 Section 8 of Himes Kringla by Snorri Sterlson, translated by George Pope Morris and Erika Magnuson. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. The story of Harold Harefair, Part 1, Chapter 1-10. Chapter 1, Harold's fight with Hockey and Gandalf, his father. King Harold took the kingdom after his father when he was about ten winters old. He was the biggest of all men, the strongest and the fairest to look on, a wise man and very high-minded. Gu Thorn, his mother's brother, was made ruler of his bodyguard and of all matters pertaining to his lands, with all he was Duke of the Host. Now after the death of King Hough Don, the black, many chieftains fell on the realm he had left, and the first man of these was King Gandalf and those brethren, Hogni and Frody, the sons of King Einstein of Heathmark. Hogni Karrison also was abroad far and wide through Ringwick. Then Hockey Gandalf's son also arrayed him to fare out to Westfold with three hundred men and went the inland roads through certain dales, being minded to fall on King Harold unawares. But King Gandalf abode with his host in his land with intent to put across the furth he and his army into Westfold. But when Duke Gu Thorn heard thereof he gathered an army and went his ways with King Harold, and first he goes to meet Hockey upcountry, and they met in a certain dale, and there was a battle fought and King Harold had the victory. But King Hockey fell there, and a great part of his folk, even at the place Sithens, called Hackasdale. Then back when King Harold and Duke Gu Thorn, but by then was King Gandalf come into Westfold, and so each goes to meet the other, and when they met was a hard fight fought, but thence away fled King Gandalf and lost the more part of his men and came home to his own realm with things in such a plight. And when these tidings come to the sons of King Aistan of Heathmark, they look to have an host upon them speedily, so they send word to Hogney Karrison and her sir, good brand, and appoint a meeting between them at Ringzaker in Heathmark. Chapter 2 King Harold Overcomes Five Lords After these battles fared King Harold and Duke Gu Thorn with all the hosts they may get and when toward the uplands, going much by the woodland ways, and they hear where the upland kings have appointed their muster, and come a midnight north where the waters aware of them till and host was come before the very house wherein was Hogney Karrison, yay, and that wherein slept good brand. So they set fire to both of them, but Aistan's sons got out with their men and fought awhile, and there fell both Hogney and Frody. After the fall of these four lords, King Harold by the might and furtherance of Gu Thorn, his kinsmen got to him Ringric and Heathmark, good brands, dales, and had a land, Thotten and Romric, and all the northern parts of Winglemark. Thereafter, had King Harold and Duke Gu Thorn war and battles with King Gandalf, with such end that Gandalf fell in the last battle, and King Harold got to him all his realm south away to Roundmouth. Chapter 3 of Gita, Eric's Daughter King Harold sent his men after a certain maiden called Gita, the daughter of King Eric of Horteland, and she was at fostering at Valdris with a rich bondor. Now the king would feign have her to his bedmate because she was a maiden exceeding fair and with all somewhat high-minded, so when the messengers came there they put forth their errand to the maiden, and she answered in this wise. I will not waste my maidenhood for the taking to husband of a king who has no more realm to rule over than a few folks. Marvelous it seems to me, she says, that there be no king minded to make Norway his own and be so lord thereof in such wise as Gorm of Denmark or Eric of Uppsala have done. Great words indeed seemed this answer to the messengers, and they asked her concerning her words, what wise this answer shall come to, and they say that Harold was a king so mighty that the offer was right meat for her. But yet though she answered to their errand, otherwise than they would, they see no ways as at this time to have her away, but if she herself were willing there too, so they arrayed them for their departing, and when they were ready, men lead them out, then spake Gita to the messengers. Give this my word to King Harold that only so will I say yea to being his so unlawful wife if he will first do so much for my sake as to lay under him all Norway, and rule that realm as freely as King Eric rules the sweet realm or King Gorm Denmark for only so, it seems, may he be called a right a king of the people. Chapter 4 of King Harold's Bound and Oath The messengers fare back to King Harold and tell him of this word of the maiden calling her overbold and witless and saying with all that it would be but meat for the king to send after her with many men for the doing of some shame to her. Then answered the king that the maid has spoken not of ill, had done not worthy of evil reward, rather he bade her much thank for her word, for she has brought to my mind that matter which it now seems to me wondrous I have not had in my mind here to for. And moreover he said this oath I make fast and swear before that God who made me and rules over all things that nevermore will I cut my hair nor comb it till I have gotten to me all Norway with the scat thereof and the dues and all rule thereover or else will I die rather. For this word do Guthorm thanked him much and said it were a work worthy of a king to hold fast this word of his. Chapter 5 Battle in Ortdale After this the kinsmen gather much folk and array them to go into the uplands and sow north through the dales and dance north over the dove for fell and when they came down into the people country they let slay all men and burn the country. So when the folk were aware of this all who might flood away some down to Ortdale some to Goldale some into the woodland and yet others some sought for peace and all got that who came to the king and became his men. Not they found to withstand them before they came to Ortdale and there was a gathering against them and there they had their first fight with a king called Gritting. King Harold had the victory and Gritting was taken in much of his folk slain but he gave himself up to King Harold and swore oaths of fealty to him. Thereafter all the Ortdale folk submitted them to King Harold and became his men. Chapter 6 How King Harold Laid Law on the Land Such law King Harold laid on all land that he wanted to him that he made all free lands his own and he caused the bonders pay land dues to him both the rich and the unrich. He set up an Earl in each county who should maintain law and right in the land and gather all fines and land dues and each Earl was to have a third of the scat and the dues for his board and costs. Each Earl was to have under him four her sirs or more and each of these was to have twenty marks for his maintenance. Each Earl was to bring sixty minute arms to the king's host at his own costs and each her sir twenty. But by so much had King Harold increase the taxes and land dues that his earls had more wealth and might than the kings had had a four time. So when this was heard of about three and time that many rich men came to King Harold and became his men. Chapter 7 Battle in Gauldale It is told that Earl Hacken Gryot guard son came to King Harold from the west from Yarar with a great company for the helping of King Harold. And after that went King Harold to Gauldale and had a battle there and slew two kings and got their realms to him that is to say the Gauldale folk and the string folk. Then he gave to Earl Hacken the lordship over the string folk. Thereafter King Harold went into Steyordale and had there a third battle and won the victory and got that folk to him. After these things the upcountry string folk gathered together and four kings with their hosts were assembled. Where one ruled over Verdale the second over Skon the third the folk of the spar biters and the fourth from Inner Isle who ruled the Isles folk. These four kings went with their host against King Harold and he fell to battle with them and gained the day and of these kings some fell and some fled. King Harold had eight battles in all ye or more in Thrandheim and when eight kings had been slain he got to him all Thrandheim. Chapter 8 Harold wins the Gnomdale folk. North in Gnomdale were two brother and kings her log and roll log and they had been three summers at the making of a howl and that howl was built of stone and lime and roofed with timber. And so when it was all done these brethren heard the tidings that King Harold with his host was coming upon them. Then let King her log gather to the howl much little and drink and thereafter went into the howl with eleven men and then let cover up the howl again. But King roll log went on the top of the howl where on the kings were want to sit and let array the kingly high seat and sat down therein. Then he let lay pillows on the foot pace where on the earls were want to sit and tumbled himself down from the high seat on to the earl seat and gave himself the name of Earl. After that Baird roll log to meet King Harold and gave him up all his realm and prayed to become his man and told him what wise he had done in all things. Then King Harold took a sword and did it on to his girdle then hung a shield about the neck of him and made him as Earl and let him to the high seat. Then he gave him the Gnomdale folk and made him Earl over them. Chapter 9 How King Harold manned ship. Therewith King Harold fared back to Thrandheim and abode there the winter through and called it his home ever after and there he set up his chief as stead which was called La Deer. That winter he wedded Asa the daughter of Earl Hacken, Gryotgard's son and Hacken had beyond all men the greatest honor of the king. In the spring Harold got a ship board for he had let make in the winter a dragon galley great and a raid in the seemliest wise. The said dragon he manned with his court guard and the bear cirks the stemmen were the men most tried because they had with them the king's banner. Aft from the stem to the bailing place was the forecastle and that was manned by the bear cirks. Those only could get court service with King Harold who were men peerless both of strength and good heart and all prowess. With such only was his ship manned whereas by now he had good choice of men to pick out for his bodyguard from every folk. He had a great company of folk and big ships and many mighty men followed him. Hereof tells Horned Claw Fee and Clem Dropahow that King Harold had fought in the updale woods with the orc dailers or ever he let out his folk on his voyage. The king for ever wrathful with them that craved the singing of the fight fish on its home road had battled high on the heath land. Air the high heart warden's razor