The Heimskringla on Bruse
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 100. Of The Earls Einar And Bruse.
attestation: Bruse was soft-minded, peaceable, sociable, eloquent, and of good understanding, while Einar was obstinate, taciturn, ambitious, greedy, and a great warrior.
"Bruse was a soft-minded, peaceable man,--sociable, eloquent, and of good understanding. Einar was obstinate, taciturn, and dull; but ambitious, greedy of money, and withal a great warrior"
attestation: Bruse was best loved by the bondes because his part of the country had peace and plenty.
"in the part of the country belonging to Bruse there were peace and plenty, and therefore he was the best beloved by the bondes"
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 102. The Agreement Of The Earls.
attestation: Earl Bruse mediated between his brothers, resulting in an agreement: Thorfin got a third, while Bruse and Einar combined their two-thirds under Einar's sole rule.
"An agreement was at last concluded, that Thorfin should have a third part of the islands, as of right belonging to him, but that Bruse and Einar should lay their two parts together, and Einar alone should rule over them"
attestation: If either Bruse or Einar died, the survivor would inherit the combined two-thirds; this was considered reasonable since Bruse had a son Ragnvald but Einar had none.
"if the one died before the other, the longest liver should inherit the whole. This agreement seemed reasonable, as Bruse had a son called Ragnvald, but Einar had no son"
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 104. Earl Einar'S Murder.
- attestation: Upon Thorfin's return to Orkney, Earl Bruse mediated a peace between Thorfin and Einar that was confirmed by oath.
"Earl Bruse came up to his two brothers, and endeavoured to mediate between them, and a peace was concluded and confirmed by oath"
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 105. Agreement Between King Olaf And Earl Bruse.
attestation: After Einar's death, Bruse took his portion of Orkney under the terms of their prior partnership agreement.
"After Earl Einar's fall Bruse took the part of the country which he had possessed; for it was known to many men on what conditions Einar and Bruse had entered into a partnership"
attestation: Bruse argued he inherited his second third lawfully from Einar's death and would not cede it despite lacking military power against Thorfin.
"When I took my heritage after my father I was well satisfied with a third part of the country, and there was nobody to dispute it with me; and now I have succeeded to another third in heritage after my brother"
attestation: Bruse traveled east to King Olaf in Norway with his ten-year-old son Ragnvald, seeking help to defend his Orkney domains.
"he went eastward to King Olaf, and had with him his son Ragnvald, then ten years old"
attestation: Bruse reluctantly chose to become King Olaf's vassal, surrendering his power and government under oath of fealty.
"he chose the condition to deliver himself and his dominion into the king's power. Thereupon the king took the earl's power, and the government over all the earl's lands, and the earl became his vassal under oath of fealty"
attestation: Bruse acknowledged his difficult position: he could not refuse the king while in his power.
"I do not see what my lot will be at my departure if I say no; for the king has clearly enough declared his claim upon Orkney; and from his great power, and our being in his hands, it is easy for him to make our destiny what he pleases"
attestation: Thorfin had the advantage of potential aid from his maternal grandfather, the Scottish king, in any conflict with Bruse.
"Bruse saw that he had no strength to contend against Thorfin, because Thorfin had both a greater dominion and also could have aid from his mother's brother, the Scottish king"
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 108. Earl Bruse'S Departure.
- attestation: Bruse arrived back in Orkney around autumn while Ragnvald remained with King Olaf in the east.
"Bruse was thankful for getting two thirds instead of one third of the country, and soon after he set out, and came about autumn to Orkney; but Ragnvald, Bruse's son, remained behind in the East with King Olaf"
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 109. Of The Earls Thorfin And Bruse.
attestation: Bruse took two-thirds and Thorfin one-third of Orkney upon their return, with Thorfin usually residing in Caithness or elsewhere in Scotland.
"The brothers Thorfin and Bruse came west to Orkney; and Bruse took the two parts of the country under his rule, and Thorfin the third part. Thorfin was usually in Caithness and elsewhere in Scotland"
attestation: Bruse alone had to defend the islands from vikings while Thorfin collected scat without contributing to defense.
"It was left to Bruse alone to defend the islands, which at that time were severely scourged by vikings"
attestation: Bruse died in the days of Canute the Great, shortly after the fall of Saint Olaf.
"Bruse died in the days of Canute the Great, a short time after the fall of Saint Olaf"
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 188. Death Of Aslak Fitiaskalle.
attestation: A bonde named Bruse, chief of the valley in More, received King Olaf well.
"A bonde, by name Bruse, who dwelt there in More, and was chief over the valley, came down to King Olaf, together with many other bondes, and received him well"
attestation: Bruse told Olaf that the Skerfsurd was impassable for man or beast.
"there was an urd in the valley called Skerfsurd not passable for man or beast"
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 189. Clearing Of The Urd.
- attribution: Bruse told the king that they could make nothing of the urd, but after the king intervened twenty men could handle stones that a hundred men could not move before
"Bruse said, "I told you, sire, but you would not believe me, that we could make nothing of this urd.""