91. OLAF THE NORWAY KING'S
COUNSELS.
Ingegerd, the king's daughter,
had now full certainty of King
Olaf's intention, and immediately
sent men to West Gautland to
Earl Ragnvald, and let him
know how it stood with the Swedish
king, and that the agreement
made with the king of Norway was
broken; and advising the earl
and people of West Gautland to be
upon their guard, as no peace
from the people of Norway was to be
expected. When the earl got
this news he sent a message through
all his kingdom, and told the
people to be cautious, and prepared
in case of war or pillage from
the side of Norway. He also sent
men to King Olaf the Thick,
and let him know the message he had
received, and likewise that
he wished for himself to hold peace
and friendship with King Olaf;
and therefore he begged him not to
pillage in his kingdom. When
this message came to King Olaf it
made him both angry and sorry;
and for some days nobody got a
word from him. He then held
a House-Thing with his men, and in
it Bjorn arose, and first took
the word. He began his speech by
telling that he had proceeded
eastward last winter to establish a
peace, and he told how kindly
Earl Ragnvald had received him;
and, on the other hand, how
crossly and heavily the Swedish king
had accepted the proposal.
"And the agreement," said he, "which
was made, was made more by
means of the strength of the people,
the power of Thorgny, and the
aid of the earl, than by the king's
good-will. Now, on these grounds,
we know for certain that it is
the king who has caused the
breach of the agreement; therefore we
ought by no means to make the
earl suffer, for it is proved that
he is King Olaf's firm friend."
The king wished now to hear from
the chiefs and other leaders
of troops what course he should
adopt. "Whether shall
we go against Gautland, and maraud there
with such men as we have got;
or is there any other course that
appears to you more advisable?"
He spoke both long and well.
Thereafter many powerful men
spoke, and all were at last agreed
in dissuading from hostilities.
They argued thus: -- "Although
we are a numerous body of men
who are assembled here, yet they
are all only people of weight
and power; but, for a war
expedition, young men who are
in quest of property and
consideration are more suitable.
It is also the custom of people
of weight and power, when they
go into battle or strife, to have
many people with them whom
they can send out before them for
their defence; for the men
do not fight worse who have little
property, but even better than
those who are brought up in the
midst of wealth." After
these considerations the king resolved
to dismiss this army from any
expedition, and to give every man
leave to return home; but proclaimed,
at the same time, that next
summer the people over the
whole country would be called out in a
general levy, to march immediately
against the Swedish king, and
punish him for his want of
faith. All thought well of this plan.
Then the king returned northwards
to Viken, and took his abode at
Sarpsborg in autumn, and ordered
all things necessary for winter
provision to be collected there;
and he remained there all winter
(A.D. 1019) with a great retinue.
92. SIGVAT THE SKALD'S JOURNEY
EASTWARDS.
People talked variously about
Earl Ragnvald; some said he was
King Olaf's sincere friend;
others did not think this likely, and
thought it stood in his power
to warn the Swedish king to keep
his word, and the agreement
concluded on between him and King
Olaf. Sigvat the poet often
expressed himself in conversation as
Earl Ragnvald's great friend,
and often spoke of him to King
Olaf; and he offered to the
king to travel to Earl Ragnvald's and
spy after the Swedish kings
doings, and to attempt, if possible,
to get the settlement of the
agreement. The king thought well of
this plan; for he oft, and
with pleasure, spoke to his
confidential friends about
Ingegerd, the king's daughter. Early
in winter (A.D. 1019) Sigvat
the skald, with two companions, left
Sarpsborg, and proceeded eastwards
over the moors to Gautland.
Before Sigvat and King Olaf
parted he composed these verses: --
"Sit happy in thy
hall, O king!
Till I come back, and
good news bring:
The skald will bid thee
now farewell,
Till he brings news well
worth to tell.
He wishes to the helmed
hero
Health, and long life,
and a tull flow
Of honour, riches. and
success --
And, parting, ends his
song with this.
The farewell word is spoken
now __
The word that to the heart
lies nearest;
And yet, O king! before
I go,
One word on what I hold
the dearest,
I fain would say, "O!
may God save
To thee the bravest of
the brave,
The land, which is thy
right by birth!"
This is my dearest with
on earth."
Then they proceeded eastwards
towards Eid, and had difficulty in
crossing the river in a little
cobble; but they escaped, though
with danger: and Sigvat sang:
--
"On shore the crazy
boat I drew,
Wet to the skin, and frightened
too;
For truly there was danger
then;
The mocking hill elves
laughed again.
To see us in this cobble
sailing,
And all our sea-skill
unavailing.
But better did it end,
you see,
Than any of us could foresee."
Then they went through the
Eid forest, and Sigvat sang: --
"A hundred miles
through Eid's old wood,
And devil an alehouse,
bad or good, --
A hundred miles, and tree
and sky
Were all that met the
weary eye.
With many a grumble, many
a groan.
A hundred miles we trudged
right on;
And every king's man of
us bore
On each foot-sole a bleeding
sore."
They came then through Gautland,
and in the evening reached a
farm-house called Hof. The
door was bolted so that they could
not come in; and the servants
told them it was a fast-day, and
they could not get admittance.
Sigvat sang: --
"Now up to Hof in
haste I hie,
And round the house and
yard I pry.
Doors are fast locked
-- but yet within,
Methinks, I hear some
stir and din.
I peep, with nose close
to the ground.
Below the door, but small
cheer found.
My trouble with few words
was paid --
"`Tis holy time,'
the house-folkd said.
Heathens! to shove me
thus away!
I' the foul fiend's claws
may you all lay."
Then they came to another farm,
where the good-wife was standing
at the door. and told them
not to come in, for they were busy
with a sacrifice to the elves.
Sigvat sang of it thus: --
"`My poor lad, enter
not, I pray!'
Thus to me did the old
wife say;
`For all of us are heathens
here,
And I for Odin's wrath
do fear.'
The ugly witch drove me
away,
Like scared wolf sneaking
from his prey.
When she told me that
there within
Was sacrifice to foul
Odin."
Another evening, they came
to three bondes, all of them of the
name of Olver, who drove them
away. Sigvat sang: --
"Three of one name,
To their great shame,
The traveller late
Drove from their gate!
Travellers may come
From our viking-home,
Unbidden guests
At these Olvers' feasts."
They went on farther that evening,
and came to a fourth bonde,
who was considered the most
hospitable man in the country; but he
drove them away also. Then
Sigvat sang: --
"Then on I went to
seek night's rest
From one who was said
to be the best,
The kindest host in the
land around,
And there I hoped to have
quarters found.
But, faith,'twas little
use to try;
For not so much as raise
an eye
Would this huge wielder
of the spade:
If he's the hest, it must
he said
Bad is the best, and the
skald's praise
Cannot be given to churls
like these.
I almost wished that Asta's
son
In the Eid forest had
been one
When we, his men, were
even put
Lodging to crave in a
heathen's hut.
I knew not where the earl
to find;
Four times driven off
by men unkind,
I wandered now the whole
night o'er,
Driven like a dog from
door to door."
Now when they came to Earl
Ragnvald's the earl said they must
have had a severe journey.
Then Sigvat sang: --
"The message-bearers
of the king
From Norway came his words
to bring;
And truly for their master
they
Hard work have done before
to-day.
We did not loiter on the
road,
But on we pushed for thy
abode:
Thy folk, in sooth, were
not so kind
That we cared much to
lag hehind.
But Eid to rest safe we
found,
From robbers free to the
eastern bound:
This praise to thee, great
earl, is due --
The skald says only what
is true."
Earl Ragnvald gave Sigvat a
gold arm-ring, and a woman said "he
had not made the journey with
his black eyes for nothing."
Sigvat sang: --
"My coal-black eyes
Dost thou despise?