with sea skatesfella faring to the battle of the horses in windswip hauled that welter. The host of the warden's heeder who showeth hell to robbers set battled in a roaring over the wolf pack's highway. Air that manscaped that meeteth the home way unto the sea log draved the proud gliding dragon and sundry ships out seaward. Chapter 10 Battle at Sol Skel King Harold let out his folk from Thrandheim and turned south toward Mir. But Hunt the off was the king's name who ruled over the mere folk and Sol Fee Claw Fee was his son's name and mighty men of war they were. But the king who ruled Romsdale was called Knackby and he was the father of Sol Fee's mother. These kings drew together a great host when they heard tidings of King Harold and went against him and they met at Sol Skel. There then was battle and King Harold gained the day thereof singeth horn claw fee. Storm draved from the north the board steed so that the wargear's wielder was born aboard amidward the battle of two war kings. There then the kings all valiant wordless each other greeted with thin shots midst the murder the red shield's voice long lasted. Both the kings fell but Sol Fee fled away and both these folks did Harold lay under him and dwelt there long that summer tide. There he set up law and right for men and established rulers over them and took the field to your folk. But autumn tide come he arrayed him to fair north away unto Thrandheim. Rogneval the mere Earl son of Eistanglomra had become King Harold's man that summer and him King Harold made lord over the two folks Northmere and Romsdale and strengthened his hand there to both with lords and Franklans. And ships he gave him with all that he might ward the land against war. He was called Rogneval the mighty or the king council and as folks say it was good sooth of either name. So King Harold abode the next winter in Thrandheim. End of section eight section nine of Himes Kringler by Snorri Sterlson translated by George Pope Morris and Erica Magnusson. This livers box recording is in the public domain. The story of Harold hair fair part two chapters 11 through 20. Chapter 11 fall of the Kings, Arnvid and Odd Bjorn. Now the spring thereafter King Harold gathered a mighty host out of Thrandheim and said that he was minded to lead it to Southmere. Sophie Clophy had abided in warships out at sea the winter long and he had harried in Northmere. Many men of King Harold's he slew there. Other some he robbed other some he burned out of house and home and brought there all deeds of war. Not less in the winter he had while has been with King Arnvid his kinsmen in Southmere. So when these get news of King Harold they gathered together their folk and were no few. Whereas many deemed that they owed hatred to King Harold. Now fared Sophie Clophy South into the Firths unto King Odd Bjorn who ruled there over and bad his help to fare with his host for the strengthening of him and Arnvid and in this wise he spake. Easy it is for us all to see how that we have but one choice either to rise up all against King Harold and might he now we shall have then and in the hands of hat shall the victory be. Or otherwise there is this a thing for sooth not to be chosen by folk named and holding no less nobly born than this Harold to it to become his thralls. My father deemed it a better choice to fall in battle a very King than to be the underling of King Harold. So thus prevailed the reeds of Sophie that King odd Bjorn gave his word to go and gathered and host together and went north to meet King Arnvid and a full mighty host they had. Now heard the tidings of King Harold that he was new come from the north and they met inward of soul scale. Now in those days the want was when men fought a shipboard to bind the ships together and fight from the forecastle and even so was it now done. King Harold laid his ship against King Arnvid's ship and King Inao was the battle and much folk fell of either side but in the end waxed King Harold so woodwroth that he went forth on to the forecastle of his ship and there fought so fiercely that all the forward fighting folk of Arnvid's ship gave back before him to the mast and some there were that fell. Then did King Harold follow after on to their ship and Arnvid's men took to flight but he himself fell on his own ship. There also fell King odd Bjorn but Sophie fled away as singeth horn clothe. Our Lord stirred up the spear storm where the barnese foul rent armor amidst the din of Skogul and blood the red wound snorted where on the work the warriors sank life bereft before him mad yelled on shields the weapon while dire of edges triumphed. Of Harold's folk fell as gout and as Bjorn the king's earls grew out guard with all and her log his wife's brothers and sons of Hacon the Earl of La Deer. Along while hereafter was Sophia Viking and off wrought greatscape in the realm of King Harold. Chapter 12 the burning of King Vimund there after King Harold laid south mere under him but Vimund brother of King odd Bjorn held the first folk and became king there over and now was autumn far spent. So men gave council to King Harold that he should not fair south about the stod of an autumn day. Then King Harold set Earl Ragnivald over either mere and roms Dale and a many folk had the Earl about him as then and there with all King Harold turned back north to Thrandheim. That same winter feared Earl Ragnivald by the inner course through Ide and then southward past the first. He aspired the goings of King Vimund and so came a night tide to a certain stead height Nost Dale where at was King Vimund a feasting there took Earl Ragnivald the house over their heads and burned King Vimund therein with 90 men. Thereafter came Kari of Birdlot to Earl Ragnivald with a long ship all manned and they went both together north to mere. Earl Ragnivald took the ships which King Vimund had owned and all the chattels that he got there. Kari of Birdlot went north to Thrandheim on to King Harold and became his man. He was a mighty bearer. Chapter 13 the fall of Earl Hacon and Earl Otley the slender. The spring tide hereafter went King Harold south along the land with his host of ships and subdued to him the first folk. Then east along the land he sailed to he hoped to at Wick in the east but he left behind Earl Hacon, grew out guard son and gave him rule in the firsts. But when the king was gone east then sent Hacon word to Earl Otley the slender bidding him get him gone from Sagan and be Earl in Galar as he had been a four time. For he said that King Harold had given him Sagan but Earl Otley sent word again that he would hold both Sagan and Galar to boot until he should see King Harold. Hereof the earls drove till either gathered and host together and they met at Filir in Staffness Bay and there fought a great fight. There fell Earl Hacon and Otley was hurt deadly whose men fared with him to Otless Isles where he died. So said Ivan the scalds spoiler. There Hacon stem of Hogni's daughter all of fighting was stripped of weapons. Mid Edges Din fries offspring there at Fajallir laid his life for down. Where fell the friends the kin of the stone god Mid Mighty Din of the friend of Lodur there it was that the wave of staffness with blood of men was all to blended. Chapter 14 of King Harold and Eric the sweet King. King Harold let his host east into Wick and laid his ships up for Tonsburg which was a cheaping stud in those days. He had then dwelt for years in Thrandheim nor had been for that while in the Wick. Now he heard tidings that Eric son of Iman king of the Swedes had laid under him vermeland and took scat there of all the woodland folk and how that he had called the land west outland north away to swine sound and west away to the sea. All that the sweet King claimed as his own and took scat of and an Earl he had set there called Ronnie the gout lander who ruled all between swine sound and goutel and was a mighty Earl. Now King Harold was told that the word of the sweet King was that he would leave not till he had as much rule in the Wick as Sigurd ring and a four time or Ragnar Lodbrock his son. Raum rel to it and Westville right out to grandma Vingle mark also and then so way south and many great chiefs and other folk all about these folk lands had already turned to the rule of the sweet King. King Harold was full ill content here with and forthwith gathered together a moat of the bonders there at fold and bore witness against them of treason. Some put the charge from them some paid money there for and some were punished and in such wise he dealt with all that folk land that summer and in autumn he went up into Raum realm and dealt in likewise laying all the country under him. But in the beginning of winter he heard how Eric the sweet King rode abroad guesting with his court in vermeland. Chapter 15 The King's Feast with Aki the death of him. King Harold got ready and went his ways east over the eyed wood and so came out into vermeland and let a ray feast before him. Now there was a man named Aki the mightiest bonder of vermeland exceeding wealthy but how much stricken in years. He sent men to King Harold and bat him to a feast and the King gave his word to go at the day appointed. King Eric also did Aki bid to feast on the self same day. Aki had a great guest hall now wax and old so he let build another one a new no wise lesser underrated in the best wise. The new hall he let hang with gear all new but the old one with old gear and when the Kings came to the feast King Eric and his court were marshaled in the old hall but King Harold in the new hall with his men. And such wise was the fashion of the table gear that Eric and his men had old beakers and horns guilt though they were and full fairly fashioned but King Harold and his men had new beakers and horns all done about with gold fair graven with all ironing his clear glass but in either hall was the drink of the best that might be. But good man Aki had a four-time bent liegeman of health down the black. Now when the day came that the feast was ended the Kings arrayed them for departure and the horses were saddled. Then went Aki before King Harold having with him his son of twelve winters old Ubi by name and spake. If thou demist me Lord worthy of thy friendship for the good wills sake I have shown to thee in this thy guesting reward my son therefore and I give him to thee for thy servant. Then the King thanked him for his welcome with many fair words and promised him his full friendship in return thereof. Then brought forth Aki great gifts which he gave to the King and there with all they kissed Aki and the King. Thereafter went Aki to the sweet King and there was King Eric clad and ready for the road but was somewhat moody with all. So Aki took good gifts which he gave to the King but the King answered little and leapt a horse back and Aki went on