thought the king of Norway, Olaf, in consequence of the
agreement between him and the Swedish king, the scat of
Jamtaland should be paid differently than before; although
it had long been established that the Jamtaland people
paid their scat to the Swedish king, and that he appointed
officers over the country. The Swedes would listen to
nothing, but that all the land to the east of the keel of the
country belonged to the Swedish king. Now this went
so, as it often happens, that although the kings were
brothers-in-law and relations, each would hold fast the
dominions w^hich he thought he had a right to. King
Olaf had sent a message round in Jamtaland. declaring it
to be his will that the Jamtaland people should be subject
to him, threatening them with violence if they refused;
but the Jamtaland people preferred being subjects of the
Swedish king.
148. — stein's story.
The Icelanders, Thorod Snorrason and Stein Skapta-
son, were ill-pleased at not being allowed to do as they
liked. Stein was a remarkably handsome man, dexterous
at all feats, a great poet, splendid in his apparel, and very
ambitious of distinction. His father, Skapte, had com-
489
THE HEIMSKRINGLA
posed a poem on King Olaf, which he had taiuj^ht Stein,
with the intention that he should bring it to King Olaf.
Stein could not now restrain himself from making the
king reproaches in word and speech, both in verse and
prose. Both he and Thorod were imprudent in their con-
versation, and said the king would be looked upon as a
worse man than those who, under faith and law, had sent
their sons to him, as he now treated them as men without
lil)erty. The king was angry at this. One day Stein
stood before the king, and asked if he would listen to the
poem which his father Skapte had composed about him.
The king replies, "Thou must first repeat that, Stein,
which thou hast composed about me," Stein replies, that
it was not the case that he had composed any. "I am no
skald, sire," said he; "and if I even could compose any-
thing, it, and all that concerns me, would appear to thee
of little value." Stein then went out, but thought he
perceived what the king alluded to. Thorgeir, one of the
king's land-bailiffs, who managed one of his farms in
Orkadal, happened to be present, and heard the conver-
sation of the king and Stein, and soon afterwards Thor-
geir returned home. One night Stein left the city, and his
footboy with him. They went up Gaularas and into
Orkadal. One evening they came to one of the king's
farms which Thorgeir had the management of, and Thor-
geir invited Stein to pass the night there, and asked where
he was travelling to. Stein begged the loan of a horse
and sledge, for he saw they were just driving home com.
Thorgeir replies, "T do not exactly see how it stands
with thy journey, and if thou art travelling with the
490
SAGA OF OLAF UARALDSON
king's leave. The other d.i}-, melhinks, the words were
not very sweet that passed hciwccn the king and thee."
Stein said, "If it be so that 1 am not my own master
for the king, yet I will not submit to such treatment from
his slaves ;" and, drawing his sword, he killed the land-
bailiff. Then he took the horse, put the boy upon him.
and sat himself in the sledge, and so drove the whole
night. They travelled until they came to Surnadal in
More. There they had themselves ferried across the fjord,
and proceeded onwards as fast as they could. They told
nobody about the murder, but wherever they came called
themselves king's men, and met good entertainment
everywhere. One day at last they came towards evening
to Giske Isle, to Thorberg Arnason's house. He was not
at home himself, but his wife Ragnhild, a daughter of
Erling Skjalgson, was. There Stein was well received,
because formerly there had been great friendship be-
tween them. It had once happened, namely, that Stein,
on his voyage from Iceland with his own vessel, had come
to Giske from sea, and had anchored at the island. At
that time Ragnhild was in the pains of childbirth, and
very ill, and there was no priest on the island, or in the
neighliourhood of it. There came a message to the mer-
chant-vessel to inquire if, by chance, there w^as a priest
on board. There happened to be a priest in the vessel,
who was called Bard ; but he w-as a young man from \\''est-
fjord, wdio had little learning. The messengers begged
the priest to go with them, but he thought it was a difficult
matter; for he knew his own ignorance, and would not
go. Stein added his word to persuade the priest. The
491
THE HEIMSKRINGLA
priest replies, "I will go if thou wilt go with me; for then
I will have confidence, if I should require advice." Stein
said he was willing; and they went forthwith to the
house, and to where Ragnhild was in labour. Soon after
she brought forth a female child, which appeared to be
rather weak. Then the priest baptized the infant, and
Stein held it at the baptism, at which it got the name of
Thora; and Stein gave it a gold ring. Ragnhild prom-
ised Stein her perfect friendship, and bade him come to
her whenever he thought he required her help. Stein
replied that he would hold no other female child at bap-
tism, and then they parted. Now it was come to the time
when Stein required this kind promise of Ragnhild to be
fulfilled, and he told her what had happened, and that the
king's wrath had fallen upon him. She answered, that
all the aid she could give should stand at his service ; but
bade him wait for Thorberg's arrival. She then showed
him to a seat beside her son Eystein Orre, who was then
twelve years old. Stein presented gifts to Ragnhild and
Eystein. Thorberg had already heard how Stein had
conducted himself before he got home, and was rather
vexed at it. Ragnhild went to him, and told him how
matters stood with Stein, and begged Thorberg to receive
him, and take care of him.
Thorberg replies, "I have heard that the king, after
sending out a message-token, held a Thing concerning the
murder of Thorgeir, and has condemned Stein as having
fled the country, and likewise that the king is highly in-
censed ; anrl T have too much sense to take the cause of a
foreigner in hand, and draw upon myself the king's wrath.
492
SAGA OF OLAF HARALDSON
Let Stein, therefore, withdraw from hence as quickly as
thou canst."
Ragnhild replied, that they should cither both go or
both stay.
Thorberg told her to go where she pleased. "For I
expect," said he, "that wherever thou goest thou wilt
soon come back, for here is thy importance greatest."
Her son Eystein Orre then stood forward, and said
he would not stay behind if Ragnhild goes.
Thorberg said that they showed themselves very stiff
and obstinate in this matter. "And it appears that ye
must have your way in it, since ye take it so near to heart ;
but thou art reckoning too much, Ragnhild, upon thy
descent, in paying so little regard to King Olaf's word."
Ragnhild replied, "If thou art so much afraid to keep
Stein with thee here, go with him to my father Erling,
or give him attendants, so that he may get there in safety."
Thorberg said he would not send Stein there; "for
there are enough of things besides to enrage the king
against Erling." Stein thus remained there all winter
(1027).
After Yule a king's messenger came to Thorberg, with
the order that Thorberg should come to him before mid-
summer ; and the order was serious and severe. Thor-
berg laid it before his friends, and asked their advice if
he should venture to go to the king after what had taken
place. The greater number dissuaded him, and thought
it more advisable to let Stein slip out of his hands than to
venture within the king's power; but Thorberg himself
had rather more inclination not to decline the journey.
10 493
THE HEIMSKRINGLA
Soon after Thorberg went to his brother Fin, told him the
circumstances, and asked him to accompany him. Fin
rephed. that he thought it fooHsh to be so completely un-
der woman's inlluence that he dared not, on account of
his wife, keep the fealty and law of his sovereign.
"Thou art free," replied Thorberg, "to go with me or
not ; but I believe it is more fear of the king than love
to him that keeps thee Ixick." And so they parted in
anger.
Then Thorberg went to his brother Arne Arnason, and
asked him to go with him to the king. Arne says, "It
appears to me wonderful that such a sensible, prudent
man, should fall into such a misfortune, without neces-
sity, as to incur the king's indignation. It might be ex-
cused if it were thy relation or foster-brother whom thou
hadst thus sheltered ; but not at all that thou shouldst take
up an Iceland man, and harbour the king's outlaw, to the
injury of thyself and all thy relations."
Thorberg replies, "It stands good, according to the
proverb, — a rotten branch will be found in every tree.
My father's greatest misfortune evidently was that he had
such ill luck in producing sons that at last he produced
one incapable of acting, and without any resemblance
to our race, and whom in truth I never would have called
brother, if it were not that it would have been to my
mother's shame to have refused."
Thorberg turned away in a gloomy temper, and went
home. Thereafter he sent a message to his brother Kalf
in the Throndhjem district, and l>egged him to meet him
at Agdanes; and when the messengers found Kalf he
494
SAGA 01' OLAl' IIARALUSON
promised, without more ado, to make the journey. Ragn-
hild sent men east to Jadar to licr father Erhng, and
hegged him to send people. Erhng's sons, Sigurd and
Thord, came out, each with a s\\\\) of twenty benches of
rowers and ninety men. When they came north Thor-
berg received them joyfully, entertained them well, and
prepared for the voyage with them. Thorberg had also
a vessel with twenty benches, and they steered their course
northwards. When they came to the mouth of the
Throndhjem fjord Thorberg's two brothers, Fin and Arne,
were there already, with two ships each of twenty benches.
Thorberg met his brothers with joy, and observed that
his whetstone had taken effect; and Fin replied he seldom
needed sharpening for such work. Then they proceeded
north with all their forces to Throndhjem, and Stein w^as
along with them. When they came to Agdanes, Kalf
Arnason was there before them ; and he also had a well-
manned ship of twenty benches. With this war-force
they sailed up to Nidaros, where they lay all night. The
morning after they had a consultation with each other.
Kalf and Eriing's sons were for attacking the town with
all their forces, and leaving the event to fate; but Thor-
berg wished that they should first proceed with modera-
tion, and make an ofTer; in which opinion Fin and Arne
also concurred. It was accordingly resolved that Fin
and Arne, with a few men, should first wait upon the
king. The king had previously heard that they had come
so strong in men, and was therefore very shar]) in his
speech. Fin offered to ])ay mulct for Thorl^erg, and also
for Stein, and bade the king to fix what the penalties
495
THE HEIMSKRINGLA
should be, however large ; stipulating only for Thorberg
safety and his fiefs, and for Stein life and limb.
The king replies, "It appears to me that ye come from
home so equipped that ye can determine half as much
as I can myself, or more ; but this I expected least of all
from you brothers, that ye should come against me with
an army: and this counsel, I can observe, has its origin
from the people of Jadar ; but ye have no occasion to ofifer
me money in mulct."
Fin replies, "We brothers have collected men, not to
offer hostility to you, sire, but to offer rather our services ;
but if you will bear down Thorberg altogether, we must
all go to King Canute the Great with such forces as we
have."
Then the king looked at him, and said, "If ye brothers
will give your oaths that ye will follow me in the coimtry
and out of the country, and not part from me without my
leave and permission, and shall not conceal from me any
treasonable design that may come to your knowledge
against me, then will I agree to a peace with you broth-
ers.
Then Fin returned to his forces, and told the condi-
tions which the king had proposed to them. Now they
held a council upon it, and Thorberg, for his part, said he
would accept the terms offered. "I have no wish," says
he, "to fly from my property, and seek foreign masters;
but, on the contrary, will always consider it an honour to
follow King Olaf, and be where he is." Then says Kalf,
"I will make no oath to King Olaf, but will be with him
always, so long as I retain my fiefs and dignities, and
496
SAGA or OLAF IIARALDSON
so long as the king will be my friend ; .'ind my opinion is
that we should all do the same." Fin says, "We will
venture to let King Olaf himself dclcrniiiic in this mat-
ter." Arne Arnason says, "I was resolved to follow
thee, brother Thorberg, even if thou hadst given battle
to King Olaf, and I shall certainly not leave thee for lis-
tening to better counsel ; so I intend to follow thee and
Fin, and accept the conditions ye have taken."
Thereupon the brothers Thorberg, Fin, and Arne, went
on board a vessel, rowed into the fjord, and waited upon
the king. The agreement went accordingly into fulfil-
ment, so that the brothers gave their oaths to the king.
Then Thorberg endeavored to make peace for Stein with
the king; but the king replied that Stein might for him
depart in safety, and go where he pleased, but "in my
house he can never be again." Then Thorberg and his
brothers went back to their men. Kalf went to Eggja,
and Fin to the king; and Thorberg, with the other men,
went south to their homes. Stein went with Erling's
sons; but early in the spring (1027) he went west to
England into the service of Canute the Great, and was
long with him, and was treated with great distinction.
140, — FIN ARNASON's expedition TO HALOGALAND.