They have lighted me
Across the sea
To gain this golden prize:
They have lighted me,
Thy eyes to see,
O'er Iceland's main,
O'er hill and plain:
Where Nanna's lad would
fear to be
They have lighted me."
Sigvat was long entertained
kindly and well in the house of Earl
Ragnvald. The earl heard by
letters, sent by Ingegerd the king's
daughter, that ambassadors
from King Jarisleif were come from
Russia to King Olaf of Svithjod
to ask his daughter Ingegerd in
marriage, and that King Olaf
had given them hopes that he would
agree to it. About the same
time King Olaf's daughter Astrid
came to Earl Ragnvald's court,
and a great feast was made for
her. Sigvat soon became acquainted
by conversation with the
king's daughter, and she knew
him by name and family, for Ottar
the skald, Sigvat's sister's
son, had long intimate acquaintance
with King Olaf, the Swedish
king. Among other things talked of,
Earl Ragnvald asked Sigvat
if the king of Norway would not marry
the king's daughter Astrid.
"If he would do that," said he, "I
think we need not ask the Swedish
king for his consent."
Astrid, the kings daughter,
said exactly the same. Soon after
Sigvat returns home, and comes
to King Olaf at Sarpsborg a little
before Yule.
When Sigvat came home to King
Olaf he went into the hall, and,
looking around on the walls,
he sang: --
"When our men their
arms are taking
The raven's wings with
greed are shaking;
When they come back to
drink in hall
Brave spoil they bring
to deck the wall --
Shield, helms, and panzers
(1), all in row,
Stripped in the field
from lifeless fow.
In truth no royal nail
comes near
Thy splendid hall in precious
gear."
Afterwards Sigvat told of his
journey, and sang these verses: --
"The king's court-guards
desire to hear
About our journey and
our cheer,
Our ships in autumn reach
the sound,
But long the way to Swedish
ground.
With joyless weather,
wind and raind,
And pinching cold, and
feet in pain --
With sleep, fatigue, and
want oppressed,
No songs had we -- we
scarce had rest."
And when he came into conversation
with the king he sang: --
"When first I met
the earl I told
How our king loved a friend
so bold;
How in his heart he loved
a man
With hand to do, and head
to plan.
Thou generous king! with
zeal and care
I sought to advance thy
great affair;
For messengers from Russian
land
Had come to ask Ingegerd's
hand.
The earl, thy friend,
bids thee, who art
So mild and generous of
heart,
His servants all who here
may come
To cherish in thy royal
home;
And thine who may come
to the east
In Ragnvald's hall shall
find a feast --
In Ragnvald's house shall
find a home --
At Ragnvald's court be
still welcome.
When first I came the
people's mind
Incensed by Eirik's son
I find;
And he refused the wish
to meet,
Alleging treachery and
deceit.
But I explained how it
was here,
For earl and king, advantage
clear
With thee to hold the
strictest peace,
And make all force and
foray cease.
The earl is wise, and
understands
The need of peace for
both the lands;
And he entreats thee not
to break
The present peace for
vengeance's sake!"
He immediately tells King Olaf
the news he had heard; and at
first the king was much cast
down when he heard of King
Jarisleif's suit, and he said
he expected nothing but evil from
King Olaf; but wished he might
be able to return it in such a way
as Olaf should remember. A
while afterwards the king asks Sigvat
about various news from Gautland.
Sigvat spoke a great deal
about Astrid, the kings daughter;
how beautiful she was, how
agreeable in her conversation;
and that all declared she was in
no respect behind her sister
Ingegerd. The king listened with
pleasure to this. Then Sigvat
told him the conversation he and
Astrid had had between themselves,
and the king was delighted at
the idea. "The Swedish
king," said he, "will scarcely think that
I will dare to marry a daughter
of his without his consent." But
this speech of his was not
known generally. King Olaf and Sigvat
the skald often spoke about
it. The king inquired particularly
of Sigvat what he knew about
Earl Ragnvald, and "if he be truly
our friend," said the
king. Sigvat said that the earl was King
Olaf's best friend, and sang
these verses: --
"The mighty Olaf
should not cease
With him to hold good
terms and peace;
For this good earl unwearied
shows
He is thy friend where
all are foes.
Of all who dwell by the
East Sea
So friendly no man is
as he:
At all their Things he
takes thy part,
And is thy firm friend,
hand and heart."
ENDNOTES:
(1) The Pantzer -- a complete
suit of plate-armour.
93. RAGNVALD AND ASTRA'S JOURNEY.
After Yule (A.D. 1019), Thord
Skotakol, a sister's son of Sigvat,
attended by one of Sigvat's
footboys, who had been with Sigvat
the autumn before in Gautland,
went quite secretly from the
court, and proceeded to Gautland.
When they came to Earl
Ragnvald's court, they produced
the tokens which Olaf himself had
sent to the earl, that he might
place confidence in Thord.
Without delay the earl made
himself ready for a journey, as did
Astrid, the king's daughter;
and the earl took with him 120 men,
who were chosen both from among
his courtmen and the sons of
great bondes, and who were
carefully equipped in all things,
clothes, weapons, and horses.
Then they rode northwards to
Sarpsborg, and came there at
Candlemas.
94. OF KING OLAF'S MARRIAGE.
King Olaf had put all things
in order in the best style. There
were all sorts of liquors of
the best that could be got, and all
other preparations of the same
quality. Many people of
consequence were summoned in
from their residences. When the
earl arrived with his retinue
the king received him particularly
well; and the earl was shown
to a large, good, and remarkably
well-furnished house for his
lodging; and serving-men and others
were appointed to wait on him;
and nothing was wanting, in any
respect, that could grace a
feast. Now when the entertainment
had lasted some days, the king,
the earl, and Astrid had a
conference together; and the
result of it was, that Earl Ragnvald
contracted Astrid, daughter
of the Swedish king Olaf, to Olaf
king of Norway, with the same
dowry which had before been settled
that her sister Ingegerd should
have from home. King Olaf, on
his part, should give Astrid
the same bride-gift that had been
intended for her sister Ingegerd.
Thereupon an eke was made to
the feast, and King Olaf and
Queen Astrid's wedding was drunk in
great festivity. Earl Ragnvald
then returned to Gautland, and
the king gave the earl many
great and good gifts at parting; and
they parted the dearest of
friends, which they continued to be
while they lived.
95. THE AGREEMENT BROKEN BY
OLAF.
The spring (A.D. 1019) thereafter
came ambassadors from King
Jarisleif in Novgorod to Svithjod,
to treat more particularly
about the promise given by
King Olaf the preceding summer to
marry his daughter Ingegerd
to King Jarisleif. King Olaf tallied
about the business with Ingegerd,
and told her it was his
pleasure that she should marry
King Jarisleif. She replied. "If
I marry King Jarisleif, I must
have as my bride-gift the town and
earldom of Ladoga." The
Russian ambassadors agreed to this, on
the part of their sovereign.
Then said Ingegerd, "If I go east
to Russia, I must choose the
man in Svithjod whom I think most
suitable to accompany me; and
I must stipulate that he shall not
have any less title, or in
any respect less dignity, privilege,
and consideration there, than
he has, here." This the king and
the ambassadors agreed to,
and gave their hands upon it in
confirmation of the condition.
"And who," asked
the king, "is the man thou wilt take with thee
as thy attendant?"
"That man," she replied,
"is my relation Earl Ragnvald."
The king replies, "I have
resolved to reward Earl Ragnvald in a
different manner for his treason
against his master in going to
Norway with my daughter, and
giving her as a concubine to that
fellow, who he knew was my
greatest enemy. I shall hang him up
this summer."
