When Olaf Trygvason ruled over Norway, he gave his brother-in-law Erling
half of the land scat, and royal revenues between the Naze and Sogn. His
other sister he married to the Earl Ragnvald Ulfson, who long ruled
over West Gautland. Ragnvald's father, Ulf, was a brother of Sigrid the
Haughty, the mother of Olaf the Swedish king. Earl Eirik was ill pleased
that Erling Skialgson had so large a dominion, and he took to himself
all the king's estates, which King Olaf had given to Erling. But
Erling levied, as before, all the land scat in Rogaland; and thus the
inhabitants had often to pay him the land scat, otherwise he laid waste
their land. The earl made little of the business, for no bailiff of his
could live there, and the earl could only come there in guest-quarters,
when he had a great many people with him. So says Sigvat:--
"Olaf the king
Thought the bonde Erling
A man who would grace
His own royal race.
One sister the king
Gave the bonde Erling;
And one to an earl,
And she saved him in peril."
Earl Eirik did not venture to fight with Erling, because he had very
powerful and very many friends, and was himself rich and popular, and
kept always as many retainers about him as if he held a king's court.
Erling was often out in summer on plundering expeditions, and procured
for himself means of living; for he continued his usual way of high and
splendid living, although now he had fewer and less convenient fiefs
than in the time of his brother-in-law King Olaf Trygvason. Erling was
one of the handsomest, largest, and strongest men; a better warrior than
any other; and in all exercises he was like King Olaf himself. He was,
besides, a man of understanding, jealous in everything he undertook, and
a deadly man at arms. Sigvat talks thus of him:--
"No earl or baron, young or old,
Match with this bonde brave can hold.
Mild was brave Erling, all men say,
When not engaged in bloody fray:
His courage he kept hid until
The fight began, then foremost still
Erling was seen in war's wild game,
And famous still is Erling's name."
It was a common saying among the people, that Erling had been the most
valiant who ever held lands under a king in Norway. Erlings and Astrid s
children were these--Aslak, Skialg, Sigurd, Lodin, Thorer, and Ragnhild,
who was married to Thorberg Arnason. Erling had always with him ninety
free-born men or more, and both winter and summer it was the custom in
his house to drink at the mid-day meal according to a measure (1), but
at the night meal there was no measure in drinking. When the earl was in
the neighbourhood he had 200 (2) men or more. He never went to sea with
less than a fully-manned ship of twenty benches of rowers. Erling had
also a ship of thirty-two benches of rowers, which was besides, very
large for that size, and which he used in viking cruises, or on an
expedition; and in it there were 200 men at the very least.
ENDNOTES: (1) There were silver-studs in a row from the rim to the
bottom of the drinking born or cup; and as it went round each drank
till the stud appeared above the liquor. This was drinking
by measure.--L.
(2) I.e., 240.