Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/342

 330 CHRONICLE OF THE Chapter XXXI. Beginning of Olaf. SAGA XVI. Erling had a daughter called Ragnhild, who was mar- ried to John Thorbergsson of Raudaberg. Christina Avent away from the country with a man called Grim Eusli ; and they went to Constantinople, where they were for a time, and had some children. Olaf, a son of Gudbrand Skaf haug, and Maria, a daughter of King Eystein Magnusson, were brought up in the house of Sigurd Agnhatt in the Uplands. While Earl Erling was in Denmark, Olaf and his foster-father gathered a troop together, and many Upland people joined them ; and Olaf was chosen king by them. They went with their bands through the Uplands, and some- times down to Viken, and sometimes east to the forest settlements ; but never came on board of ships. Now when Earl Erling got news of this troop, he hastened to Viken with his forces ; and was there in summer in his ships, and in Opslo in autumn, and kept Yule there. He had spies up the country after this troop, and went himself, along with Orm the King-brother, up the country to follow them. Now when they came to a lake in Sweden called Yaeneren, they took all the vessels that were upon the lake. The priest who performed divine service at a place called Rydiokul, close by the lake, invited the earl to a feast at Candlemas. The earl promised to come ; and thinking it would be good to hear mass there, he rowed with his attendants over the lake the night before Candlemas day. But the priest had another plan on hand. He sent men to bring Olaf news of Earl Erling's arrival. The priest gave Erling strong drink in the evening, and let him have an excessive quantity of it. When the earl wished to lie down and sleep, the beds were made ready in the drinking- room ; but when they had slept a short time the earl awoke, and asked if it was not the hour for matins. The priest replied, that only a small part of the night was gone, and told him to sleep in peace. The earl Chapter XXXII. Of Erling.