sposition
over, but Skuli thanked him for this offer and said that he would liefer
ask for other things because should there be a change of kings perchance
the gift would be taken back: 'I will,' said he, 'accept certain domains
which lie nigh to the towns, where ye, Sire, are wont to be, and where
the Yule feasts are held.' So King Olaf gave him his word thereon, and
made over to him lands in the east at Konungahella, and at Oslo, at
Tunsberg, at Borg, at Bergen, and in the north at Nidaros. They were
nigh upon the best estates at each place, and they have ever since been
the possessions of men of the lineage of Skuli.

King Olaf married Skuli to his kinswoman Gudrun Nefsteinsdotir, whose
mother was Ingirid the daughter of King Sigurd Sow and his wife Asta.
Asta was own sister of King Olaf the Saint & of King Harald. The son of
Skuli and Gudrun was Asolf of Reini who was wedded to Thora the daughter
of Skopti Ogmundson. The son of Asolf and Thora was Guthorm of Reini,
the father of Bard, the father of King Ingi and Duke Skuli.

|| On a winter after the fall of King Harald was his body transported
from England to Nidaros and interred there in the Church of St. Mary,
that selfsame church the which he himself had caused to be builded.

It was allowed by all that King Harald had exceeded other men in wisdom
& resourcefulness, both when he had been fain to act swiftly or had
debated long, either for himself or others. The most valiant of all men
was he, and victorious withal, even as hath been set forth this while:

'The waster of Zealand's dwellers
In boldness ne'er was lacking;
Mind ruleth half of victory,
And soothly Harald proveth it.'

|| King Harald was stately and goodly to behold, fair hair and a fair
beard had he, and a long moustache; of his eyebrows the one was somewhat
higher than the other, & he had large hands and feet, but either
shapely. Five ells was he in stature. Towards his foes was he cruel, and
when withstood revengeful. Thus saith Thiodolf:

'Sage Harald doth arrogance
In his thanes chastise;
Methinks the King's men bear
But that which they mete out.
Such burdens bear they
As for themselves they care to have
(The law is used for each against the other);
Thus doth Harald change revenge.'

|| King Harald vastly loved power & all worldly advantages, but towards
his friends, even to those whom he liked well, was he very bountiful.
Thiodolf telleth us as followeth: