The Heimskringla on Thorgny
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 77. Of The Lagman Thorgny.
attestation: Thorgny was lagman of Tiundaland, following a hereditary line of lagmen including his father Thorgny Thorgnyson.
"In Tiundaland there was a lagman who was called Thorgny, whose father was called Thorgny Thorgnyson. His forefathers had for a long course of years, and during many kings' times, been lagmen of Tiundaland"
relationship: Thorgny was considered one of the wisest men in Sweden and served as Earl Ragnvald's relation and foster-father.
"He was considered one of the wisest men in Sweden, and was Earl Ragnvald's relation and foster-father"
attestation: Thorgny was old by this time and maintained a large court.
"At this time Thorgny was old, and had a great court about him"
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 79. Ragnvald And Thorgny.
attestation: Lagman Thorgny lived in a great and stately mansion and was physically imposing with a beard so long it lay upon his knee and spread over his breast.
"His beard was so long that it lay upon his knee, and was spread over his whole breast; and the man, moreover, was handsome and stately in appearance"
attestation: Thorgny rebuked Ragnvald for making promises he lacked the power to keep, but valued free speech even before the king.
"In my opinion it is not a less honourable condition to be in the number of bondes and have one's words free, and be able to say what one will, even if the king be present"
attestation: Thorgny promised to attend the Upsala Thing and support Ragnvald in speaking freely before the king.
"I must go to the Upsala Thing, and give thee such help that without fear thou canst speak before the king what thou findest good"
attestation: An old man sat in the high-seat, described as the stoutest man Bjorn and his companions had ever seen.
"In the high-seat sat an old man; and never had Bjorn or his companions seen a man so stout"
attestation: Thorgny received Earl Ragnvald joyfully and kindly and directed him to his accustomed seat.
"Thorgny received him joyfully and kindly, and bade him go to the seat he was accustomed to take"
Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 81. Thorgny'S Speech.
attestation: When Thorgny stood up, all the bondes who had been seated rose and rushed together to hear him speak.
"when he arose all the bondes stood up who had before been sitting, and rushed together from all parts to listen to what Lagman Thorgny would say"
attestation: Thorgny's grandfather remembered King Eirik Eymundson of Upsala, who conquered Finland, Kirjalaland, Courland, Esthonia, and the eastern countries.
"My grandfather Thorgny could well remember the Upsala king Eirik Eymundson, and used to say of him that when he was in his best years he went out every summer on expeditions to different countries, and conquered for himself Finland, Kirjalaland, Courland, Esthonia"
attestation: Thorgny himself accompanied King Eirik the Victorious on many war expeditions, during which Swedish dominion was enlarged.
"I also remember King Eirik the Victorious, and was with him on many a war-expedition. He enlarged the Swedish dominion, and defended it manfully"
attestation: Thorgny contrasted the current Swedish king unfavorably with his predecessors, saying he allowed no one to speak to him except what he wished to hear.
"But the king we have now got allows no man to presume to talk with him, unless it be what he desires to hear"
attestation: Thorgny accused the current king of coveting Norway while neglecting Sweden's scat-lands through laziness and weakness.
"he allows his scat-lands in other countries to go from him through laziness and weakness. He wants to have the Norway kingdom laid under him, which no Swedish king before him ever desired"
attestation: Thorgny demanded the Swedish king make peace with King Olaf of Norway and marry his daughter Ingegerd to him.
"Now it is our will, we bondes, that thou King Olaf make peace with the Norway king, Olaf the Thick, and marry thy daughter Ingegerd to him"
attestation: Thorgny offered that all bondes would follow the king to reconquer the eastern kingdoms held by his ancestors.
"Wilt thou, however, reconquer the kingdoms in the east countries which thy relations and forefathers had there, we will all for that purpose follow thee to the war"
attestation: Thorgny threatened that if the king refused, the bondes would attack and kill him, citing the precedent of their forefathers who drowned five kings at the Mula-thing.
"if thou wilt not do as we desire, we will now attack thee, and put thee to death; for we will no longer suffer law and peace to be disturbed. So our forefathers went to work when they drowned five kings in a morass at the Mula-thing"
attestation: The entire assembly approved Thorgny's speech with clash of arms and shouts.
"Then the whole public approved, with clash of arms and shouts, the lagman's speech"