was Astrid, a daughter of King Svein
Forkbeard. She was a sister of Canute the Great by the father's side,
and of the Swedish King Olaf Eirikson by the mother's side; for her
mother was Queen Sigrid the Haughty, a daughter of Skoglar Toste. Svein
Ulfson had been a long time living with his relation the Swedish king,
ever since King Canute had ordered his father Ulf to be killed, as is
related in the saga of old King Canute, that he had his brother-in-law,
Earl Ulf, murdered in Roskilde; and on which account Svein had not since
been in Denmark. Svein Ulfson was one of the handsomest men that could
be seen; he was very stout and strong, and very expert in all exercises,
and a well-spoken man withal. Every one who knew him said he had every
quality which became a good chief. Svein Ulfson waited upon King Magnus
while he lay in the Gaut river, as before mentioned, and the king
received him kindly, as he was by many advised to do; for Svein was a
particularly popular man. He could also speak for himself to the king
well and cleverly; so that it came at lasf to Svein's entering into
King Magnus's service, and becoming his man. They often talked together
afterwards in private concerning many affairs.

24. SVEIN ULFSON CREATED AN EARL.

One day, as King Magnus sat in his high-seat and many people were around
him, Svein Ulfson sat upon a footstool before the king. The king then
made a speech: "Be it known to you, chiefs, and the people in general,
that I have taken the following resolution. Here is a distinguished man,
both for family and for his own merits, Svein Ulfson, who has entered
into my service, and given me promise of fidelity. Now, as ye know, the
Danes have this summer become my men, so that when I am absent from the
country it is without a head; and it is not unknown to you how it is
ravaged by the people of Vindland, Kurland, and others from the Baltic,
as well as by Saxons. Therefore I promised them a chief who could defend
and rule their land; and I know no man better fitted, in all respects,
for this than Svein Ulfson, who is of birth to be chief of the country.
I will therefore make him my earl, and give him the government of my
Danish dominions while I am in Norway; just as King Canute the Great set
his father, Earl Ulf, over Denmark while he was in England."

Then Einar Tambaskelfer said, "Too great an earl--too great an earl, my
foster-son!"

The king replied in a passion, "Ye have a poor opinion o