l known to you, that I have returned to this country after
a very long sojourn in foreign parts, during all which time I and my men
have had nothing for our support but what we captured in war, for which
we have often hazarded both life and soul: for many an innocent man have
we deprived of his property, and some of their lives; and foreigners are
now sitting in the possessions which my father, his father, and their
forefathers for a long series of generations owned, and to which I have
udal right. They have not been content with this, but have taken to
themselves also the properties of all our relations who are descended
from Harald Harfager. To some they have left little, to others nothing
at all. Now I will disclose to you what I have long concealed in my own
mind, that I intend to take the heritage of my forefathers; but I will
not wait upon the Danish or Swedish king to supplicate the least thing
from them, although they for the time call that their property which was
Harald Harfager's heritage. To say the truth, I intend rather to seek
my patrimony with battle-axe and sword, and that with the help of all
my friends and relations, and of those who in this business will take my
side. And in this matter I will so lay hand to the work that one of two
things shall happen,--either I shall lay all this kingdom under my rule
which they got into their hands by the slaughter of my kinsman Olaf
Trygvason, or I shall fall here upon my inheritance in the land of my
fathers. Now I expect of thee, Sigurd, my stepfather, as well as
other men here in the country who have udal right of succession to the
kingdom, according to the law made by King Harald Harfager, that nothing
shall be of such importance to you as to prevent you from throwing off
the disgrace from our family of being slow at supporting the man who
comes forward to raise up again our race. But whether ye show any
manhood in this affair or not, I know the inclination of the people
well,--that all want to be free from the slavery of foreign masters,
and will give aid and strength to the attempt. I have not proposed
this matter to any before thee, because I know thou art a man of
understanding, and can best judge how this my purpose shall be brought
forward in the beginning, and whether we shall, in all quietness, talk
about it to a few persons, or instantly declare it to the people at
large. I have already shown my teeth by taking prisoner the Earl Hakon,
who has now left