Heimskringla

by Snorri Sturluson

  Ásbjorn and his crew were moored there during the night. In the morning after daybreak Thórir went down to the ship, and some men with him. He asked who was the master of that noble ship. Ásbjorn told him his name and mentioned who his father was. Thórir asked whither he was bound and on what errand. Ásbjorn told him that he wanted to buy grain and malt and that, as was the truth, a great famine prevailed in the north, “but we are told that here you had a good season. Would you, farmer, sell us grain? I see that there are big stacks of it here. It would be a great help for us not to have to journey farther.”

  Thórir answered, “I shall help you, so that you won’t need to go farther for buying grain, either here or anywhere else in Rogaland. I may [as well] tell you that you might as well turn back nor sail farther, because neither here nor anywhere else will you obtain grain, because the king has forbidden the sale of grain to people in the north—so turn back, man from Hálogaland. That will be best for you.”

  Ásbjorn said, “If that is the case, as you say, farmer, that we cannot buy grain, then it is no less my errand to visit my kinsfolk at Sóli and see the homestead of my kinsman Erling.”

  Thórir said, “How closely are you related to Erling?”

  Ásbjorn replied, “My mother is a sister of his.”

  Thórir said, “In that case it may be that I have spoken rashly, if you are the sister’s son of the king of Rogaland.”

  Then Ásbjorn and his men cast off the tent covering of their ship and turned it seaward. Thórir shouted to them, “Farewell, now, and come back on your return.” Ásbjorn said they would do so. They went their way and in the evening arrived at Jathar. Ásbjorn himself went on land with ten men while ten remained to guard the ship. And when Ásbjorn arrived at Erling’s residence he was received well, for Erling was greatly pleased to see him. He seated him next to himself and asked him for all the news from the northern part of the country. Ásbjorn told him plainly about his errand [to these parts]. Erling said that was unfortunate since the king had forbidden the sale of grain. “I do not know of any man here,” he said, “who would dare to break the king’s command. And I find it difficult to keep the friendship of the king because there are many who wish to ruin our friendly relations.”

  Ásbjorn said: “It is hard to learn the truth. I was told when I was young that my mother was freeborn on all sides, and also that Erling at Sóli now was the most powerful of her kinsmen, but now I hear you say that you dare not, for fear of the king’s thralls, dispose of your grain as you please.”

  Erling looked at him, grinning, and said: “Less do you people of Hálogaland know of the king’s power than we of Rogaland. At home you may be frank of speech, nor is that strange, considering your origin. But now let us drink first, kinsman, and let us see tomorrow what can be done about your business.”

  They did so and were merry during the evening. The following day they discussed the matter again, and Erling said, “I have hit upon a plan concerning your purchase of grain. But are you particular with whom you deal, Ásbjorn?” He replied he did not care from whom be bought grain provided it was sold to him lawfully. Erling said, “I should think it likely that my thralls have enough for you to buy all you need. They are not bound by our laws and statutes as others are.” Ásbjorn said he would accept that. Then the thralls were informed about this [proposed] purchase. They produced their grain and malt and sold it to Ásbjorn. He loaded his ship as he had wanted to, and when he was ready to depart Erling accompanied him on his way with gifts of friendship, and they parted as dear friends.

  Ásbjorn got a favorable wind and in the evening moored in the Kormt Sound near Ogvaldsness and remained there during the night. Thórir Seal was promptly informed of Ásbjorn’s coming and also, that his ship was deep-laden. Thórir summoned a force of men during the night, so that before daybreak he had sixty men. He went to see Ásbjorn as soon as there was enough light to see, and straightway boarded the ship. At that time Ásbjorn and his men had their clothes on, and he greeted Thórir. The latter asked what cargo Ásbjorn had in his ship. He replied that it was grain and malt. Thórir said, “In that case Erling as usual disregards as idle all edicts of the king, and still is not weary of opposing him in every respect, and it is strange that the king winks at all he does,” and he used violent language for a while. When he stopped, Ásbjorn said that the grain had been the property of Erling’s thralls. Thórir answered sharply that he was not fooled by his and Erling’s tricks. “And now, Ásbjorn, you will have to step on land, or else we shall heave you all overboard, because we don’t want to be crowded by you while we clear the ship.”

  Ásbjorn saw he did not have enough men to fight Thórir, so he and his crew went up on land; but Thórir had all the cargo unloaded. When the ship was cleared, Thórir went through the ship. He said, “Wonderfully fine sails these people from Hálogaland have! Take the old sail from our cargo boat and give them that! It is good enough for them as they sail with an empty bottom.” So they did and exchanged the sails.

  Ásbjorn and his men went their way, not being able to do anything about it. He sailed north along the land nor stopped till he reached home at the beginning of winter, and that journey became widely known. So Ásbjorn was relieved of all the trouble of preparing for feastings that winter.

