Chapter 48. Earl Hákon Takes Refuge in a Pigsty at Rimul
Earl Hákon was being entertained at Methalhús in Gaular Dale, and his ships lay anchored at Viggja. A certain man called Orm Lyrgja lived at Býness and was a farmer who wielded great influence. His wife was Guthrún, daughter of Bergthór of Lundar. She was called Lundasól [the Sun of Lundar] and was a most beautiful woman. The earl sent his thralls to Orm to fetch Orm’s wife Guthrún and bring her to him. The thralls delivered their message, and Orm asked them first to eat the evening meal [with them]. But before they had eaten their fill, there had come to Orm’s farm many men from the neighborhood to whom Orm had gotten word. And then Orm refused to let Guthrún go with the thralls. Guthrún told the thralls to say to the earl that she would not come to him unless he sent Thóra of Rimul to fetch her. This was a wealthy lady and one of the earl’s mistresses. The thralls declared that another time they would come in such fashion as to make the farmer and his wife shortly rue this. They used threatening language but then departed. Orm sent the war-arrows four ways around the settlement, requesting all to arm themselves and attack and kill Earl Hákon. He also sent word to Halldór at Skerthingstethja, who in his turn sent out the war-arrows.
A short time before that, the earl had taken the wife of a man called Brynjólf, and that deed had aroused immense resentment, so that people were near rising in a body. After the war-arrows has been sent around, a great host of men collected and marched to Methalhús. But the earl was informed of it and with his men left the farm and retreated into a deep valley which is now called Earl’s Dale, and hid there.
A day later the earl learned about the plans of the farmers. They had barricaded all the roads, rather thinking that the earl had gone to his ships, which were headed by Erlend, his son, a most promising young man. But when night approached, the earl dismissed his followers, ordering them to proceed to Orkn Dale by way of the forests—“No one will harm you if I am not by. Send word to Erlend to sail out of the fjord and [tell him] we shall meet in Mœr. I shall know how to hide from the farmers.” Then the earl left with one thrall called Kark. The Gaula River was covered with ice, and the earl drove his horse into it, leaving his cloak lying there.
Both entered a cave which later was called Earl’s cave. Then they fell asleep. And when Kark awoke he told the earl his dream—that a black and ugly man went by the cave, and that he was afraid he might enter it. But this man told him that Ulli was dead. The earl said that this probably meant that Erlend had been slain. Then Thormóth Kark fell asleep again and was restless in his sleep, and when he awoke, he told his dream, that he saw that same man come down again [to them] and that he asked him to tell the earl that now all ways of retreat were barred. Kark told the earl his dream, and he feared it meant that he had but a short time to live.
Then he arose and they went to the farm Rimul. There he sent Kark in to Thóra, asking her to come out secretly to him. This she did, and welcomed him. The earl asked her to hide him for some days until the farmers had dispersed. “They will search for you here,” she said, “both inside and outside my house, because many know that I would gladly help you all I can. But there is one place here on my farm where I would not be likely to look for a man such as you are, and that is the pigsty.”
They went up to it. The earl said, “Here we shall bed us down. The main thing is to save one’s life.” Then the thrall dug a deep pit, carrying the dirt away and then covering the excavation with timbers. Thóra told the earl the news that Óláf Tryggvason had entered the fjord and slain his son Erlend. Thereupon the earl and Kark went down into the pit, and Thóra covered it with timbers and swept dirt and dung over it and drove the swine over it. That pigsty was beneath a big boulder.