Now when Fin Arnason had been a short time with
Kinff Olaf, the king called him to a conference, along
with some other persons he usually held consultation with ;
and in this conference the king spoke to this effect: —
"The decision remains fixed in my mind that in spring I
should raise the whole country to a levy both of men
497
THE HEIMSKRINGLA
and ships, and then proceed, with all the force I can mus-
ter, against King Canute the Great : for I know for cer-
tain that he does not intend to treat as a jest the claim
he has awakened upon my kingdom. Now I let thee
know my will, Fin Arnason, that thou proceed on my
errand to Halogaland, and raise the people there to an
expedition, men and ships, and summon that force to meet
me at Agdanes." Then the king named other men whom
he sent to Throndhjem, and some southwards in the coun-
try, and he commanded that this order should be circula-
ted through the whole land. Of Fin's voyage we have to
relate that he had with him a ship with about thirty men,
and when he was ready for sea he prosecuted his journey
until he came to Halogaland. There he summoned the
bondes to a Thing, laid before them his errand, and
craved a levy. The bondes in that district had large ves-
sels, suited to a levy expedition, and they obeyed the king's
message, and rigged their ships. Now when Fin came
farther north in Halogaland he held a Thing again, and
sent some of his men from him to crave a levy where he
thought it necessary. He sent also men to Bjarkey
Island to Thorer Hund, and there, as elsewhere, craved
the quota to the levy. When the message came to Thorer
he made himself ready, and manned with his house-ser-
vants the same vessel he had sailed with on his cruise to
Bjarmaland, and w-hich he equipped at his own expense.
Fin summoned all the people of Halogaland ^^•ho were to
the north to meet at Vagar. There came a great fleet
together in spring, and they waited there until Fin re-
turned from the North. Thorer Hund had also come
498
SAGA OF OLAF HARALDSON
there. When Fin arrived he ordered the signal to sound
for all the people of the levy to attend a House-Thing;
and at it all the men produced their weapons, and also the
fighting men from each ship-district were mustered.
When that was all finished Fin said, "I have also to bring
thee a salutation, Thorer Hund, from King Olaf, and to
ask thee what thou wilt offer him for the murder of his
court-man Karle, or for the robbery in taking the king's
goods north in Lengjuvik. I have the king's orders to
settle that business, and I wait thy answer to it."
Thorer looked about him, and saw standing on both
sides many fully armed men, among whom were Gun-
stein and others of Karle's kindred. Then said Thorer,
*'My proposal is soon made. I will refer altogether to
the king's pleasure the matter he thinks he has against
me."
Fin replies, "Thou must put up with a less honour ; for
thou must refer the matter altogether to my decision, if
any agreement is to take place."
Thorer replies, "And even then I think it will stand
well with my case, and therefore I wnll not decline refer-
ring it to thee."
Thereupon Thorer came forward, and confirmed what
he said by giving his hand upon it ; and Fin repeated first
all the words he should say.
Fin now pronounced his decision upon the agreement,
— that Thorer should pay to the king ten marks of gold,
and to Gunstein and the other kindred ten marks, and for
the robbery and loss of goods ten marks more; and all
which should be paid immediately.
499
THE HEIMSKRINGLA
Tliorer says, "This is a heavy money mulct."
"Without it," repHes Fin, "there will be no agree-
ment."
Thorer says, there must time be allowed to gather so
much in loan from his followers ; but Fin told him to pay
immediately on the spot ; and besides, Thorer should lay
down the great ornament which he took from' Karle when
he was dead. Thorer asserted that he had not got the
ornament. Then Gunstein pressed forward, and said
that Karle had the ornament around his neck when they
parted, but it was gone when they took up his corpse.
Thorer said he had not observed any ornament ; but if
there was any such thing, it must be lying at home in
Bjarkey. Then Fin put the point of his spear to Thorer's
breast, and said that he must instantly produce the orna-
ment ; on which Thorer took the ornament from his neck
and gave it to Fin. Thereafter Thorer turned away,
and went on board his ship. Fin, with many other men,
followed him, went through the whole vessel, and took
up the hatches. At the mast they saw two very large
casks ; and Fin asked, "What are these puncheons ?"
Thorer replies, "It is my liquor."
Fin says, "Why don't you give us something to drink
then, comrade, since you have so much liquor?"
Thorer ordered his men to run off a bowlfull from the
puncheons, from which Fin and his people got liquor of
the best quality. Now Fin ordered Thorer to pay the
mulcts. Thorer went backwards and forwards through
the ship, speaking now to the one, now to the other, and
Fin calling out to produce the pence. Thorer begged
500
SAGA OF OLAF IIARALDSON
him to go to the shore, and said he would l)ring the
money there, and Fin with his men went on shore.