Then Ingegerd begged her father
to be true to the promise he had
made her, and had confirmed
by giving his hand upon it. By her
entreaties it was at last agreed
that the king should promise to
let Earl Ragnvald go in peace
from Svithjod, but that he should
never again appear in the king's
presence, or come back to
Svithjod while Olaf reigned.
Ingegerd then sent messengers to
the earl to bring him these
tidings, and to appoint a place of
meeting. The earl immediately
prepared for his journey; rode up
to East Gautland; procured
there a vessel, and, with his retinue,
joined Ingegerd, and they proceeded
together eastward to Russia.
There Ingegerd was married
to King Jarisleif; and their children
were Valdemar, Vissivald, and
Holte the Bold. Queen Ingegerd
gave Earl Ragnvald the town
of Ladoga, and earldom belonging to
it. Earl Ragnvald was there
a long time, and was a celebrated
man. His sons and Ingebjorg's
were Earl Ulf and Earl Eilif.
96. HISTORY OF THE LAGMAN EMUND.
There was a man called Emund
of Skara, who was lagman of west
Gautland, and was a man of
great understanding and eloquence, and
of high birth, great connection,
and very wealthy; but was
considered deceitful, and not
to be trusted. He was the most
powerful man in West Gautland
after the earl was gone. The same
spring (A.D. 1019) that Earl
Ragnvald left Gautland the Gautland
people held a Thing among themselves,
and often expressed their
anxiety to each other about
what the Swedish king might do. They
heard he was incensed because
they had rather held in friendship
with the king of Norway than
striven against him; and he was also
enraged against those who had
attended his daughter Astrid to
Norway. Some proposed to seek
help and support from the king of
Norway, and to offer him their
services; others dissuaded from
this measure, as West Gautland
had no strength to oppose to the
Swedes. "And the king
of Norway," said they, "is far from us,
the chief strength of his country
very distant; and therefore let
us first send men to the Swedish
king to attempt to come to some
reconciliation with him. If
that fail, we can still turn to the
king of Norway." Then
the bondes asked Emund to undertake this
mission, to which he agreed;
and he proceeded with thirty men to
East Gautland, where there
were many of his relations and
friends, who received him hospitably.
He conversed there with
the most prudent men about
this difficult business; and they were
all unanimous on one point,
-- that the king's treatment of them
was against law and reason.
From thence Emund went into
Svithjod, and conversed with
many men of consequence, who all
expressed themselves in the
same way. Emund continued his
journey thus, until one day,
towards evening, he arrived at
Upsala, where he and his retinue
took a good lodging, and stayed
there all night. The next
day Emund waited upon the king, who
was just then sitting in the
Thing surrounded by many people.
Emund went before him, bent
his knee, and saluted him. The king
looked at him, saluted him,
and asked him what news he brought.
Emund replies, "There
is little news among us Gautlanders; but it
appears to us a piece of remarkable
news that the proud, stupid
Atte, in Vermaland, whom we
look upon as a great sportsman, went
up to the forest in winter
with his snow-shoes and his bow.
After he had got as many furs
in the mountains as filled his
hand-sledge so full that he
could scarcely drag it, he returned
home from the woods. But on
the way he saw a squirrel in the
trees, and shot at it, but
did not hit; at which he was so angry,
that he left the sledge to
run after the squirrel: but still the
squirrel sprang where the wood
was thickest, sometimes among the
roots of the trees, sometimes
in the branches, sometimes among
the arms that stretch from
tree to tree. When Atte shot at it
the arrows flew too high or
too low, and the squirrel never
jumped so that Atte could get
a fair aim at him. He was so eager
upon this chase that he ran
the whole day after the squirrel, and
yet could not get hold of it.
It was now getting dark; so he
threw himself down upon the
snow, as he was wont, and lay there
all night in a heavy snow-storm.
Next day Atte got up to look
after his sledge, but never
did he find it again; and so he
returned home. And this is
the only news, king, I have to tell."
The king says, "This is
news of but little importance, if it be
all thou hast to tell."
Ernund replies, "Lately
something happened which may well be
called news. Gaute Tofason
went with five warships out of the
Gaut river, and when he was
lying at the Eikrey Isles there came
five large Danish merchant-ships
there. Gaute and his men
immediately took four of the
great vessels, and made a great
booty without the loss of a
man: but the fifth vessel slipped out
to sea, and sailed away. Gaute
gave chase with one ship, and at
first came nearer to them;
but as the wind increased, the Danes
got away. Then Gaute wanted
to turn back; but a storm came on so
that he lost his ship at Hlesey,
with all the goods, and the
greater part of his crew.
In the meantime his people were
waiting for him at the Eikrey
Isles: but the Danes came over in
fifteen merchant-ships, killed
them all, and took all the booty
they had made. So but little
luck had they with their greed of
plunder."
The king replied. "That
is great news, and worth being told; but
what now is thy errand here?"
Emund replies, "I travel,
sire, to obtain your judgment in a
difficult case, in which our
law and the Upsala law do not
agree."
The king asks, "What is
thy appeal case?"
Emund replies, "There
were two noble-born men of equal birth, but
unequal in property and disposition.
They quarrelled about some
land, and did each other much
damage; but most was done to him
who was the more powerful of
the two. This quarrel, however, was
settled, and judged of at a
General Thing; and the judgment was,
that the most powerful should
pay a compensation. But at the
first payment, instead of paying
a goose, he paid a gosling; for
an old swine he paid a sucking
pig; and for a mark of stamped
gold only a half- mark, and
for the other half-mark nothing but
clay and dirt; and, moreover,
threatened, in the most violent
way, the people whom he forced
to receive such goods in payment.
Now, sire, what is your judgment?"
The king replies, "He
shall pay the full equivalent whom the
judgment ordered to do so,
and that faithfully; and further,
threefold to his king: and
if payment be not made within a year
and a day, he shall be cut
off from all his property, his goods
confiscated, and half go the
king's house, and half to the other
party."
Emund took witnesses to this
judgment among the most considerable
of the men who were present,
according to the laws which were
held in the Upsala Thing.
He then saluted the king, and went his
way; and other men brought
their cases before the king, and he
sat late in the day upon the
cases of the people. Now when the
king came to table, he asked
where Lagman Emund was. It was
answered, he was home at his
lodgings. "Then," said the king,
"go after him, and tell
him to be my guest to-day." Thereafter
the dishes were borne in; then
came the musicians with harps,
fiddles, and musical instruments;
and lastly, the cup-bearers.
The king was particularly merry,
and had many great people at
table with him, so that he
thought little of Emund. The king
drank the whole day, and slept
all the night after; but in the
morning the king awoke, and
recollected what Emund had said the
day before: and when he had
put on his clothes, he let his wise
men be summoned to him; for
he had always twelve of the wisest
men who sat in judgment with
him, and treated the more difficult
cases; and that was no easy
business, for the king was ill-
pleased if the judgment was
not according to justice, and yet it
was of no use to contradict
him. In this meeting the king
ordered Lagman Emund to be
called before them. The messenger
returned, and said, "Sire,
Lagman Emund rode away yesterday as
soon as he had dined."
"Then," said the king, "tell me, ye good
chiefs, what may have been
the meaning of that law-case which
Emund laid before us yesterday?"
They replied, "You must
have considered it yourself, if you think
there was any other meaning
under it than what he said."
The king replied, "By
the two noble-born men whom he spoke of,
who were at variance, and of
whom one was more powerful than the
other, and who did each other
damage, he must have meant us and
Olaf the Thick."
They answered, "It is,
sire, as you say."
The king -- "Our case
was judged at the Upsala Thing. But what
was his meaning when he said
that bad payment was made; namely, a
gosling for a goose, a pig
for a swine, and clay and dirt for
half of the money instead of
gold?"
