ys Aslak Erlingson lived eastward at Soli in Jadar; he had to
wife Sigrid the daughter of Earl Svein Hakonson.

Gunhild, another daughter to Earl Svein, was wedded to the Danish King
Svein Ulfson. This anent the offspring in Norway of Earl Hakon at that
time, and moreover anent many other bold men; all of the line of Earl
Hakon were more comely than other folk and the most of them were very
able men, but all were brave.

|| King Harald loved power, & this grew according as he took root in the
land; to so great an extent did it wax that in the case of most men it
bootless was to speak against him, or to bring forward other matters
than those which were to his mind. Thus saith Thiodolf the Skald:

'The men of the war-wont chieftain
All humble have to sit or stand
There in such place as the stern king desireth;
Before the filler of ravens bend many men,
And few there are indeed who will not do in all things
Whate'er the King may bid.'

|| Ever was Einar Thamberskelfir the chief leader of the Throndhjem
peasantry, and their spokesman at the Thing when the King proceeded
against them. Well acquainted was he with the laws; nor, with all the
peasantry at his back, was he lacking in boldness to carry through his
cause at the Things, even though the King himself might be present.

Now this made the King exceeding wroth, and at last were matters at such
a pass that they disputed together with contentious words, Einar
swearing that the peasants would not brook the lawlessness of the King
if he should break the common law of the land. After this fashion did
they fall out on sundry occasions. Then Einar started to have many men
round him when he was at home, and many more when he came to town and
the King was present. On one occasion when he fared in to town had he
with him many folk, eight or nine long-ships, and nigh upon five hundred
men;Sec. and coming to town he went ashore with this fellowship, and King
Harald who by hap was in the outer gallery of his house, stood and
looked on as the men to Einar flocked up from their ships, and it is
said that Harald thereupon chanted this:

'Here see I speeding up
With his great following
Einar Thamberskelfir;
Yea, he who cleaveth the waves.
That lord full strong is minded
A princely throne to fill;
At the heels of an earl
House-carles but few will follow.
He who the sword makes red
Will beguile us of our land
If Einar kisseth not
The t