In animals gold-mouthed, masted,
And painted in colours fair.’
¶ To the appointed trysting-place came King Harald with his host, and there heard that King Svein was to the south and lying off Zealand with his fleet. Then did King Harald part his host, sending the greater number of the peasant-host back, but retaining to himself his body-guard & friends and feudatories, also that part of the peasant-host which had been mustered nighest to the Danes. ¤ They fared south (west) to Jutland, southward of Vendilskagi, & thereafter still south past Thioda, & went everywhere with the war-shield aloft. Thus saith Stuf the Skald:
‘Fled Thioda folk from meeting with the King,
Bold was he the stately dealer of blows.
Harald’s soul in Heaven.’[§]
¶ They fared southward all the way to Heidaby, and when they were come thither seized they that town and burned it. Then a man that was thrall to King Harald wrought this:
‘Burnt from one end to another
Was the whole of Heidaby;
Ruthless treatment this, methinks;