploExtemplo erecteerectae sunt ecclesieecclesiae, quequae pridem destructedestructae sunt, Sleswicensis et Ripensis. TerciamTertiam rex in honore sanctesanctae Trinitatis apud Arusam edificauitaedificauit. Dicunt quidam, quod Unni, Bremensis archiepiscopus, Gorm et Haraldo, qui in Dania reges extiterantexstiterant, predicaretpraedicaret et Christianis placatos redderet et ecclesias diu neglectas reuocaret. Iste Gorm pater Haraldi extititexstitit; qui Haraldus uiuente patre .XV.quindecim annos regnum gubernauit, mortuo patre quinquaginta annos regnauit. Hic Christianus extititexstitit, cognomine Blatan siue Clac Harald.

IV. While these things were happening, Heric the King died, and Frothi was raised into the kingship, whom Unni, the archbishop of Bremen, baptized. Immediately the churches in Schleswig and Ribe, which long ago had been destroyed, were set right. In honor of the Holy Trinity, the king built a third church at Arusa. Some people say that Unni, the archbishop of Bremen, preached to Gorm and Harald, who had become kings in Dania, and made them peaceful toward the Christians, and that he revived the long-overlooked churches. This Gorm was the father of Harald, who governed the kingdom with his father still living for 15 years, and ruled after his father died for 50 years. He was a Christian, with the surname Blatan, or "Clac" Harald.

Mortuo Haraldo Swen quidam, Normannorum transfuga, collecta multitudine Angliam inuasit, regem Aldradum expulit, ipse regnum tenuit. Huius filijfilii Gorm et Hartha Knut, paterno non contenti latrocinio, Daniam insiliunt, occisoque rege Danorum Haldano cum filijsfiliis eius regnum [Danorum] partiti sunt, Gorm Daniam, Hartha Knut Angliam <nactus>. Nam Swen pater eorum interim, quo <tempore> ipsi Daniam inuaserunt, mortuus est. Haldanus autem utrum fuerit filius Clac Haraldi an non, in dubio est.

When Harald died, a certain man named Sven, a deserter of the Northmen, invaded Anglia with a large collection of people, and removed the king Aldradus, and possessed the kingdom himself. His sons Gorm and Hartha Knut were not content with their father's piracy, and they sprang at Dania; and Haldanus King of the Danes having been slain with his sons, they divided up the kingdom [of the Danes]: Gorm got Dania, and Hartha Knut got Anglia. For Sven their father, in the meantime, during the time they themselves invaded Dania, died. It is doubtful, however, whether or not Haldanus was the son of Harald.

V. Gorm, crudelissimus rex, sedem regni apud Selandiam constituit. Huius filius mitissimus Harold fuit, qui primus apud Seland ecclesiam construxit. Qui contra patris imperium Christianos amicos habuit eosque pro uiribus undique susceptos in persecucionepersecutione fouit. Itaque, in malis patre perseuerante, Haraldus post mortem eius in regem assumptus est Christianusque effectus est. Qui mox sacerdotes tam ab Anglia quam a Saxonia uenientes recepit et Christum publice colere cepitcoepit. Vnde uenerabili Adaldago episcopo et Ottoni Augusto amicus et ualde familiaris fuit, adeo ut filium eius baptizatum a sacro fonte <leuauerit> et Swen Otto uocauerit.

V. Gorm, the cruelest king, established the seat of his royal power on Sjælland. His son was the most gentle Harold, who first built a church on Sjælland. Contrary to the father’s order, he accepted Christians as friends, and he received them from all sides and cherished them in persecution. Therefore, while his father persisted in wickedness, Harald after the death of his father was taken up into kingship and was made a Christian. He soon afterwards welcomed priests coming as much from Anglia, as from Saxonia, and he began worship Christ publicly. Whence he was exceedingly friendly and familiar with the august bishop Adaldag and the Emperor Otto, so much that he lifted up from the holy water his son who had just been baptized, and named him Swen Otto.

Itaque rex deuotus et in Christo fidelissimus non solum baptizatus, sed eciametiam, ut episcopi per regnum constituerentur, per nunciosnuntios deprecatus est. Qua peticionepetitione Adaldagus, Bremensis archiepiscopus, gaudens consilio regis et papepapae tres ordinauit in Daniam episcopos: Hericum ad Sleswich, Liafdagum ad Ripam, Rehinbrandum ad Arus. Postea eciametiam plures ordinauit Adaldagus, Bremensis archiepiscopus, ad nostrates episcopos: ad Sleswich post Hericum Marconem, post Liafdagum ad Ripam Folbertum. Othincarus Albus, ad Svethiam ordinatus, Scaniam et Seland procurauit; post quem fuit Thurgotus. Iste eciametiam Haroldus regem Normannorum Haconem de regno expulsum restituit. Filius Haconis Trucco fuit, qui Haroldo subditus fuit. Filius eius Olaf Cracaben fuit.

And so, the king, devoted and most faithful in Christ, not only was baptized, but also pleaded by means of messengers that bishops be established throughout the kingdom. The archbishop of Bremen, Adaldag, taking pleasure at this request, appointed, by the counsel of the king and the pope, three bishops in Dania: Heric in Schleswig, Liafdag in Ribe, and Rehinbrand in Aarhus. Afterwards the archbishop of Bremen, Adaldagus, also appointed more men as native bishops: Marco after Heric in Schleswig, Folbert after Liafdagus in Ribe. Othincarus Albus, having been ordained for Svethia, also took care of Scania and Sjælland; after him was Thurgotus. That Harald also restored Haakon the king of the Normanus, who had been expelled from rule. The son of Haconus was Trucco, who was subjected to Harold. His son was Olaf Cracaben.

VI. Haroldus quinquaginta annos in Dania regnauit. Quem filius Sven in acie uulnerauit, uulneratum a regno expulit; qui fugiens uenit in Sclauiam ibique exulexsul obijtobiit et, ueluduelut alter Dauid, magis de perfidia filijfilii quam ex sua miseria dolens. Corpus eius a suis in patriam reportatum in ciuitate Roskild tumulatum est. Quod audiens Olaf Cracaben, augur peritissimus, filius Trucconis, filijfilii Haquini, quem Haquinum Haroldus de regno expulsum stabiliuit, memor illius benefacti statim Danos adijtadiit; regem Swen expulit et regnum Danorum tenuit.

VI. Harold ruled for 50 years in Dania. His son Sven wounded him in battle, and expelled him wounded from the kingdom. In flight he came to Sclavia, and there died in exile and, like a second David, grieving more for the treachery of his son than for his own misery. His body was brought back to his homeland by his followers and was buried in the city of Roskilde. Hearing about this, Olaf Cracaben, the most experienced diviner, the son of Trucco (who was the son of Haakon -- who, when he had been expelled from his kingdom, had been strengthened by Harold), and being mindful of the favor immediately approached the Danes; he expelled Sven and held the kingdom of the Danes.

Swen exulans potissimum regem Swenonum, nomine eciametiam Olaf, adijtadiit; supplex, ut in regnum restitueretur, orauit. Nec mora: superueniens cum Swenonibus bellum habuit grauissimum, in quo rex NorueieNorueiae Olaf augurio deceptus cecidit. Swen, cognomine Tyuvskeg, duo regna tenuit, Christianis ualde inimicus, quos eciametiam finibus suis expelli precepitpraecepit.

