The Heimskringla on Emund
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 89. Of The Swedish King'S Children.
- attestation: Emund neglected his Christianity for a long time while in Vindland
"where he for a long time neglected his Christianity."
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 96. History Of The Lagman Emund.
attestation: Emund of Skara was lagman of West Gautland, a man of great understanding and high birth but considered deceitful.
"There was a man called Emund of Skara, who was lagman of west Gautland, and was a man of great understanding and eloquence, and of high birth, great connection, and very wealthy; but was considered deceitful"
attestation: After Earl Ragnvald's departure in spring 1019 AD, Emund became the most powerful man in West Gautland.
"He was the most powerful man in West Gautland after the earl was gone. The same spring (A.D. 1019) that Earl Ragnvald left Gautland"
attestation: The bondes asked Emund to undertake a diplomatic mission to the Swedish king, which he accepted and traveled eastward with thirty men.
"Then the bondes asked Emund to undertake this mission, to which he agreed; and he proceeded with thirty men to East Gautland"
attestation: Emund arrived at Upsala one evening, lodged overnight, and appeared before the king at the Thing the next day.
"Emund continued his journey thus, until one day, towards evening, he arrived at Upsala, where he and his retinue took a good lodging"
attestation: Emund told the king an allegory about Atte the Dull who abandoned a loaded fur sledge to chase a squirrel through the forest all day, losing both sledge and squirrel.
"the proud, stupid Atte, in Vermaland, whom we look upon as a great sportsman, went up to the forest in winter with his snow-shoes and his bow"
attestation: Emund presented a veiled legal case to the king about unfair payment between two noble-born men, receiving a ruling he then recorded with witnesses.
"I travel, sire, to obtain your judgment in a difficult case, in which our law and the Upsala law do not agree"
attestation: Emund's parable described a powerful man who paid a gosling for a goose, a sucking pig for a swine, and clay for gold -- representing the Swedish king's substitution of Astrid for Ingegerd.
"There were two noble-born men of equal birth, but unequal in property and disposition. They quarrelled about some land"
attestation: Emund's parable portrayed the powerful man as threatening those who received the bad payment, paralleling the Swedish king's behavior.
"moreover, threatened, in the most violent way, the people whom he forced to receive such goods in payment"
attestation: Emund warned that some who insisted on keeping the old royal line would later wish the kingdom in another race.
"some of those who now will listen to nothing but that the kingdom remain in the old race will live to see the day when they will wish the kingdom in another race, as being of more advantage"