The Heimskringla on Bjorn the marshal
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 190. Olaf'S Prophecies.
- attestation: Bjorn the marshal received leave to go home to his farm and many other friends returned home with the king's permission
"Bjorn the marshal got leave to go home, and he went to his farm, and many others of the king's friends returned home with his permission to their farms."
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 196. Of Bjorn The Marshal.
attestation: After parting from King Olaf, Bjorn the marshal sat at home on his farm; his fame meant Earl Hakon and other chiefs soon heard and sent messengers to recruit him.
"Bjorn the marshal sat at home on his farm after his parting from King Olaf. Bjorn was a celebrated man; therefore it was soon reported far and wide that he had set himself down in quietness."
attestation: Bjorn initially wished to sit quietly at home and serve no chief, but the messenger threatened him with either abandoning his property or accepting Canute's friendship.
"Bjorn replies, "I wish now to sit quietly at home, and not to enter into the service of any chief.""
attestation: The messenger presented Bjorn with a large bag of English money, and when Bjorn hesitated, threw down two thick gold rings with promises of even greater rewards under Canute.
"he displayed to him a large bag full of English money."
attestation: Bjorn was described as fond of money and self-interested; he silently reflected, judged that Olaf would never return to power, and concluded it was too much to abandon his property.
"Bjorn was a man fond of money, and self-interested; and when he saw the silver he was silent, and reflected with himself what resolution he should take."
attestation: The messenger added two thick gold rings and fine promises, and Bjorn was led by covetousness to take the money, enter King Canute's service, and swear oaths of fealty to both Canute and Earl Hakon.
"he threw down two thick gold rings, and said, "Take the money at once, Bjorn, and swear the oaths to King Canute; for I can promise thee that this money is but a trifle, compared to what thou wilt receive if thou followest King Canute.""
attestation: Bjorn took the money, went into Canute's service, gave oaths of fealty to both Canute and Earl Hakon, and the messengers departed.
"took the money, went into King Canute's service, and gave the oaths of fealty to King Canute and Earl Hakon, and then the messengers departed."
attestation: The messengers compared Bjorn's situation to Olaf, suggesting he would wander dispossessed like his former king unless he accepted Canute's offer.
"either to depart in peace from thy property, and wander about as thy comrade Olaf is doing; or, which is evidently better, to accept King Canute's and Earl Hakon's friendship"
attestation: The messengers said men like Bjorn were exactly the right men to serve the king, implying Canute valued warriors of Bjorn's calibre.
"Such men as thou art are just the right men to serve the king"
attestation: The messengers reminded Bjorn that he and Olaf's men had plundered Canute's lands and murdered Canute's friends the previous summer, adding urgency to their offer.
"ye have no aid against King Canute and his men, whose lands ye plundered last summer, and whose friends ye murdered."
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 197. Bjorn The Marshal'S Journey.
attestation: When Bjorn learned Earl Hakon was missing at sea, he considered himself freed from his oath to Hakon and immediately prepared to travel to King Olaf in Russia.
"When Bjorn heard the tidings that Earl Hakon was missing he soon altered his mind, and was much vexed with himself for having been a traitor in his fidelity to King Olaf."
attestation: Bjorn travelled day and night by horseback and ship, reaching King Olaf in Russia after Yule; Olaf was very glad to see him.
"He then set out on his journey, travelling night and day, on horseback when he could, and by ship when he found occasion; and never halted until he came, after Yule, east to Russia to King Olaf"
attestation: Bjorn confessed to Olaf that he had taken money from Canute's men and sworn oaths of fealty, falling at the king's feet and pledging to never part from him again.
""All is in your power, sire, and in God's! I have taken money from King Canute's men, and sworn them the oaths of fealty; but now will I follow thee, and not part from thee so long as we both live.""
attestation: Bjorn named the principal enemies who had bound themselves to rise against Olaf: Erling's son in Jadar, Einar Tambaskelfer, Kalf Arnason, Thorer Hund, and Harek of Thjotta.
"Bjorn then reckoned up those who had principally bound themselves to rise in hostility against the king and his men; and named, among others, Erling's son in Jadar and their connections, Einar Tambaskelfer, Kalf Arnason, Thorer Hund, and Harek of Thjotta."