In a conference which King Valdemar and Erling once had together. Erling
said, "Sire, it appears to me likely that it might lead to a peace
between the countries if you got that part of Norway which was promised
you in our agreement; but if it should be so, what chief would you place
over it? Would he be a Dane?"
"No," replied the king; "no Danish chief would go to Norway, where he
would have to manage an obstinate hard people, when he has it so easy
here with me."
Erling: "It was on that very consideration that I came here; for I would
not on any account in the world deprive myself of the advantage of your
friendship. In days of old other men, Hakon Ivarson and Fin Arnason,
came also from Norway to Denmark, and your predecessor, King Svein, made
them both earls. Now I am not a man of less power in Norway than they
were then, and my influence is not less than theirs; and the king gave
them the province of Halland to rule over, which he himself had and
owned before. Now it appears to me, sire, that you, if I become your
man and vassal, can allow me to hold of you the fief which my son
Magnus will not deny me, by which I will be bound in duty, and ready, to
undertake all the service belonging to that title."
Erling spoke such things, and much more in the same strain, until it
came at last to this, that Erling became Valdemar's man and vassal; and
the king led Erling to the earl's seat one day, and gave him the title
of earl, and Viken as a fief under his rule. Earl Erling went thereafter
to Norway, and was earl afterwards as long as he lived; and also the
peace with the Danish king was afterwards always preserved. Earl Erling
had four sons by his concubines. The one was called Hreidar, the next
Ogmund; and these by two different mothers: the third was called Fin;
the fourth Sigurd: these were younger, and their mother was Asa the
Fair. The princess Kristin and Earl Erling had a daughter called
Ragnhild, who was married to Jon Thorbergson of Randaberg. Kristin went
away from the country with a man called Grim Rusle; and they went to
Constantinople, where they were for a time, and had some children.