Arnvid the Blind replied, "Sire,
red gold and clay are things
very unlike; but the difference
is still greater between king and
slave. You promised Olaf the
Thick your daughter Ingegerd, who,
in all branches of her descent,
is born of kings, and of the
Upland Swedish race of kings,
which is the most noble in the
North; for it is traced up
to the gods themselves. But now Olaf
has got Astrid; and although
she is a king's child, her mother
was but a slave-woman, and,
besides, of Vindish race. Great
difference, indeed, must there
be between these kings, when the
one takes thankfully such a
match; and now it is evident, as
might be expected, that no
Northman is to be placed by the side
of the Upsala kings. Let us
all give thanks that it has so
turned out; for the gods have
long protected their descendants,
although many now neglect this
faith."
There were three brothers:
-- Arnvid the Blind, who had a great
understanding, but was so weak-sighted
that he was scarcely fit
for war; the second was Thorvid
the Stammerer, who could not
utter two words together at
one time, but was remarkably bold and
courageous; the third was Freyvid
the Deaf, who was hard of
hearing. All these brothers
were rich and powerful men, of noble
birth, great wisdom, and all
very dear to the king.
Then said King Olaf, "What
means that which Emund said about Atte
the Dull?"
None made any reply, but the
one looked at the other.
"Speak freely," said
the king.
Then said Thorvid the Stammerer,
"Atte -- quarrel -- some --
greedy -- jealous -- deceitful
-- dull."
Then said the king, "To
whom are these words of reproach and
mockery applied?"
Freyvid the Deaf replied, "We
will speak more clearly if we have
your permission."
The king -- "Speak freely,
Freyvid, what you will."
Freyvid took up the word, and
spoke. "My brother Thorvid, who is
considered to be the wisest
of us brothers, holds the words
`quarrelsome, greedy, jealous,
dull,' to be one and the same
thing; for it applies to him
who is weary of peace, longs for
small things without attaining
them, while he lets great and
useful things pass away as
they came. I am deaf; yet so loud
have many spoken out, that
I can perceive that all men, both
great and small, take it ill
that you have not kept your promise
to the king of Norway; and,
worse than that, that you broke the
decision of the community as
it was delivered at Upsala Thing.
You need not fear either the
king of Norway, or the king of
Denmark, or any other, so long
as the Swedish army will follow
you; but if the people of the
country unanimously turn against
you, we, your friends, see
no counsel that can be of advantage to
you."
The king asks, "Who is
the chief who dares to betray the country
and me?"
Freyvid replies, "All
Swedes desire to have the ancient laws, and
their full rights. Look but
here, sire, how many chiefs are
sitting in council with you.
I think, in truth, we are but six
whom you call your councillors:
all the others, so far as I know,
have ridden forth through the
districts to hold Things with the
people; and we will not conceal
it from you, that the message-
token has gone forth to assemble
a Retribution-thing (1). All of
us brothers have been invited
to take part in the decisions of
this council, but none of us
will bear the name of traitor to the
sovereign; for that our father
never was."
Then the king said, "What
council shall we take in this dangerous
affair that is in our hands?
Good chiefs give me council, that I
may keep my kingdom, and the
heritage of my forefathers; for I
cannot enter into strife against
the whole Swedish force."
Arnvid the Blind replies, "Sire,
it is my advice that you ride
down to Aros with such men
as will follow you; take your ship
there and go out into the Maeler
lake; summon all people to meet
you; proceed no longer with
haughtiness, but promise every man
the law and rights of old established
in the country; keep back
in this way the message-token,
for it cannot as yet, in so short
a time have travelled far through
the land. Send, then those of
your men in whom you have the
most confidence to those who have
this business on hand, and
try if this uproar can be appeased."
The king says that he will
adopt this advice. "I will," says he,
"that ye brothers undertake
this business; for I trust to you the
most among my men."
Thorvid the Stammerer said,
"I remain behind. Let Jacob, your
son, go with them, for that
is necessary."
Then said Freyvid, "Let
us do as Thorvid says: he will not leave
you, and I and Arnvid must
travel."
This counsel was followed.
Olaf went to his ships, and set out
into the Maelar lake, and many
people came to him. The brothers
Arnvid and Freyvid rode out
to Ullaraker, and had with them the
king's son Jacob; but they
kept it a secret that he was there.
The brothers observed that
there was a great concourse and war-
gathering, for the bondes held
the Thing night and day. When
Arnvid and Freyvid met their
relations and friends, they said
they would join with the people;
and many agreed to leave the
management of the business
in the hands of the brothers. But
all, as one man, declared they
would no longer have King Olaf
over them, and no longer suffer
his unlawful proceedings, and
over-weening pride which would
not listen to any man's
remonstrances, even when the
great chiefs spoke the truth to him.
When Freyvid observed the heat
of the people, he saw in what a
bad situation the king's cause
was. He summoned the chiefs of
the land to a meeting with
him and addressed them thus: -- "It
appears to me, that if we are
to depose Olaf Eirikson from his
kingdom, we Swedes of the Uplands
should be the leading men in
it: for so it has always been,
that the counsel which the Upland
chiefs have resolved among
themselves has always been followed
by the men of the rest of the
country. Our forefathers did not
need to take advice from the
West Gautlanders about the
government of the Swedes.
Now we will not be so degenerate as to
need Emund to give us counsel;
but let us, friends and relations,
unite ourselves for the purpose
of coming to a determination."
All agreed to this, and thought
it was well said. Thereafter the
people joined this union which
the Upland chiefs made among
themselves, and Freyvid and
Arnvid were chiefs of the whole
assemblage. When Emund heard
this he suspected how the matter
would end, and went to both
the brothers to have a conversation
with them. Then Freyvid asked
Emund, "Who, in your opinion,
should we take for king, in
case Olaf Eirikson's days are at an
end?"
Emund -- "He whom we think
best suited to it, whether he be of
the race of chiefs or not."
Freyvid answers, "We Uplanders
will not, in our time, have the
kingdom go out of the old race
of our ancestors, which has given
us kings for a long course
of generations, so long as we have so
good a choice as now. King
Olaf has two sons, one of whom we
will choose for king, although
there is a great difference
between them. The one is noble-born,
and of Swedish race on both
sides; the other is a slave-woman's
son, and of Vindish race on
the mother's side."
This decision was received
with loud applause, and all would have
Jacob for king.
Then said Emund. "Ye Upland
Swedes have the power this time to
determinate the matter; but
I will tell you what will happen: --
some of those who now will
listen to nothing but that the kingdom
remain in the old race will
live to see the day when they will
wish the kingdom in another
race, as being of more advantage."
Thereupon the brothers Freyvid
and Arnvid led the king's son
Jacob into the Thing, and saluted
him with the title of king; and
the Swedes gave him the name
of Onund, which he afterwards
retained as long as he lived.
He was then ten or twelve years
old. Thereafter King Onund
took a court, and chose chiefs to be
around him; and they had as
many attendants in their suite as
were thought necessary, so
that he gave the whole assemblage of
bondes leave to return home.
After that ambassadors went between
the two kings; and at last
they had a meeting, and came to an
agreement. Olaf was to remain
king over the country as long as
he lived; but should hold peace
and be reconciled with King Olaf
of Norway, and also with all
who had taken part in this business.
Onund should also be king,
and have a part of the land, such as
the father and son should agree
upon; but should be bound to
support the bondes in case
King Olaf did anything which the
bondes would not suffer.
ENDNOTES:
(1) Refsithing -- a Thing
for punishment by penalty or death for
crimes and misdemeanours.
-- L.
97. MEETING OF RECONCILIATION
BETWEEN THE KINGS, AND THEIR GAME
AT DICE.
Thereafter ambassadors were
sent to Norway to King Olaf, with the
errand that he should come
with his retinue to a meeting at
Konungahella with the Swedish
kings, and that the Swedish kings
would there confirm their reconciliation.
