There was a man named Thorvald, son of Osvald, son of
Ulf-Oexna-Thorerisson. Thorvald and his son were obliged to leave
Jardar[79] and go to Iceland, on account of manslaughter. At that time
Iceland was generally colonized.[80] They first lived in Drangey, where
Thorvald died. Then Eric married Thorhild, daughter of Jorund and
Thorbiarg Knarrabringa, whom afterwards Thorbiorn of Haukdale married.
Eric moved from the north, and fixed his abode in Ericstad opposite
Vatshorn. The son of Eric and Thorhold was named Leif. But after Eyulf
Soers and Holm-Gang Rafn's murder, Eric was banished from Haukdale. Eric
went westward to Breidafiord and lived at Oexney in Ericstad. He lent
Thorgest his seat-posts,[81] and he could not get them again. He then
demanded them. Then came disputes and hostility between him and
Thorgest, which is told in the history of Eric. Styr Thorgrim's son,
Eyulf of Svinoe, the sons of Brand of Aptelfiord and Thorbiorn Vifilsson
plead the cause of Eric; Thorder Gellurson and Thorgeir of Hitardale
plead for Thorgest. Eric was declared outlawed by the Thing, and
prepared his ship for sea in Eric's Bay. Styr and the others went with
him beyond the island. [A. D. 982.] Then Eric declared it to be his
resolution to seek the land which Gunnbiorn, Ulf Krage's son, saw [A. D.
876.] when driven into the Western ocean, where he found Gunnbiorn's
Rocks, saying, that if he did not find the land he would return to his
friends. Eric set sail from Snæfellsjokul, and found land which from its
height he called Midjokul, now called Blaaserk. Thence he sailed along
the shore in a southerly direction, seeking for the nearest habitable
land. The first winter he passed in Ericseya,[82] near the middle of the
east district. The following year he came into Ericsfiord, where he
fixed his seat. The same summer he explored the western desert, and gave
names to many places. The following winter he passed on a holm opposite
Rafnsgnipa, and the third year he came into Iceland and brought his ship
into Breidafiord. The land which he found, he named Greenland, saying
that men would be persuaded to go to a land with so good a name. Eric
stayed in Iceland that winter, and the summer after he went over to the
land which he had found, and fixed his abode in Brattahlid in
Ericsfiord. [A. D. 986.] Men acquainted with affairs, say, that this
same summer in which Eric went to settle in Greenland, thirty-five ships
sailed from Breidafiord and Bogafjord, of which only fourteen arrived,
and the rest were driven back or lost. This event took place fifteen
winters[83] before the Christian religion was established in Iceland.
The same summer, Bishop Frederick and Thorvold Kodranson went from
Iceland.[84] Among those who emigrated with Eric and established
themselves, were Heriulf Heriulfsfiord who took Heriulfsness, and abode
in Heriulfsness, Ketil Ketilsfiord, Rafn Rafnsfiord, Solvi Solvidale,
Helgi Thorbrandson Alptafiord, Thorbjornglora Siglefjord, Einar
Einarsfiord, Hafgrim Hafgrimsfiord and Vatnahver, Arnlaug Arnlaugsfiord;
and other men went to the west district.
_The Baptism of Leif the Fortunate._
And when the sixth[85] winter had passed [A. D. 999.] since Eric Red
went to live in Greenland, Leif, son of Eric, went over from Greenland
to Norway, and in the autumn arrived in Throndheim and came north to
King Olaf Trygvesson,[86] from Hegeland. He brought his ship to Nidaros
and went at once to King Olaf. The king commanded Leif and some other
pagan men to come to him. They were exhorted to accept religion, which
the king having easily arranged with Leif, he and all his sailors were
baptized, and passed the winter with the king, being liberally
entertained.