The The Orkneyinga Saga on Thorkel Fóstri

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Ii > Of Amundi And Thorkel.

• attestation: Thorkel Fóstri learned that Earl Einar planned to kill him and fled to Caithness; at Earl Thorfinn's urging, he went to King Olaf in Norway where he spent the winter as a trusted adviser.

  "Earl Thorfinn sent Thorkel Fóstri to collect his revenues, but Earl Einar regarded it as chiefly owing to Thorkel that Earl Thorfinn had come into [his possessions in] the Islands. Thorkel left the islands suddenly, and went to Ness (Caithness). He told Earl Thorfinn that he had become aware that Earl Einar had intended to kill him"

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Iii > Thorkel Slays Earl Einar.

• attestation: Thorkel Fóstri discovered an armed ambush set for him by Earl Einar along the road at Sandvik; he delayed leaving and gathered his own men, while the Earl pressed him to depart.

  "When Einar came, he and his men were most sumptuously treated, yet the Earl was not cheerful. The banqueting hall was a large one, with doors at each end. When the Earl was going away, Thorkel was to accompany him, and he sent men to examine the way by which they were to go. When they returned, they said they had discovered three divisions of armed men in ambush, and were certain that foul play was intended."

• attestation: Thorkel Fóstri killed Earl Einar by striking him on the head with a blow so he fell forward, and his companion Hallvard the Icelander struck a second blow with an axe; Thorkel and his armed men then escaped by the opposite door.

  "Thorkel replied: "I am ready now," and struck the Earl a blow on the head, so that he fell forward on the floor.

Hallvard said: "I never saw people with so little presence of mind as you who are here. Why do you not take the Earl out of the fire?"

With his axe he again struck the Earl on the back of the head, and pulled him towards the bench. Then Thorkel and his men walked out quickly by the door opposite to that by which he had entered, and there, outside the door, were the rest of his men fully armed."

• attestation: After killing Einar, Thorkel Fóstri fled to Norway and spent the winter with King Olaf, who received him very graciously and felt much pleasure at his deed.

  "Thus Thorkel had to thank his good fortune that he enjoyed a longer life.

The Earl's men went away, and Thorkel to his ship. In a few days, shortly after the beginning of the winter, he left for the east, and arrived safely in Norway. He went immediately to see King Olaf, who received him very graciously, and felt much pleasure at his deed; and with him Thorkel spent the winter."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Iv > Of Earl BrúSi.

• attestation: Thorkel Fóstri secretly warned Earl Thorfinn not to part with King Olaf without being reconciled, since the King had him in his power; following this advice, Thorfinn submitted and became the King's man as Brúsi had done.

  "Thorkel Fóstri was with the King at the time, and he sent a message to the Earl secretly, telling him that whatever else his intentions were he should not think of parting with the King without being reconciled to him for the present, as he had got him in his power. Now the Earl thought there was no alternative but to let the King have his will"

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter V > Of The Earls BrúSi And Thorfinn.

• attestation: Thorkel Fóstri submitted his case to the Earl Thorfinn's personal decision rather than the King's arbitration, swearing to accompany Thorfinn to the Orkneys, remain with him, and defend his land for as long as both lived.

  "The Earl replied slowly, and said: "Would you rather have me to adjust our affairs than abide by the King's decision? If so, I make it the first condition that you shall go with me to the Orkneys, and remain with me, and not leave me except with my permission; that you shall be in duty bound to defend my land, and to do everything I wish to have done while we are both alive.""

• attestation: After the sea battle, Thorkel Fóstri joined Thorfinn with a large army; Thorfinn sailed south to Breidafiord and they plundered in Scotland while Thorkel went secretly to Thurso in Caithness, where he surprised Earl Moddan in a house at night and killed him by cutting off his head.

  "Then it was thought advisable that Thorkel should go to Caithness with a portion of the army; but Thorfinn remained in Scotland, and plundered there. Thorkel went secretly, because all the inhabitants of Caithness were true and faithful to him; and no news went of his journey till he came to Thurso by night, and surprised Earl Moddan in a house, which they set on fire. Moddan was asleep in an upper storey, and jumped out; but as he jumped down from the stair, Thorkel hewed at him with a sword, and it hit him on the neck, and took off his head."

• attestation: After killing Moddan, Thorkel Fóstri collected men from Caithness, Sutherland, and Ross and met Earl Thorfinn in Moray; Thorfinn thanked him heartily for his deed.

  "Thorkel did not stay there long, but went to Breidafiord, bringing with him all the men he had been able to collect in Caithness, Sutherland, and Ross. He met Earl Thorfinn in Moray, and told him what he had done in his expedition, for which he received hearty thanks from the Earl, and there they both stayed for a while."