the way with the King and talked with him. A wood lay an eye to the house and the road went there through and when Aki came to the wood the King asked him why did thou deal so diversely between me and Harold in our guesting so that he had the better part in all things whereas thou waddest that thou art my man. Says Aki I was deeming Lord that neither thou nor thy men lacked odd of welcome at this feast but whereas the gear where ye drank was old it was because thou art now old and Harold is in the very flower of his life days therefore get the new gear for him and whereas thou wadst bring to my mind that I am thy man I want not but that thou art just so much mine. Then the King drew his sword and smote him to death and went his ways. But when King Harold was ready to leap a horse back he bad called Master Aki to him so when men ran to seek him some came on the road where by King Eric had ridden and found Aki lying dead there. So they went back and told King Harold but when he heard it he called on his men to avenge Master Aki and so he and his rode by the way King Eric had ridden a fort till either side were aware of other. Then both rode all they might till they came to the wood that part of Goutland from Wormland. Then King Harold turned back into Wormland and laid it all under him and slew King Eric's men where so ever he might come on them. And so King Harold went back in the winter to realm realm and abode there awhile. Chapter 16 King Harold fares to Tonsburg. King Harold went in the winter tide out to Tonsburg and to his ships there and he died his ships and crossed the Firth eastward and laid all Winglemark under him and all the winter long he lay out in his warships. And harried in ran realm as saith Thor Bjorn Horne Clophy. Our lord the high hearted if his own will rule only out of doors drink with you all fries game of fairing. Ian Young was he loathing the fire bake the hall nook loathe the bowers of women and warm downy mittens. Now the Goutlanders had been drawing together throughout all the countryside. Chapter 17 battle in Goutland. But in the spring when the ice was gone the Goutlanders staked the Gout Elf that King Harold might not bring his ships up into the land. But King Harold brought his ships up the Elf and laid them by the stakes and harried on either shore and burned those steds as sing of Horne Clophy. The feeder of the fight mew hath land and men laid under all southward of the deep sea the King and battle hardy. The great King the high hearted want to the helm of I wing let bind the Linden's wild deer unto the stakes off shore there. Then rode the Goutlanders down with a mighty host and joined battle with King Harold and great was the fall of men but such and there was there of that King Harold prevailed as sing of Horne and Clophy. Throve roar of up reared axes the spears fell on a howling bit men the swords black gleaming of the followers of the mighty where the Gout folks folk availed high then arose the singing of the spears to flight commanded about the necks of warriors. Chapter 18 the fall of Ronnie the Goutlander King Harold fared a warring wide about Goutland and had many battles on either side the Elf and oftenest gained the day till in a certain fight felt Ronnie the Goutlander. Then King Harold subdued to him all the land north of the Elf and rest of the thener water and all Berm land to it and when he turned away thence he set due gut horn over the land with a great company but he himself turned toward the uplands and dwelt there a while. Then he fared north over the dofer fell to Randheim and abode there a long while. And now began children to be born to King Harold by Asa he had three sons Gutthorne was the eldest then half down the black and half down the white twins and sig fraud the fourth all these were nourished in Randheim in great honor. Chapter 19 battle in half first first. Now came tidings from the south that the men of Horteland and Rogeland they of Adir and Thelmach had arisen and gathered together with great plenty of weapons and ships and many men and their captains were Eric King of Horteland, Salky King of Rogeland and Earl Sotie his brother Ciot be the wealthy King of Agdeir and Thirir long chin from Thelmach came to Brethren Rowald and Rigg and Had the hardy to it. But when King Harold heard these tidings he gathered and host and put forth his ships into the sea then he arrayed a great host and fared south along the land and got many men from every folk land. But when he was come south about the stodd King Eric heard thereof and he had by then gotten together all the folk he looked to have. So he fared south to meet the host that he wanted would come from the east to his helping and the whole host of them met north of Jadar and made for Hafer's Firth where lay King Harold with his host awaiting them. There a great fight befell and both long and hard it was but such was the end thereof that King Harold had the victory and King Eric fell there and King Salky and Earl Sotie his brother Thirir long chin had laid his ship against King Harold's and a great bear circ was Thirir. Hard was the brunt before Thirir fell when his ship was cleared utterly then fled away King Ciotvi to a certain home where it was good vantage for fighting then all their host fled away some by ship and some ran up country and so inland south about Jadar. So sing of corn clothe. Herds thou in Hafer's Firth how there fell the battle twix the king of high kindred and Ciotvi the wealthy from east away came the ships all eager for battle with grim gaping heads and proud plates fair graven. Of white men was there lading and shields white shining spears of the west lands and Welsh wrought swords were there the bear cirks battle would was the host loud how the wolf coats and clattered the iron the strong master tried they bold Lord of the Eastman the bider at out stone but fleeing he taught them beach ships he ran out when of battle he wanted fast shields were a clashing their long chin fell dead. The brawny neck King waxed a weary of warding his land from the shock head and let the home shield him. Downneath the next and dive the lads wounded their buttocks up hoven their heads by the keel laid. Bowl men stone battered blanched from the battle hung Odin's Hall tiles behind them to glitter home then from Hafer's Firth hide they by Jadar tremble the gold staves and set heart on the mead horn. Chapter 20 King Harold become a only Lord of Norway of the peopling of the Wastelands. After this battle King Harold found not to withstand him in all Norway for all his greatest foemen were fallen but certain fled away from the land and many folk were these for then were the Wastelands people far and wide jammed land and housing land were peopled though either of them indeed have been somewhat peopled by Northmen a foretime. Amid this unpeace when as King Harold was fighting for the land in Norway were the outlands found and peopled the Faroes and Iceland to it also was their much faring of Northmen to Shetland and many mighty men of Norway fled as outlaws before King Harold and fell to the warring of the West in the winter they abode in the South Isles or the Orkneys but a summer harried in Norway and wrought greatscape on the land. Nevertheless there were many mighty men who did fealty to King Harold and became his men and abode in the land along with him. End of Section 9. Section 10 of Himes Kringla by Snorri Sturlson. Translated by George Pope Morris and Ira Kure Magnusson. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. The story of Harold Harefair Part 3, Chapter 21 through 30. Chapter 21 of the children of King Harold and of his weddings. And now King Harold was gotten to be only Lord of Norway. He called to mind the word that the great hearted maiden had spoken to him and sent men after her and had her to him and bedded her. These were their children, Eloth, the eldest, then Rhearek, then Sigdrig, then Frody and Thorgils. King Harold had many wives and many children. He wedded her who is called Ragnahild, daughter of Erik, King of Jutland. Ragnahild the mighty was she called and their son was Erik Blood Axe. Moreover he had two wives, Swanhild, daughter of King Eystein, and these were their sons Olaf, Girsted Elf, Bjorn and Ragnar. Rhearek killed and again had King Harold to wife Axe Shield, daughter of Ring, Dacin, down from Ring realm. And their children were Day and Ring, Gudrad, Skiria, and Ingegerd. So folks say that when King Harold wedded Ragnahild the mighty, he put away from him nine of his wives, hereof Singeth Horned Clophy. The King of High Kindred, when his Dane wife he wedded, put from him the home folk and Horde landmaidens, each woman of Heathmark, all Kindred of Holge. King Harold's children were nourished ever whereas their mother's kin dwelt. Duke Guthorm sprinkled the eldest son of King Harold with water and gave him his own name. He set the lad on his knee and became his fosterer and had him away with him east into the Wick. There he was nourished with Duke Guthorm. Duke Guthorm had all rule of the land about the Wick and the uplands when King Harold was not nigh. Chapter 22 of King Harold's Fearing to the Westlands. Now heard King Harold how the Vikings herried wide about the midmost of the land, even such as were a winter tide west over sea. So he had out his host every summer and searched isles and outskirries, and when so the Vikings were aware of his host they fled away, yea, the more part right out to sea. But when the King grew weary of this work, this betid that on a summer he sailed with his host west over sea and came first to Shetland and there slew all the Vikings who might not flee before him. Then he sailed south to the Orkneys and cleared them utterly of Vikings and thereafter he feared right away to the south isles and hurried there and slew many Vikings who were captains of bands there. There had he many battles and ever gained the day. Then he hurried in Scotland and had battles there and when he came west to man the folk there of had heard already what warfare King Harold had done in the land before time and all folk fled into Scotland. So that man was all waste of men and all the goods that might be were flitted away. So when King Harold and his folk went a land they got no prey there, so saith Horne Clophy, bore the much wise gold loader to the township's shields of many, the grove of Nith Wolves landlays in the land prevailed in battle. Air needs must flee the scothost before the fight proud waster of the path of the fish that playeth around the war-swords Ifsmus. In these battles fell Ivar, son of Ragnarvald, the mere Earl, but to boot the loss of him King Harold when he sailed from the west gave Earl Ragnarvald the Orkneys and Shetland. But Ragnarvald straightway gave both the lands to Sigurd, his brother, who abode behind in the