When King Olaf heard
this message, he was willing,
now as formerly, to enter into the
agreement, and proceeded to
the appointed place. There the
Swedish kings also came; and
the relations, when they met, bound
themselves mutually to peace
and agreement. Olaf the Swedish
king was then remarkably mild
in manner, and agreeable to talk
with. Thorstein Frode relates
of this meeting, that there was an
inhabited district in Hising
which had sometimes belonged to
Norway, and sometimes to Gautland.
The kings came to the
agreement between themselves
that they would cast lots by the
dice to determine who should
have this property, and that he who
threw the highest should have
the district. The Swedish king
threw two sixes, and said King
Olaf need scarcely throw. He
replied, while shaking the
dice in his hand, "Although there be
two sixes on the dice, it would
be easy, sire, for God Almighty
to let them turn up in my favour."
Then he threw, and had sixes
also. Now the Swedish king
threw again, and had again two sixes.
Olaf king of Norway then threw,
and had six upon one dice, and
the other split in two, so
as to make seven eyes in all upon it;
and the district was adjudged
to the king of Norway. We have
heard nothing else of any interest
that took place at this
meeting; and the kings separated
the dearest of friends with each
other.
98. OF OLAF OF NORWAY, AFTER
THE MEETING.
After the events now related
Olaf returned with his people to
Viken. He went first to Tunsberg,
and remained there a short
time, and then proceeded to
the north of the country. In
harvest-time he sailed north
to Throndhjem, and had winter
provision laid in there, and
remained there all winter (A.D.
1090). Olaf Haraldson was
now sole and supreme king of Norway,
and the whole of that sovereignty,
as Harald Harfager had
possessed it, and had the advantage
over that monarch of being
the only king in the land.
By a peaceful agreement he had also
recovered that part of the
country which Olaf the Swedish king
had before occupied; and that
part of the country which the
Danish king had got he retook
by force, and ruled over it as
elsewhere in the country.
The Danish king Canute ruled at that
time both over Denmark and
England; but he himself was in England
for the most part, and set
chiefs over the country in Denmark,
without at that time making
any claim upon Norway.
99. HISTORY OF THE EARLS OF
ORKNEY.
It is related that in the days
of Harald Harfager, the king of
Norway, the islands of Orkney,
which before had been only a
resort for vikings, were settled
. The first earl in the Orkney
Islands was called Sigurd,
who was a son of Eystein Giumra, and
brother of Ragnvald earl of
More. After Sigurd his son Guthorm
was earl for one year. After
him Torf-Einar, a son of Ragnvald,
took the earldom, and was long
earl, and was a man of great
power. Halfdan Haleg, a son
of Harald Harfager, assaulted Torf-
Einar, and drove him from the
Orkney Islands; but Einar came back
and killed Halfdan in the island
Ronaldsha. Thereafter King
Harald came with an army to
the Orkney Islands. Einar fled to
Scotland, and King Harald made
the people of the Orkney Islands
give up their udal properties,
and hold them under oath from him.
Thereafter the king and earl
were reconciled, so that the earl
became the king's man, and
took the country as a fief from him;
but that it should pay no scat
or feu-duty, as it was at that
time much plundered by vikings.
The earl paid the king sixty
marks of gold; and then King
Harald went to plunder in Scotland,
as related in the "Glym
Drapa". After Torf-Einar, his sons
Arnkel, Erlend, and Thorfin
Hausakljufer (1) ruled over these
lands. In their days came Eirik
Blood-axe from Norway, and
subdued these earls. Arnkel
and Erlend fell in a war expedition;
but Thorfin ruled the country
long, and became an old man. His
sons were Arnfin, Havard, Hlodver,
Liot, and Skule. Their mother
was Grelad, a daughter of Earl
Dungad of Caithness. Her mother
was Groa, a daughter of Thorstein
Raud. In the latter days of
Earl Thorfin came Eirik Blood-axe's
sons, who had fled from Earl
Hakon out of Norway, and committed
great excesses in Orkney.
Earl Thorfin died on a bed
of sickness, and his sons after him
ruled over the country, and
there are many stories concerning
them. Hlodver lived the longest
of them, and ruled alone over
this country. His son was
Sigurd the Thick, who took the earldom
after him, and became a powerful
man and a great warrior. In his
days came Olaf Trygvason from
his viking expedition in the
western ocean, with his troops,
landed in Orkney and took Earl
Sigurd prisoner in South Ronaldsha,
where he lay with one ship.
King Olaf allowed the earl
to ransom his life by letting himself
be baptized, adopting the true
faith, becoming his man, and
introducing Christianity into
all the Orkney Islands. As a
hostage, King Olaf took his
son, who was called Hunde or Whelp.
Then Olaf went to Norway, and
became king; and Hunde was several
years with King Olaf in Norway,
and died there. After his death
Earl Sigurd showed no obedience
or fealty to King Olaf. He
married a daughter of the Scottish
king Malcolm, and their son
was called Thorfin. Earl Sigurd
had, besides, older sons;
namely, Sumarlide, Bruse, and
Einar Rangmund. Four or five years
after Olaf Tryrgvason's fall
Earl Sigurd went to Ireland, leaving
his eldest sons to rule the
country, and sending Thorfin to his
mother's father, the Scottish
king. On this expedition Earl
Sigurd fell in Brian's battle
(l). When the news was received in
Orkney, the brothers Sumarlide,
Bruse, and Einar were chosen
earls, and the country was
divided into three parts among them.
Thorfin Sigurdson was five
years old when Earl Sigurd fell. When
the Scottish king heard of
the earl's death he gave his relation
Thorfin Caithness and Sutherland,
with the title of earl, and
appointed good men to rule
the land for him. Earl Thorfin was
ripe in all ways as soon as
he was grown up: he was stout and
strong, but ugly; and as soon
as he was a grown man it was easy
to see that he was a severe
and cruel but a very clever man. So
says Arnor, the earls' skald:
--
"Under the rim of
heaven no other,
So young in years as Einar's
brother,
In battle had a braver
hand,
Or stouter, to defend
the land."
ENDNOTES:
(1) Hausakljufer -- the splitter
of skulls. -- L.
(2) Brian's battle is supposed
to have taken place on the 23rd
April 1014, at Clontart,
near Dublin; and is known in Irish
history as the battle
of Clontarf, and was one of the
bloodiest of the age.
It was fought between a viking called
Sigtryg and Brian king
of Munster, who gained the victory,
but lost his life. --
L.
100. OF THE EARLS EINAR AND
BRUSE.
The brothers Einar and Bruse
were very unlike in disposition.
Bruse was a soft-minded, peaceable
man, -- sociable, eloquent,
and of good understanding.
Einar was obstinate, taciturn, and
dull; but ambitious, greedy
of money, and withal a great warrior.
Sumarlide, the eldest of the
brothers, was in disposition like
Bruse, and lived not long,
but died in his bed. After his death
Thorfin claimed his share of
the Orkney Islands. Einar replied,
that Thorfin had the dominions
which their father Sigurd had
possessed, namely, Caithness
and Sutherland, which he insisted
were much larger than a third
part of Orkney; therefore he would
not consent to Thorfin's having
any share. Bruse, on the other
hand, was willing, he said,
to divide with him. "I do not-
desire," he said, "more
than the third part of the land, and
which of right belongs to me."
Then Einar took possession of two
parts of the country, by which
he became a powerful man,
surrounded by many followers.
He was often in summer out on
marauding expeditions, and
called out great numbers of the people
to join him; but it went always
unpleasantly with the division of
the booty made on his viking
cruises. Then the bondes grew weary
of all these burdens; but Earl
Einar held fast by them with
severity, calling in all services
laid upon the people, and
allowing no opposition from
any man; for he was excessively proud
and overbearing. And now there
came dearth and scarcity in his
lands, in consequence of the
services and money outlay exacted
from the bondes; while in the
part of the country belonging to
Bruse there were peace and
plenty, and therefore he was the best
beloved by the bondes.
