The The Orkneyinga Saga on Thorbiörn Klerk

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Lxxi > Bishop JóN Arrives From Scotland.

• attestation: Thorbiörn Klerk, son of Thorstein Höld and Gudrún daughter of Frákork, was Harald's foster-father and had great influence; he married Ingirid Olaf's daughter, sister of Swein Ásleifarson.

  "Harald was accompanied to the islands by Thorbiörn Klerk, the son of Thorstein Höld, and Gudrún, the daughter of Frákork. He was a wise and a great man. He was foster-father to Harald at that time, and had great influence with him. Thorbiörn married in the Orkneys Ingirid, Olaf's daughter, sister to Swein, Asleif's son."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Lxxiv > Of Earl Rognvald And Swein.

• attestation: Thorbiörn Klerk joined Earl Rögnvald in Caithness after reporting his father Thorstein Höld had been killed by an Earl; he had slain two of Swein's men who were at the burning of Frákork.

  "While the Earl was there, Thorbiörn Klerk came up from Scotland, and said that his father, Thorstein Höld, had been killed by a certain Earl.

Thorbiörn went with the Earl out to the Islands (Orkneys), and Swein, Harald's son, became the Earl's tableboy Thorbiörn had been in Scotland for some time. He had slain two men who had been with Swein, Asleif's son, at the burning of Frákork."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Lxxviii. > Earl ValthióF'S Death.

• attestation: Thorbiörn Klerk diverted from searching for Swein to attack and burn Earl Valthióf, who had killed Thorbiörn's father; Valthióf and thirty men fell, and Thorbiörn distributed all the booty to his men.

  "Thorbiörn then said to his men: "Our journey is a strange one; we are all this time wandering after Swein, but I have heard that Earl Valthióf, who slew my father,[367] is not far off, with but a few men; and if you will attack him with me, I will promise you that I shall not act as Swein did—namely, to deprive you of your share if we get any booty"

Then they went to the place where Earl Valthióf was at a banquet, and surprised them in the house, and set it on fire immediately.

Earl Valthióf fell, and thirty men with him. Thorbiörn and his men got a great deal of booty, and he kept all his promises to them faithfully."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Civ > Of The Earls.

• attestation: Thorbiörn Klerk killed Thórarinn at Kirkwall, for which Rögnvald outlawed him in all his dominions; Thorbiörn hid in Caithness with his brother-in-law Hösvir, then went to King Malcolm of Scots.

  "Thorbiörn went over to Caithness, and was there for a while. Then many things happened to estrange them, for Thorbiörn was often guilty of violence to women, and of manslaying. He went secretly out to the Orkneys in a boat with thirty men, and landed at Skálpeid, and walked to Kirkiuvag with three men. In the evening he went alone into an inn where Thórarinn was drinking, and struck him a death-blow immediately. Then he ran out into the darkness and far away. For this the Earl made him an outlaw in every part of his dominions."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Cvi > Of Earl RöGnvald And Earl Harald.

• attestation: The Earls annually went to Caithness to hunt red-deer and reindeer; Thorbiörn Klerk hid in Caithness with three trusted friends — his brother-in-law Hösvir, Liótólf of Thórsdal, and Hallvard Dúfa's son of Kálfadal.

  "EVERY summer the Earls were wont to go over to Caithness, and up into the forests to hunt the red-deer or the reindeer.[441] Thorbiörn Klerk was with the King of Scots, and sometimes he went to Caithness and stayed in hiding with his friends. He had three friends in Caithness whom he trusted most. One was his brother-in-law, Hösvir; the second, Liótólf, who lived in Thórsdal; and the third was Hallvard, Dúfa's son, in Kálfadal (Calder), at a certain promontory off Thórsdal."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Cvii > The Slaying Of Earl RöGnvald.

• attestation: Earl Harald crossed the nine-ell wide moss-hag in full armour to reach Thorbiörn; Harald offered Thorbiörn quarter but his men refused; Thorbiörn was burned alive in a shieling with his eight remaining men.

  "Harald's party stood on the brink, and when he saw that no quarter would be given, he leapt across in full armour, though it was nine ells[443] broad.

Thorbiörn's men urged him to advance against Magnus and his men, and decide the matter with them; but he said: "I think the best plan is, that each of you do what he thinks likely to be best, but I shall go to Earl Harald."

The Earl said: "Save yourself, Thorbiörn; I have not the heart to kill you."

While they were talking, they moved down the valley along Kalfadalsá,[444] and Magnus's party pursued them.

Magnus's party pursued them, and set the buildings on fire immediately. Thorbiörn and his men defended themselves bravely; and when the buildings began to fall down with the burning, they went out and were attacked by the other party with their weapons, as soon as they could reach them. They were already very much exhausted by the fire, and fell there all nine."