west. And the king, or ever he fared back east, gave the Earl them to Sigurd. Then there joined him to Sigurd, Thorstein the Red, son of Olaf the White and odd the deeply wealthy. And they hurried in Scotland and wanted them Cathness and Sutherland all down to the Oykel bank. Now Earl Sigurd slew Tusk Mel Brugda, a Scottish Earl, and bound his head to his cropper. But he smote the thick of his leg against the tooth as it stuck out from the head and the hurt festered so that he got his bane therefrom. And he was laid in Howe in Oykel bank. Then Guthorm, his son, ruled the lands for one winter and then died childless and thereafter many Vikings, Danes and Northmen, sat them down in his lands. Chapter 23 The Cutting of King Harold's Hair Now King Harold was a feasting in Mir at Earl Ragnarvald's and had now gotten to him all the land. So King Harold took a bath and then he let his hair be combed and then Earl Ragnarvald sheared it. And here to Thor it had been unshorne and uncombed for ten winters. A four-time he had been called shock-head, but now Earl Ragnarvald gave him a by-name and called him Harold hair-fare. And all said who saw him that that was most soothly named, for he had both plenteous hair and goodly. Chapter 24 Ralph Wendafoot made an outlaw. Ragnarvald the mere Earl was a friend most well-beloved of King Harold and the King held him in great honor. Earl Ragnarvald wedded Hild, daughter of Ralph Nephia, and their sons were Ralph and Thor rare. Earl Ragnarvald had also three children from his bedmates to Witt Hallad, the first, Einar, the second, Rol-Logg, the third, and these were already come to man's estate when their lawfully gotten brethren were but children. Ralph was a great viking and a man so great of growth that no horse might bear him, wherefore he went to footwear so ever he fared and was called Ralph Wendafoot. He would be ever a herring in the Eastlands, and on a summer when he came to the wick from his Eastland, warring he had a strand slaughtering there. King Harold was in the wick at that time and was very wrought when he heard hereof, for he had laid a great ban upon robbing in the land, wherefore at a thing he gave out that he made Ralph outlaw from all Norway. But when Hild the mother of Ralph heard thereof she went to the king and prayed him for peace for Ralph, but the king was so wrothed that her prayers availed not, then sang Hild. Thou hast cast off Nephia's namesake, brave brother of the barons, as a wolf from the land thou drivest. Why waxeth, Lord, thy raging, ill to be wild in quarrel with a wolf of Odin's war-board. If he fare wild in the forest he shall waste thy flock right sorely. Ralph, when the foot fared thereafter west over sea to the South Isles, thence west he went to the land and hurried there and won therein a mighty earldom, and peopled all the land with Northmen, and thence forward has that land been called Normandy. The son of Ralph, when a foot was William the father of Richard, the father of Richard II, the father of Robert, longsword the father of William the bastard, king of the English, and from him are come all the English kings, thence forward, from Ralph's kin also are come earls in Normandy. Queen Rognahill, the mighty, lived three winters after she came to Norway. After her death Eric, the son of her and her, went to the first to be fostered of her, Sir Thorir, the son of Ruald, and there was he nourished. Chapter 25 of Swasi, the Wizard and King Herald On a winter went King Herald, a guesting in the uplands, and let Array his ewe feast at the toffs. Ewe ewe it is when come as Swasi to the door, when as the king is set down to table. He sendeth bidding to the king to come out to him, but the king waxed wrought at the bidding, and the same man bore the king's wrath out, that bore the bidding in. No lest bad Swasi bear in again his errands, saying that he was that fin under whom the king had said yea to set up his cot on the other side of the brunt. So went the king out, and needs must say yea to faring home with him, and went to cross the brunt into his cot, with the egging of some men of his, though some let it him. There rose to meet him, snow-fair daughter of Swasi, fairest of women, and gave to the king a cup full of honey mead, then took he together the cup and the hand of her, and straight way it was as if hot fire came into his skin, and therewith would he be by her that very night, but Swasi says it may not be, but if need sway him, but if the king betroth him to her, and take her lawfully. So King Harold betrothed him to snow-fair, and wedded her, and with such longing he loved her, that he forget his kingdom, and all that belonged to his kingly honor. For sons they had, Sigurd Abush, Half Dawn, High Leg, Goodrod Glean, and Rognaval Straight Leg. Then died snow-fair, but no wise changed her hue, and as red and white she was, as when she was alive, and the king sat ever by her, and thought in his heart, that she lived yet. So wore away three winters, while the king sawered for her dying, and all the folk of the land sawered for his beguilement. But now to the leech-craft of laying this wildness came Thor leave the sage, and with wisdom vanquished it first with soft words, saying thus, No marvel, O King, although thou mindest so fair a woman and so mighty, and honorest her with the down-pillow and the goodly web, even as she would have of thee, yet is thine honor less than what behooveeth both thee and her, whereas overlong in one raiment she lieth, more meet it were that somewhat thou move her and shift the cloths beneath her. But lo so soon as she was turned out of the bed, sprang up ill savor, rose up rottenness in all manner of stink, from the dead corpse, speedy were they with the bail fire, and therein was she burned. But first her body waxed all blue, and then scrawled worms and adders, frogs and paddocks, and all the kind of creeping things. So sank she into ashes, but the king strode forth into wisdom, and cast his folly from his heart, and stoutly ruled his realm, and strengthened him of his thanes, and waxed glad of them, and his thanes of him and all the land of them both. Chapter 26 Theodolph of Havin After King Harold had proven the beguiling of the thin wife, he was so wroth that he draped from him the sons of him, and the thin wife and would not look on them. But Goodrod Glean went to Theodolph, the Havin-dweller, his foster-father, and let him go with him to the king, because Theodolph was a well-loved friend of King Harold, but the king was as then in the uplands. So they went, when as they were arraiding, came to the king late of an evening tide, and took an outer place, and kept hidden. Now the king went up the hall-floor, and looked on the benches, but some feast or other was toward, and the mead was mixed, so he sang muttering, My warriors of old seasons, for the mead are much or eager, yet here are come the hoary, what make ye here so many? Then answered Theodolph, our heads bore often old-time hard strokes from out-the-edge play, along with the wise gold-waster, and were we then or many. Therewith Theodolph took the hat from his head, and then the king knew him, and gave him fair welcome. Then Theodolph prayed the king not to set aside his sons, for feign, had they been of a better-born mother, hath thou gotten them one. So the king said, yea, there too, and bade him have good right home with him, even as he had had a fore-time, but sigured, and hath done he bade fair to ring realm, and rognaval he bade fair to Hatterland, and they did as the king bade. They became full manly men, and well endowed with prowess, so sat king herald at home in his own land amid good peace and plenteous seasons. Chapter 27 The Uprising of Earl Turfbiner in the Orkneys Rognaval, the Earl of Mir, heard of the fall of Sigurd, his brother, and how the Vikings abode in his lands. So he sent his son, Hallad, west away, who took the name of Earl on him, and had a great company of men, and when he came to the Orkneys he set him down in the land. But both autumn, winter, and spring fared the Vikings about the isles, and lifted on the nestles and slaughtered beasts on the strand. So Earl Hallad grew weary of sitting in the isles, and cast aside his earldom, and took Earl Franklin's dignity, and so fared east to Norway. And when Earl Rognaval heard thereof, he was ill-content with Hallad's journey, and said that his sons would become all, unlike their forefathers. Then spake, Einar, I've had little honor of thee, and but little love have I to part from. I will fare west to the isles, if thou wilt give me some help or other, and then I will promise thee what will gladden thee exceedingly, never to come back again to Norway. Earl Rognaval said he should be well-content if he never came back, for small hope hath I that thy kin will have honor of thee, whereas all thy mother's kin is thrall-born. So Earl Rognaval gave Einar a long ship, all manned, and in the autumn tide Einar sailed west over sea, but when he came to the Orkneys there lay before him two ships of the Vikings, Thorir, Woodbeard, and Kalf Scurvy. Einar fell to battle with them straightway, and won the victory, and they both fell. Then was this son, free beard to the trolls he gave there, scurvy their turf Einar slaughtered. For this cause was he called turf Einar, because he let cut turf and use it instead of firewood, whereas there were no woods in the Orkneys. Thereafter Einar became Earl over the Isles and was a mighty man there. He was an ugly man, and one eyed, albeit the sharpest sighted of men. Chapter 28 The Death of King Eric I. Munson Duke Guthorm abode for the most part in Tonsburg, and bore sway all over the wick, when as the king was not thereby, and he was charged with the warding of the land withal. In those days was there great trouble of the Vikings, and there was war also up in Goutland, while King Eric I. Munson lived. But he died, when as King Harold Harefair had been King of Norway for ten winters. Chapter 29 Death of Duke Guthorm After Eric Bjorn, his son was king in Sweden for fifty years. He was father of Eric the victorious, and Olaf the father of Styr Bjorn. Duke Guthorm died in his bed at Tonsburg, and King Harold gave the sway over all that land to Guthorm his son, and he set him up for Lord thereover. Chapter 30 The Burning of Ragnarval, the Mere Earl When King Harold was forty years old, many of his sons were well waxing up, and men early ripened were they all, and so it befell that they were ill content that the king gave them no rule, but set an earl in every county which earls they deem blessed nobly born them themselves. So one spring half dawn high leg, and Goudrad Glein went their ways with a great company of men, and came unawares on Ragnarval the Mere Earl, and took the house over him and burned him therein with sixty men. Then took half