Sven, going into exile, approached the most powerful king of the Swedes, also named Olaf. As a suppliant, he begged to be restored to his kingship. And there was no delay: attacking with the Swedes he held a very serious battle, in which Olaf, the king of Norway, fell, deceived by augury. Sven, surnamed Tyuvskeg ("Forkbeard") held two kingdoms: very hostile to Christians, whom he also gave orders to be expelled from his territory.

Sed cum a Sclauis in bello uictus ter caperetur, et bis argento, terciatertia uice auro ponderaretur, tandem deum cognouit post flagella, quem cepitcoepit quererequaerere eique credere. Nam accersito a Norwegia Bernardo episcopo in Scania ecclesiam erexit. Bernardus mare transfretans in Seland uenit; ibi bonebonae conversacionisconversationis exemplo uitam finiuit. Deinde Swen Angliam inuasit, regem Adeldradum expulit et BrittanieBrittaniae fines potitus uix tres menses superuixit.

But when, having been defeated by the Slavs in war, he was captured three times, and twice was ransomed for silver, the third time for gold, he finally, after the punishment, recognized God: he began to seek him and believe in him. For, summoning bishop Bernard from Norway, he erected a church in Scania. Bernard crossed the sea and arrived in Sjælland; there, he ended his life in a pattern of good behavior. Then Sven invaded Anglia, expelled king Adeldrad, and after taking power over the territory of Britannia survived scarcely three months more.

VII. Post cuius mortem Eadmundus, filius Adeldradi, quem Sweno expulit, Kanutum, filium Svenonis, et Olauum, filium Olaui regis NorvegieNorvegiae, qui ibi obsides fuerant, in uincula coniecit. Qui de uinculis eius fugientes naui uenerunt Bremam ibique a sancto Unwano, Bremensi archiepiscopo, fidem Christi susceperunt, et baptizati reuersi sunt in Daniam. Olauus autem rex NorvegieNorvegiae constituitur. Qui dum regnum suum primus ChristianeChristianae fidei subiugasset totum, a paucis in bello percussus gloriosam martyrijmartyrii coronam est adeptus. Cuius corpus a fidelibus Throndemis humatur, <ubi> multis hodie miraculis illustratur. Cui filius in regnum successit, nomine Magnus, qui ex concubina erat genitus, etateaetate puer, magnanimus, forma speciosus.

VII. After his death, Eadmund, the son of Adeldrad (whom Sven had expelled), threw Kanute, Sven's son, and Olaf, the son of Olaf king of Norway, who had been hostages there, into chains. They escaped from their fetters and came by ship to Bremen. There they accepted faith in Christ from Saint Unwan, the archbishop of Bremen, and after being baptized they returned to Dania. Olaf, moreover, was made king of Norway. He, after being the first to have subjected his whole kingdom to the Christian faith, was struck by a few in a war and achieved the glorious crown of martyrdom. His body was buried by the faithful at Trondheim, where it is made famous to this day by many miracles. His son succeeded to the kingship -- Magnus by name, who had been born of a concubine, a child in terms of age, noble, and beautiful in form.

Sed ne ab incepto opere longe transgredi uidear, ad reges Danorum reuertar. Mortuo itaque Eadmundo rege Anglorum filius Adeldradus in regnum successit. Quod audiens Kanutus, ueteris iniuriaeiniuriae non immemor, quam pater eius sibi et Olauo intulerat, cum mille armatis nauibus transfretauit et inmensis uiribus Angliam inuasit; triennium cum Adeldrado certauit. Adeldradus, fessus et bello et senio, cum obsideretur in Londonia ciuitate, obijtobiit, relinquens filium Edwardum, quem suscepit ab Ymma regina, quequae fuit filia Rothberti comitis. Kanutus uictor existensexsistens ipsam Ymmam duxit uxorem genuitque ex ea filium Harthe Knut.

But so that I may not seem to diverge too far from the work I have begun, I shall return to the kings of the Danes. When Eadmund the king of the Angles had died, his son Adeldrad succeeded to the kingship. Hearing this, Kanute, bearing in mind the ancient injury that his [Adeldrad's] father had done to him and to Olaf, crossed the sea with 1000 armed ships and invaded Anglia with immeasurable power. He fought with Adeldrad for three years. Adeldrad, tired out by war and old age, died while being besieged in the city of London, leaving his son Edward, whom he had from Queen Emma, who was the daughter of Count Rothbert [i.e., Richard of Normandy]. Kanute was victorious and took Emma as his wife, and had a son by her, Harthe Knut.

Kanutus Richardo suam dedit sororem, nomine Estrith. QueQuae ab illo repudiata duci Vlf sine fratris consensu est coniuncta. Quod audiens Kanutus inimicari cepitcoepit Vlf et sorori suesuae in tantum, ut eciametiam eos de regno expelleret. Tandem precibus multorum et auxilijsauxiliis sub quadam simulacionesimulatione reconciliatus non post multum temporis fecit Vlf interfici in ecclesia Roskildensi, euntem ad matutinas. Quem uxor sua Estrith honorifice sepeliuit, ecclesiamque lapideam in loco ligneeligneae construxit, quam multis modis ditauit. Habuitque ex eo duos filios, Svenonem et Byorn. Quo peracto Kanutus reuersus est in Angliam ibique uitam finiuit.

Kanute gave his sister, named Estrith, to Richard. After she had been repudiated by him, she was joined to Duke Ulf without her brother's consent. When he heard this, Kanute began to be hostile to Ulf and to his own sister, to such a degree that he even expelled them from his kingdom. Finally, after a sort of pretended reconciliation effected by the prayers and aid of many people, a short time later he had Ulf killed in the church at Roskilde when Ulf was going to morning prayers. His wife Emma buried him with honor, and constructed a church of stone in place of the wooden one, and enriched it in many ways. She had two sons by him, Sven and Bjorn. When this had been completed, Kanute returned to Anglia and ended his life there.

VIII. Interea LibenciusLibentius, Bremensis archiepiscopus, ad Seland ordinauit Auoconem, ...., quem antecessor Unwanus primus ordinauit. Qui eciametiam LibenciusLibentius archiepiscopus ordinauit ad Sleswich Popponem, dehinc Esyconem, ad Ripam Othincarum. Quorum Poppo, uir sanctissimus, fertur Svenoni multum familiaris fuisse. Hic eciametiam, paganis de fide Christi dubitantibus, in generali regis et populi conuentu, quia tunc se credituros spoponderant, ferrum candens in manu gestauit et illesusillaesus apparuit. Vnde factum est, ut populus crederet, et sanctus clarusque in regno fieret.

VIII. Meanwhile, Libentius, the archbishop of Bremen, ordained Avoco [as bishop] for Sjælland … whom his predecessor Unwan had first ordained. Libentius the archbishop also ordained Poppo for Schleswig, next Esyco; and Othincar for Ribe. Of these, Poppo, a most holy man, is said to have been very friendly with Sven. He also, when the pagans were hesitating to have faith in Christ, handled glowing-hot iron in his hands at a general assembly of the king and people, and came out unscathed (because they had promised to believe under such circumstances). And from this it came about that the people did believe, and he became a famous saint in the kingdom.

