high birth,
great connection, and very wealthy; but was considered deceitful, and
not to be trusted. He was the most powerful man in West Gautland after
the earl was gone. The same spring (A.D. 1019) that Earl Ragnvald left
Gautland the Gautland people held a Thing among themselves, and often
expressed their anxiety to each other about what the Swedish king
might do. They heard he was incensed because they had rather held in
friendship with the king of Norway than striven against him; and he
was also enraged against those who had attended his daughter Astrid to
Norway. Some proposed to seek help and support from the king of Norway,
and to offer him their services; others dissuaded from this measure, as
West Gautland had no strength to oppose to the Swedes. "And the king of
Norway," said they, "is far from us, the chief strength of his country
very distant; and therefore let us first send men to the Swedish king
to attempt to come to some reconciliation with him. If that fail, we
can still turn to the king of Norway." Then the bondes asked Emund to
undertake this mission, to which he agreed; and he proceeded with
thirty men to East Gautland, where there were many of his relations and
friends, who received him hospitably. He conversed there with the most
prudent men about this difficult business; and they were all unanimous
on one point,--that the king's treatment of them was against law and
reason. From thence Emund went into Svithjod, and conversed with many
men of consequence, who all expressed themselves in the same way. Emund
continued his journey thus, until one day, towards evening, he arrived
at Upsala, where he and his retinue took a good lodging, and stayed
there all night. The next day Emund waited upon the king, who was just
then sitting in the Thing surrounded by many people. Emund went before
him, bent his knee, and saluted him. The king looked at him, saluted
him, and asked him what news he brought.

Emund replies, "There is little news among us Gautlanders; but it
appears to us a piece of remarkable news that the proud, stupid Atte, in
Vermaland, whom we look upon as a great sportsman, went up to the forest
in winter with his snow-shoes and his bow. After he had got as many
furs in the mountains as filled his hand-sledge so full that he could
scarcely drag it, he returned home from the woods. But on the way he saw
a squirrel in the trees, and shot at it, but did not hit; at which he
was so angry, that he