Chapter 49. The Thrall Kark Murders Earl Hákon
Óláf Tryggvason sailed into the fjord with five warships, whilst Erlend, the son of Earl Hákon, with three warships rowed toward him from within the fjord. But when the ships approached each other, Erlend suspected hostilities and rowed toward land. Now when Óláf saw the warships coming toward him out of the fjord he thought it was Earl Hákon and bade his crews row after them as fast as they could. But when Erlend and his men had nearly reached the land they ran aground and leapt overboard, trying to get ashore. Óláf’s ships followed in hot pursuit. Óláf saw an unusually handsome man take to swimming. He seized the tiller of his rudder and hurled it at that man. The blow struck Erlend, the earl’s son, on the head, breaking his skull. That was his death. Óláf and his men killed many there; some escaped by flight, and to some they gave quarter, and from them they learned what had happened [in the land]. Óláf was told then that the farmers had driven away Earl Hákon and that he had fled and that his followers had spread to all the winds.
Then all farmers came to see Óláf, and both he and the farmers were glad to meet, and right away agreed on their common purpose. The farmers chose him king over them, and all resolved to search for Earl Hákon. They marched up Gaular Dale, because all thought it most likely that the earl was at Rimul if he was on any farm; for Thóra was his most intimate friend in that valley. They went there and searched for the earl without and within and did not find him. Then Óláf had a meeting [with the people] outside in the farm yard. He stood on the great boulder beside the pigsty and spoke to them and promised he would both honor and endow with riches the man who would kill Earl Hákon.
This was heard by both the earl and Kark. They had a light with them. The earl said, “Why are you so pale and sometimes as black as the earth? Is it that you will betray me?”
“No,” said Kark.
“We were born in one and the same night,” said the Earl, “and it is not likely that much time will elapse between our deaths.”
King Óláf left as evening approached. And when it became night, the earl kept awake, but Kark fell asleep and carried on in his dream. Then the earl waked him and asked him what he had dreamed. He said, “I dreamed I was at Hlathir and Óláf Tryggvason laid a golden necklace about my neck.”
The earl answered, “That signifies that Óláf will put a blood-red ring about your neck when you meet him. So have a care. But by me you will always be treated well, as I have done always, so do not betray me.” Then both stayed awake, as though each watched the other. But toward daybreak the earl fell asleep and soon he carried on in his sleep, and so badly that he bent down heels and neck as though he meant to rise, and uttered a loud and dreadful cry. But Kark grew frightened and alarmed. He took a big knife from his belt and cut the earl’s throat, then slashed it clean 995 through, and that was Earl Hákon’s death. Then Kark cut off the earl’s head and ran away with it. Next day he entered the estate at Hlathir and presented the earl’s head to King Óláf. He also told about what had happened between Earl Hákon and him, as was written above. Thereupon King Óláf had him led away and beheaded.
Chapter 50. The Heads of Earl Hákon and Kark Are Stoned
Then King Óláf and a multitude of farmers with him went to the Island of Nitharhólm1 taking with them the heads of Earl Hákon and of Kark. This island was at that time used for putting to death thieves and evildoers, and a gallows stood there. The king had the heads of Earl Hákon and of Kark fastened to it. Thereupon the whole multitude came with great shouts and stoned them, saying that they should fare thus like every other villain. Then they sent men up to Gaular Dale who hauled away Hákon’s trunk and burned it. There was such fierce hatred against Earl Hákon among the Tronders that no one might call him by any other name than the evil earl. And that name stuck to him for a long time. But the truth of the matter is that he had many qualifications for leadership: first, an exalted lineage, and therewith shrewdness and sagacity to use his power, briskness in battle as well as a lucky hand in winning the victory and slaying his enemies. As says Thorleif Rauthfeldarson:2
(143.)
160. Hákon, heard we under
heaven no doughtier earl than
thou—but greater grew thy
glory
from wars—to govern.
Athelings nine to Óthin—
feeds the raven on flesh of
fallen men—spread far thy
fame aye—thou didst send forth.
Earl Hákon exceeded everyone in generosity, and it was great ill fortune that a chieftain such as he should have died as he did. But the reason for this was chiefly that the time had come when heathen worship and idolators were done away with and Christianity took their place.
