The Heimskringla on Asbjorn Selsbane

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 123. Here Begins The Story Of Asbjorn Selsbane.

• attestation: Asbjorn sailed south with twenty men on a fine cargo ship with coloured stripes in the sails.

  "The ship was good, all that belonged to her was of the best, and in the sails were stripes of cloth of various colours. Asbjorn made himself ready for a voyage, and put to sea with twenty men"

• attestation: Asbjorn arrived at Karmtsund and landed at Augvaldsnes, where Thorer Sel managed the king's estate.

  "they came to Karmtsund, and landed at Augvaldsnes"

• relationship: Asbjorn declared he would continue to visit his relation Erling at Sole, revealing that his mother was Erling's sister.

  "I will, notwithstanding, go forward upon my errand, and visit my family in Sole, and see my relation Erling's habitation."

Thorer: "How near is thy relationship to Erling?"

Asbjorn: "My mother is his sister.""

• attestation: Asbjorn taunted Erling, saying he had believed Erling was his mother's boldest relation but now Erling lacked freedom to dispose of his own corn.

  "In my childhood I was taught that my mother was freeborn throughout her whole descent, and that Erling of Sole was her boldest relation; and now I hear thee say that thou hast not the freedom, for the king's slaves here in Jadar, to do with thy own corn what thou pleasest"

• attestation: Asbjorn sailed to Jadar and was well received by Erling, who placed him beside himself.

  "Asbjorn promised to do so, sailed away, and came in the evening to Jadar. Asbjorn went on shore with ten men; the other ten men watched the ship. When Asbjorn came to the house he was very well received, and Erling was very glad to see him, placed him beside himself"

• attestation: Asbjorn landed at Augvaldsnes on Karmt island, where the king's farm was managed by Thorer Sel.

  "Asbjorn replies, that he wanted to buy corn and malt; saying, as was true, that it was a very dear time north in the country"

• attestation: Asbjorn loaded his vessel with corn and malt purchased from Erling's slaves.

  "The slaves were now spoken to about the purchase, and they brought forward corn and malt, which they sold to Asbjorn, so that he loaded his vessel with what he wanted"

• attestation: Asbjorn claimed Erling's slaves had owned the corn, but Thorer dismissed this as one of Erling's tricks.

  "Asbjorn said that Erling's slaves had owned the corn.

Thorer replied hastily, that he did not regard Erling's tricks"

• attestation: Asbjorn sailed home with the old sail and arrived early in winter; the expedition became widely talked about.

  "Asbjorn and his comrades sailed away north along the coast, and did not stop until they reached home early in whiter. This expedition was talked of far and wide"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 124. Murder Of Thorer Sel.

• attestation: Asbjorn launched a twenty-bench snekke (cutter) after Candlemas (February 2, 1023) and assembled nearly ninety well-armed men.

  "Asbjorn had a long-ship standing in the noust (shipshed), and it was a snekke (cutter) of twenty benches; and after Candlemas (February 2, 1023), he had the vessel put in the water, brought out all his furniture, and rigged her out. He then summoned to him his friends and people, so that he had nearly ninety men all well armed"

• attestation: Asbjorn landed at an uninhabited part of Karmt Island on the fifth day of Easter (April 18, 1023).

  "the fifth day of Easter (April 18, 1023), when, about evening, they came on the outside of Karmt Island"

• attestation: Asbjorn went ashore disguised in mean clothes with a broadbrimmed hat and a fork, but with a sword hidden under his clothes.

  "Asbjorn had on mean clothes, a broadbrimmed hat, a fork in his hand, but had girt on his sword under his clothes"

• attestation: From a hillock Asbjorn saw people flocking to Augvaldsnes and discovered King Olaf had come there for a feast.

  "he saw people in all quarters flocking together by land and by sea, and all going up to the house of Augvaldsnes. This seemed to him extraordinary"

• attestation: Asbjorn drew his sword and struck Thorer Sel's neck so the head fell on the king's table and the body at his feet.

  "Asbjorn heard this he suddenly drew his sword, rushed into the hall, and cut at Thorer. The stroke took him in the neck, so that the head fell upon the table before the king, and the body at his feet, and the table-cloth was soiled with blood from top to bottom"

• attestation: Asbjorn left his crew concealed while he went alone to scout the situation at Augvaldsnes.

  "Now ye must remain here and wait for me. I will go on land in the isle, and spy what news there may be which we know nothing of"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 126. Of Thorarin Nefiulfson.

• attestation: Asbjorn was led to church in chains and stood outside with his guard during high mass.

  "Asbjorn was led to the church, and he stood outside of the church with his guard; but the king and all the people stood in the church at mass"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 127. Erling'S Reconciliation With King Olaf.

• attestation: Asbjorn received his life, kissed the king's hand, and submitted to the king's power.

  "Thereupon Asbjorn received his life and safety, and delivered himself into the king's power, and kissed his hand"

• attestation: Asbjorn asked to first return home to put his farm in order; his comrades had been concealed in a quiet creek during the affair.

  "I must first go home to my farm, and put things in order there." The king was satisfied with this"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 128. Of Thorer Hund And Asbjorn Selsbane.

• attestation: Asbjorn returned home around spring 1023 and was thereafter called Asbjorn Selsbane ("Seal-bane" / killer of Sel).

  "Asbjorn then set out on his voyage, and about spring (A.D. 1023) got home to his farm. After this exploit he was always called Asbjorn Selsbane"

• attestation: Asbjorn followed Thorer's advice and remained on his farm, refusing to return to the king's service.

  "before they parted it was firmly, determined that Asbjorn should remain on his farm, and not go back to the king or enter into his service. And he did so, and sat quietly at home on his farm"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 132. The Murder Of Asbjorn Selsbane.

• attestation: Asbjorn's distinctive ship had high bulwarks painted white and red with coloured cloth woven in the sail.

  "The ship was easily known, having high bulwarks, was painted with white and red colours, and coloured cloth was woven in the sail"

• attestation: Asbjorn's body was carried north to Thrandarnes; his mother Sigrid sent for Thorer Hund from Bjarkey Isle.

  "Asbjorn's body was carried north to Thrandarnes. Then Sigrid sent a message to Bjarkey Isle to Thorer Hund, who came to her while they were, in the usual way, dressing the corpse of Asbjorn"