  Thórir [Hound] invited to his Yule entertainment both Ásbjorn, his mother, and all those they wanted to have along. But Ásbjorn declined and remained at home. It appeared that Thórir considered Ásbjorn to have reacted unhandsomely to his invitation. He made fun of his expedition. “There is,” he said, “a great difference between us kinsmen of Ásbjorn in the honor he does us, and he makes that plain, seeing the effort he put forth this summer to visit Erling and his kin; whereas now he disdains to come to me who lives next door to him! I don’t know but he fears that Seal-Thórir be there on every islet.” Such sayings of Thórir, and others like them, came to Ásbjorn’s ears. He was mightily displeased with his voyage, and all the more so now, hearing this mock and laughter made of it. He remained at home that winter, going to no entertainments.

  Chapter 118. Ásbjorn Slays Thórir

  Ásbjorn owned a warship. It was a swift-sailing ship with twenty rowers’ benches and stood in a large boathouse. After Candlemas [February 2nd] he launched it, had the tackle brought out, and the vessel made ready. Then he summoned his friends, so he had nearly ninety men, all well armed. And when he was finished with his preparations and had a favorable breeze he sailed south along the land. On their journey, however, he had to wait rather long for favorable breezes. As they came south they sailed in the open sea rather than by the generally travelled fairway [within the skerries], whenever that was possible. Nothing happened on their journey before—on the evening of the fifth day after Easter—they arrived at the Island of Kormt, on its ocean side. That is a large island, long and for the most part not broad, and it lies on the outside of the fairway. On the land side there is a large settlement, but most of the island on the side facing the sea is uninhabited.

  When they had stretched the awnings over the ship Ásbjorn said, “Now I want you to stay behind here and wait for me, but I shall go up on the island to reconnoiter and see how matters stand on the island, for we have no information about that.” Ásbjorn was meanly clad and wore a long hood. He had a staff with a hook on it in his hand and was girt with a sword under his clothes. He went up on land and crossed the island. And when he came to a hill from which he could see Kormt Sound and the farm on Ogvaldsness he observed a great stir of men both on sea and land, and he noticed that all the people were going toward the farm on Ogvaldsness. That seemed strange to him.

  Then he went up to the farm and the place where the servants were preparing food. Very soon he gathered from their talk that King Óláf had arrived there for his entertainment, and also that the king had sat down to table. Then Ásbjorn went up to the house [where people were eating], and when he came to the entrance hall he saw some people coming out, and others, going in, but no
one took any notice of him. The door to the [dining] room stood open, and he could see Thórir Seal standing before the table where the high-seat was. It was late in the evening by then. Ásbjorn heard people ask Thórir what had happened between him and Ásbjorn, and also heard Thórir make a long story of it; and he thought Thórir plainly was onesided in his account. Then he heard a man ask, “How did Ásbjorn bear it when you cleared his ship?”

  Thórir said: “He bore that with some composure, though not too well, when we cleared his ship; but when we took his sail he blubbered.”

  When Ásbjorn heard that, he drew his sword quickly and rushed into the hall and straightway dealt Thórir a blow. It fell on his neck, the head dropped on the table before the king, and the body before his feet. The table cloths were all spattered with blood, both above and below. The king ordered Ásbjorn to be seized, which was done, and he was led out. Then the dishes and the table cloths were removed, and also Thórir’s body, and everything stained with blood was swept clean. The king was in a towering rage but kept control of himself as was his habit.

  Skjálg, the son of Erling, arose and went before the king. He spoke thus, “Now matters have come to such a pass that we must look to you, sire, as often has been the case, for a remedy of this situation. I shall offer to pay an indemnity so that this man may keep life and limbs; but I shall leave it to you to decide about all else.”

  The king replied, “Is it not true, Skjálg, that it is a deed deserving death for a man to break the peace at Easter; and again, that he killed a man in the king’s lodgings; and third—which will seem to you and your father but a small matter—that he used my feet as the chopping block?”

  Skjálg answered, “It is unfortunate, sire, that the deed seems hateful to you, for otherwise a good piece of work has been done. But if it is abhorrent to you, sire, and of grave import, then I expect, [to offset it], that I deserve much for my services to you. Many will say that this may well comport with your dignity.”

  The king replied, “Although I set great value on you, Skjálg, I shall not for your sake break the law and debase my royal dignity.”

  Thereupon Skjálg turned to go and left the room. Twelve men had been with him, and all of them followed him, and many others left with him. Skjálg said to Thórarin, the son of Nef jólf, “If you wish to keep my friendship, then do all you can that the man is not executed before Sunday.”

  Thereupon Skjálg and his men launched a skiff with oars which he owned, and rowed south with all their might and arrived at Jathar at daybreak. They forthwith went up to the farm and the loft in which Erling slept. Skjálg threw his weight against the door so that it broke from the hinges. With that, Erling and other people inside awoke. He was the first on his feet, grabbed his shield and sword, and running to the door he asked who it was that burst in that way. Skjálg told him and bade him unlock the door. Erling said, “I might have thought it was you, rushing about so witlessly; or is anyone pursuing you?” Then the door was opened.

  Skjálg said: “Even though you may think I am headlong, I expect that Ásbjorn, your kinsman, would not think I am going too fast, sitting as he does north in Ogvaldsness in irons. And it is more manly to hurry to his aid.” Then son and father exchanged a few words, and Skjálg told Erling all the circumstances how Seal-Thórir was slain.