Chapter 51. Óláf Tryggvason Is Accepted as King over Norway
In the general assembly in Trondheim, Óláf Tryggvason was 996 chosen king over all the land, as Harald Fairhair had been. On that occasion all the multitudinous crowd of people would not have it otherwise than that Óláf Tryggvason should be king. Thereupon Óláf went about the whole country and was given the oath of fealty. All the people of Norway swore allegiance to him, even those chieftains in the Uppland districts and in Vík who before had held their lands in fief from the King of Denmark. They now became King Óláf’s men and held their lands from him. Thus he made his royal progress about the country the first winter and the summer thereafter.
Earl Eirík, the son of Hákon, and his brother Svein, as well as other kinsmen and friends of theirs fled the land, seeking refuge in Sweden with King Óláf of Sweden, and were welcomed there. As says Thórth Kol-beinsson:
(144.)
161. Curber of outlaws!1 Cut short
caitiff traitors a little
while since—harsh is fate oft—
Hákon’s, thy father’s, life-span,
what time Tryggvi’s kinsman2
to this land came, which the
atheling3 erst had conquered,
over the sea from Westlands.
(145.)
162. Much in mind had Eirík—
more than thought was—’ gainst the
sower-of-wealth:4 certes
such was to be looked for.
Wrothly sought the Swedish
sovran’s help—durst no one
hinder that—the Thronders
thane.5 That tribe proved stubborn.
Chapter 52. Lothin Redeems Queen Ástríth from Bondage
There was a man called Lothin. He was from Vík, and both rich and well born. Often he went on trading journeys, and sometimes, on viking expeditions. One summer Lothin went on a trading journey in the Baltic with only one ship, laden with much merchandise. He sailed to Esthonia and there attended markets during the summer. And when there was a market, all kinds of wares were brought there, and many bondwomen were there for sale. Lothin saw a woman there who had been sold as a slave. And when he looked at the woman he recognized her and knew her to be Ástríth, the daughter of Eirík, who had been King Tryggvi’s wife, though she looked different from what she had done when last he saw her. She was pale and peaked and poorly clad. He went up to her and asked how matters stood with her. She replied, “It is bitter to tell you about it. I am sold as a slave, and brought here to be sold.” Then they recognized each other, and Ástríth knew him well. Then she begged him to buy her and take her home with him to her kinsfolk.
“I shall do so under one condition,” he said. “I shall take you to Norway if you will marry me.” Now since Ástríth was in dire straits at the time, and also because she knew that Lothin was a man of high lineage, brave and rich, she promised him this to ransom herself. Thereupon Lothin bought Ástríth and took her home to Norway with him and married her there with the consent of her kinsmen. Their children were a son, Thorkel Nose, and their daughters, Ingiríth and Ingigerth. The daughters of Ástríth with King Tryggvi were Ingibjorg and Ástríth. The sons of Eirík Bjóthaskalli were Sigurth, Karlshofuth, Jóstein, and Thorkel Dyrthil. They all were men of worth and wealth and had their estates in the eastern part of the land. There were two brothers who lived east in Vík, one called Thorgeir, the other Hyrning. They married the two daughters of Lothin and Ástríth.
Chapter 53. Óláf Tryggvason Proclaims Christianity in Norway
When Harald Gormsson, the king of Denmark, had been baptized he sent the order over all his kingdom that all were to take the baptism and accept the true faith. He followed up this command himself and used his power and inflicted punishment if nothing else helped. He had sent two earls to Norway with a great force. Their names were———.1 They were to proclaim Christianity in Norway. That succeeded in Vík, where people were subject to King Harald, and many of the people were baptized. Now after Harald’s death his son, Svein Forkbeard, made incursions in Saxland, Frísia, and finally, in England. But those in Norway who had accepted Christianity reverted to heathen sacrifices as before and as the people in the north of the land did.