dawn three long ships and sailed west over sea, but Goudrad set him down in the lands that Ragnarval had a four time owned. But when King Harold heard hereof he went with a great host against Goudrad, and Goudrad saw that there was not for it but to give himself up into the power of King Harold, so the king sent him east away to Agdeir. But King Harold made Lord over Mere, Thor rear the son of Earl Ragnarval, and gave him aloft his daughter, who was called the Year's Heel, so Earl Thor rear the silent had the same rule that his father Ragnarval had before him. King's Gringla by Snorri Sterlson, translated by George Pope Morris and Arakur Magnusson, this LibriVox recording is in the public domain. The story of Harold Harefare part four, chapters thirty one through forty. Chapter thirty one, Death of Half Dawn High Leg. Half Dawn High Leg came west to the Orkneys, all unwares, and Earl Ragnar fled straight away from the Isles over into Caithness. But he came back again in the autumn and fell unwares on Half Dawn. They met and short was the battle ere Half Dawn fled against the very fall of night, and Ragnar and his folk lay tentless through the night. But in the morning at daybreak they fell, a-searching the flears about the islands, and every man was slain where he was taken. Then spake Earl Ragnar, I what not, says he what it is I see out on Ragnar's Isle, whether it be a man or a fowl, while it cometh up, and while it lieth down. So thither went they and found Half Dawn High Leg there, and laid hands on him. Now Earl Ragnar had sung this song the eve before, or ever he joined the battle. From the hand of Rolf, my brother, from Hral-Aug's hand not see I, the spears fly against the foemen. And our father cries for vengeance, yea, and on this same evening while we thrust on the battle in Mir by the beaker's river, Earl for rear sitteth silent. So now went Earl Ragnar to Half Dawn and cut an urn on the back of him in such wise that he thrust his sword into the hollow of the body by the backbone, and sheared apart all the ribs down to the loins, and thereby drew out the lungs, and that was the bane of Half Dawn. Then sang Ragnar, reeked, have I, Ragnavall, slaying, I, for my fourth part fully, for the stay of hosts, is fallen. The Norns have ruled it rightly, heap stones then upon High Leg, high up brave lads of battle, for we in strife were stronger, and a stony scat I pay him. Then took Earl Ragnar the Orkneys to him as he had before had them, but when these tidings were known in Norway, then were the brethren of Half Dawn exceeding ill content there at, and said that it must be avenged, and many others said that soothed it was. But when Earl Ragnar heard thereof, then sang he, a many not, a mighty, there are in many countries, for many a do cause doubtless, full feign, my death to compass. Yet ere to field they fell me, they know not who is faded, meanwhile, to fall before me, neath foot thorn of the eagle. Chapter 32, peace between King Harold and Earl Ragnar, King Harold called out his men, and drew together a great host, and so went west to the Orkneys, and when Earl Ragnar heard that King Harold was come from the east, he got him over to Cathness. Then he sang this song, for the slaughtering of the sheep kind are some with beards made guilty, but I for a king's son slaying amid the sea-beat island comes peril, say the Franklins from the wrath of a king redoubted, and surely of my shearing is the shard in the shield of Harold. Then went men and messengers between the king and the Earl, and it was so brought about that a meeting was bespoken, and they themselves met, and the Earl handsheld all to the king's judgment. So King Harold doomed Earl Ragnar and all the folk of Orkney to pay him sixty marks of gold. Over great the bonders deemed the fine, so the Earl offered to pay it all himself, and that he should have in return all the odal lands in the isles. Here too they all assented, mostly for this cause, that the poor folk had but little land, but the rich thought to redeem their land when they would, so the Earl paid all the fine to the king. And the king went back east in the autumn tide, so along while thereafter in the Orkneys the Earl's owned all the odal lands, yea until the time when Sigurd, son of Lewis, gave them up again. Chapter 33 Fall of Guthorm and half down the white, sons of Harold. Guthorm, the son of King Harold, had the warding of the land about the wick, and would fare with his warships out beyond the skirries, and on a time when as he lay in the mouth of the Elf came Sulfi Clofie and joined battle with him, and Guthorm fell there. Half down the black and half down the white lay out sea roving, and harried in the easelands, and on a time they had a great battle in Estonia, and half down the white fell there. Chapter 34 The Wedding of King Eric Eric, Harold's son, was fostered with the her seer Thorir, who ruled all son in the Firth land. Him, King Harold, loved and honoured the most of all his sons, when Eric was twelve winters old, Harold gave him five longships, and he went awaring. First in the easelands, and then south about Denmark, and Friesland, and Saxland, in which warfare he abode for four winters, thereafter he went west over sea, and harried in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Normandy, and another four winters he wore away thus. Then he fared north away to Finland, and right up to Biram land, and had a great battle there, and won the day. Now when he came back to Finmark, his men found a certain woman in a cot there, the like of whom they had never seen for fairness. She named her Goonhild to them, and said that her father dwelt in Halaga land, and was called Ozur Top. For this cause have I abided here, said she, that I might learn cunning from two Finns here, the wisest of all the wood. Now are they gone hunting, but they both of them are feign of my love. So wise are they that they may follow a tract as hounds, both over thaw and hard ice, and so cunning are they on snowshoes that not may escape them, neither man nor beast. And what so? They shoot at, they hit without fail, thus have they overcome every man that has come a night here, and if they be angry the earth turneth us inside outward before the eyes of them, but if ought quick be before their eyes straight way it falleth down dead. Now may ye in no wise cross their way, but I will hide you here in the hut, and then ye shall try if we may compass their slaying. That took they with thanks, and so she hid them there, she took a linen sack where in them seemed were ashes, that took she in her hand, and strought it about the hut both within and without. A little after the Finns come home, and ask her what is come thither, and she says that not at all is come, marvellous that seemeth to the Finns who have followed the slot right up to the hut, but may find not thereafter. So they make them fire and cook some meat, and when they had had their fill, Goonhild erased their bed. But so matters had gone for three nights past that Goonhild had slept, but either of them had watched raking over the other for jealousy's sake, but now she spake to the Finns, come hither and lie one of you on either side of me. Hereof were they full-fane and did so, and she cast an arm about the neck of either, and they fell asleep straightway. But she woke them again, yet speedily they fell asleep once more, and that so fast that she might scarcely wake them. Once again they slept, and then she might know wise get them awake. So she set them up with awe, and still they slept on. Then she took two great seal-skin bags, and did them over their heads, and bound them strongly underneath their arms. Then she gave a sign to the King's men, and they leap forth and bear weapons against the Finns, and destroy them, and drag them out of the hut, and all that night was their fierce thundering, and so mighty that they might not go their ways. But in the morning they fared to the ship, and had Goonhild with them, and brought her to Eric. So Eric and his folk fare south-dance to Halaga land, and their Eric-summoned ozer taught to him, and says that he would wed his daughter. He said, yea, there too, and Eric wed it Goonhild, and had her with him into the south country. Chapter 35, King Harold shares his realm with his sons. Now was King Harold fifty years old, when some of his sons were fully grown or dead, other some of them. They were waxen, now riotous men in the land, yea, and were not at one among themselves. They draved the King's earls away from their lands, or some they slew. So King Harold summoned a thing of many men in the south country, bidding there too all the upland men. Thereat he gave his sons the name of King, and established by law that all his very kin should each take the kingship after his father, but all they who were come of him on the distaffed side should be held for earls. He shared the land betwixt them, Bing, Gull, Mark, Rom, Realm, Westfold, Vel, Mark. This he gave to Olaf, Bjorn, Sig, Trigg, Frody, and Thorgills. Heath, Mark, and Goode, Bronze, Dale, gave he to Day, and Ring, and Ragnar. To the sons of Snowfair gave he Ring, Realm, Had a land, Thotten, and all that appertains thereto. To Guthorm had he a foretime given all rule from the elf to swine sound, and ran realm to it, and had set him up for the warding of the land to the eastermost and thereof. King Harold himself was most oft in the midmost of the land. Rioric and Goudrad were ever in the court with the King, and held great Bailey wicks about Hoardland and Sagan. King Eric, a boat ever with King Harold, to him gave he Halaga land and Northmere and Romsdale. North away in Thrandheim he gave the rule to half down the black, and half down the white, and Sigrod. In each of these counties he gave to his sons half of the dews against himself, and there with all seat in the high seat a step higher than the earls, and a step lower than he himself. That seat of his ensued each of his sons was minded himself to have after his father's day, but he himself was minded that Eric should have it, and the Thrandheim folk would have half down the black to sit there, and the folk of the wick and the upland men would give the rule each unto the one who was niest at hand to them. And from all this waxed dissension anew betwixt the brethren, and whereas they deemed themselves to have but little dominion, they went to warring, as is aforesaid, and how Guthorn fell in the mouth of the elf before Sophie Clophy, and after him Olaf took the dominion he had had. Half down the white also fell in Estlin, and half down Highlake in the Orkneys. Two Thorgills and Frody gave King Harold warships, and they went to warring in the west, and harried about Scotland and Wales and Ireland, and they were the first of the Northmen who got to them Dublin. So say folk that to Frody