OF EARL RÖGNVALD.
RÖGNVALD and his men came to Mikligard, and were well received by the
Emperor and the Væringiar.[385] At this time Menelaus, whom we call
Manuli,[386] was the Emperor of Mikligard. He gave them a great deal of
money, and offered them pay if they would stay there permanently. They
spent there a great part of the winter. Eindridi Ungi was there when
they came, and was highly honoured by the Emperor. He had little to do
with the Earl and his men, but rather spoke slightingly of them to
others. Rögnvald commenced his journey from Mikligard during the winter,
and went first to Dýraksborg[387] in Bólgaraland. From there they sailed
west to Púll.[388] Earl Rögnvald, Erling, Bishop William, and most
others of their noblest men left their ships there, procured horses, and
rode first to Rómaborg (Rome), and then from Róm until they came to
Denmark. From there they went to Norway, where the people were glad to
see them. This journey became very famous, and all those who had made it
were considered greater men afterwards than before.
Ogmund Dreng, Erling Skakki’s brother, had died while they were away;
while both were alive, he was considered the greater of the two. After
the death of King Ingi, Magnus, the son of Erling and Kristín, the
daughter of Sigurd Jorsalafari, was made King, but the government of
Norway was in the hands of Erling alone. Valdimar, King of the Danes,
gave him the title of Earl, and he became a great chief. Eindridi came
from the south some winters after Earl Rögnvald, and went to King
Eystein, because he would not have anything to do with Erling. But after
King Eystein’s death Eindridi and Sigurd, the son of Hávard Höld of
Reyr, raised a party, and made Hákon Herdabreid,[389] the son of King
Sigurd, son of Harald Gilli, their king. They slew Gregorius Dag’s son
and King Ingi. Eindridi and Hákon fought with Erling, under Sekkr,[390]
where Hákon was killed; but Eindridi fled. Earl Erling had Eindridi Ungi
killed some time after in Vik.[391]
Earl Rögnvald spent the summer in Hördaland, in Norway, and heard many
tidings from the Orkneys. There were great disturbances there, and most
of the chiefs were divided into two factions, few remaining neutral.
Earl Harald was at the head of one of these factions, and Earl Erlend
and Swein, Asleif’s son, of the other. When the Earl heard this, he
sang:
Though the most part of my nobles
Have forgot the oaths they sware me
(Such the wickedness of men is),
Yet will their designs be thwarted.
Traitors plotting in my absence,
Will not by it grow more loyal;
Slow but sure shall be my motto
While a beard on chin I carry.
The Earl had no ships, but he asked his kinsmen and friends to build
some long-ships for him during the winter. They gave a favourable
answer, and consented to everything he proposed, and built the ships.