Now when Óláf Tryggvason had become king in Norway, he resided a long time in Vík during the summer. There, many of his kinsmen and relations by marriage came to him. Many had been great friends of his father and welcomed him heartily. Then Óláf called his maternal uncles, Lothin, his stepfather, and his relatives Thorgeir and Hyrning, to a conference with him, and with the greatest earnestness laid before them the matter they themselves should take hold of, together with him, and then further with all their strength; which was, to preach the Gospel throughout the kingdom. And he said he would succeed in christening all of Norway or else die. “I shall make you all great and powerful men, because I put most trust in you because of our kinship or other affinity.” They all agreed to this and to do what they could and follow him in all that he proposed, together with all those who would follow their counsel.
Very soon King Óláf made it clear to all the people that he would proclaim Christianity in all his realm. And the first to agree to this order were they who before had accepted the faith. They were also the most powerful of those who were present at the time, and all others followed their example. Then all who dwelled in the eastern part of Vík were baptized, whereupon the king proceeded north in Vík and commanded all to accept Christianity; but those who spoke against it he punished severely, killing some, maiming others or driving them out of the country. As a result, all the dominions which King Tryggvi, his father, had ruled as well as those which had been subject to Harald of Grenland, his kinsman, now accepted Christianity as Óláf ordered; so that during the summer and the following winter everyone in Vík was baptized.
Chapter 54. The Men of Horthaland Are Warned of the King’s Coming
Early in spring King Óláf with a large force proceeded to the 997 outer reaches of the [Fold]fjord and then north [west] to Agthir. And wherever he assembled with the farmers he ordered all to be baptized, and all accepted Christianity, because no one among the farmers dared to rebel against the king; so people were baptized wherever he came.
There were many and prominent men in Horthaland descended from Hortha-Kári. He had had four sons. One was Thorleif the Wise; another, Ogmund, the father of Thórólf Squinter, the father of Erling of Sóli; the third, Thórth, the father of the Hersir Klypp who killed Sigurth Slefa, the son of Gunnhild; the fourth, Olmóth, the father of Áskel, the father of Áslák Fitjaskalli. That family was at that time the largest and noblest in Horthaland. Now when these kinsmen learned of the tidings—that the king was proceeding westward along the land with a large force, breaking down the old dispensation, and that men underwent punishment and had to submit to harsh conditions if they went against him—they agreed on meeting together to take counsel, because they knew that the king would soon be upon them; and they determined that all of them would proceed to the Gulathing Assembly with a numerous force and there come to a meeting with King Óláf Tryggvason.
Chapter 55. The Resistance to Óláf’s Missionary Efforts in Rogaland Collapses
King Óláf on arriving in Rogaland at once called for an assembly. But when the summons came to the farmers they assembled together in great numbers, all armed. And when they had gathered they conferred and took counsel, and selected the most eloquent in their midst, to make answer to King Óláf at the assembly and oppose him; and they agreed t
hey would refuse to submit to lawlessness, even though the king commanded them.
Now when the farmers came to the assembly and deliberations were to begin, King Óláf arose and at first spoke gently to the farmers. Still, it was plain from his speech that he meant them to become Christians. He asked them with fair words to agree to that; but in the end he added that those who opposed him and would not comply with his demands would feel his wrath and suffer punishment and stern conditions wherever he could reach them.
Now when the king had finished speaking, then arose one of the farmers who was the most eloquent and had been chosen to answer King Óláf. But when he was about to speak he had such a fit of coughing and such difficulty with breathing that he could not utter a word and sat down again. Then another farmer arose with the intention not to fail in his reply, even though the first spokesman had not been so successful. But when he began he stammered so much that he did not get a word out. Then all those who listened fell to laughing, and he sat down. Then the third one got up to speak against King Óláf. But when he started to speak he was so hoarse and husky that no one understood what he said, so he sat down. Then no one of the farmers undertook to speak against the king. And as the farmers got no one to oppose the king, there was no resistance to him, and the end was that all agreed to the king’s demands. Then all the people at the assembly were baptized before the king departed.
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