IX. Post mortem uero Kanuti tres filijfilii eius regnare ceperuntcoeperunt; Sven, quem habuit de Aluia, regnauit in Normannia, Haroldus in Anglia, eciametiam filius AluieAluiae, Hartha Knut in Dania, filius YmmeYmmae. Sub quo Willelmus post Auoconem predicauitpraedicauit. Iste Harthe Knut contra Haroldum fratrem suum, regem AnglieAngliae, a Dania ueniens in Flandria classem adunauit; sed Haroldus morte preuentuspraeuentus bellum diremit.

IX. Now, after the death of Kanute, his three sons began to rule: Sven, whom he had from Aluia, ruled in Normannia [Norway]; Harold, also a son of Aluia, in Anglia; and Harthe Knut in Dania. Under him, Willelm (after Avoco) preached. This Harthe Knut, coming from Dania, brought together his fleet in Flanders to attack his brother Harold, the king of Anglia. But Harold's untimely death broke off the hostilities.

<Ita> Harthe Knut Daniam possedit et Angliam. Interea Sven obijtobiit in Norwegia, frater Harthe Knut; tunc Normanni elegerunt Magnum, filium sancti Olaui a concubina. Tunc Harthe Knut et Magnus, rex NorvegieNorvegiae, talem condicionem inter se fecerunt et super reliquias cum iuramento firmauerunt, ut, qui diutius uiueret, superstes regnum defuncti acciperet duoque regna quasi hereditario iure possideret. Sed non post multum temporis Harthe Knut obijtobiit.

Thus Harthe Knut possessed Dania and Anglia. Meanwhile Sven, the brother of Harthe Knut, died in Norway. Then the Northmen [Norwegians] chose Magnus [as king] -- the son of St. Olaf by a concubine. Then Harthe Knut and Magnus king of Norway made an agreement of such a kind (and confirmed it over the relics with an oath), that the one who lived longer would receive the kingdom of the deceased one and would possess the two kingdoms as it were by hereditary right. But not long afterward, Harthe Knut died.

Cuius morte audita Magnus, non inmemor pacti, Daniam adijtadiit manu magna et ualida. Cui occurens Sven, regis Gambliknut ex sorore nepos, filius Estrid et Vlf, quem Gambliknut interfecit, tum nauali bello tum equis cum eo certauit; ad ultimum uictus in Scaniam fugit. Qui cum Lundis prepararetpraepararet iter suum, ut in Svethiam fugeret, ecce nuncijnuntii de Seland uenientes Magnum regem defunctum nunciantnuntiant ei. Qui mox Seland reuersus, deinde a Fiunensibus et a Iutensibus ultro in regem electus, Daniam per multos annos strennuestrenue gubernauit et filios filiasque ex diuersis mulieribus procreauit. Cuius filijfilii .V.quinque omnes reges unusquisque post alium extiteruntexstiterunt; quatuorquattuor mors matura preuenitpraeuenit, licet satis regno et nomine digni fuerant.

When Magnus heard about his death, bearing in mind their pact, he came to Dania with a great and strong force. And Sven, the son of Estrith and Ulf (whom Gambliknut had killed), the nephew of King Gambliknut (through his sister), came to meet him and fought with him in naval combat and with cavalry. In the end, he was defeated and fled to Scania. While he was in Lund preparing a journey, to flee to Swethia, messengers came from Sjælland and announced to him that King Magnus had passed away. He shortly returned to Sjælland, was chosen as king willingly by the people of Fyn and Jutland, and governed Dania strongly for many years. And he had sons and daughters with various women. His five sons each became king one after the other; four were cut off by untimely death, although they had been worthy enough of kingship and the name [of king].

Sub quo Villelmus episcopus predicauitpraedicauit, uir strennuusstrenuus uiribus et fortis, impetuosus et qui sola uirtute corporis debellaret potentes, <setsed> et animi uirtute, nullique parcens iratus. Cuius temporibus mater regis Svenonis Estrith ecclesieecclesiae Roskildensi .l.quinquaginta mansos filio consciente contulit, quos prescriptuspraescriptus episcopus sigillo et priuilegio ecclesieecclesiae confirmauit. Nec multo post Villelmus obijtobiit, cui gloriosus rex Sveno equiuocum suum et capellanum subrogauit, uirum quidem omni morum probitate clarissimum et omnium antecessorum longe optimum. Terror <erat> male facienciumfacientium, remuneracioremuneratio beniuolenciumbeneuolentium, pater patriepatriae, <decus> cleri et salus populi, egregius pietate et qui omnia uellet ad perfectum ducere. Ipse Roskildensem ecclesiam fere ueluti a fundamento fundauit, quam egregia corona et marmoreis columpniscolumnis omnibusque ornamentis decorauit. Ipse claustrum lapideum fratribus construxit et, ut .XV.quindecim prebendepraebendae essent, de mensa sua fratribus et ecclesieecclesiae, quam in honore sanctesanctae Trinitatis consecrauit, addidit. PretereaPraeterea monasterium Ringstathia in honore sanctesanctae MarieMariae construxit, aliud Slagløsii.

Under him, Villelm the bishop preached -- a man vigorous in strength and brave, violent, the sort of man to battle down the powerful by courage alone -- but also by the courage of the spirit -- and sparing no one in his anger. During his times, Estrith the mother of King Sven contributed 50 mansi to the church at Roskilde, with her son's full knowledge -- and these the aforesaid bishop confirmed with seal and privilege for the church. Not long afterward, Villelm died. After him, the glorious King Sven installed his own namesake and chaplain, a man very well known for all goodness of character, and better by far than all his predecessors. He was a terror to evildoers, a source of reward for people of good will, a father to his homeland, an ornament to the clergy, and a cause of salvation to the people; outstanding in piety, the sort of man who wanted to carry through everything to completion. He himself more or less founded the church of Roskilde again from its foundations; he beautified it with a marvelous crown and marble columns, and all kinds of ornaments. He constructed a cloister of stone for the monks and, so that there would be 15 prebends, he contributed funds from his own table to the monks and the church which he consecrated in honor of the Holy Trinity. Besides this, he constructed the monastery of Ringstathia in honor of holy Mary, and another one at Slagløsium.

X. Interea gloriosus rex Danorum Sveno Magnus in IuciaIutia obijtobiit anno dominicedominicae incarnacionisincarnationis .M.LXX.IIII., anno regni sui .XXXI. Cuius corpus honorifice RoskildieRoskildiae est sepultum, ut ipsemet uiuens iusserat.

X. Meanwhile the glorious king of the Danes, Sven the Great, died in Jutland in the year of the Lord's incarnation 1074, the 31st year of his reign. His body was buried with honor at Roskilde, as he himself had ordered when he was alive.