101. OF THORKEL AMUNDASON.
There was a rich and powerful
man who was called Amunde, who
dwelt in Hrossey at Sandvik,
in Hlaupandanes. His son, called
Thorkel, was one of the ablest
men in the islands. Amunde was a
man of the best understanding,
and most respected in Orkney. One
spring Earl Einar proclaimed
a levy for an expedition, as usual.
The bondes murmured greatly
against it, and applied to Amunde
with the entreaty that he would
intercede with the earl for them.
He replied, that the earl was
not a man who would listen to other
people, and insisted that it
was of no use to make any entreaty
to the earl about it. "As
things now stand, there is a good
understanding between me and
the earl; but, in my opinion, there
would be much danger of our
quarrelling, on account of our
different dispositions and
views on both sides; therefore I will
have nothing to do with it."
They then applied to Thorkel, who
was also very loath to interfere,
but promised at last to do so,
in consequence of the great
entreaty of the people. Amunde
thought he had given his promise
too hastily. Now when the earl
held a Thing, Thorkel spoke
on account of the people, and
entreated the earl to spare
the people from such heavy burdens,
recounting their necessitous
condition. The earl replies
favourably, saying that he
would take Thorkel's advice. "I had
intended to go out from the
country with six ships, but now I
will only take three with me;
but thou must not come again,
Thorkel, with any such request."
The bondes thanked Thorkel for
his assistance, and the earl
set out on a viking cruise, and came
back in autumn. The spring
after, the earl made the same levy as
usual, and held a Thing with
the bondes. Then Thorkel again made
a speech, in which he entreated
the earl to spare the people.
The earl now was angry, and
said the lot of the bondes should be
made worse in consequence of
his intercession; and worked himself
up into such a rage, that he
vowed they should not both come next
spring to the Thing in a whole
skin. Then the Thing was closed.
When Amunde heard what the
earl and Thorkel had said at the
Thing, he told Thorkel to leave
the country, and he went over to
Caithness to Earl Thorfin.
Thorkel was afterwards a long time
there, and brought up the earl
in his youth, and was on that
account called Thorkel the
Fosterer; and he became a very
celebrated man.
102. THE AGREEMENT OF THE EARLS.
There were many powerful men
who fled from their udal properties
in Orkney on account of Earl
Einar's violence, and the most fled
over to Caithness to Earl Thorfin:
but some fled from the Orkney
Islands to Norway, and some
to other countries. When Earl
Thorfin was grown up he sent
a message to his brother Einar, and
demanded the part of the dominion
which he thought belonged to
him in Orkney; namely, a third
of the islands. Einar was nowise
inclined to diminish his possessions.
When Thorfin found this he
collected a warforce in Caithness,
and proceeded to the islands.
As soon as Earl Einar heard
of this he collected people, and
resolved to defend his country.
Earl Bruse also collected men,
and went out to meet them,
and bring about some agreement between
them. An agreement was at
last concluded, that Thorfin should
have a third part of the islands,
as of right belonging to him,
but that Bruse and Einar should
lay their two parts together, and
Einar alone should rule over
them; but if the one died before the
other, the longest liver should
inherit the whole. This
agreement seemed reasonable,
as Bruse had a son called Ragnvald,
but Einar had no son. Earl
Thorfin set men to rule over his land
in Orkney, but he himself was
generally in Caithness. Earl Einar
was generally on viking expeditions
to Ireland, Scotland, and
Bretland.
103. EYVIND URARHORN'S MURDER.
One summer (A.D. 1018) that
Earl Einar marauded in Ireland, he
fought in Ulfreks-fjord with
the Irish king Konofogor, as has
been related before, and suffered
there a great defeat. The
summer after this (A.D. 1019)
Eyvind Urarhorn was coming from the
west from Ireland, intending
to go to Norway; but the weather was
boisterous, and the current
against him, so he ran into
Osmundwall, and lay there wind-bound
for some time. When Earl
Einar heard of this, he hastened
thither with many people, took
Eyvind prisoner, and ordered
him to be put to death, but spared
the lives of most of his people.
In autumn they proceeded to
Norway to King Olaf, and told
him Eyvind was killed. The king
said little about it, but one
could see that he considered it a
great and vexatious loss; for
he did not usually say much if
anything turned out contrary
to his wishes. Earl Thorfin sent
Thorkel Fosterer to the islands
to gather in his scat. Now, as
Einar gave Thorkel the greatest
blame for the dispute in which
Thorfin had made claim to the
islands, Thorkel came suddenly back
to Caithness from Orkney, and
told Earl Thorfin that he had
learnt that Earl Einar would
have murdered him if his friends and
relations had not given him
notice to escape. "Now," says he,
"it is come so far between
the earl and me, that either some
thing decisive between us must
take place if we meet, or I must
remove to such a distance that
his power will not reach me." The
earl encouraged Thorkel much
to go east to Norway to King Olaf.
"Thou wilt be highly respected,"
says he, "wherever thou comest
among honourable men; and I
know so well thy disposition and the
earl's, that it will not be
long before ye come to extremities."
Thereupon Thorkel made himself
ready, and proceeded in autumn to
Norway, and then to King Olaf,
with whom he stayed the whole
winter (A.D. 1020), and was
in high favour. The king often
entered into conversation with
him, and he thought, what was
true, that Thorkel was a high-minded
man, of good understanding.
In his conversations with Thorkel,
the king found a great
difference in his description
of the two earls; for Thorkel was a
great friend of Earl Thorfin,
but had much to say against Einar.
Early in spring (A.D. 1020)
the king sent a ship west over the
sea to Earl Thorfin, with the
invitation to come east and visit
him in Norway. The earl did
not decline the invitation, for it
was accompanied by assurances
of friendship.
104. EARL EINAR'S MURDER.
Earl Thorfin went east to Norway,
and came to King Olaf, from
whom he received a kind reception,
and stayed till late in the
summer. When he was preparing
to return westwards again, King
Olaf made him a present of
a large and fully-rigged long-ship.
Thorkel the Fosterer joined
company with the earl, who gave him
the ship which he brought with
him from the west. The king and
the earl took leave of each
other tenderly. In autumn Earl
Thorfin came to Orkney, and
when Earl Einar heard of it he went
on board his ships with a numerous
band of men. Earl Bruse came
up to his two brothers, and
endeavoured to mediate between them,
and a peace was concluded and
confirmed by oath. Thorkel
Fosterer was to be in peace
and friendship with Earl Einar; and
it was agreed that each of
them should give a feast to the other,
and that the earl should first
be Thorkel's guest at Sandwick.
When the earl came to the feast
he was entertained in the best
manner; but the earl was not
cheerful. There was a great room,
in which there were doors at
each end. The day the earl should
depart Thorkel was to accompany
him to the other feast; and
Thorkel sent men before, who
should examine the road they had to
travel that day. The spies
came back, and said to Thorkel they
had discovered three ambushes.
"And we think," said they, "there
is deceit on foot." When
Thorkel heard this he lengthened out
his preparations for the journey,
and gathered people about him.
The earl told him to get ready,
as it was time to be on
horseback. Thorkel answered,
that he had many things to put in
order first, and went out and
in frequently. There was a fire
upon the floor. At last he
went in at one door, followed by an
Iceland man from Eastfjord,
called Halvard, who locked the door
after him. Thorkel went in
between the fire and the place where
the earl was sitting. The
earl asked, "Art thou ready at last,
Thorkel?"
Thorkel answers, "Now
I am ready;" and struck the earl upon the
head so that he fell upon the
floor.
