other by the rest of the guests; and the cup handed across
the fire, which appears to have had a religious meaning
previous to the introduction of Christianity.--L.

3. FASHION OF KING OLAF'S COURT.

King Olaf used the fashion, which was introduced from the courts of
foreign kings, of letting his grand-butler stand at the end of the
table, and fill the table-cups for himself and the other distinguished
guests who sat at the table. He had also torch-bearers, who held as many
candles at the table as there were guests of distinction present.
There was also a marshal's bench outside of the table-circle, where the
marshal and other persons of distinction sat with their faces towards
the high-seat. King Harald, and the kings before him, used to drink out
of deer-horn; and the ale was handed from the high-seat to the otherside
over the fire, and he drank to the memory of any one he thought of. So
says Stuf the skald:--

"He who in battle is the first,
And now in peace is best to trust,
A welcome, hearty and sincere,
Gave to me on my coming here.
He whom the ravens watch with care,
He who the gold rings does not spare,
A golden horn full to the brink
Gave me himself at Haug to drink."

4. ARRANGEMENT OF KING OLAF'S COURT.

King Olaf had 120 courtmen-at-arms, and 60 pursuivants, besides 60
house-servants, who provided what was wanted for the king's house
wherever it might be, or did other work required for the king. When
the bondes asked why he kept a greater retinue than the law allowed, or
former kings kept when they went in guest-quarters or feasts which the
bondes had to provide for them, the king answered, "It does not happen
that I rule the kingdom better, or produce greater respect for me than
ye had for my father, although I have one-half more people than he
had. I do not by any means do it merely to plague you, or to make your
condition harder than formerly."

5. KING SVEIN ULFSON'S DEATH.

King Svein Ulfson died ten years after the fall of both the Haralds
(A.D. 1076). After him his son, Harald Hein, was king for three years
(A.D. 1077-1080); then Canute the Holy for seven years (A.D. 1081-1087);
afterwards Olaf, King Svein's third son, for eight years (A.D.
1088-1095). Then Eirik the Good, Svein's fourth son, for eight winters
(A.D. 1096-1103). Olaf, the king of Norway, was married to Ingerid, a
daughter of Svein, the Danish king; and Olaf,