Post cuius mortem filius eius Haroldus in regnum successit et regnauit annos .VII.septem Vnde secundum antiquos iste quartus Haroldus rex in Dania extititexstitit. Primus Haroldus, qui apud MagunciamMaguntiam baptizatus fuit; secundus Harald Blatan; terciustertius Harald filius Gorm; quartus iste filius Sven, uir optimus, rector iustissimus. Hic siluas, a solis potentibus obsessas, communes fieri iussit.

After his death, his son Harold succeeded to the kingship and reigned for seven years. Hence, according to the ancients, this was the fourth King Harold in Dania. The first was the Harold who was baptized at Mainz. The second was Harald Blatan. The third was Harald son of Gorm. This fourth one was the son of Sven: a very good man, a very just ruler. He commanded that the forests, which had been occupied by the powerful alone, become common property.

Quo mortuo frater eius Kanutus in regnum leuatus est. Hic cum populum quadam noua lege et inaudita ad tributum, quod nostrates 'nefgiald' uocant, coegit, a IuciaIutia in Fiuniam fugatus Othinse in ecclesia sancti Albani martyris ante altare magna confessione cordis martyrizatus est anno dominicedominicae incarnacionisincarnationis .M.XC., anno .XI.undecimo regni sui. Cuius corpus magnis miraculis illustratur, Christus in martyre glorificatur. Cum quo eciametiam occisus est frater eius, nomine Benedictus.

When he died, his brother Kanute was raised to the kingship. This man, after he compelled the people, by a certain new and unheard-of law, to [pay a kind of] tribute, which our countrymen call "nefgiald," was made to flee from Jutland to Fyn and was martyred at Odense in the church of St. Alban the martyr, before the altar, with a great confession of his heart, in the year of the Lord's incarnation 1090, the 11th year of his reign. His body is made illustrious with great miracles; Christ is glorified in the martyr. Along with him, his brother, named Benedict, was also killed.

XI. Conuenientibus igitur regni primatibus Olauum, fratrem eius, in regem assumpserunt consortemque tociustotius regni DanieDaniae fecerunt. In cuius temporibus ingens fames Daniam per nouem annos optinuitobtinuit, ut uix ab illicitis escis et interdictis se abstinuerit; sed quia necessitate cogente aliquando lex frangitur et transgreditur, equi ad uescendum occidebantur, canes a multis excoriabantur. Non mensas diuersis ferculis ornabant, nec aliquem apparatum habere cupiebant.

XI. Then with the chiefs of the kingdom convening, they accepted Olaf, his brother, into the kingship and made him a partaker of the whole kingdom of Dania. In his times, great famine seized Dania for nine years, so that they barely abstained from illegal and forbidden food; but because by force of necessity at some time the law was broken and transgressed, horses were being killed for nourishment, and dogs were being skinned by many. They were not decorating tables with various dishes of food nor did they desire to have any magnificence.

Quam plagam uenerabilis Sveno episcopus statim post interfectionem Kanuti predixitpraedixit uenturam et, ut penitendopaenitendo eam amouerent, paterna ammonicioneadmonitione multos consuluit. Sed quia deus quos uult indurat, et quibus uult miseretur, cor omnium indurauit et, ut predictumpraedictum est, plagis flagellauit. Pastori autem misertus deus ab omnibus angustijsangustiis huius nequam seculisaeculi eum liberauit. In secundo enim anno regni Olaui, non contentus domestica quiete actiueactiuae uiteuitae cum Martha, sed eciametiam contemplatiuecontemplatiuae speculacionisspeculationis particeps fieri uolens cum Maria, licenciamlicentiam a rege et populo pecijtpetiit Ierosolimamque adire penitendopaenitendo <per> peregrinacionemperegrinationem elegit. Sed ueniens ad quandam insulam, nomine Rodus, infirmitate detentus, uictrix anima Christo traditur, corpus a discipulis flentibus ibidem sepelitur.

The honorable bishop Sven had predicted how the plague would come immediately after the killing of Kanute and he counseled many with fatherly admonition that by doing penance they could remove it. But because God hardens those whom he wills, and has mercy for those whom he wills, he hardened the hearts of all and, as has been said, scourged them with plagues. However, God had mercy and freed the shepherd from all the anguish of this vile world. For in the second year of King Olaf’s reign, not content with the domestic quiet of the active life with Martha, but wishing to take part in the contemplative vision with Mary, Sven begged for permission from the king and people, and chose to go to Jerusalem for penance through pilgrimage. But coming to a certain island named Rhodes, he was held up by sickness, and his victorious soul was surrendered to Christ, while his body was buried at that very place by his weeping students.

Cuius morte audita Olauus rex cum omni clero Selandensis ecclesieecclesiae, licet doluit, Arnoldum tamen intronizauitinthronizauit. Vir natura simplex et plus quam pastorali curecurae decuit negligensneglegens; murum tamen lapideum circa monasterium Roskildense construxit, picturam eciametiam eiusdem monasterijmonasterii renouauit. Anno cuius .VII.septimo Olauus rex obijtobiit; et ipse regnauit nouem annis, in quibus nec unus ubertatis fuit.

When King Olaf heard of this death, he mourned, along with all the clergy of the church in Sjælland, nevertheless enthroned Arnold [as bishop] -- he was a man simple by nature and negligent more than befits the pastoral post, yet he nevertheless constructed a stone wall around the monastery at Roskilde; he also renewed the painting of the same monastery. In Arnold’s seventh year King Olaf died, and he ruled for nine years, among which there was not one year of plenty.

XII. Quo mortuo Hericus Bonus, frater eius, in regnum successit; et mox exosa fames discessit et uindicta dei a populo. Vtrum autem hechaec opulenciaopulentia causa Herici et hechaec fames causa Olaui inciderit, cum neuter horum hoc meruit, penes illum est, qui omnia, antequam fiant, scit et, quando uult et quomodo uult, disponit. Hericus autem octo annis regnauit et multas iniquas et iniustas leges adinuenit.

XII. At his death, Eric the Good, his brother, succeeded to the kingdom; and then the hated famine departed -- and the vengeance of God -- from the people. Whether, however, this prosperity came about on account of Eric and the famine on account of Olaf, since neither of these deserved this, it is with that one who knows all things before they take place, and ordains things when he wishes and how he wishes. Moreover, Eric ruled for eight years and made up many unfair and unjust laws.

Hic filios tres ex concubinis habuit, Haroldum, Benedictum, Hericum; ex legitima nobilissimum genere, nomine Kanutum. Huius quinto anno, .Mͦ.Cͦ. incarnacionisincarnationis domini anno, Ierusalem capta est a Christianis, Idus IulijIulii. Hericus tandem octauo anno regni sui, anno domini .Mͦ.Cͦ.ÍÍJ́., uolens Ierosolimam adire una cum uxore sua Botilda et ueniens ad Kyprum obijtobiit ibidem.

He had three sons from concubines: Harold, Benedict, and Eric; from a legitimate marriage, a son of most noble ancestry, named Kanute. In his fifth year, in year 1100 of the Lord's incarnation, Jerusalem was captured by the Christians, on the Ides of July. Finally, Eric himself in the eighth year of his reign, in the year of our Lord 1103, wishing to go to Jerusalem with his wife, Botilda, and coming to Cyprus, he died in that place.