Then Thorer came and paid silver; of which, from one
purse, there were weighed ten marks. Thereafter
Thorer brought many knotted nightcaps ; and in some was
one mark, in others half a mark, and in others some small
money. "This is money my friends and other good people
have lent me," said he; "for I think all my travelling
money is gone." Then Thorer went back again to his
ship, and returned, and paid the silver by little and little;
and this lasted so long that the day w^as drawing towards
evening. When the Thing had closed the people had
gone to their vessels, and made ready to depart; and as
fast as they were ready they hoisted sail and set out, so
that most of them were under sail. When Fin saw that
they were most of them under sail, he ordered his men
to get ready too; but as yet little more than a third part
of the mulct had been paid. Then Fin said, "This goes
on very slowly, Thorer, with the payment. I see it costs
thee a great deal to pay money. I shall now let it stand
for the present, and what remains thou shalt pay to the
king himself." Fin then got up and went away.
Thorer replies, "I am well enough pleased, Fin, to
part now ; but the good will is not wanting to pay this
debt, so that both thou and the king shall say it is not un-
paid."
Then Fin went on board his ship, and followed the rest
of his fleet. Thorer was late before he was ready to come
out of the harbour. When the sails were hoisted he
steered out over Westfjord, and went to sea, keqiing south
501
THE HEIMSKRINGLA
along the land so far off that the hill-tops were half sunk,
and soon the land altogether was sunk from view by the
sea. Thorer held this coin-se until he got into the English
sea, and landed in England. He betook himself to King
Canute forthwith, and was well received by him. It
then came out that Thorer had with him a great deal of
proi:)erty; and, with other things, all the money he and
Karle had taken in Bjarmaland. In the great liquor-
casks there were sides within the outer sides, and the liq-
uor was between them. The rest of the casks were filled
with furs, and beaver and sable skins. Thorer was then
with King Canute. Fin came with his forces to King Olaf,
and related to him how all had gone upon his voyage,
and told at the same time his suspicion that Thorer had
left the country, and gone west to England to King
Canute. "And there I fear he will cause as much
trouble."
The king replies, "I believe that Thorer must be our
enemy, and it appears to me always better to have him at
a distance than near."
150. DISPUTE BETWEEN HAREK AND ASMUND.
Asmund Grankelson had been this winter (1027) in
Halogaland in his sheriffdom, and was at home with his
father Grankel. There lies a rock out in the sea, on which
there is both seal and bird catching, and a fishing ground,
and egg-gathering; and from old times it had been an
appendage to the farm which Grankel owned, but now
Harek of Thjotta laid clnim to it. It had gone so far,
that some years he had taken by force all the gain of this
502
SAGA OF OLAF HARALDSON
rock; but Asniund and Iiis fatlicr tlioiighl that they might
expect the king's help in all cases in which the right was
upon their side. Both father and son w^ent therefore in
spring to Harek, and brought him a message and tokens
from King Olaf that he should drop his claim. Harek
answered Asmund crossly, because he had jjone to the kintr
with such insinuations — "for the just right is upon my
side. Thou sliouldst learn moderation, Asmund, al-
though thou hast so much confidence in the king's favour.
It has succeeded with thee to kill some chiefs, and leave
their slaughter unpaid for by any mulct; and also to
plunder us. although we thought ourselves at least equal
to all of equal birth, and thou art far from being my
equal in family."
Asmund rq:)lies, "Many have experienced from thee,
Harek, that thou art of great connections, and too great
power; and many in consequence have suffered loss in
their property through thee. But it is likely that now
thou must turn thyself elsewhere, and not against us with
thy violence, and not go altogether against law, as thou
art now doing." Then they separated.
Harek sent ten or twelve of his house-servants with a
large rowing boat, with which they rowed to the rock,
took all that was to be got upon it, and loaded theii' boat.
But when they were ready to return home, Asmund
Grankelson came with thirty men, and ordered them to
give up all they had taken. Harek's house-servants were
not quick in complying, so that Asmund attacked them.
Some of Harek's men were cudgelled, some wounded,
some thrown into the sea, and all they had caught was
503
THE HEIMSKRINGLA
taken from on board of their boat, and Asmiind and his
people took it along with them. Then Harek's servants
came home, and told him the event. Harek replies,
"That is called news indeed that seldom happens; never
before has it happened that my people have been beaten."
The matter dropped. Ilarek never spoke about it,
but was very cheerful. In spring, how^ever, Harek rig-
ged out a cutter of tw^enty seats of rowers, and manned
it with his house-servants, and the ship was remarkably
well fitted out both with people and all necessary equip-
ment ; and Harek went to the levy ; but when he came to
King Olaf, Asmund was there before him. The king
summoned Harek and Asmund to him, and reconciled
them so that they left the matter entirely to him. As-