was deadly drink given, but Thorgills was a long-well king over Dublin, and was berate of the earth's folk, and so died there. Chapter 36 Death of Ragnarval, Strait Lake Eric Bloodaxe was minded to be king over all his brethren, and even so would King Harold have it, and at most times were he and his father together. Now Ragnarval, Strait Lake, had land, and he fell to wizardry and became a spell-worker, but King Harold was a foe to wizards. In Hoardland dwelt a wizard called Vittier to him, sent the king word, bidding him leave his wizardcraft, but he answered and sang this song, little ways it, though wizards we be, we Carl begotten on very Carlines, when Ragnarval, Strait Lake, dear son of Harold, razeth the witch Lake in Haddland. But when King Harold heard thereof, Eric Bloodaxe fared at his bidding to the uplands and came to Haddland, and there he burned in his house, Ragnarvald his brother, and eighty wizards, and much was that work praised. Chapter 37 Death of Gudrad Gleam Gudrad Gleam abode in the winter with his foster father, the adult of Havin, for old friendship's sake, a cutter he had all manned, and therein would he fare north to Rogeland. These storms were about that tide, but Gudrad was eager to go and loath to abide, then sang the adult, go not from hence, O Gudrad, ere the ship's plane groweth better, for Gittier's way is wafting the stones in wash of billows, await here, O thou wide-famed, the turmoil and winds wonder, bide with us for fair weather, if washed is all round Jadar. But Gudrad went as he was minded whatsoever the adult might say, but when they were come off Jadar, the ship bounded under them, and there they all perished. Chapter 38 The Fall of Bjorn the Chapman Bjorn the son of King Harold, ruled in those days over Westfold and a boat off dist at Thunsburg and went awaring but little. To Thunsburg came many ships, both from the Wick and their abouts, and from the North Country, from south away also from Denmark and Saxland. King Bjorn also had ships of origin to other lands, and he gathered thus to him dear-bought things and other goods that he deemed he had need of, and his brethren called him Bjorn the Seafarer the Chapman. Bjorn was a wise man and a peaceful and was deemed to have in him the makings of a good Lord. He wedded well and meatly and had a son named Gudrad. Now came Eric Bloodax from the Eastlands with warships and a great company of folk, and bad Bjorn his brother gave up to him the scat and dues which King Harold had in Westfold, but the want was a foretime for Bjorn to bring the scat to the King himself or send men therewith, and even so he will have it now and will not pay it out of hand, but Eric deemed he had need of vittles and tents and drink. The brethren contended hereover with high words, but no wise might Eric get his needs so he fared away from the town. Bjorn also fared away from the town in the evening and up to Siam. So Eric turned back a night-time after Bjorn and came on Siam as Bjorn and his men sat over the drink. Eric took the house over their heads and Bjorn went out to fight. He and his and there fell Bjorn, and then he men with him. Eric took great booty there and so went north away up country. The weak folk were full evil content with this deed and Eric was evil spoken of therefore and the word went about the King Olaf would avenge Bjorn, his brother when occasion served. King Bjorn lyeth in sea ferris mount at Siham. Chapter 39 Peace Between the Kings The winter after King Eric fared north to Mir and took guesting at Sovi inward of Agdans but when half down the black heard thereof he fared thither with a host of men and took the house over their heads but Eric slept in an outbower and got him away to the wood with four other men while half down and his men burned up the house and all the folk therein. So came Eric to King Herod with these tidings. The king was woodwroth thereat and gathered and host together against the Thrandheimers but when half down the black heard thereof he bed out folk and ships and racks full many and put out to the stod inward of Thor's cliff and the king lay with his host out by Rinefield. Then went men but tricks them and there was one Guthorm cinder, a noble man among the folk of half down the black who had a four time been with King Herod and was well loved of either. Guthorm was a great scald and he had done a song on both father and son and they had been him a reward therefor which thing he refused and craved that they should one time grant him a boon and they promised him. So now he went to King Herod and bear words of peace between them and now claimed his boon of either to it that they should be at one again and the kings deemed him worth so much honor that at his prayer they were appeased. And many other noble men also pleaded this cause along with him and the peace was this that half down should have still the dominion he had had a four time but he was to give no trouble to Eric his brother after this tale Joran the scald maiden hath made somewhat in the sent bit. I learned how Harold Heraphire heard the hard deeds of half down to him that deals with sword edge dark looking shall the deed be. Chapter 40 birth of Haikon the good Haikon, Gryats, Gardson, Earl of Ladir had had all rule in Thrandheim when as King Herod was other where in the land and Haikon had had the greatest honor from the king of all the Thrandheim folk. After the fall of Haikon Sigurd his son took all his dominion and became Earl in Thrandheim and had his abode at Ladir with him had been nourished the sons of King Herod half down the black and Sigrod who had before been in the hands of Earl Haikon his father they were much of an age the sons of King Herod and Earl Sigurd Earl Sigurd wedded Bergliat daughter of Earl Thirrall Rear the son and his mother was Eloth the year's heel daughter of Herod Heraphire Earl Sigurd was the wisest of men but when King Herod grew old abode often at his great manners which he had in Hordland at Alwreckstead or see him at Fitiar at Outstone or at Agvaldsness in Kormstisle when King Herod was now nine seventy years old he begot a son on a woman named Thor Mosta whose kin were of most good kin she had might tell Hordakari amongst them the tallest of women was she and the fairest and was called the king's bond woman for in those days there were many of good blood both men and women that owed homage to the king now the want it was then concerning the children of noble men to seek carefully one who should sprinkle the child with water and give it a name so when the time came that Thor looked to bear a child to seek King Herod who was as then North in Siam and she was in most so she feared North in Earl Sigurd's ship and on a night when they lay off the land Thor brought forth the child on the cliff side hard by the gang where he had and a man child it was so Earl Sigurd sprinkled the boy with water and called him Heikon after his father Heikon the lair Earl the boy was early fair to look on the cliff and most like unto his father King Herod let the lad abide with his mother and they were about the king's manners while the lad was yet young end of section 11 the story of Harold Harefair part 4 chapter 31 to 40 section 12 of Himes Kringla by Snorrie by Carlson translated by George Hope Morris and Eine Necker Magnusson the story of Harold Harefair part 5 chapter 41 to 46 chapter 41 the message of King Athelstain the king in England of those days was called Athelstain who was but new come to the kingdom he was called the victorious or the faithful now he sent men to Norway to King Harold with this like message that the messenger should go before the king and deliver to him a sword done with gold about the hilt and the grip thereof and all its array wrought with gold and with silver and set with deer bought gems so the messenger reached out and said here is a sword which King Athelstain sendeth thee bidding thee take it with all so the king took the grip and straightway spake the messenger now hast thou taken the sword even as our king would wherefore now wilt thou be his thing since thou hast taken his sword then saw King Harold that this was done to mock him and no man's thing would he be nevertheless he called to mind his want that when so ever swift rage or anger fell on him he held himself aback at first and let the wrath run off him and looked at the matter unwrathfully and even so did he now and laid the matter before his friends who all found a reed here too and this above all things that they should let the messenger go his ways home unhurt chapter 42 the journey of hawk into England the next summer King Harold sent a ship west to England and made hawk high breach captain thereof a great champion and most well beloved of the king into his hands gave the king Hacon his son so hawk fared west to England to see King Athel stain and found the king in London and there at was there a bidding and a feast full worthy hawk told his men when as they came to the hall how they shall deal with their entering saying that he shall go out first to came and last and that all shall stand abreast before the board and each man with his sword at his left side but their cloak so set on that the swords be not seen so they went into the hall thirty men in company hawk went before the king and greeted him and the king bad him welcome then took hawk the lad Hacon and laid him on king Athel stain's knee the king looked on the lad and asked hawk why he did so says hawk King Harold bideth thee foster the child of his bond woman the king was exceeding Roth and caught up his sword that lay beside him and drew it as if he would slay the lad then said hawk thou has set him on thy knee and may us murder him if thou wilt but not thus with all wilt thou make an end of all the sons of King Harold therewith went hawk out and all his men and they go their ways to their ship to see when they were ready and so came back to Norway to King Harold and now was he well content for men ever account the fosterer less noble than him whose child he fostered by such like dealings of the kings may it be seen how either would feign be greater than the other yet not a wit for all this was in the honor of either spilt and either was sovereign lord day chapter 43 the christening of Hacon Athelstain's fostering King Athelstain let christen Hacon and teach him the right troth and good manners with all kind of prowess Athelstain loved him more than any of his kin moreover and all men else loved him who knew him he was sythens called Hacon Athelstain's fostering he was a man of the greatest prowess bigger and stronger and fairer than any man else he was a wise man and a fair speech and a well christened man King Athelstain gave Hacon a sword whose hilt and grip were all of gold yet was the brand itself better for there with did Hacon cleave sythens quaren biter and it was the best sword that ever came to Norway and Hacon kept it till his death day chapter 44 eric led into kingship now was king herald eighty years old and wax and heavier foot so that he deemed he might know more fair through the land or rule the kingly matters so he led and gave him dominion over all the land but when the other sons of king herald knew thereof then half down the black set himself down in the king's high seat and took on him all rule in Thrandheim and all the Thrandheimers were consenting to that read with him after the fall of Bjorn the Chapman Olaf his brother took the dominion of Westfold the Gudrad Bjorn's son Trigvee was Olaf's son and he and Gudrad were foster brothers and much of an age both were most hopeful and full of all prowess Trigvee was the biggest and strongest of men so when the folk of the wick heard that the horde landers had taken eric for sovereign king then they likewise took Olaf for sovereign king in the wick and he held that dominion and full ill content was eric there at two winters there after half down the black died a sudden death at a feast in Thrandheim and it was the common talk of men that goon hill king's mother had struck a bargain with a witch wife to give him a deadly drink but there after the Thrandheimers took sigrat for king chapter 45 the death of king herald king herald lived three winters after he had given eric sole dominion over his realm and that while he abode in rogueland or horde land at the great manors he had there eric and goon hill had a son whom king herald sprinkled with water and gave his own name to saying that he would have him be king after his father eric king herald gave the more part of his daughters to his earls in his own land in great stocks are come dance king herald died in his bed in rogueland and was buried at the house by corped sound in how sound a church stand of today and just to the northwest of the churchyard is the howl of king herald hair fair the west of the church lies the tombstone of king herald which lay over his grave in the mound and the said stone is thirteen feet and a half long and near to else broad in the midst of the howl was the grave of king herald and one stone was set at the head and another at the feet and on the top thereof was laid the flat stone while a wall of stone is building below it on either side but those stones which were in the house stand now in the churchyard as is of force said now so say men of lord that herald hair fair was the fairest of face of all men that have ever been the biggest and the strongest the most bounteous of his wealth and the friendliest to his men in his early days he was a great warrior and common rumor goeth about that great tree that his mother saw in her dream how that it foreshadowed his deeds therein whereas the lower half of the tree was red as blood and whereas the stem were upward was fair and green that betokened the flourishing of his realm but whereas the top most of the tree was white that betokened that he should come to old age and hoary hairs the bows and limbs of the tree shewed forth his descendants who were scattered wide about the land yea and of his kin also have all kings in norway been sithons chapter 41 the fall of Olaf and erot king eric took all the do's which the king owned amidst most of the land the next winter after the death of king herald but Olaf ruled east away in wick and sigrat their brother ruled all in thrandheim eric was right ill content herat and the rumor ran that he would seek by the strong hand to get from his brethren the sovereign rule over all the land which his father had given him and when Olaf and sigrat heard thereof messengers fared between them and thereon they made tristing and sigrat fared east in the spring tide to the wick and there met his brother Olaf in thundsburg and there they abode a while that same springtime eric called out a great host of men and ships and turned east away to wick king eric got so fair a rind that he sailed night and day nor was there any of his coming so when he came to thundsburg Olaf and sigrat fared with their folk from the town eastward on to the brunt and there arrayed them eric had much the greater host and he won the day and Olaf and sigrat fell both and the howls of them both are on the brunt whereas they lay slain then king eric fared all about the wick and subdued it to him and abode their long summer but trig v and good right fled away to the uplands eric was a big man and a fair strong and most out of heart a mighty warrior and victorious fierce of mind grim unkind and a few words goon hilled his wife was the fairest of women wise and cunning in witchcraft glad of speech and guileful of heart and the grimest of all folk these are the children of eric and goon hilled gamely the eldest gue thorm herald ragnar fraud ragnar hilled erling goodrodd and sigurd slaver and all eric's children were fair and full manly end of the story of herald hair fair part 5 chapters 41 to 46 section 13 of heim's kringla by snorrie sterlson translated by george pote morris and ira kerr magnuson the sliverbox recording is in the public domain the story of hey con the good part 1 chapter 1 through 13 chapter 1 hey con taken for king hey con athel stain's foster son was in england when he heard of the death of king herald his father he straightway went for departure and king athel stain gave him both folk and fair great ships and arrayed all for him in the seemliest wise so he came to norway in the autumn tide then heard he of the fall of his brother and there with how that king eric was as then in the wick so hey con sailed north to frantheim and came to all men of norway and got good welcome of him and they made covenant together and hey con promised him great dominion if he might get to be king then they let summon a thing of many men and at the thing eril sigurd spake on hey con's behoove and offered him to the bonders for king and thereafter hey con himself stood up and spake then fell a talking man to man that here was like herald hair fair grown young a second time now the beginning of hey con's word was that he bad them take him for king and so name him and there with all to give him help and strength to hold his kingdom but in return he offered to make them all as free born bonders and that they should dwell every man on his free lands at this harang was there so greatest stir that the whole bonders shouted and cried out that they would take him for king and so it came to pass that they of thrandheim took hey con for king over all the land and in those days was hey con fifteen winters old so he took to him a bodyguard and went through the land now came tidings to the uplands that the thrandheimers had taken one for king like in all wise to herald hair fair if it were not that herald had enthralled and oppressed all the folk of the land whereas this hey con willed good to every man and offered to give back to the bonders the old all writes which king herald had taken from them all were glad at those tidings and one man told the other till it ran like wildfire all through the land to the lands and many bonders feared from the uplands to go see king hey con some sent men some sent messengers and tokens and all to one end to it that they would be his men and the king took all with thanks chapter two king hey con's journey through the land king hey con fared in the beginning of winter to the uplands and summoned things there and all folks that might come came thronging to meet him and at all things was he taken for king then he fared the wick and trig v and good rod his brothers sons came to meet him and many others who told over the sorrows they had borne from king eric his brother so ever the more wax the enmity against eric as to all men king hey con grew dear and each felt more emboldened to speak as he thought king hey con gave a king's name to trig v and good rod and the same which herald his father had given to their fathers to trig v gave he then realm and bingo mark and to good rod west fold but whereas they were young and but children he set noble men and wise to rule the land with them and he gave the land to them on that covenant or force said that they should have half of the dues and scat against him so king hey con went north in the spring time through the upper uplands to thrantime chapter three eric fleeth from the land king hey con drew together a great host in spring tide and arrayed his ships and the folk of the wick also had a great company afield and were minded to meet him then king eric too called out men from the mid land but was ill furnished with folk because many of the great men had turned from him and gone over to hey con but when he saw that he had no might to withstand the host of hey con he sailed west over sea with such folk as would follow him he fared first to the orc niece and had then a great company then he sailed south toward england and harried about scotland where so ever he made land and then he harried all about the north parts of england now out those staying the english king sent word to eric bidding him take dominion saying that king herald his father had been a great friend of his wherefore he was feigned thus to make it availed to his son so men went between the kings and they made peace with sworn troth on such covenant that king eric should take northumberland to hold of king athelstein and should ward the land from the danes and other Vikings he should let himself be christened also with his wife and children and all the folk that choice took eric and was christened and took the right troth now nathumberland is accounted the fifth part of england eric had his abode at york where as say folk lodbrock's sons had a four time abided northumberland was mostly people by northmen after lodbrock's sons had won the land full off had danes and northmen harried therein since the dominion thereof had come from them many steds in that land are named after the northern tongue grims be to wit and hawk fleet and many others chapter four the fall of king eric king eric had many men about him for he kept there many northmen who had come from the east with him and more over many of his friends came afterward from norway but whereas he had but little land he fared ever a warring untied he harried in scotland and the south isles ireland and wales and so got wealth to him king athel's stain died in his bed when as he had been king fourteen winters and eight weeks and three days after him was edmund his brother king of england he could not await with northmen nor was king eric beloved of him and the word went about king edmund that he would set another king over and when king eric heard that he went a warring in the west and had with him from the orkneys urls arnkel and ireland the sons of turf einer then he went to the south isles and