Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/141

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 13 <> There was a rich and powerful man who was called SAGA yii. Aamund, who dwelt in Hrossay* at Sandwik, in Lau- Chafter pandanes. His son, called Thorkel, was one of the ofThor- ablest men in the islands. Aamund was a man of kel Aa - ,, , -,. -, ~i ' r i mundsson. the best understanding, and most respected m Orkney. One spring Earl Einar proclaimed a levy for an ex- pedition, as usual. The bonders murmured greatly against it, and applied to Aamund, with the entreaty that he would intercede with the earl for them. He replied, that the earl was not a man who would listen to other people, and insisted that it was of no use to make any entreaty to the earl about it. " As things now stand, there is a good understanding between me and the earl; but, in my opinion, there would be much danger of our quarrelling, on account of our dif- ferent dispositions and views on both sides ; therefore I will have nothing to do with it." They then applied to Thorkel, who was also very loath to interfere ; but promised at last to do so, in consequence of the great entreaty of the people. Aamund thought he had given his promise too hastily. Now when the earl held a Thing, Thorkel spoke on account of the people, and entreated the earl to spare the people from such heavy burdens, recounting their necessitous condition. The earl replies favourably, saying that he would take Thorkel' s advice. " I had intended to go out from the country with six ships, but now I will only take three with me ; but thou must not come again, Thor- kel, with any such request." The bonders thanked Thorkel for his assistance, and the earl set out on a viking cruise, and came back in autumn. The spring after the earl made the same levy as usual, and held the principal island of the Orkneys ; and Hlaupandanes is apparently the western part of the island, in which the farm of Sandwick and parish of the same name are situated. Sandwick was undoubtedly the resi- dence of Aamund, and is now known by the same name — Sandwick. K 3
 * Krossay, or Hrossay, is Pomona, or the Mainland (Meginland) —