Eystein, a king of the Uplands, whom some called the Great, and some the
Bad, once on a time made war in Throndhjem, and subdued Eyna district
and Sparbyggia district, and set his own son Onund over them; but the
Throndhjem people killed him. Then King Eystein made another inroad into
Throndhjem, and ravaged the land far and wide, and subdued it. He then
offered the people either his slave, who was called Thorer Faxe, or his
dog, whose name was Saur, to be their king. They preferred the dog,
as they thought they would sooner get rid of him. Now the dog was, by
witchcraft, gifted with three men's wisdom; and when he barked, he spoke
one word and barked two. A collar and chain of gold and silver were
made for him, and his courtiers carried him on their shoulders when the
weather or ways were foul. A throne was erected for him, and he sat
upon a high place, as kings are used to sit. He dwelt on Eyin Idre (Idre
Isle), and had his mansion in a place now called Saurshaug. It is told
that the occasion of his death was that the wolves one day broke into
his fold, and his courtiers stirred him up to defend his cattle; but
when he ran down from his mound, and attacked the wolves, they tore
him into pieces. Many other extraordinary things were done by this
King Eystein against the Throndhjem people, and in consequence of this
persecution and trouble, many chiefs and people fled and left their udal
properties.