A.D. [Sidenote:
Ketill's family] Ketill Flatnose was the name of a man. He was the son
of Bjorn the Ungartered. Ketill was a mighty and high-born chieftain
(hersir) in Norway. He abode in Raumsdale, within the folkland of the
Raumsdale people, which lies between Southmere and Northmere. Ketill
Flatnose had for wife Yngvild, daughter of Ketill Wether, who was a
man of exceeding great worth. They had five children; one was named
Bjorn the Eastman, and another Helgi Bjolan. Thorunn the Horned was
the name of one of Ketill's daughters, who was the wife of Helgi the
Lean, son of Eyvind Eastman, and Rafarta, daughter of Kjarval, the
Irish king. Unn "the Deep-minded" was another of Ketill's daughters,
and was the wife of Olaf the White, son of Ingjald, who was son of
Frodi the Valiant, who was slain by the Svertlings. Jorunn, "Men's
Wit-breaker," was the name of yet another of Ketill's daughters. She
was the mother of Ketill the Finn, who settled on land at Kirkby. His
son was Asbjorn, father of Thorstein, father of Surt, the father of
Sighat the Speaker-at-Law.

CHAP. II

Ketill and his Sons prepare to leave Norway

[Sidenote: The tyranny of King Harald] In the latter days of Ketill
arose the power of King Harald the Fairhaired, in such a way that no
folkland king or other great men could thrive in the land unless he
alone ruled what title should be theirs. When Ketill heard that King
Harald was minded to put to him the same choice as to other men of
might--namely, not only to put up with his kinsmen being left
unatoned, but to be made himself a hireling to boot--he calls together
a meeting of his kinsmen, and began his speech in this wise: "You all
know what dealings there have been between me and King Harald, the
which there is no need of setting forth; for a greater need besets us,
to wit, to take counsel as to the troubles that now are in store for
us. I have true news of King Harald's enmity towards us, and to me it
seems that we may abide no trust from that quarter. [Sidenote:
Ketill's speech] It seems to me that there are two choices left us,
either to fly the land or to be slaughtered each in his own seat. Now,
as for me, my will is rather to abide the same death that my kinsmen
suffer, but I would not lead you by my wilfulness into so great a
trouble, for I know the temper of my kinsmen and friends, that ye
would not desert me, even though it would be some trial of manhood to
follow me." Bjorn, the son o