found there many vikings and kings of hosts and they joined themselves to king eric and with the whole host he went first to ireland and had then such folk as he might get thereafter he fared to wales and harried there then he sailed south england and harried there as in other places and all the people fled away where so ever he came now where as eric was a most daring man and had a great host he trusted so well to his folk that he went a long way up into the land and harried and followed up the flears but there was a king called olaf whom king edmund had set there for the warding of the land and he drew together an army not to be stood and fell on king eric and there was a great battle many of the english folk fell but ever where as one fell came three in his place down from the land and by the latter end of the day the fall of men turned toward the side of the north men and there died full many folk and there this day was ended fell king eric and five kings with him which are named goothorm and his two sons ivar and harrick there fell also sigurd and ragnvald and there fell with all arnkel and earland the sons of turfiner yay and there was an exceeding great fall of the north men but they who escaped fared back to north emberland and told goon hild and her sons of these tidings chapter five the journey of goon hild's sons now when goon hild and her sons knew that king eric was fallen had before that harried the land of the english king they deemed full surely that they might look for no peace there so they straightway got them gone from north emberland and had all the ships that king eric had had and such folk as would follow them and plenty as wealth with all which they had gotten together part by the tribute to england and part by warring they turned their host first north away to the orc knees and took up there about there a while there in those days was thorfin skull cleaver son of turfiner so eric's sons took to them the orc knees and shetlands and had scat from them and abode there a winter tide and harried in summer about scotland and arland here of teleth glum gyarrison the bairn young wise wayfarer the writer of the strand steed a good leeway had wended vents and all on to skeinie the upright fightfire speeder one sons of men in scotland and sent there from to odin host of the men sword smitten the folks friend dave the fight flames to gladden chuffs of the valkyries of the earth's folk many a war host betook them unto fleeing the fray of the land of people the victory well-beloved in man's blood reddened edges and felled folk in the south land chapter six the battle in jutland king haekon athel stains foster sons subdued to him all norway when king eric his brother had fled the land king haekon abode the first winter in the west country and thereafter went north to thrandheim and abode there says that he doubted of war if perchance king eric should come with an host from west over sea for that cause he sat with his host in the midland of the furth country or sogon or hordeland or rogueland haekon set earl sigurd the earl of ladir over all thrandheim whereas he had been lord a four-time and haekon his father also under king herald hair-fair but when haekon heard of the fall of eric his brother and with all the eric's sons durst not abide in england he deemed there was little need to dread them and so fared with his folk one summer east into the wick in these days the danes harried much in the wick and wrought full off great scave there but when they heard that king haekon was come thither with a great host they fled all away some south to howland but others king haekon stood out to see and so south to jutland and when king haekon was aware of this he sailed after them with all his host and coming to jutland harried there and when the folk of the land were aware of it they drew together and host and would defend their land and joined battle with king haekon there was a great battle and king haekon fought so mightily that he went on before his banner unhelmed and unburnied king haekon won the day and followed the chase far up into the land so seeth goothorn cinder in the haekon's droppa the ships blew stream now wended the king with oars spray washen the high lord fell the jute folk in the drift of battles maiden the feeder of swans of odin draved flight ian as his will was the covering of the lures to crows wine break asunder chapter seven battle in air sound thence king haekon made south with his host for sealant and sought the vikings there he rode with two cutters forth into air sound and there fell in with eleven cutters of the vikings and straightway joined battle with them and the end thereof was that he won the day and cleared all the craft of the vikings so seeth goothorn cinder speeder of gales of bow drifts fires from the south came faring to the greenness of the seal wound with but two plate decked seas steeds when as the all wroth cinder of the wand of slaughter cleared them eleven keels of dane folk far famed therefore air after chapter eight king haekon's warring in denmark there after king haekon harried wide about in sealant and plundered many folk and slew some and had away some as captives and took great finds from some nor found ought to withstand him so seeth goothorn cinder the black thorn of the onset got this to conquer sealant and the safeguard of the land host along the side of skeini then went king haekon east along skeini side and harried all and took finds and scat from the land and slew all vikings where so ever he found them were they danes or bends then went he east away beyond galt land and harried there and got great tribute from the land so seeth goothorn cinder shielded by skirt of odin he won scat of the galt folk gold hewer the all bounteous one spear storms in that faring king haekon went back in autumn tide with his folk and had gotten to him exceeding great wealth he abode that winter in the wick against onsets if perchance the danes or galt landers should do the same chapter nine of king trigvy that same autumn had king trigvy olofsson come from warring in the west and he had as then been harrying in ireland and scotland in the spring king haekon went into the north country and set trigvy his brother's son over the wick to guarded against war and to get what he might from those lands of danmark where as king haekon had taken scat the summer before so seeth goothorn cinder the helmets rice rod's redner has set the brave mine gladdener over the maid of onar the oak green of the southland the ever nimble breaker of swag deer's hall of battle who erst had come from ireland with a host on the swan meads runners chapter ten the sons of gun hill king herald gormson ruled in those days over danmark and he was exceeding he was still content that king haekon had harried in his land and rumour ran that the dan king would feign avenge it but not so speedily came that about but when gun hill and her sons heard fear of that unpeace was toward betwixt danmark and norway they arrayed their departure from the west they gave raghna hill the daughter of king eric to arne fin the son of thorfin skull cleaver arne fin abode still earl in the orkneys when eric's sons went away gomley ericson was somewhat the eldest of them yet was not he fully come to manhood so when gun hill came to danmark with her son she feared to meet king herald and had good welcome of him king herald gave them lands in his realm so great that they might well keep them there in good fortune they and their men but he took fostering herald ericson and set him on his knee and he grew up there in the court of the dan king some of eric's sons fared a warring as soon as they were of age there too and so gathered wealth they harried about the eastlands they were early fared to look on of manhood and strengthen prowess beyond their years hereof teleth glum gearer son in the gray cloaks droppa many in the eastlands got them a war shrine smitten the mighty skulls gift giver gained victory in the journey the king sat there singing the sheath tongues gold berapid and hosts of the white sword players unto the ground he sent them then turned eric's sons also north to the wick with their host and harried there but trig v called out his folk and turned to meet them in the battles where in now one now the other prevailed and while eric's sons harried in the wick while trig v harried in sealant or howland chapter 11 king heikon's lawmaking when as heikon was king in norway was there good peace amidst bonders and chapman so that none did hurt to other nor to others wealth and plenteous were the seasons both by land and by sea king heikon was the blithest of all men and the sweetest spoken and the kindest he was a very wise man and turned his mind much to lawmaking he set forth the gula things laws with the help and counsel of thor leaf the wise and also the frost the things laws with the reed of earl-cigarette and other thrandheimers of the wisest but the hide cyvees law half down the black set forth a fourth time as is written of four chapter 12 birth of earl heikon the mighty king heikon held his eul feast in thrandheim which feast earl-cigarette arrayed for him at ladeer thereon the first night of eul berg liat the earl's wife brought forth the man-child and the next day king heikon sprinkled the lad with water and gave him his own name the noble and became earl after a cigarette his father earl-cigarette was the dearest of friends to king heikon chapter 13 of eisstein the evil eisstein king of the uplands whom some call the mighty and some the evil harried in thrandheim and laid under him eils folk and spar-biders folk and set his son onund over them but the thrandheimers came to him king eisstein feared a warring the second time into thrandheim and harried wide there and laid folk under him then he bade the thrandheimers choose whether they would have for king his thrall who was called thor-rear foxy or his hound who was called sour so they chose the hound deeming that they would then the rather do their own will then let they bewitch into the hound the wisdom the third a collar was wrought for him and chains of gold and silver and when so the ways were myery his courtmen bare him on their shoulders a high seat was dyed for him and he sat on howl as kings do he dwelt at the inner aisle and had his abode at the stead called sour's howl and so say folk that he came to his death in this wise that the wolves fell on his flocks and herds and his courtmen and his sheep so he leaped down from his howl and went to meet the wolves with a straight way tore him asunder many other marvelous deeds wrought king eyestime with the thrandheimers and from the warring and trouble of him fled away many lords and other folk also many fled away from their free lands End of the story of hey con the good part 1 chapter 1 through 13