XIII. Cuius morte audita Dani fratrem eius NicholaumNicolaum in regem statuerunt, uirum mansuetum et simplicem, minime rectorem. In diebus cuius magna persecuciopersecutio cleri et populi facta est. Nam anno .XX. regni eius Petrus quidam, filius Botildis, consilio et instinctu capellani sui Notholdi, qui postea Ripensis episcopus effectus est, incepit questionemquaestionem contra clericos, quatinusquatenus habentes uxores dimitterent, et non habentes nequaquam ducerent.

XIII. When they heard about his death, the Danes established his brother, Nicholas, as king -- a tame and simple man, least of all a ruler. In his days a great persecution of the clergy and people took place. For in the 20th year of his reign, a certain Peter, the son of Botildis, by the plan and inspiration of his chaplain Nothold, who afterwards became the bishop of Ribe, began an investigation against the clergy -- that those having wives would send them away and those not having wives would by no means ever marry.

Cui questioniquaestioni clerici <uolentes quidem, sed> non ualentes resistere, quippe Arnoldo episcopo iam senio pregrauatopraegrauato et egrotantiaegrotanti, alijalii membris truncabantur, alijalii occidebantur, alijalii de patria expellebantur, pauci sua retinuere. Arnoldus uero sequenti anno post illam incepcioneminceptionem bundorum obijtobiit. Cui rex NicholausNicolaus capellanum filijfilii sui Magni, nomine Petrum, subrogauit. Hic fuit uir eruditus et litteratus et inter omnes episcopos DanieDaniae tunc temporis eloquentissimus et constantissimus.

The priests wishing indeed, but not being able, to resist this investigation, with the bishop Arnold already being worn out and weary with old age, some were having body parts chopped off, some were being killed, and others were being driven out from the country; (only) a few kept what they had. Arnold however died in the following year after this undertaking of the serfs. In his place King Nicholas chose the chaplain of his son Magnus, by the name of Peter. He was an educated and literate man, the most eloquent and constant among all Danish bishops at that time.

Qui mox causam clericorum contra bondones suscipiens non solum ex illo <eos malo> liberauit, sed insuper illud effecit, ut nullus laicus querimoniamquaerimoniam super clericos in placitis faceret, sed in sancta synodo, quod prius nequaquam licuit. Valentes clericos adamauit, ecclesieecclesiae autem suesuae nullum proficuum contulit. Curias suas lapideis et ligneis domibus ornauit. Et licet preposteropraepostero ordine utebatur, querensquaerens, quequae sua et quequae CesarisCaesaris erant, dicebat tamen se et, quequae dei erant, uelle quererequaerere, si aliqua tranquillitate pacis cum Maria et cum Iacob posset permanere. Et ut impleret opere, quod mente et uerbo disposuit, domos ad ecclesiam sancti Clementis et terras addidit, ut congregaciocongregatio monachorum ibi esset. Sed quia antiquus hostis semper sub uelamine latens et semper inuidens operibus iustorum <pacem odit>, tantam discordiam inter Danos seminauit, quod, ex quo Christianitas in Dania inoleuit, maior tribulaciotribulatio cleri et plebis non est facta.

He soon took up the cause of the clergy against the serfs, and not only freed them from that evil, but in addition he saw to it that no layman might bring a complaint about the clergy at general assemblies, but (only) at a holy synod, which previously was in no way permitted. He deeply loved strong clergymen, however, he bestowed no benefit on his own church. He adorned his courts with houses of stone and wood. And although he used inverted order, seeking things which were his own and things which belonged to Caesar, he said, however, that he was willing to seek also the things which belonged to God, if he could somehow be able to abide in the quietness of peace with Mary and with Jacob. And so that he might fulfil with work what he had arranged by mind and word, he added houses to the church of Saint Clement, and lands, so that a congregation of monks might be there. But since the old enemy is always lurking beneath the veil, always envies the works of the righteous, and <hates peace>, he sowed such discord among the Danes that, since Christianity has grown in Denmark, there has not been made a greater disturbance of clergy and people.

XIV. Nam Magnus, unicus filius NicholaiNicolai regis, diabolo instigante Kanutum, filium Herici regis, simulata pace interfecit, virum pudicum, sobrium, sapienciasapientia et eloquenciaeloquentia et omnibus bonis moribus ornatum, anno domini .Mͦ.C.XXX. Vnde fratres eius Haroldus et Hericus sedicionemseditionem contra NicholaumNicolaum regem et Magnum filium eius excitabant et, ut NicholausNicolaus regno et nomine priuaretur, et Magnus interficeretur, omnimodis laborabant.

XIV. For Magnus, the only son of King Nicholas, at the devil's instigation killed Kanute under cover of a feigned peace -- the son of King Eric: a modest, reasonable man, adorned with wisdom and eloquence and all good morals -- in the year of our Lord 1130. Hence his brothers Harold and Eric fomented civil discord against King Nicholas and his son Magnus, and they labored in all sorts of ways, in order to ensure Nicholas was deprived of kingship and the name [of king], and Magnus was killed.

Igitur Hericus collectis omnibus perfidis et sceleratis in IuciamIutiam uenit ibique <per> partem populi falsis promissionibus regium nomen sibi usurpauit. Nam hic iunior Haroldo fuit et eo multo eloquentior, uir flagiciosusflagitiosus, furore et mendacio repletus. Hoc audiens Haroldus contulit se ad regem NicholaumNicolaum, iuniori fratri seruire nolens tunc causa etatisaetatis, tunc propter turbam filiorum .XV., quos habuit, tunc propter infinitam pecuniam, quam ab omnibus iniuste rapuit.

Therefore, Eric, having gathered together all the treacherous and wicked men, came into Jutia to all meetings and there he usurped the royal name with part of the people by false promises. For this man was younger than Harold and much more eloquent than him, a shameful man, filled with rage and falsehood. Harold, hearing this, went to King Nicholas, not wishing to be a servant to the younger brother both by reason of his age, and on account of the crowd of 15 sons he had, and also on account of the infinite money, which he seized unjustly from all.

Rex autem NicholausNicolaus perrexit in IuciamIutiam et multa bella cum Herico habuit; in his omnibus Hericus uictus fugiendo uenit Slæswich. Sequenti uero anno nauali bello pugnauerunt ad insulam, quequae uocatur Syra; ibi Magnus, filius regis NicholaiNicolai, putans patrem esse et prius uenisse, circumdatus ab exercitu Herici, multis captis, plerisque occisis, uix paucis nauibus aufugit. TercioTertio uero anno rex NicholausNicolaus Selandiam cum .C. nauibus uenit; et quia maior pars populi cum Petro episcopo NicholaoNicolao fauebat, inito certamine ad Werebro Hericus primo conflictu <uictus> fugit. NicholausNicolaus uictor existensexsistens Roskildiam deuastauit.

However, King Nicholas marched into Jutland and had many battles with Eric. Eric, having been defeated in all these battles, went in flight to Schleswig. In the following year, however, they fought a naval war near an island, which is called Syra. There Magnus, the son of King Nicholas -- thinking that it was his father who had arrived first -- was surrounded by Eric’s army; with many men captured and very many having been struck down, with difficulty he escaped with a few ships. But in the third year, King Nicholas came to Sjælland with one hundred ships. And because a greater portion of the people, along with bishop Peter, was favoring Nicholas, when battle was joined at Værebro, he fled after being defeated in the first conflict. Nicholas, emerging as victor, devastated Roskilde.

