Magnus Erlingson's Saga

29. ERLING'S EXPEDITION TO DENMARK.

The princess Kristin went south in autumn (A.D. 1165) to Denmark,
to visit her relation King Valdemar, who was her cousin. The
king received her kindly, and gave her fiefs in his kingdom, so
that she could support her household well. She often conversed
with the king, who was remarkably kind towards her. In the
spring following (A.D. 1166) Kristin sent to Erling, and begged
him to pay a visit to the Danish king, and enter into a peace
with him. In summer Erling was in Viken, where he fitted out a
long-ship, manned it with his finest lads, and sailed (a single
ship) over to Jutland. When he heard that the Danish king
Valdemar was in Randaros, Erling sailed thither, and came to the
town just as the king sat at the dinner-table, and most of the
people were taking their meal. When his people had made
themselves ready according to Erling's orders, set up the
ship-tents, and made fast the ship, Erling landed with twelve
men, all in armour, with hats over their helmets, and swords
under their cloaks. They went to the king's lodging, where the
doors stood open, and the dishes were being carried in. Erling
and his people went in immediately, and drew up in front of the
high-seat. Erling said, "Peace and safe conduct we desire, king,
both here and to return home."

The king looked at him, and said, "Art thou here, Erling?"

He replies, "Here is Erling; and tell us, at once, if we shall
have peace and safe conduct."

There were eighty of the king's men in the room, but all unarmed.
The king replies, "Peace ye shall have, Erling, according to thy
desire; for I will not use force or villainy against a man who
comes to visit me."

Erling then kissed the king's hand, went out, and down to his
ship. Erling stayed at Randaros some time with the king, and
they talked about terms of peace between them and between the
countries. They agreed that Erling should remain as hostage with
the Danish king; and that Asbjorn Snara, Bishop Absalon's
brother, should go to Norway as hostage on the other part.

30. KING VALDEMAR AND ERLING.

In a conference which King Valdemar and Erling once had together.
Erling said, "Sire, it appears to me likely that it might lead to
a peace between the countries if you got that part of Norway
which was promised you in our agreement; but if it should be so,
what chief would you place over it? Would he be a Dane?"

"No," replied the king; "no Danish chief would go to Norway,
where he would have to manage an obstinate hard people, when he
has it so easy here with me."

Erling: "It was on that very consideration that I came here; for
I would not on any account in the world deprive myself of the
advantage of your friendship. In days of old other men, Hakon
Ivarson and Fin Arnason, came also from Norway to Denmark, and
your predecessor, King Svein, made them both earls. Now I am not
a man of less power in Norway than they were then, and my
influence is not less than theirs; and the king gave them the
province of Halland to rule over, which he himself had and owned
before. Now it appears to me, sire, that you, if I become your
man and vassal, can allow me to hold of you the fief which my son
Magnus will not deny me, by which I will be bound in duty, and
ready, to undertake all the service belonging to that title."

Erling spoke such things, and much more in the same strain, until
it came at last to this, that Erling became Valdemar's man and
vassal; and the king led Erling to the earl's seat one day, and
gave him the title of earl, and Viken as a fief under his rule.
Earl Erling went thereafter to Norway, and was earl afterwards as
long as he lived; and also the peace with the Danish king was
afterwards always preserved. Earl Erling had four sons by his
concubines. The one was called Hreidar, the next Ogmund; and
these by two different mothers: the third was called Fin; the
fourth Sigurd: these were younger, and their mother was Asa the
Fair. The princess Kristin and Earl Erling had a daughter called
Ragnhild, who was married to Jon Thorbergson of Randaberg.
Kristin went away from the country with a man called Grim Rusle;
and they went to Constantinople, where they were for a time, and
had some children.

31. BEGINNING OF OLAF.

Olaf, a son of Gudbrand Skafhaug, and Maria, a daughter of King
Eystein Magnuson, were brought up in the house of Sigurd Agnhot
in the Uplands. While Earl Erling was in Denmark (A.D. 1166),
Olaf and his foster-father gathered a troop together, and many
Upland people joined them; and Olaf was chosen king by them.
They went with their bands through the Uplands, and sometimes
down to Viken, and sometimes east to the forest settlements; but
never came on board of ships. Now when, Earl Erling got news of
this troop, he hastened to Viken with his forces; and was there
in summer in his ships, and in Oslo in autumn (A.D. 1167) and
kept Yule there. He had spies up the country after this troop,
and went himself, along with Orm, the King-brother, up the
country to follow them. Now when they came to a lake called....
.... (1) they took all the vessels that were upon the lake.

32. OF ERLING.

The priest who performed divine service at a place called
Rydiokul, close by the lake, invited the earl to a feast at
Candlemas. The earl promised to come; and thinking it would be
good to hear mass there, he rowed with his attendants over the
lake the night before Candlemas day. But the priest had another
plan on hand. He sent men to bring Olaf news of Earl Erling's
arrival. The priest gave Erling strong drink in the evening, and
let him have an excessive quantity of it. When the earl wished
to lie down and sleep, the beds were made ready in the drinking-
room; but when they had slept a short time the earl awoke, and
asked if it was not the hour for matins. The priest replied,
that only a small part of the night was gone, and told him to
sleep in peace. The earl replied, "I dream of many things
to-night, and I sleep ill." He slumbered again, but awoke soon,
and told the priest to get up and sing mass. The priest told the
earl to sleep, and said it was but midnight. Then the earl again
lay down, slept a little while, and, springing out of bed,
ordered his men to put on their clothes. They did so; took their
weapons, went to the church, and laid their arms outside while
the priest was singing matins.

33. BATTLE AT RYDIOKUL.

As Olaf got the message in the evening, they travelled in the
night six miles, which people considered an extraordinarily long
march. They arrived at Rydiokul while the priest was still
singing mass, and it was pitch-dark. Olaf and his men went into
the room, raised a war-shout, and killed some of the earl's men
who had not gone to the early mass. Now when Erling and his men
heard the war-shout, they ran to their weapons, and hastened down
to their ships. Olaf and his men met them at a fence, at which
there was a sharp conflict. Erling and his men retreated along
the fence, which protected them. Erling had far fewer men, and
many of them had fallen, and still more were wounded. What
helped Earl Erling and his men the most was, that Olaf's men
could not distinguish them, it was so dark; and the earl's men
were always drawing down to their ships. Are Thorgeirson, father
of Bishop Gudmund fell there, and many other of Erling's court-
men. Erling himself was wounded in the left side; but some say
he did it himself in drawing his sword. Orm the King-brother was
also severely wounded; and with great difficulty they escaped to
their ships, and instantly pushed off from land. It was
generally considered as a most unlucky meeting for Olaf's people,
as Earl Erling was in a manner sold into their hands, if they had
proceeded with common prudence. He was afterwards called Olaf
the Unlucky; but others called his people Hat-lads. They went
with their bands through the Uplands as before. Erling again
went down to Viken to his ships, and remained there all summer.
Olaf was in the Uplands, and sometimes east in the forest
districts, where he and his troop remained all the next winter
(A.D. 1168).

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