There was a man, by name Sigurd, who was brought up in Norway, and was
called priest Adalbrikt's son. Sigurd's mother was Thora, a daughter of
Saxe of Vik, a sister of Sigrid, who was mother of King Olaf Magnuson,
and of Kare, the king's brother who married Borghild, a daughter of Dag
Eilifson. Their sons were Sigurd of Austrat and Dag. Sigurd of Austrat's
sons were Jon of Austrat, Thorstein, and Andres the Deaf. Jon was
married to Sigrid, a sister of King Inge and of Duke Skule. This
Sigurd, in his childhood, was kept at his book, became a clerk, and was
consecrated a deacon; but as he ripened in years and strength he became
a very clever man, stout, strong, distinguished for all perfections and
exercises beyond any of his years,--indeed, beyond any man in Norway.
Sigurd showed early traces of a haughty ungovernable spirit, and was
therefore called Slembidjakn. He was as handsome a man as could be seen,
with rather thin but beautiful hair. When it came to Sigurd's ears that
his mother said King Magnus was his father, he laid aside all clerkship;
and as soon as he was old enough to be his own master, he left the
country. He was a long time on his travels, went to Palestine; was at
the Jordan river; and visited many holy places, as pilgrims usually do.
When he came back, he applied himself to trading expeditions. One winter
he was in Orkney with Earl Harald, and was with him when Thorkel Fostre
Summarlidason was killed. Sigurd was also in Scotland with the Scottish
king David, and was held in great esteem by him. Thereafter Sigurd went
to Denmark; and according to the account of himself and his men, he
there submitted to the iron ordeal to confirm his paternal descent, and
proved by it, in the presence of five bishops, that he was a son of King
Magnus Barefoot. So says Ivar Ingemundson, in Sigurd's song:--
"The holiest five
Of men alive,--
Bishops were they,--
Solemnly say,
The iron glowing
Red hot, yet showing
No scaith on skin,
Proves cause and kin."
King Harald Gille's friends, however, said this was only a lie, and
deceit of the Danes.