The Heimskringla on Hjalte Skeggjason
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 88. Of The Icelanders.
- relationship: Hjalte Skeggjason was married to Vilborg, daughter of Gissur the White, and was also Christian.
"Hjalte Skeggjason was the name of another Iceland man, who was married to Vilborg, Gissur the White's daughter. Hjalte was also a Christian"
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 67. Account Of Their Reconciliation.
attestation: Hjalte Skeggjason arrived from Iceland in summer A.D. 1017 as King Olaf had summoned, and was well received and seated beside Bjorn.
"The same summer (A.D. 1017) Hjalte Skeggjason came over to Norway from Iceland, according to the message sent him by King Olaf, and went directly to the king"
attestation: Hjalte encouraged Bjorn to accept the danger, saying kings' men enjoy high honors but must sometimes risk their lives.
"It is their lot who follow kings that they enjoy high honours, and are more respected than other men, but stand often in danger of their lives"
attestation: Hjalte agreed to accompany Bjorn on the embassy to Sweden.
""Certainly," says Hjalte; "I will follow thee, if thou wilt: for never again shall I fall in with such a comrade if we part.""
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 68. Journey Of Bjorn The Marshal.
- attestation: Hjalte asked for the king's luck to attend them; Olaf said Hjalte's presence would help the mission's success, praising his proven good fortune.
"The king said, "It will assist much to the good success of the journey that thou goest too, for thy good fortune has often been proved""
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 69. Conversation Of Bjorn And Ingebjorg.
attestation: Hjalte volunteered to go ahead to the Swedish king's court, reasoning that as an Icelander the Swedes had no quarrel with him.
"I will go to the king if ye like; for I am not a man of Norway, and the Swedes can have nothing to say to me"
attestation: Hjalte knew that Icelandic skalds Gissur Black and Ottar Black were at the Swedish court and well treated there.
"I have heard that there are Iceland men in the king's house who are my acquaintances, and are well treated; namely, the skalds Gissur Black and Ottar Black"
attestation: Bjorn and Ingebjorg approved Hjalte's plan; Ingebjorg provided him two Gautland escorts and twenty marks of silver for expenses.
"Ingebjorg put Hjalte in a position to travel; gave him two Gautland men with him, and ordered them to follow him, and assist him with their service"
attestation: Hjalte found the skalds Gissur and Ottar at the Swedish court; they presented him to King Olaf the Swede, who received him.
"When he came to King Olaf he soon found the skalds Gissur and Ottar, and they were very glad at his coming. Without delay they went to the king, and told him that a man was come who was their countryman"
attestation: Through the skalds' influence, Hjalte gained the Swedish king's confidence and regularly conversed with him about Icelandic news.
"He became thus known to the king, who willingly entered into conversation with him, and heard from him news about Iceland"
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 71. Hjalte Skeggjason While He Was In Svithiod.
attestation: Hjalte presented the Swedish king with ten marks of silver as Norwegian landing dues, explaining he had collected them from his ship's crew.
"knowing that thou have the greatest right to all the power in Norway, I hastened hither to deliver to you the landing dues"
attestation: Hjalte placed the silver in Gissur Black's lap as a gesture before the king.
"he showed the silver to the king, and laid ten marks of silver in Gissur Black's lap"
attestation: Hjalte gained great favor with the Swedish king, who recognized him as a man of understanding and eloquence.
"Hjalte thanked the king with many words, and from that day set himself in great favour with the king, and often spoke with him; for the king thought, what was true, that he was a man of much understanding and eloquence"
attestation: Hjalte revealed to the skalds Gissur and Ottar that he carried tokens for the king's daughter Ingegerd from Ingebjorg.
"Hjalte told Gissur and Ottar that he was sent with tokens to the king's daughter Ingegerd, to obtain her protection and friendship"
attestation: Taking advantage of the king being merry and drunk, Hjalte praised the Swedish king's magnificence and then asked why no one proposed peace with 'King Olaf the Thick.'
"But why is there no one to bring proposals for a peace between you and King Olaf the Thick?"
attestation: Hjalte told the Swedish king that Olaf Haraldson earnestly desired reconciliation and even intended to court Ingegerd in marriage.
"It is even said that he intends to pay his court to your daughter Ingegerd; and that would lead to a useful peace"
attestation: Hjalte described King Olaf of Norway as a remarkably distinguished man, based on credible reports.
"I have heard from people of credit that he is a remarkably distinguished man"
attestation: Hjalte saw no hope of the Swedish king agreeing to peace and stopped raising the subject.
"Hjalte saw sufficiently that there was no hope of the king's listening to any proposal of a peace, and desisted from speaking of it"
attestation: Hjalte asked Ingegerd to speak to her father about peace; she doubted he would listen but agreed to try.
"Hjalte begged of her to say a good word to the king about the matter, but she thought the king would listen as little to what she said: "But speak about it I will, if thou requirest it.""
attestation: Hjalte asked Ingegerd about the outcome; she confirmed it went as expected and warned him never to raise the subject before the king again.
"she begged Hjalte never to speak of the matter again before the king"
attestation: In private conversation, Hjalte asked Ingegerd what she would say if Olaf of Norway proposed marriage to her.
""what would be thy answer, if the Norway king Olaf sent messengers to thee with the errand to propose marriage to thee?""
attestation: Hjalte praised Olaf Haraldson so extensively to Ingegerd that she accepted the idea of marrying him.
"Hjalte praised the king of Norway what he could, but said no more than was the truth"
attestation: Ingegerd and Hjalte frequently discussed Olaf Haraldson and his qualities.
"As Hjalte and Ingegerd spoke together often, Olaf the Thick was often the subject"
attestation: Hjalte assured Ingegerd he had not spoken better of the king than was true.
"Hjalte replied, that he had in no respect spoken better of the king than was true"
attestation: Hjalte sent his Gautland escorts back to Earl Ragnvald with letters from Ingegerd and hints about their conversations regarding the marriage proposal.
"he sent those Gautland men away who had accompanied him, and let them return to the earl with letters which the king's daughter Ingegerd sent to the earl and Ingebjorg"
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 87. Battle In Ulfreks-Fjord.
- attestation: Hjalte Skeggjason went to Iceland the same summer as Thorarin took Hrorek there, and King Olaf gave Hjalte friendly parting gifts
"Hjalte Skeggjason went also to Iceland, and King Olaf gave him many friendly gifts with him when they parted."