Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway
Eidsvold laws should be good through all the districts of the Uplands,
and wide around in other quarters, which also has taken place. As spring
was advancing, he rigged his ships, and went by sea to Tunsberg.
He remained there during the spring, and the time the town was most
frequented, and goods from other countries were brought to the town for
sale. There had been a good year in Viken, and tolerable as far north as
Stad; but it was a very dear time in all the country north of there.
121. RECONCILIATION OF THE KING AND EINAR.
In spring (A.D. 1022) King Olaf sent a message west to Agder, and north
all the way to Hordaland and Rogaland, prohibiting the exporting or
selling of corn, malt, or meal; adding, that he, as usual, would come
there with his people in guest-quarters. The message went round all the
districts; but the king remained in Viken all summer, and went east
to the boundary of the country. Einar Tambaskelfer had been with the
Swedish king Olaf since the death of his relation Earl Svein, and had,
as the khag's man, received great fiefs from him. Now that the king was
dead, Einar had a great desire to come into friendship agreement with
Olaf; and the same spring messages passed between them about it. While
the king was lying in the Gaut river, Einar Tambaskelfer came there with
some men; and after treating about an agreement, it was settled that
Einar should go north to Throndhjem, and there take possession of all
the lands and property which Bergliot had received in dower. Thereupon
Einar took his way north; but the king remained behind in Viken, and
remained long in Sarpsborg in autumn (A.D. 1022), and during the first
part of winter.
122. RECONCILIATION OF THE KING AND ERLING.
Erling Skjalgson held his dominion so, that all north from Sogn Lake,
and east to the Naze, the bondes stood under him; and although he had
much smaller royal fiefs than formerly, still so great a dread of him
prevailed that nobody dared to do anything against his will, so that
the king thought his power too great. There was a man called Aslak
Fitiaskalle, who was powerful and of high birth. Erling's father Skjalg,
and Aslak's father Askel, were brother's sons. Aslak was a great friend
of King Olaf, and the king settled him in South Hordaland, where he gave
him a great fief, and great income, and ordered him in no respect to
give way to Erling. But this came to nothing when the king was not in
the neighbourhood; for then Erling would reign as he used to do, and was
not more humble because Aslak would thrust himself forward as his equal.
At last the strife went so far that Aslak could not keep his place, but
hastened to King Olaf, and told him the circumstances between him and
Erling. The king told Aslak to remain with him until he should meet
Erling; and sent a message to Erling that he should come to him in
spring at Tunsberg. When they all arrived there they held a meeting at
which the king said to him, "It is told me concerning thy government,
Erling, that no man from Sogn Lake to the Naze can enjoy his freedom for
thee; although there are many men there who consider themselves born
to udal rights, and have their privileges like others born as they are.
Now, here is your relation Aslak, who appears to have suffered great
inconvenience from your conduct; and I do not know whether he himself is
in fault, or whether he suffers because I have placed him to defend what
is mine; and although I name him, there are many others who have brought
the same complaint before us, both among those who are placed in office
in our districts, and among the bailiffs who have our farms to manage,
and are obliged to entertain me and my people."
Erling replies to this, "I will answer at once. I deny altogether that I
have ever injured Aslak, or any one else, for being in your service; but
this I will not deny, that it is now, as it has long been, that each of
us relations will willingly be greater than the other: and, moreover,
I freely acknowledge that I am ready to bow my neck to thee, King Olaf;
but it is more difficult for me to stoop before one who is of slave
descent in all his generation, although he is now your bailiff, or
before others who are but equal to him in descent, although you bestow
honours on them."
Now the friends of both interfered, and entreated that they would be
reconciled; saying, that the king never could have such powerful aid as
from Erling, "if he was your friend entirely." On the other hand, they
represent to Erling that he should give up to the king; for if he was
in friendship with the king, it would be easy to do with all the others
what he pleased. The meeting accordingly ended so that Erling should
retain the fiefs he formerly had, and every complaint the king had
against Erling should be dropped; but Skjalg, Erling's son, should
come to the king, and remain in his power. Then Aslak returned to his
dominions, and the two were in some sort reconciled. Erling returned
home also to his domains, and followed his own way of ruling them.
123. HERE BEGINS THE STORY OF ASBJORN SELSBANE.
There was a man named Sigurd Thoreson, a brother of Thorer Hund of
Bjarkey Island. Sigurd was married to Sigrid Skjalg's daughter, a sister
of Erling. Their son, called Asbjorn, became as he grew up a very
able man. Sigurd dwelt at Omd in Thrandarnes, and was a very rich and
respected man. He had not gone into the king's service; and Thorer in so
far had attained higher dignity than his brother, that he was the king's
lenderman. But at home, on his farm, Sigurd stood in no respect behind
his brother in splendour and magnificence. As long as heathenism
prevailed, Sigurd usually had three sacrifices every year: one on
winter-night's eve, one on mid-winter's eve, and the third in summer.