Hericus Scaniam ueniens auxilium pecijtpetiit; qui expellentes eum, Magnum, regem NorwegieNorwegiae, filium SywardiSiwardi regis, adijtadiit et supplex ab eo auxilium pecijtpetiit. At ille iam satis pulchre, quod uoluit, <occuluit>, et sub quadam pacis ac fidei sponsione se ei benefacturum per omnia promisit. Sed postquam eum cum paucis suscepit, omnia, quequae in corde et corde locutus fuerat, manifeste rei euentus ostendit. Nam ablata omni pecunia, quam attulerat, et hominibus ipsius depulsis precepitpraecepit suis, ut eum tenerent in compedibus; nec admitti poterat quislibet extraneus.

Erik went to Scania and sought help. When they drove him out, he went to Magnus, the king of Norway, the son of King Syward; and as a suppliant begged for help from him. He, on the other hand, kept hidden what he wished for quite beautifully, and under a certain promise of peace and trust, promised that he would be a benefactor to him in all things. But after he received him with a few people, the result of the affair clearly showed everything, which had existed in his heart and which he had spoken in his heart. For taking away all the money, which he had brought, and removing his people, he instructed his own men to hold him in shackles; nor was any stranger able to be admitted.

Quo facto Hericus omnibus destitutus et tunc maxime uiteuitae suesuae diffisus uertit se ad callida argumenta. Nam egrotumaegrotum se simulabat et, ne CununcheldeCununcheldae transferretur, palam non bibit nec manducauit. PretereaPraeterea nunciumnuntium in Daniam ad amicos suos misit rogans, ut, si uellent memoriememoriae commendare, quequae et quanta eis bona contulisset, ciciuscitius liberarent eum de instanti morte, dato tempore et termino. Vnde factum est, ut ea die, qua indictum erat, una naui uenirent; Hericumque imponentes, custodibus inebriatis et dormientibus, cum sola regina et pedissequapedisequa Scaniam fugieruntfugerunt.

After this was done, Eric, destitute of everything, and now having most of all despaired of his own life, he turned to clever arguments. For he pretended that he was sick, so that he would not be transported to Konghelle, and he did not drink nor eat in public. Moreover he sent a message to Dania to his friends asking that, if they were willing to commend to their memory, how many good things he had conferred on them, they would rather quickly free him from threatening death, at a given time and place. Hence it happened that they came with one ship on that day, on which it had been indicated, and putting Eric on it, with the guards intoxicated and sleeping, and they fled with the queen alone and a maidservant, to Scania.

XV. At Scanienses, quamuis ei prius auxilium negauerunt, nunc communi consilio, quasi penitenciapaenitentia ducti, omnes unanimiter susceperunt eum, dicentes se uelle uiuere et mori cum eo, Ascero tunc archiepiscopo existenteexsistente. Iste primus archiepiscopus in Dania et in Swethia et in Norwegia extititexstitit, <uir> acer et amarus, † et sapiens et nullius constancieconstantiae. Hic in tanta perturbacioneperturbatione regni se murum pro domo Israel non opponebat, sed, quocunque aura flabat, ut arundoharundo uento agitata illuc se uertebat. Eo tempore Lund muro et uallo iussu Herici est circumdata.

XV. But the Scanians, although they denied him aid previously, now by common counsel, as though prompted by repentance, all unanimously welcomed him, saying that they wished to live and die with him. Ascer at that time was archbishop. That man was the first archbishop in Dania and Sweden and Norway: a keen and bitter man, and wise and having no constancy. He, in the midst of such a great disturbance of the kingdom, did not set himself up as a wall of defense for the house of Israel, but instead turned wherever the breeze blew, like a reed shaken by the wind. At that time Lund was encircled with a wall and a rampart by order of Eric.

NicholausNicolaus interea expedicionemexpeditionem terris sibi subditis indicauit et, ut omnes meliores pridie Nonas IunijIunii Scaniam uenirent, cum omni diligenciadiligentia precepitpraecepit. Nam predictopraedicto termino sancta dies Pentecostes celebrabatur. Igitur secunda feria incaute de nauibus ascendentes nec de rebus suis sapienter disponentes, occurrit eis Hericus cum suo exercitu et inenarrabile et inrecuperabileinreciperabile dampnumdamnum toti DanieDaniae intulit.

Meanwhile, Nicholas announced to the lands subject to him an expedition, and instructed with all diligence that all the better people should come to Scania on the day before the Nones of June. For at the aforementioned time the holy day of Pentecost was being celebrated. Therefore, on the second day of the week, as they were coming up from the ships incautiously and not making arrangements about their affairs wisely, Eric came to meet them with his army and brought unspeakable and irreparable damage on all Dania.

Heu crudelis annus, dies amara, dies mortis, dies tenebrarum, doloribus plena, singultibus onerata! Heu dies, in qua Magnus occiditur, flos DanieDaniae deprimitur! Pulcherrimus iuuenum, fortis robore, hylarishilaris dator, et sapiens et constancieconstantiae amator, Magnus occiditur et cum eo <duo> duces et quinque episcopi, Petrus Roskildensis, Thoricus Ripensis, Ketillus Westeruicensis, <Ulkillus Arusiensis>, Henricus expulsus de Swethia. Adelbyorn Sleswicensis, insanabili uulnere sauciatus, uix annum et dimidium superuixit. Sextum autem, Eskillum episcopum <Vibergensem>, duobus annis ante istud bellum Hericus fecit interfici in ecclesia matutinalibus horis inseruientem, uirum pulcherrimum et prudentissimum et optime litteratum.

Alas, cruel year, bitter day, day of death, day of darkness, full of pain, burdened with sobbing! Alas, the day on which Magnus was killed, the flower of Dania was laid low! Most beautiful of youths, powerful with strength, a cheerful giver, both a wise man and a lover of constancy -- Magnus was killed, and with him two dukes and five bishops: Peter of Roskilde, Thoricus of Ribe, Ketillus of Vestervig, <Ulkillus of Aarhus>, Henry who had been expelled from Sweden. Adelbyorn of Schleswig, injured with an uncurable wound, survived for scarcely a year and a half. Moreover, Eric had had a sixth, Eskil bishop of Viborg, killed two years before that war, while he was keeping morning hours in church: a most beautiful and wise man, and very learned.

XVI. NicholausNicolaus uero rex, uidens alios capi, alios membris detruncari, alios interfici, alios aquis submergi, uix arrepto equo cum Haroldo nauem optinuitobtinuit. Deinde ad Selandiam ueniens, ut potuit, suos confortauit. Post hechaec in IuciamIutiam uenit, et Haroldum participem dimidijdimidii regni fecit et regio nomine sublimauit. Inde a Sleswicensibus, fide data et iuramento confirmata, pessima fraude est deceptus, et cum primatibus suis residuis in ciuitate infideliter interfectus est .VII. Kal. IulijIulii anno supradicto, anno regni sui .XXXI. Haroldus uero, quasi sciens fraudes illorum et multum deortansdehortans regem, ne crederet eis, tunc finxit se alias iturum. Hoc audiens Hericus Sleswich adijtadiit et pro nefario scelere Sleswicenses donis ditauit.

