OF EARL PAUL.
EARL PAUL then ruled the Orkneys, and was very popular. He was somewhat
taciturn, spoke little at the Things, and gave others a large share in
the government with himself. He was a modest man, and gentle to the
people, liberal with his money, and spared nothing with his friends. He
was not warlike, and kept himself very quiet. At that time there were
many noble men descended from Earls in the Orkneys. Then there lived at
Westness, in Hrólfsey (Rousay), a noble man, by name Sigurd, who had
married Ingibiorg the Noble. Her mother Herborg was the daughter of Earl
Paul, Thorfinn’s son. Their sons were Brynjúlf and Hákon Pík (peak). All
these were Earl Paul’s vassals; so were also the sons of Hávard, Gunni’s
son—Hákon Kló, Thorstein, and Dûfniáll. Their mother was Bergliót, and
her mother was Ragnhild, the daughter of Earl Paul. There was a man
named Erling, who lived in Caithness. He had four sons, all of them
accomplished men. A man named Olaf lived in Gáreksey (Gairsay), and had
another estate at Dungalsbæ, in Caithness. Olaf was a great man, and
highly honoured by Earl Paul. His wife was named Asleif, a wise woman,
accomplished, and of a great family. Their sons—Valthióf, Swein, and
Gunni—were all accomplished men. Their sister was named Ingigerd.
Sigurd, the Earl’s brother-in-law, had married Thóra, the mother of Earl
Magnus, and their son was Hákon Karl (man). Both Sigurd and his son were
great chiefs. In Rínarsey (North Ronaldsay) there lived a woman, by name
Ragna, and her son was named Thorstein, a man of great strength. A
farmer named Kugi, a wise and wealthy man, lived at Gefsisness,[310] in
Westrey. A farmer named Helgi lived at a hamlet in Westrey. Thorkel
Flétta (a braid), a violent and powerful man, lived in Westrey.
Thorstein and Haflidi were unpopular men. At Swiney (Swona), in the
Pentland Firth, lived a poor man, and his sons were Asbiörn and Margad,
sturdy fellows. In Fridarey (Fair Isle) lived a man by name Dagfinn. A
man named Thorstein lived at Fluguness,[311] in Hrossey (the Mainland of
Orkney), and his sons were Thorstein Krôkauga (crooked eye) and Blán,
both of them wild fellows. Játvör, the daughter of Earl Erlend, and her
son Borgar, lived at Knarrarstadir;[312] they were rather unpopular. Jón
Vœng (wing) lived at Uppland, in Háey (Hoy). Rikgard lived at
Brekkur,[313] in Straumsey. They were poor men, and relatives of Olaf
Hrólfsson. A man named Grímkell lived at Glettuness.[314] All these men
will be mentioned in the saga afterwards.