me from superior kings. Earl Eirik gat five counties in
Throndhjem, also Halogaland and Naumdalen, the Fjords & Fialir, Sogn and
Hardaland & Rogaland, and Agdir from the north right to Lidandesnes (the
Naze).

Thus saith Thord Kolbeinson:

'I wist that save for Erling (bounteous chief whom I praise)
Erewhile the "hersirs" mostly were friends unto the earls;
The battle ended the land all southward from Agdir
To Veiga, or farther north, was subject made to Eirik.
Under the lord the land prospered; & this 'twas good should be.
His duty he thought it to hold o'er the northmen his hand.
Now hath died Svein the king south of us, so the tale goes
(The strength of most doth fail,
and waste are his manors for grief).'

|| Svein the King of the Danes was now once more the possessor of Vik,
which had been his aforetime; to Earl Eirik he gave Raumariki and
Hedemark, to be held as a fief. Svein Hakonson, he that was the finest
man that men have ever looked on, received earldom from Olaf the Swede.
Eirik and Earl Svein were alike baptized into and made profession of the
true Faith, but even so long as they ruled over Norway gave they licence
to every man that he should please himself about what creed he would
cleave to, & moreover maintained they the old laws honourably and
likewise all the customs of the land; therefore were they justly men who
were well-beloved and good rulers. Now in all matters having concern in
the ruling of the realm of the twain brothers was Earl Eirik ever the
more prominent.

THE SAGA OF HARALD THE TYRANT, MXXX-MLXVI

It befell in the days of the fall of King Olaf that Harald, the son of
Sigurd Sow, the stepbrother of King Olaf the Saint, bore his share in
the great battle of Stiklastad.

Even there it befell Harald that he was smote down, but he gained the
life of his body by flight with others that bore him company. Thus saith
Thiodolf:

'Nigh the hill, a battle-storm
I heard drive toward the King,
But the burner of the BulgarsSec.
His brother well supported.
Unwillingly from fallen Olaf
Was the prince sundered,
And his head he hid;
Then was he twelve winters
With added three thereto in age.'

|| It was Rognvald Brusason who bare Harald out of the battle, and
brought him to a certain peasant who lived in the forest, and that in a
glade far from the haunts of man; and here was Harald leeched until he
was whole of his wound.

Thereafte