  Chapter 119. Thórarin Delays Ásbjorn’s Execution

  King Óláf seated himself again, after the room had been put in order, and he was in a towering rage. He asked what had been done about the slayer, and was told that he was kept outside on the porch under guard. The king said, “Why has he not been killed?” Thórarin Nefjólfsson replied, “Would you not call it murder, sire, to kill a man at night?”1 Then the king said, “Put him in irons and kill him in the morning.” Then Ásbjorn was put in irons and locked in a house during the night.

  On the following day the king listened to matins. Thereupon he attended meetings and sat there till high mass. Then he went to mass, and as he left it he said to Thórarin, “Is the sun high enough now that Ásbjorn, your friend, can be hanged?”

  Thórarin bowed to the king and said, “Sire, the bishop last Friday said that the king who has power over all suffered [great] trials; and also that he is blessed who does like him, rather than like them who condemned him to die or those who killed him. It is not long till morning now, and then it will be a week day on which all actions are permitted.”

  The king looked at him and said, “You shall have your way, he shall not be put to death today. Take him into your custody now and guard him; but be assured that your life is at stake if he escapes in whatsoever fashion.”

  Then the king went his way, and Thórarin went to where Ásbjorn sat in irons. Then Thórarin released him from his fetters and took him to a small room where he had food and drink given him. He told him what the king would do to him if Ásbjorn ran away. Ásbjorn assured Thórarin that he need not fear that. Thórarin sat there by him for a long time during the day and slept there at night.

  The king walks through the lines of Erling’s men.

  On Saturday the king arose and went to matins. Then he attended meetings, to which many farmers had come, and they brought up many complaints. The king sat there for a long time during the day, and it was rather late when he went to high mass. Following that, the king sat down to table, and when he had finished eating he drank for a while before the tables were removed. Thórarin went up to the priest who had charge of the church and gave him two ounces of silver to ring the bell for the holiday as soon as the king’s tables were removed.

  Now when the king had drunk such time as seemed to him sufficient, the tables were removed, and the king said that the time had come for the thralls to bring out the slayer and execute him. At this moment the bell was rung for the holiday. Thereupon Thórarin went before the king and said, “Peace ought to be granted this man for the duration of the holidays even though he has done evil.”

  The king said, “You guard him, Thórarin, so that he will not escape.” Then the king went to church for the nones,2 while Thórarin continued sitting by Ásbjorn during the day. On Sunday the bishop came to Ásbjorn to shrive him, and gave him permission to attend high mass. Thereupon Thórarin approached the king and asked him to provide men to guard the slayer. “I now wish to have no more to do with him,” he said. The king thanked him for what he had done and set men to guard Ásbjorn. They put him in irons. And when people went to high mass, Ásbjorn was led to the church. He remained standing outside with those who guarded him. The king and all the people heard the mass standing.

  Chapter 120. Erling Skjálgsson Is Reconciled with King Óláf

  Now we must revert to what we told before, when Erling and his son Skjálg took counsel what to do in this difficult situation. At the urging of Skjálg and others of Erling’s sons it was agreed on to collect troops and send out war-arrows. Soon a large force collected and embarked on ships, and when they counted the men they found they had nearly fifteen hundred [1800]. They sailed with that force and on Sunday arrived at Ogvaldsness on the Isle of Kormt. They went up to the buildings there with all their force and got there at the time the reading of the gospels was finished. They straightway went up to the church, freed Ásbjorn, and broke his chains.

  Hearing all this tumult and clash of weapons, all who were outside fled into the church; and they who were inside looked out, all except the king. He stood there and did not look around. Erling and his men placed themselves on both sides of the street which led from the church to the [meeting] hall. Erling and his sons stood close to the hall. But when the clerics had finished singing the mass, the king forthwith left the church. He was the first to proceed through the line of men, and after him came one after the other of his men.

  When the king arrived at the hall, Erling was standing in the doorway and bowed down before him and saluted him. The king made answer, praying God to help him. Then Erling spoke as follows: “I am told that my kinsman Ásbjorn has committed a grave offence, and i
t is unfortunate, now it is done, that you, sire, are displeased thereat. Now I have come for the purpose of offering to you for him reconciliation and compensation such as you yourself shall determine, against security for him of life and limb and permission to stay in the country.”

  The king answered, “It would appear to me, Erling, that you probably think that you now have the power to decide what is to be done about Ásbjorn. I do not see why you now act as though you were to offer compensation for him. I suppose you have collected an army for the purpose of deciding between us.”

  Erling replied, “It is you who are to decide, and decide in such fashion that we may part reconciled.”

  The king said, “Do you mean to overawe me, Erling? Is that why you have such a large force?”

  “No,” he replied.

  The king said, “But if there is something else at the bottom of this, do not expect me to flee.”

  Erling said, “No need to remind me that up to now whenever we met I had but a small force to oppose to yours. Now I shall not conceal from you what I have in mind; and that is, that we part reconciled, or else I do not expect that I shall risk meeting you again.”