out into the Greenland ocean. There he encountered heavy storms, and drove long about upon the ocean; but when summer was coming to an end he landed again in Iceland in Breidafiord. Thorgils Arason* was the first man of any consequence who came to him. Thorarin brings him the king's salutation, message, and tokens, with which was the desire about King Hrorek's reception. Thorgils received these in a friendly way, and invited King Hrorek to his house, where he stayed all winter. But he did not like being there, and begged that Thorgils would let him go to Gudmund; saying he had heard some time or other that there, in Gudmund's house, was the most sumptuous way of living in Iceland, and that it was intended he should be in Gudmund's hands. Thorgils let him have his desire, and conducted him with some men to Gudmund at Modruveller. Gudmund received Hrorek kindly on account of the king's message, and he stayed there the next winter. He did not like being there either; and then Gudmund gave him a habitation upon a small farm called Kalfskin, where there were but few neighbours. There Hrorek passed the third winter, and said that since he had laid down his kingdom he thought himself most comfortably situated here; for here he was most respected by all. The summer after Hrorek fell sick, and died; and it is said he is the only king whose bones rest in Iceland. Thorarin Nefiulf Thorgils was the son of Are Marson, who visited America (Vinland). Thorgils, who was still alive in the year 1024, was noted for his kindness toward all persecuted persons. son was afterwards for a long time upon voyages; but sometimes he was with King Olaf. CHAPTER LXXXVII.-Battle in Ulfreks-fiord. The summer that Thorarin went with Hrorek to Iceland, Hialte Skeggiason went also to Iceland, and King Olaf gave him many friendly gifts with him when they parted. The same summer Eyvind Urarhorn went on an expedition to the West sea, and came in autumn to Ireland, to the Irish king Konofogor.* In autumn Einar earl of Orkney and this Irish king met in Ulfreks-fiord,† and there was a great battle, in which Konofogor gained the victory, having many more people. The earl fled with a single ship, and came back about autumn to Orkney, after losing most of his men and all the booty they had made. The earl was much displeased with his expedition, and threw the blame upon the Northmen, who had been in the battle on the side of the Irish king, for making him lose the victory. CHAPTER LXXXVIII.-King Olaf Prepares for his Bridal Journey. Now we begin again our story where we let it slip-at King Olaf's travelling to his bridal, to receive his betrothed Ingigerd the king's daughter. The * Konofogor's Irish name was Connor. + Ulfreks-fiord must, according to the Orkneyinga Saga, be in Ireland, and is supposed by antiquaries to be either Dundalk bay or Strangford bay.-L. king had a great body of men with him, and so chosen a body that all the great people he could lay hold of followed him; and every man of consequence had a chosen band of men with him distinguished by birth or other qualifications. The whole were well appointed, and equipped in ships, weapons, and clothes. They steered the fleet eastwards to Konungahella; but when they arrived there they heard nothing of the Swedish king, and none of his men had come there. King Olaf remained a long time in summer [1018] at Konungahella, and endeavoured carefully to make out what people said of the Swedish king's movements, or what were his designs; but no person could tell him anything for certain about it. Then he sent men up to Gautland to Earl Ragnvald, to ask him if he knew how it came to pass that the Swedish king did not come to the meeting agreed on. The earl replies, that he did not know. "But as soon," said he, "as I hear, I shall send some of my men to King Olaf, to let him know if there be any other cause for the delay than the multitude of affairs; as it often happens that the Swedish king's movements are delayed by this more than he could have expected." CHAPTER LXXXIX.-Of the Swedish King's Children. This Swedish king, Olaf Eirikson, had first a concubine who was called Edla, a daughter of an earl of Vindland, who had been captured in war, and therefore was called the king's slave-girl. Their children were Emund, Astrid, Holmfrid. . . .† They had, besides, a son, who was born the day before St. Jacob'sday. When the boy was to be christened the bishop called him Jacob, which the Swedes did not like, as there never had been a Swedish king called Jacob. All King Olaf's children were handsome in appearance, and clever from childhood. The queen was proud, and did not behave well towards her stepchildren; therefore the king sent his son Emund to Vindland, to be fostered by his mother's relations, where he for a long time neglected his Christianity. The king's daughter, Astrid, was brought up in West Gautland, in the house of a worthy man called Egil. She was a very lovely girl: her words came well into her conversation; she was modest, and very generous. up she was often in her man thought well of her. merry, but When she was grown father's house, and every King Olaf was haughty He took very ill the up He took and harsh in his speech. roar and clamour the country people had raised against him at the Upsala Thing, as they had threatened him with violence, for which he laid the chief blame on Earl Ragnvald. He made no preparation for the bridal, according to the agreement to marry his daughter Ingigerd to Olaf the king of Norway, and to meet him on the borders for that purpose. As the summer advanced many of his men were anxious to know what the king's inten * Emund afterwards became king of Svithiod. Astrid became the wife of Olaf Digre. Holmfrid was already married to Earl Svein. The MS. is here defective, and the words wanting are probably the name of Olaf's queen and his first child with her. They, i.e., the king and queen. tions were; whether to keep to the agreement with King Olaf, or break his word, and with it the peace of the country. But no one was so bold as to ask the king, although they complained of it to Ingigerd, and besought her to find out what the king intended. She replied, "I have no inclination to speak to the king again about the matters between him and King Olaf; for he answered me ill enough once before when I brought forward Olaf's name." In the meantime Ingigerd, the king's daughter, took it to heart, became melancholy and sorrowful, and yet very curious to know what the king intended. She had much suspicion that he would not keep his word and promise to King Olaf; for he appeared quite enraged whenever Olaf the Thick's name was in any way mentioned. CHAPTER XC.-Of the Swedish King Olaf's Hunting. * One morning early the king rode out with his dogs and falcons, and his men around him. When they let slip the falcons the king's falcon killed two blackcocks in one flight, and three in another. The dogs ran and brought the birds when they had fallen to the ground. The king ran after them, took the game from them himself, was delighted with his sport, and said, "It will be long before the most of you have such success." They agreed in this; adding, that in their opinion no king had such luck in The bird is called in Icelandic orri, in modern Norwegian aarfugl. It is the Tetrao tetrix, moor-fowl, or heath-cock. VOL. II. 2 B |