OF EARL HARALD.
ERLEND, the son of Harald Sléttmáli, spent most of his time in Thórsá.
Sometimes he was in the Sudreyar, or on war expeditions, after the death
of Earl Ottar. He was a very promising man, and accomplished in most
things, liberal in money, gentle, open to advice, and greatly loved by
his men. He had a large following.
There was a man named Anakol, who had fostered Erlend, and to his
counsels he chiefly listened. He was of a noble family, and hardy. He
was Earl Erlend’s right-hand man.
When Earl Rögnvald had left his dominions to go to Jórsalaheim, Erlend
went to Malcolm,[398] the King of Scots, and requested him to give him
an Earl’s title, and Caithness for his support, as his father Earl
Erlend had. And because Erlend had many friends, and Malcolm was a child
in years, it was brought about that he bestowed the title of Earl on
Erlend, and gave him the half of Caithness jointly with his kinsman
Harald. Then Erlend went to Caithness to see his friends.
After that he gathered troops together, went out to the Orkneys, and
sought to be accepted by the inhabitants. When Earl Harald, Maddad’s
son, heard this, he gathered troops together, and had many men. Some
parties went between the kinsmen and tried to make peace between them.
Erlend asked for half of the Islands jointly with Earl Harald, but Earl
Harald refused to give them up. Truce was, however, made between them
for that year; and it was resolved that Erlend should go to the east and
see the King of Norway, and ask for that half which belonged to Earl
Rögnvald, which Earl Harald said he would surrender. Then Erlend went
east to Norway, but Anakol and some of his party remained behind.
Gunni, Olaf’s son, the brother of Swein, Asleif’s son, had children by
Margarét, Earl Harald’s mother, but Earl Harald had banished him, and
therefore enmity arose between him and Swein. The latter sent his
brother Gunni south to Liódhús (Lewis) to his friend Liótólf, with whom
he had been staying himself. Fugl, the son of Liótólf, was with Earl
Harald, and there was therefore coldness between him and Swein. When
Earl Erlend went east to Norway, Earl Harald went over to Caithness, and
resided at Vík (Wick) during the winter. Swein, Asleif’s son, was then
at Thrasvík (Freswick), in Caithness, and took care of the estate which
his stepsons had there, for his former wife was Ragnhild, Ingimund’s
daughter, though they lived but a short time together. Their son was
Olaf. After that he married Ingirid, Thorkel’s daughter. Their son was
Andreas.
On Wednesday in Passion week Swein went with some others to Lambaborg.
They saw a transport vessel coming from the north across the Pentland
Firth, and Swein concluded that they were Earl Harald’s men whom he had
sent to collect his revenues (scat) in Hjaltland. Swein ordered his men
to take a boat and attack the barge, which they did. They seized all its
cargo, and put Earl Harald’s men on shore, and they went to Vík (Wick)
and told him. Earl Harald did not say much to this, yet he said: “Swein
and I shall have our turns.” He distributed his men to be entertained
during Easter. The Caithnessmen called this—that the Earl was in
guest-quarters.