The Laxdæla Saga on Hoskuld

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Vii

• attestation: Hoskuld, son of Koll, was young when his father died but already wise beyond his years

  "Hoskuld, the son of Koll, was young at the time of his father's death: he was fulfilled of wits before the tale of his years."

• attestation: Hoskuld inherited his father's goods and household; the homestead was renamed Hoskuldstead after Koll

  "He took over his father's goods and household. The homestead where Koll lived was named after him, being afterwards called Hoskuldstead."

• attestation: Hoskuld purchased a half-share in a ship at Daymealness on his mother's behalf

  "Hoskuld bought the half-part in a ship that was standing beached off Daymealness, on behalf of his mother."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Viii

• attestation: When Thorgerd died, Hoskuld took all her money though Hrut owned half of it

  "Hoskuld took to himself all her money, but Hrut his brother owned one-half thereof."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Ix

• attestation: Hoskuld was married around 935 AD

  "Hoskuld's Marriage, A.D. 935"

• attestation: Hoskuld served in Hakon's bodyguard, alternating between court and home

  "Hoskuld was one of his bodyguard, and stayed each year, turn and turn about, at Hakon's court, or at his own home, and was a very renowned man both in Norway and in Iceland."

• attestation: Hoskuld rode with ten men to Bjorn's house at Bjornfirth to court Jorunn

  "Hoskuld rode from home with ten men, and went to Bjorn's house at Bjornfirth."

• attestation: Hoskuld became a great chieftain with ample wealth, comparable in stature to his father Koll

  "Hoskuld became a great chieftain; he was mighty and pushing, and had no lack of money, and was thought to be nowise less of his ways than his father, Koll."

• attestation: Bard was manly, strong, popular, and Hoskuld's favourite child, taking after his father's people

  "Bard, Hoskuld's son, was most manly to look at, and of goodly strength, and from his appearance it was easy to see that he would take more after his father's people. Bard was of quiet ways while he was growing up, and a man lucky in friends, and Hoskuld loved him best of all his children."

• relationship: Hoskuld gave his sister Groa in marriage to Velief the Old, and their son was Holmgang-Bersi

  "Hoskuld gave his sister Groa in marriage to Velief the Old, and their son was "Holmgang"-Bersi."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. X

• attestation: The local goodmen went to Hoskuld to complain about Hrapp's behavior

  "All the goodmen took one counsel, and went to Hoskuld and told him their trouble."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xi

• attestation: Hoskuld bought a ship from a Shetland man at the mouth of the river Blanda and prepared to go abroad

  "he bought a ship from a Shetland man. The ship lay up in the mouth of the river Blanda. That ship he gets ready, and makes it known that he is going abroad"

• attestation: Hoskuld left Jorunn in charge of the household and children when he departed

  "leaving Jorunn to take care of house and children."

• attestation: Hoskuld sailed south to Norway, arriving at Hordaland where Biorgvin would later be built

  "they hove somewhat southwardly into Norway, making Hordaland, where the market-town called Biorgvin was afterwards built."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xii

• attestation: Hoskuld purchased a slave woman

  "Hoskuld Buys a Slave Woman"

• attestation: Hoskuld sailed his ship to the meeting, wanting both to see the king and attend the fair

  "Hoskuld ran out his ship, being desirous also to go to the meeting; moreover, he had not been to see the king all the winter through. There was also a fair to be made for."

• attestation: Hoskuld encountered Gilli the Russian, a wealthy merchant, sitting in a stately tent wearing a Russian hat

  "he saw a stately tent far away from the other booths. Hoskuld went thither, and into the tent, and there sat a man before him in costly raiment, and a Russian hat on his head."

• attestation: Hoskuld chose a poorly-dressed but beautiful woman sitting at the edge of the tent

  "He saw a woman sitting out by the skirt of the tent, and she was very ill-clad. Hoskuld thought, as far as he could see, this woman was fair to look upon."

• attestation: Hoskuld paid exactly three marks of silver from his purse to purchase the woman

  "now they weigh the silver, and there were just three marks weighed."

• attestation: Hoskuld slept with the purchased woman that night and gave her fine clothes the next morning

  "That same night Hoskuld went into bed with her. The next morning when men got dressed, spake Hoskuld, "The clothes Gilli the Rich gave you do not appear to be very grand""

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xiii

• attestation: Hoskuld returned to Iceland around 948 AD

  "Hoskuld Returns to Iceland, A.D. 948"

• attestation: Hoskuld had come to Norway primarily to acquire house-timber

  "now, this summer, I have much to be busy about, and that is mostly the reason I was so long before I came to see you, for I wanted to get for myself house-timber."

• attestation: Hoskuld sailed south of Iceland, then west past Reekness and Snowfellness into Broadfirth

  "They had a fair wind, and hove in to the south of Iceland; and after that sailed west by Reekness, and so by Snowfellness in to Broadfirth."

• attestation: Hoskuld landed at Salmon-river-Mouth and built a shed for his ship

  "Hoskuld landed at Salmon-river-Mouth. He had the cargo taken out of his ship, which he took into the river and beached, having a shed built for it."

• attestation: The place where Hoskuld set up his booths became known as Booths'-Dale

  "There he set up his booths, and that place is called Booths'-Dale."