XVI. But King Nicholas, seeing some taken, some with limbs chopped off, some killed, some drowned in water, immediately seized his horse and took a ship with Harold. Then, coming to Sjælland, he strengthened his people as best he could. After this, he came into Jutland and made Harold his partner, with half his kingdom, and elevated him with the royal title. Afterwards, he was deceived with most wicked fraud by the inhabitants of Schleswig, after a promise had been given and confirmed by oath -- and was killed faithlessly in the city along with his remaining nobles, on the 7th day before the Kalends of July of the aforementioned year, the 31st year of his reign. But Harold, as though he knew their deceptions, strongly urging him not to trust them, feigned that he was going to go elsewhere at that time. Hearing this, Eric came to Schleswig and enriched the inhabitants with gifts for their horrible crime.

Illic Eskillus in loco Petri Roskildensis efficitur episcopus, Notholdus in loco Thorici Ripis intruditur, Self Wendalensium in loco Ketilli subrogatur, Illugo Arusiensium post Ulkillum constituitur. Interea infidelis Adelbyorn, Sleswicensium episcopus, de uulnere supradicto moritur. Post quem Ruco, capellanus Herici, constituitur.

At that point, Eskil was made bishop in place of Peter of Roskilde, Nothold was inserted in place of Thoricus of Ribe, Self was substituted in place of Ketillus (as bishop) of the Wendals, and Illugo was established (as bishop) of Aarhus in place of Ulkillus. Meanwhile, the faithless Adelbyorn, bishop of Schleswig, died as a result of the aforementioned wound. After him, Ruco, Eric's chaplain, was installed (as bishop).

XVII. His omnibus peractis Hericus Scaniam pecijtpetiit ibique Natale Domini peregit. Haroldus interea in IuciaIutia commoratur et a Iutensibus quam pluribus confortatur. HecHaec audiens Hericus subito Selandiam uenit et prepetipraepeti cursu magno frigore IuciamIutiam nauigio pecijtpetiit; et sequenti nocte fratrem cum liberis et uxore in uilla, quequae uocatur Scipyng, incautum cepit captumque a tortoribus occidi fecit. Cuius caput parrochianiparochianus eiusdem uilleuillae in extremo angulo cymiterijcoemeterii sepelierunt.

XVII. All this having been accomplished, Eric made for Scania, and spent Christmas there. Harold meanwhile was lingering in Jutland and was strengthened by very many of the Jutes. Hearing this, Eric suddenly came to Sjælland, and made for Jutland on a swift course by ship, at a time of great cold; and the following night he caught his brother unexpectedly with his wife and children in the village which is called Scipyng. Having caught him, he caused him to be killed by torturers. The inhabitants of the same village buried his head in the farthest corner of the cemetery.

Hericus de morte fratris multum gloriabatur. Filios autem eius in Scaniam uexit et usque ad Augustum mensem in compedibus tenuit. Tunc inito pessimo cum Scaniensibus consilio misit eos ad quandam insulam, quequae uocatur Suer, ibique omnes occisos in unam foueam proici precepitpraecepit. Quorum nomina hechaec sunt: Sywardus, Hericus, Sveno, Nicolaus, Haroldus, Benedictus, Mistiuint, Knut.

Eric boasted much about the death of his brother. Moreover, he conveyed his (Harold's) sons into Scania and kept them in chains until the month of August. Then, entering upon a very wicked plan with the Scanians, he sent them to a certain island, which is called Suer, and instructed that they be killed and thrown into one pit there. These were their names: Syward, Heric, Sven, Nicholas, Harold, Benedict, Mistivint, and Kanute.

Olauus uero, capto patre et fratribus, mendicis et peregrinis se sociauit, et sic eorum uestibus indutus ad regem SwethieSwethiae, nomine Swerki, peruenit et supplex ab eo auxilium pecijtpetiit. Qui postquam totam seriem cognouit, qualiter pater eius interfectus fuit et fratres, sperans aliquid boni ex eo futurum in sua <curia> eum suscepit et partem regni sui omnibus diebus Herici ad necessaria sibi benignissime concessit.

Olav, however, after his father and brothers had been captured, allied himself with beggars and pilgrims, and in this way, dressed in their clothes, came all the way to the king of Sweden, named Swerki, and as a suppliant, asked for his help. He [the king], once he knew the whole sequence of events, how his father and brothers were killed, hoping that there would be some good from him in the future, received him at his court, and most kindly granted him a part of his kingdom for all Eric's days to supply his neccessities.

Byorn et Hericum Diaconem anno uno ante mortem patris ad castellum, quod est ante portum Sleswich, <rex Hericus> submersit; Magnus, duodecimus, in Scania cum Magno, NicholaiNicolai regis filio, in bello cecidit. Omnes isti filijfilii Haroldi, et omnes isti immatura morte consumpti sunt; Olauus unus superest, belua multorum capitum.

King Eric drowned Byorn and Eric the Deacon a year before the death of their father at the castle which is in front of the port of Schleswig. Magnus, the twelfth (son), died in war in Scania with Magnus, the son of King Nicholas. All those were the sons of Harold, and they were all destroyed by an untimely death. Only Olaf survived: a beast with many heads.

XVIII. Interea Ascerus, Lundensis archiepiscopus, terciotertio Idus MaijMaii moritur et in basilica sancti LaurencijLaurentii tumulatur. Hericus autem, per omnia ut CesarCaesar factus, omnia obstacula superans, nullum parem sibi, nullum priorem uolens, superbus, elatus et in maliciamalitia potens, per omnia terribilis more fulminis incessit; flentibus, si quid uidebantur habere, abstulit, habentibus et male ridentibus sparsit.

XVIII. Meanwhile, Ascer the archbishop of Lund died on the third day before the Ides of May, and was buried in the basilica of St. Laurence. Eric, however, having become in all things like Caesar, overcoming all obstacles, wishing to have no one equal to himself, no one before him; proud, puffed up, and powerful in wickedness; dreadful in every respect, he came in like a thunderbolt. He took away from people who wept, if they seemed to have anything; he distributed to people who had and laughed in a wicked way.

HecHaec uita Herici, hechaec incessio, talis introitus; sed nunc, quis sit exitus, uideamus. Igitur ueniens ad quoddam placitum iuxta Ripam, surrexit quidam nomine Plouh, quod Latine 'aratrum' sonat, et regem incautum mortali uulnere prostrauit. Vir deformis, breuis staturestaturae, per se nichilnihil faciens, nisi dominus in aratro, dominus in lancea, ut dominus in funda, dominus in lapide.

This was Eric's life, this his conduct; such was his approach -- but now, let us see what sort of exit he had. Well then, coming to a certain civic assembly at Ribe, a certain man named Plouh -- which in Latin means "plow" [aratrum] -- got up and felled the king unexpectedly with a mortal wound: an ugly man, short of stature, doing nothing on his own, except that the Lord was in the plow, the Lord in the spear, just as the Lord was in the sling and the Lord was in the stone.

