King Svein made a magnificent feast, to which he invited all the
chiefs in his dominions; for he would give the succession-feast, or the
heirship-ale, after his father Harald. A short time before, Strutharald
in Skane, and Vesete in Bornholm, father to Bue the Thick and to Sigurd,
had died; and King Svein sent word to the Jomsborg vikings that Earl
Sigvalde and Bue, and their brothers, should come to him, and drink the
funeral-ale for their fathers in the same feast the king was giving.
The Jomsborg vikings came to the festival with their bravest men, forty
ships of them from Vindland, and twenty ships from Skane. Great was the
multitude of people assembled. The first day of the feast, before King
Svein went up into his father's high-seat, he drank the bowl to his
father's memory, and made the solemn vow, that before three winters were
past he would go over with his army to England, and either kill King
Adalrad (Ethelred), or chase him out of the country. This heirship
bowl all who were at the feast drank. Thereafter for the chiefs of the
Jomsborg vikings was filled and drunk the largest horn to be found,
and of the strongest drink. When that bowl was emptied, all men drank
Christ's health; and again the fullest measure and the strongest drink
were handed to the Jomsborg vikings. The third bowl was to the memory of
Saint Michael, which was drunk by all. Thereafter Earl Sigvalde emptied
a remembrance bowl to his father's honour, and made the solemn vow, that
before three winters came to an end he would go to Norway, and either
kill Earl Hakon, or chase him out of the country. Thereupon Thorkel the
Tall, his brother, made a solemn vow to follow his brother Sigvalde to
Norway, and not flinch from the battle so long as Sigvalde would fight
there. Then Bue the Thick vowed to follow them to Norway, and not flinch
so long as the other Jomsborg vikings fought. At last Vagn Akason vowed
that he would go with them to Norway, and not return until he had slain
Thorkel Leira, and gone to bed to his daughter Ingebjorg without her
friends' consent. Many other chiefs made solemn vows about different
things. Thus was the heirship-ale drunk that day, but the next morning,
when the Jomsborg vikings had slept off their drink, they thought they
had spoken more than enough. They held a meeting to consult how they
should proceed with their undertaking, and they determined to fit out
as speedily as possible for the expedition; and without delay ships and
men-at-arms were prepared, and the news spread quickly.