th him all winter (A.D. 1091).

105. AGREEMENT BETWEEN KING OLAF AND EARL BRUSE.

After Earl Einar's fall Bruse took the part of the country which he had
possessed; for it was known to many men on what conditions Einar and
Bruse had entered into a partnership. Although Thorfin thought it would
be more just that each of them had half of the islands, Bruse retained
the two-thirds of the country that winter (A.D. 1021). In spring,
however, Thorfin produced his claim, and demanded the half of the
country; but Bruse would not consent. They held Things and meetings
about the business; and although their friends endeavoured to settle it,
Thorfin would not be content with less than the half of the islands, and
insisted that Bruse, with his disposition, would have enough even with
a third part. Bruse replies, "When I took my heritage after my father
I was well satisfied with a third part of the country, and there was
nobody to dispute it with me; and now I have succeeded to another third
in heritage after my brother, according to a lawful agreement between
us; and although I am not powerful enough to maintain a feud against
thee, my brother, I will seek some other way, rather than willingly
renounce my property." With this their meeting ended. But Bruse saw that
he had no strength to contend against Thorfin, because Thorfin had both
a greater dominion and also could have aid from his mother's brother,
the Scottish king. He resolved, therefore, to go out of the country; and
he went eastward to King Olaf, and had with him his son Ragnvald, then
ten years old. When the earl came to the king he was well received. The
earl now declared his errand, and told the king the circumstances of the
whole dispute between him and his brother, and asked help to defend his
kingdom of Orkney; promising, in return, the fullest friendship towards
King Olaf. In his answer, the king began with showing how Harald
Harfager had appropriated to himself all udal rights in Orkney, and that
the earls, since that time, have constantly held the country as a fief,
not as their udal property. "As a sufficient proof of which," said he,
"when Eirik Blood-axe and his sons were in Orkney the earls were subject
to them; and also when my relation Olaf Trygvason came there thy father,
Earl Sigurd, became his man. Now I have taken heritage after King Olaf,
and I will give thee the condition to become my man and then I will give
thee the islands as a fief; and we s