The Heimskringla on Sveinke Steinarson

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 8. Of The Bonde Sveinke, And Sigurd Ulstreng.

• attestation: Sveinke Steinarson was a wealthy man dwelling in Viken at the Gaut river who had fostered Hakon Magnuson before Thorer of Steig took over.

  "There was a man called Sveinke Steinarson, who was very wealthy, and dwelt in Viken at the Gaut river. He had brought up Hakon Magnuson before Thorer of Steig took him"

• attestation: At the Viken Thing, Sveinke arrived with 500 iron-clad men whose arms glittered like shining ice.

  "All were clad in iron, with glowing arms, and 500 in number"

• attestation: Sveinke responded with elaborate insults, comparing Sigurd to a fox fouling a well, calling his coat armless, and recounting how Sigurd had hidden in a clothes-pile and leather bag when fleeing from King Hakon.

  "Thou useless fellow! with a coat without arms, and a kirtle with skirts, wilt thou drive me out of the country?"

• attestation: Sveinke recalled Sigurd's previous humiliation: hiding like a mouse in a mouse-trap, stuffed in a leather bag, and driven from house and farm.

  "Then thou wert as frightened for him when he met thee on the road as a mouse in a mouse-trap, and hid thyself under a heap of clothes, like a dog on board a ship. Thou wast thrust into a leather-bag like corn in a sack, and driven from house and farm like a year-old colt from the mares"

• attestation: Sveinke called on his men to stand up and attack Sigurd.

  "Let us stand up and attack him"

• attestation: Sveinke's men clashed weapons threateningly, and the lendermen had to rush Sigurd onto horseback so he could escape into the forest.

  "Then all his men stood up, and made a great clash with their weapons. Then Svein Bryggjufot and the other lendermen saw there was no other chance for Sigurd but to get him on horseback, which was done, and he rode off into the forest"

• attestation: Sveinke said he came out to meet them only so they would not trample his cornfields.

  "We came out to meet you," he said, "that ye might not tread down our corn-fields."

• attestation: Sveinke declared he would rather die on his property than flee his udal estates, refusing to retreat even an arrow-flight.

  "It appears to me better to die upon my property than to fly from my udal estates. Tell the king that I will not stir from them even an arrow-flight"

• attestation: Sveinke agreed to leave the country for the winter, crediting the lendermen's counsel rather than the king's authority.

  "I will hold your advice in such respect that I will go out of the country for the whole winter, if, according to your promises, I can then retain my estates in peace. Tell the king, also, these my words, that I do this on your account, not on his"

• attestation: The lendermen told the king that Sveinke would be absent for three years, though they themselves expected Magnus would recall him sooner.

  "The king requires, indeed that thy absence shall be for three years; but, if we know the truth rightly, we expect that before that time he will find he cannot do without thee in this part of the country"

• attestation: Sveinke departed with his men to Gautland while Kolbjorn stayed behind to prepare a feast for King Magnus at Sveinke's house.

  "Thereupon he went home with his men, and set off directly; for he had prepared everything beforehand. Kolbjorn remains behind, and makes ready a feast for King Magnus"

• attestation: After Sveinke left, marauding gangs infested the Elfgrims region, which lacked a strong chief to maintain order.

  "now that the Elfgrims were without a chief, marauding gangs infested them, and the king saw this eastern part of the kingdom would be laid waste"

• attestation: Sveinke returned to his estates and became Magnus's best and most trusted friend, strengthening the kingdom's eastern border for the rest of their lives.

  "Sveinke returned home to his house and estates, and was afterwards King Magnus's best and trustiest friend, who strengthened his kingdom on the eastern border; and their friendship continued as long as they lived"