• attestation: Hoskuld admitted he did not know the woman's name, having been unable to get her to speak

  "Hoskuld answered, "You will think I am giving you a mocking answer when I tell you that I do not know her name.""

• attestation: Hoskuld requested that the woman be treated kindly and kept in service with them

  "bade that the woman should be kindly treated, and said it was his wish she should stay in service with them."

• attestation: Hoskuld's mistress gave birth to a boy near the end of winter, an exceptionally fine-looking child

  "Towards the end of the winter Hoskuld's mistress gave birth to a male child. Hoskuld was called, and was shown the child, and he thought, as others did, that he had never seen a goodlier or a more noble-looking child."

• attestation: Hoskuld discovered Melkorka was not mute when he found her talking to their son Olaf by a brook

  "he saw two people there whom he recognised as his son Olaf and his mother, and he discovered she was not speechless, for she was talking a great deal to the boy."

• attestation: Hoskuld separated the women and set Melkorka up in her own dwelling at Melkorkastad in Salmon-river-Dale

  "he let Melkorka go away, and got a dwelling ready for her up in Salmon-river-Dale, at the place that was afterwards called Melkorkastad"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xvi

• attestation: Hoskuld brokered a settlement where Thord lost one-fourth of his wealth, then adopted Olaf

  "Hoskuld said, "This is clear, that you will not by peaceful consent allow any man to have the"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xvii

• attestation: Hoskuld had Hrapp's body dug up and moved to a remote location, which reduced the hauntings

  "he went with some men to Hrappstead, and has Hrapp dug up, and taken away to a place near to which cattle were least likely to roam or men to go about. After that Hrapp's walkings-again abated somewhat."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xix

• attestation: Hoskuld held a great deal of money belonging to his half-brother Hrut

  "He had in his keep a great deal of money that belonged to his (half) brother, Hrut, Herjolf's son."

• attestation: Hoskuld was a great chieftain whose state was one of great honor

  "Now of Hoskuld it is to be told that his state is one of great honour, and that he is a great chieftain."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xx

• attestation: Bard Hoskuldson stayed at home managing the household alongside Hoskuld

  "Bard Hoskuld's son stayed at home with his father, looked after the household affairs no less than Hoskuld himself."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xxi

• attestation: Hoskuld was displeased when he learned the tidings but held back because his kin were involved

  "Hoskuld came back from the Thing and heard these tidings, and was very much displeased. But seeing that his near akin were concerned in the matter, he quieted down and let things alone."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xxiii

• attestation: Hoskuld and Olaf rode together to propose marriage to Thorgerd, Egil's daughter

  "It is told how one day the father and son, Hoskuld and Olaf"

• attestation: Hoskuld considered the match with Egil's family to be highly advantageous for Olaf

  "It is told how one day the father and son, Hoskuld and Olaf"

• attestation: Hoskuld arranged the marriage to strengthen his family's position among Icelandic chieftains

  "It is told how one day the father and son, Hoskuld and Olaf"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xxiv

• attestation: Hoskuld was not envious of Olaf's rising power

  "Hoskuld was not envious of this"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xxv

• attestation: Bard Hoskuldson was also a seafarer, well-regarded for his bravery and moderation

  "Bard, Hoskuld's son, had also been a seafarer, and was well accounted of wherever he went, for he was the best of brave men and true, and a man of moderation in all things."

• attestation: The Hoskuldssons were all men of distinction in their own ways

  "Now Hoskuld's sons shall be told about."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xxvi

• attestation: Hoskuld died around 985 AD

  "The Death of Hoskuld, A.D. 985"

• attestation: Hoskuld, son of Koll o' Dales, fell ill in his old age

  "Hoskuld, Koll o' Dales' son, fell ill in his old age"

• attestation: Hoskuld summoned his sons and kinsmen when he became ill

  "he sent for his sons and other kinsfolk"

• attestation: Hoskuld told Bard and Thorliek that his illness would likely be fatal since he had rarely been sick before

  "I have taken some sickness, and as I have not been much in the way of falling ill before, I think this may bring me to death"

• attestation: Hoskuld asked Bard and Thorliek to allow his illegitimate son Olaf to be adopted and receive one-third of his wealth

  "I will ask you brothers to allow him, Olaf to wit, to be adopted, so that he take of my means one-third with you."

• attestation: Hoskuld invoked his legal right to give twelve ounces to his son, citing Olaf's high birth on his mother's side

  "Hoskuld said, "Surely you will not rob me of the law that allows me to give twelve ounces to my son, seeing how high-born Olaf is on his mother's side.""

• attestation: Hoskuld gave Olaf the gold ring from King Hakon (weighing a mark) and King Hakon's sword (with half a mark of gold), along with the family's good luck

  "Hoskuld took the gold ring, Hakon's gift, that weighed a mark, and the sword, King's gift whereon was half a mark of gold, and gave them to Olaf, his son, and therewith his good luck and that of the family"

• attestation: Hoskuld died and his death was widely mourned; his sons built a worthy cairn with little treasure inside

  "After that Hoskuld died, and his death was very much grieved for, in the first place by his sons, and next by all his relations and friends. His sons had a worthy cairn made for him; but little money was put into it with him."