Although he had adopted Christianity, he continued the same custom with
his feasts: he had, namely, a great friendly entertainment at harvest
time; a Yule feast in winter, to which he invited many; the third feast
he had about Easter, to which also he invited many guests. He continued
this fashion as long as he lived. Sigurd died on a bed of sickness when
Asbjorn was eighteen years old. He was the only heir of his father, and
he followed his father's custom of holding three festivals every year.
Soon after Asbjorn came to his heritage the course of seasons began to
grow worse, and the corn harvests of the people to fail; but Asbjorn
held his usual feasts, and helped himself by having old corn, and an old
provision laid up of all that was useful. But when one year had passed
and another came, and the crops were no better than the year before,
Sigrid wished that some if not all of the feasts should be given up.
That Asbjorn would not consent to, but went round in harvest among his
friends, buying corn where he could get it, and some he received in
presents. He thus kept his feasts this winter also; but the spring after
people got but little seed into the ground, for they had to buy
the seed-corn. Then Sigurd spoke of diminishing the number of their
house-servants. That Asbjorn would not consent to, but held by the old
fashion of the house in all things. In summer (A.D. 1022) it appeared
again that there would be a bad year for corn; and to this came the
report from the south that King Olaf prohibited all export of corn,
malt, or meal from the southern to the northern parts of the country.
Then Asbjorn perceived that it would be difficult to procure what was
necessary for a house-keeping, and resolved to put into the water a
vessel for carrying goods which he had, and which was large enough to
go to sea with. The ship was good, all that belonged to her was of the
best, and in the sails were stripes of cloth of various colours. Asbjorn
made himself ready for a voyage, and put to sea with twenty men. They
sailed from the north in summer; and nothing is told of their voyage
until one day, about the time the days begin to shorten, they came to
Karmtsund, and landed at Augvaldsnes. Up in the island Karmt there is
a large farm, not far from the sea, and a large house upon it called
Augvaldsnes, which was a king's house, with an excellent farm, which
Thorer Sel, who was the king's bailiff, had under his management. Thorer
was a man of low birth, but had swung himself up in the world as an
active man; and he was polite in speech, showy in clothes, and fond
of distinction, and not apt to give way to others, in which he was
supported by the favour of the king. He was besides quick in speech,
straightforward, and free in conversation. Asbjorn, with his company,
brought up there for the night; and in the morning, when it was light,
Thorer went down to the vessel with some men, and inquired who commanded
the splendid ship. Asbjorn named his own and his father's name. Thorer
asks where the voyage was intended for, and what was the errand.
Asbjorn replies, that he wanted to buy corn and malt; saying, as was
true, that it was a very dear time north in the country. "But we are
told that here the seasons are good; and wilt thou, farmer, sell us
corn? I see that here are great corn stacks, and it would be very
convenient if we had not to travel farther."
Thorer replies, "I will give thee the information that thou needst not
go farther to buy corn, or travel about here in Rogaland; for I can tell
thee that thou must turn about, and not travel farther, for the king
forbids carrying corn out of this to the north of the country. Sail back
again, Halogalander, for that will be thy safest course."
Asbjorn replies, "If it be so, bonde, as thou sayest, that we can get
no corn here to buy, I will, notwithstanding, go forward upon my errand,
and visit my family in Sole, and see my relation Erling's habitation."
Thorer: "How near is thy relationship to Erling?"
Asbjorn: "My mother is his sister."
Thorer: "It may be that I have spoken heedlessly, if so be that thou art
sister's son of Erling."
Thereupon Asbjorn and his crew struck their tents, and turned the ship
to sea. Thorer called after them. "A good voyage, and come here again on
your way back." Asbjorn promised to do so, sailed away, and came in the
evening to Jadar. Asbjorn went on shore with ten men; the other ten
men watched the ship. When Asbjorn came to the house he was very
well received, and Erling was very glad to see him, placed him beside
himself, and asked him all the news in the north of the country. Asbjorn
concealed nothing of his business from him; and Erling said it happened
unfortunately that the king had just forbid the sale of corn. "And I
know no man here." says he, "who has courage to break the king's order,
and I find it difficult to keep well with the king, so many are trying
to break our friendship."
Asbjorn replies, "It is late before we learn the truth. In my childhood
I was taught that my mother was freeborn throughout her whole descent,
and that Erling of Sole was her boldest relation; and now I hear thee
say that thou hast not the freedom, for the king's slaves here in Jadar,
to do with thy own corn what thou pleasest."
Erling looked at him, smiled through his teeth, and said, "Ye
Halogalanders know less of the king's power than we do here; but a bold
man thou mayst be at home in thy conversation. Let us now drink, my
friend, and we shall see tomorrow what can be done in thy business."
They did so, and were very merry all the evening. The following day
Erling and Asbjorn talked over the matter again, and Erling said. "I
have found out a way for you to purchase corn, Asbjorn. It is the same
thing to you whoever is the seller." He answered that he did not care of
whom he bought the corn, if he got a good right to his purchase. Erling
said. "It appears to me probable that my slaves have quite as much