Then said the Icelander, "I
never saw people so foolish as not to
drag the earl out of the fire;"
and took a stick, which he set
under the earl's neck, and
put him upright on the bench. Thorkel
and his two comrades then went
in all haste out of the other door
opposite to that by which they
went in, and Thorkel's men were
standing without fully armed.
The earl's men now went in, and
took hold of the earl. He
was already dead, so nobody thought of
avenging him: and also the
whole was done so quickly; for nobody
expected such a deed from Thorkel,
and all supposed that there
really was, as before related,
a friendship fixed between the
earl and Thorkel. The most
who were within were unarmed, and
they were partly Thorkel's
good friends; and to this may be
added, that fate had decreed
a longer life to Thorkel. When
Thorkel came out he had not
fewer men with him than the earl's
troop. Thorkel went to his
ship, and the earl's men went their
way. The same day Thorkel
sailed out eastwards into the sea.
This happened after winter;
but he came safely to Norway, went as
fast as he could to Olaf, and
was well received by him. The king
expressed his satisfaction
at this deed, and Thorkel was with him
all winter (A.D. 1091).
105. AGREEMENT BETWEEN KING
OLAF AND EARL BRUSE.
After Earl Einar's fall Bruse
took the part of the country which
he had possessed; for it was
known to many men on what conditions
Einar and Bruse had entered
into a partnership. Although Thorfin
thought it would be more just
that each of them had half of the
islands, Bruse retained the
two-thirds of the country that winter
(A.D. 1021). In spring, however,
Thorfin produced his claim, and
demanded the half of the country;
but Bruse would not consent.
They held Things and meetings
about the business; and although
their friends endeavoured to
settle it, Thorfin would not be
content with less than the
half of the islands, and insisted that
Bruse, with his disposition,
would have enough even with a third
part. Bruse replies, "When
I took my heritage after my father I
was well satisfied with a third
part of the country, and there
was nobody to dispute it with
me; and now I have succeeded to
another third in heritage after
my brother, according to a lawful
agreement between us; and although
I am not powerful enough to
maintain a feud against thee,
my brother, I will seek some other
way, rather than willingly
renounce my property." With this
their meeting ended. But Bruse
saw that he had no strength to
contend against Thorfin, because
Thorfin had both a greater
dominion and also could have
aid from his mother's brother, the
Scottish king. He resolved,
therefore, to go out of the country;
and he went eastward to King
Olaf, and had with him his son
Ragnvald, then ten years old.
When the earl came to the king he
was well received. The earl
now declared his errand, and told
the king the circumstances
of the whole dispute between him and
his brother, and asked help
to defend his kingdom of Orkney;
promising, in return, the fullest
friendship towards King Olaf.
In his answer, the king began
with showing how Harald Harfager
had appropriated to himself
all udal rights in Orkney, and that
the earls, since that time,
have constantly held the country as a
fief, not as their udal property.
"As a sufficient proof of
which," said he, "when
Eirik Blood-axe and his sons were in
Orkney the earls were subject
to them; and also when my relation
Olaf Trygvason came there thy
father, Earl Sigurd, became his
man. Now I have taken heritage
after King Olaf, and I will give
thee the condition to become
my man and then I will give thee the
islands as a fief; and we shall
try if I cannot give thee aid
that will he more to the purpose
than Thorfin can get from the
Scottish king. If thou wilt
not accept of these terms, then will
I win back my udal property
there in the West, as our forefathers
and relations of old possessed
it."
The earl carefully considered
this speech, laid it before his
friends, and demanded their
advice if he should agree to it, and
enter into such terms with
King Olaf and become his vassal. "But
I do not see what my lot will
be at my departure if I say no; for
the king has clearly enough
declared his claim upon Orkney; and
from his great power, and our
being in his hands, it is easy for
him to make our destiny what
he pleases."
Although the earl saw that
there was much to be considered for
and against it he chose the
condition to deliver himself and his
dominion into the king's power.
Thereupon the king took the
earl's power, and the government
over all the earl's lands, and
the earl became his vassal
under oath of fealty.
106. THE EARL'S AGREEMENT TO
THE KING'S TERMS.
Thorfin the earl heard that
his brother Bruse had gone east to
King Olaf to seek support from
him; but as Thorfin had been on a
visit to King Olaf before,
and had concluded a friendship with
him, he thought his case would
stand well with the king, and that
many would support it; but
he believed that many more would do so
if he went there himself.
Earl Thorfin resolved, therefore, to
go east himself without delay;
and he thought there would be so
little difference between the
time of his arrival and Bruse's,
that Bruse's errand could not
be accomplished before he came to
King Olaf. But it went otherwise
than Earl Thorfin had expected;
for when he came to the king
the agreement between the king and
Bruse was already concluded
and settled, and Earl Thorfin did not
know a word about Bruse's having
surrendered his udal domains
until he came to King Olaf.
As soon as Earl Thorfin and King
Olaf met, the king made the
same demand upon the kingdom of
Orkney that he had done to
Earl Bruse, and required that Thorfin
should voluntarily deliver
over to the king that part of the
country which he had possessed
hitherto. The earl answered in a
friendly and respectful way,
that the king's friendship lay near
to his heart: "And if
you think, sire, that my help against other
chiefs can be of use, you have
already every claim to it; but I
cannot be your vessel for service,
as I am an earl of the
Scottish king, and owe fealty
to him."
As the king found that the
earl, by his answer, declined
fulfilling the demand he had
made, he said, "Earl, if thou wilt
not become my vassal, there
is another condition; namely, that I
will place over the Orkney
Islands the man I please, and require
thy oath that thou wilt make
no claim upon these lands, but allow
whoever I place over them to
sit in peace. If thou wilt not
accept of either of these conditions,
he who is to rule over
these lands may expect hostility
from thee, and thou must not
think it strange if like meet
like in this business."
The earl begged of the king
some time to consider the matter.
The king did so, and gave the
earl time to take the counsel of
his friends on the choosing
one or other of these conditions.
Then the earl requested a delay
until next summer, that he might
go over the sea to the west,
for his proper counsellors were all
at home, and he himself was
but a child in respect of age; but
the king required that he should
now make his election of one or
other of the conditions. Thorkel
Fosterer was then with the
king, and he privately sent
a person to Earl Thorfin, and told
him, whatever his intentions
might be, not to think of leaving
Olaf without being reconciled
with him, as he stood entirely in
Olaf's power. From such hints
the earl saw there was no other
way than to let the king have
his own will. It was no doubt a
hard condition to have no hope
of ever regaining his paternal
heritage, and moreover to bind
himself by oath to allow those to
enjoy in peace his domain who
had no hereditary right to it; but
seeing it was uncertain how
he could get away, he resolved to
submit to the king and become
his vassal, as Bruse had done. The
king observed that Thorfin
was more high-minded, and less
disposed to suffer subjection
than Bruse, and therefore he
trusted less to Thorfin than
to Bruse; and he considered also
that Thorfin would trust to
the aid of the Scottish king, if he
broke the agreement. The king
also had discernment enough to
perceive that Bruse, although
slow to enter into an agreement,
would promise nothing but what
he intended to keep; but as to
Thorfin when he had once made
up his mind he went readily into
every proposal and made no
attempt to obtain any alteration of
the king's first conditions:
therefore the king had his
suspicions that the earl would
infringe the agreement.
107. EARL THORFIN'S DEPARTURE,
AND RECONCILIATION WITH THORKEL.
When the king had carefully
considered the whole matter by
himself, he ordered the signal
to sound for a General Thing, to
which he called in the earls.
Then said the king, "I will now
make known to the public our
agreement with the Orkney earls.
