These viking bands went west, over the sea, to Shetland and Orkney, to the Hebrides, and also to England, Scotland, and Ireland.

During the winter they made their home in these lands, but in summer they sailed to the coast of Norway and did much damage to the towns that lay along the coast.  Then, growing bolder, they ventured inland, and because of their hatred against King Harald, they plundered and burned both towns and villages.

Meanwhile Harald, having fulfilled his vow, had his hair combed and cut.  It had grown so rough and tangled during these ten years that his people had named him Harald Sufa, which meant “Shock-headed Harald.”  Now, however, after his long, yellow hair was combed and clipped, he was named Harald Fairhair, and by this name he was ever after known.  Nor did the King forget Gyda, for whose sake he had made his vow.  He sent for her, and she, as she had promised, came to marry the King of all Norway.

Now the raids of the vikings along the coasts of Norway angered the King, and he determined that they should end.  He therefore set out with a large fleet in search of his rebellious subjects.

These, when they heard of his approach, fled to their long-ships and sailed out to sea.  But Harald reached Shetland and slew those vikings who had not fled, then, landing on the Orkney Isles, he burned and plundered, sparing no Northman who crossed his path.  On the Hebrides King Harald met with worthy foes, for here were many who had once themselves been kings in Norway.  In all the battles that he fought Harald was victorious and gained much booty.

When he went back to Norway the King left one of his jarls to carry on war against the inhabitants of Scotland.  Caithness and Sutherland were conquered by this jarl for Harald, and thereafter many chiefs, both Norsemen and Danes, settled there.  While Harald Fairhair was ruling in Norway, a grandson of Alfred the Great became king in England.  His name was Athelstan the Victorious.  Now Athelstan liked to think that he was a greater king than Harald Fairhair.  It pleased him, too, to play what seemed to him a clever trick on his rival across the sea.

He sent a beautiful sword to Harald.  Its hilt was covered with gold and silver, and set with precious gems.  When Athelstan’s messenger stood before the King of Norway he held out the hilt of the sword toward him, saying “Here is a sword that King Athelstan doth send to thee.”  Harald at once seized it by the hilt.  Then the messenger smiled and said, “Now shalt thou be subject to the King of England, for thou hast taken the sword by the hilt as he desired thee.”  To take a sword thus was in those olden days a sign of submission.

Then Harald was very angry, for he knew that Athelstan had sent this gift only that he might mock him.  He wished to punish the messenger whom Athelstan had sent with the sword.  Nevertheless he remembered his habit whenever he got angry, to first keep quiet and let his anger subside, and then look at the matter calmly.  By the time the prudent King had done this, his anger had cooled, and Athelstan’s messenger departed unharmed.