XIX. Sic eo mortuo et Ripis sepulto primates terreterrae conuenerunt et Hericum terciumtertium, filium sororis predictipraedicti Herici, in regem assumpserunt. Vir plus quam regali dignitati decuit simplex et in omnibus uijsuiis suis inconstans et duplex, adnichilacioadnihilatio regni et sacerdocijsacerdotii.

XIX. Thus, when he was dead and buried at Ribe, the nobles of the land assembled and took up as king Eric the third, the son of the sister of the aforementioned Eric: a man who was simpler than befitted the royal dignity, and inconstant and double in all his ways -- the annihilation of the kingdom and the priesthood.

Eo tempore non mediocris lis inter Rukonem, Sleswicensem episcopum, et Eskillum, Roskildensem antistitem, de Lundensi archiepiscopatu orta est. Quod tamen certamen uenerabilis Petrus, filius Botildis, suo sapienti consilio et sollerti discrecionediscretione sedauit, et eos hoc modo pacificauit, quatinusquatenus Eskillus archiepiscopatum optineretobtineret. Ruko, quamuis electus a Scaniensi clero et populo, tamen utens consilio predictipraedicti Petri et disturbacionemdisturbationem et werram deuitans, Roskildensem sibi episcopatum clericis et laicis reclamantibus usurpauit.

At that time a great quarrel arose between Ruko, the bishop of Schleswig, and Eskil, the priest of Roskilde, regarding the archbishopric of Lund. The venerable Peter Bodilsen calmed this dispute by his wise counsel and tactful discretion, and made peace between them in such a way that Eskil should obtain the archiepiscopate. Ruko, although he had been chosen by the clergy and people of Scania, nevertheless using Peter's counsel and avoiding disturbance and conflict [werra], took over the bishopric of Roskilde against the protests of the clergy and laity.

[XX. Rex autem Hericus, firmissima pace facta in patria sua, decimo anno regni sui regnum resignauit, monasterium adijtadiit et habitu religionis recepto mundi miserijsmiseriis feliciter ualefecit. Deinde bono fine quieuit in domino. Post cuius mortem conuenerunt Iutenses et elegerunt Kanutum, filium Magni, filijfilii NicholaiNicolai regis. Scanienses uero elegerunt Swenonem, filium Herici EmunjEmuni, et constituerunt eum super se regem.

[XX. Now, King Eric, after very strong peace had been made in his homeland, resigned the kingship in the tenth year of his reign; he went to a monastery, and putting on the religious habit bid farewell to the miseries of the world. Then, after a good end he rested in the Lord. After his death, the Jutes assembled and chose Kanute, the son of Magnus, the son of King Nicholas. The Scanians, however, chose Sven, the son of Eric Emune, and set him up as king over them.

Vnde facta est longa concertacioconcertatio inter Swenonem et Kanutum annis .XII. Succedente enim Svenone in regnum pax perijtperiit, excitatur sedicioseditio, et commociocommotio intestina eciametiam pacificos ad preliaproelia prouocauit. Tandem decimo anno conuenerunt omnes Dani et paci consulentes elegerunt duos reges, Kanutum, qui prius fuerat electus a Iutensibus, et Valdemarum, filium sancti Kanuti ducis et martyris.

Hence there occurred a long disputation between Sven and Kanute, for 12 years. For when Sven came to the throne, peace perished, unrest arose, and internal turmoil provoked even the peaceful to battle. Finally, in the tenth year, all the Danes came together, and taking thought for peace, chose two kings: Kanute, who had previously been chosen by the Jutes, and Valdemar, the son of St. Kanute, leader and martyr.

Sveno uero expulsus a Dania fugit in Saxoniam ad socerum suum, ducem SaxonieSaxoniae, cum quo fere tribus annis mansit, a regno remotus. TercioTertio demum anno sub specie pacis ad patriam remeauit. Tunc quidem Sveno, Kanutus et Waldemarus, fideiussoribus interpositis, in unum conuenerunt, et prudentum consilio paci consulentes sedicionemseditionem regni sedare satagebant. Tali ergo condicione confederanturconfoederantur cognati, ut regionis diuisediuisae quislibet illorum terciamtertiam partem libere possideret.

But Sven, having been kicked out of Dania, fled into Saxony to his father-in-law, the duke of Saxony. He remained with him for about three years, far from the kingship. Finally, in the third year, with a pretence of peace he traveled back to his homeland. Then indeed Sven, Kanute, and Valdemar, giving solemn sureties, came together in agreement, and, taking thought for peace, by the counsel of the prudent, they busied themselves about quelling the kingdom's unrest. So with such conditions the kinsmen were brought together in alliance: that they should divide the territory and each of them should freely possess one third of it.

Et facta sunt fedusfoedus fictum et pax falsa. Conuenientibus enim illis Roschildis Kanutus et Constantinus, cognatus eius, a Svenone nequiter necantur .V. Idus Augusti; Valdemarus uero grauiter sauciatus euasit. Qui fugiens in IuciamIutiam auxilium Iutensium pecijtpetiit. Post quem ueniens Sveno et in Gratheheth cum eo dimicans, prout deus uoluit, infeliciter occubuit, dignum insidiarum consecutus finem. Cuius corpus in ecclesia uilluleuillulae terreterrae commendatum est.

And the pact turned out to be false, the peace fictitious. For when they met together at Roskilde, Kanute and Constantine (his kinsman) were wickedly killed by Sven on the 5th day before the Ides of August. But Valdemar escaped, though gravely wounded; fleeing to Jutland, he begged for the Jutes' help. Sven came after him and battling with him at Gratheheth he died unhappily, just as God willed, achieving an end worthy of his treachery. His body was committed to the ground at the village church.

Post hechaec gloriosus Valdemarus, filius sancti Kanuti ducis et martyris, filijfilii Herici regis Boni, a cunctis optimatibus DanieDaniae in regnum assumptus atque ab Eskillo archipresulearchipraesule in regem unctus et purpuratus et diademate gloriosissime coronatus atque in regni solio honorifice collocatus est anno dominicedominicae incarnacionisincarnationis .M.C.LVII. Qui regnum Danorum uiginti sex annis nobiliter rexit. Nam paganos ad fidem, fideles ad pacem, pacificos ad securitatem prouocauit; odium in dilectionem, dolorem in gaudium, bellum in pacem et egestatem conuertit in opulenciamopulentiam.

After this, the glorious Valdemar, son of St. Kanute, leader and martyr, the son of Eric the Good, was taken up into the kingship by all the worthies of Dania; by the archbishop Eskil he was anointed, robed in purple, crowned most gloriously with a diadem, and placed with honor on the royal throne, in the year of our Lord 1157. He ruled the kingdom of the Danes nobly for 26 years. For he brought pagans to the faith, brought the faithful to peace, brought the peaceful to security; he changed hatred into esteem, pain into joy, war into peace, and poverty into plenty.

Cui successit filius suus Kanutus, et post eum Waldemarus, frater eius, in regnum leuatus est.]

His son Kanute succeeded him, and after him Valdemar his brother was raised to the kingship.]