They have now acknowledged
my right of property to Orkney and
Shetland, and have both become
my vassals, all which they have
confirmed by oath; and now
I will invest them with these lands as
a fief: namely, Bruse with
one third part and Thorfin with one
third, as they formerly enjoyed
them; but the other third which
Einar Rangmund had, I adjudge
as fallen to my domain, because he
killed Eyvind Urarhorn, my
court-man, partner, and dear friend;
and that part of the land I
will manage as I think proper. I
have also my earls, to tell
you it is my pleasure that ye enter
into an agreement with Thorkel
Amundason for the murder of your
brother Einar, for I will take
that business, if ye agree
thereto, within my own jurisdiction."
The earls agreed to this,
as to everything else that
the king proposed. Thorkel came
forward, and surrendered to
the king's judgment of the case, and
the Thing concluded. King
Olaf awarded as great a penalty for
Earl Einar's murder as for
three lendermen; but as Einar himself
was the cause of the act, one
third of the mulct fell to the
ground. Thereafter Earl Thorfin
asked the king's leave to
depart, and as soon as he obtained
it made ready for sea with all
speed. It happened one day,
when all was ready for the voyage,
the earl sat in his ship drinking;
and Thorkel Amundason came
unexpectedly to him, laid his
head upon the earl's knee, and bade
him do with him what he pleased.
The earl asked why he did so.
"We are, you know, reconciled
men, according to the king's
decision; so stand up, Thorkel."
Thorkel replied, "The
agreement which the king made as between me
and Bruse stands good; but
what regards the agreement with thee
thou alone must determine.
Although the king made conditions for
my property and safe residence
in Orkney, yet I know so well thy
disposition that there is no
going to the islands for me, unless
I go there in peace with thee,
Earl Thorfin; and therefore I am
willing to promise never to
return to Orkney, whatever the king
may desire."
The earl remained silent; and
first, after a long pause, he said,
"If thou wilt rather,
Thorkel, that I shall judge between us than
trust to the king's judgment,
then let the beginning of our
reconciliation be, that you
go with me to the Orkney Islands,
live with me, and never leave
me but with my will, and be bound
to defend my land, and execute
all that I want done, as long as
we both are in life."
Thorkel replies, "This
shall be entirely at thy pleasure, earl,
as well as everything else
in my power." Then Thorkel went on,
and solemnly ratified this
agreement. The earl said he would
talk afterwards about the mulct
of money, but took Thorkel's oath
upon the conditions. Thorkel
immediately made ready to accompany
the earl on his voyage. The
earl set off as soon as all was
ready, and never again were
King Olaf and Thorfin together.
108. EARL BRUSE'S DEPARTURE.
Earl Bruse remained behind,
and took his time to get ready.
Before his departure the king
sent for him, and said, "It appears
to me, earl, that in thee I
have a man on the west side of the
sea on whose fidelity I can
depend; therefore I intend to give
thee the two parts of the country
which thou formerly hadst to
rule over; for I will not that
thou shouldst be a less powerful
man after entering into my
service than before: but I will secure
thy fidelity by keeping thy
son Ragnvald with me. I see well
enough that with two parts
of the country and my help, thou wilt
be able to defend what is thy
own against thy brother Thorfin."
Bruse was thankful for getting
two thirds instead of one third of
the country, and soon after
he set out, and came about autumn to
Orkney; but Ragnvald, Bruse's
son, remained behind in the East
with King Olaf. Ragnvald was
one of the handsomest men that
could be seen, -- his hair
long, and yellow as silk; and he soon
grew up, stout and tall, and
he was a very able and superb man,
both of great understanding
and polite manners. He was long with
King Olaf. Otter Svarte speaks
of these affairs in the poem he
composed about King Olaf: --
"From Shetland, far
off in the cold North Sea,
Come chiefs who desire
to be subject to thee:
No king so well known
for his will, and his might,
To defend his own people
from scaith or unright.
These isles of the West
midst the ocean's wild roar,
Scarcely heard the voice
of their sovereign before;
Our bravest of sovereigns
before could scarce bring
These islesmen so proud
to acknowledge their king."
109. OF THE EARLS THORFIN AND
BRUSE.
The brothers Thorfin and Bruse
came west to Orkney; and Bruse
took the two parts of the country
under his rule, and Thorfin the
third part. Thorfin was usually
in Caithness and elsewhere in
Scotland; but placed men of
his own over the islands. It was
left to Bruse alone to defend
the islands, which at that time
were severely scourged by vikings;
for the Northmen and Danes
went much on viking cruises
in the west sea, and frequently
touched at Orkney on the way
to or from the west, and plundered,
and took provisions and cattle
from the coast. Bruse often
complained of his brother Thorfin,
that he made no equipment of
war for the defence of Orkney
and Shetland, yet levied his share
of the scat and duties. Then
Thorfin offered to him to exchange,
and that Bruse should have
one third and Thorfin two thirds of
the land, but should undertake
the defence of the land, for the
whole. Although this exchange
did not take place immediately, it
is related in the saga of the
earls that it was agreed upon at
last; and that Thorfin had
two parts and Bruse only one, when
Canute the Great subdued Norway
and King Olaf fled the country.
Earl Thorfin Sigurdson has
been the ablest earl of these islands,
and has had the greatest dominion
of all the Orkney earls; for he
had under him Orkney, Shetland,
and the Hebudes, besides very
great possessions in Scotland
and Ireland. Arnor, the earls'
skald, tells of his possessions:
--
"From Thurso-skerry
to Dublin,
All people hold with good
Thorfin --
All people love his sway,
And the generous chief
obey."
Thorfin was a very great warrior.
He came to the earldom at five
years of age, ruled more than
sixty years, and died in his bed
about the last days of Harald
Sigurdson. But Bruse died in the
days of Canute the Great, a
short time after the fall of Saint
Olaf.
110. OF HAREK OF THJOTTA.
Having now gone through this
second story, we shall return to
that which we left, -- at King
Olaf Haraldson having concluded
peace with King Olaf the Swedish
king, and having the same summer
gone north to Throndhjem (1019).
He had then been king in Norway
five years (A.D. 1015-1019).
In harvest time he prepared to take
his winter residence at Nidaros,
and he remained all winter there
(A.D. 1020). Thorkel the Fosterer,
Amunde's son, as before
related, was all that winter
with him. King Olaf inquired very
carefully how it stood with
Christianity throughout the land, and
learnt that it was not observed
at all to the north of
Halogaland, and was far from
being observed as it should be in
Naumudal, and the interior
of Throndhjem. There was a man by
name Harek, a son of Eyvind
Skaldaspiller, who dwelt in an island
called Thjotta in Halogaland.
Eyvind had not been a rich man,
but was of high family and
high mind. In Thjotta, at first,
there dwelt many small bondes;
but Harek began with buying a farm
not very large and lived on
it, and in a few years he had got all
the bondes that were there
before out of the way; so that he had
the whole island, and built
a large head-mansion. He soon became
very rich; for he was a very
prudent man, and very successful.
He had long been greatly respected
by the chiefs; and being
related to the kings of Norway,
had been raised by them to high
dignities. Harek's father's
mother Gunhild was a daughter of
Earl Halfdan, and Ingebjorg,
Harald Harfager's daughter. At the
time the circumstance happened
which we are going to relate he
was somewhat advanced in years.
Harek was the most respected man
in Halogaland, and for a long
time had the Lapland trade, and did
the king's business in Lapland;
sometimes alone, sometimes with
others joined to him. He had
not himself been to wait on King
Olaf, but messages had passed
between them, and all was on the
most friendly footing. This
winter (A.D. 1020) that Olaf was in
Nidaros, messengers passed
between the king and Harek of Thjotta.
Then the king made it known
that he intended going north to
Halogaland, and as far north
as the land's end; but the people of
Halogaland expected no good
from this expedition.