THE GREAT INFLUENCE OF LAWMEN. 541 



Thorgnyr, the son of Thorgnyr Thorgnysson, whose family had 

 for many reigns been lawmen in Tiundaland. Thorgnyr was 

 old, and kept a numerous bodyguard around him. fie was said 

 to be the wisest man in Sviaveldi, and was the kinsman and 

 foster-father of Rognvald jarl of Vestr GTautland. 



" Rognvald jarl came one night to the boer of Thorgnyr 

 the lawman. . . . There were many outside, who received him 

 well, and took charge of his horses and harness. The jarl 

 went into the hall, which was full of men. In the high-seat 

 there sat an old man. Bjorn (King Olaf's marshal) and the 

 others had never seen a man so tall or so stout before ; his 

 beard was so long that it lay on his knees and covered his 

 whole breast ; he was handsome, and looked like a high-born 

 man. The jarl walked up and saluted him. Thorgnyr wel- 

 comed him, and told him to go to the seat where he was used 

 to sit . and the jarl sat down opposite Thorgnyr. It was some 

 nights before the jarl told his errand ; he asked Thorgnyr to 

 go with him into the speech-room, and Bjorn and his men 

 followed him there. The jarl began by relating how Olaf 

 Norway's king had sent men in order to make peace ; he spoke 

 long of what troubles the war with Norway caused to the Vest- 

 gautar, and how he had promised to follow these envoys to the 

 King of Sweden, who disliked the matter so strongly that no 

 one dare broach it. ' Now, foster-father,' said the jarl, ' I do not 

 trust myself alone in this matter ; therefore I come to thee, 

 and expect thy good advice and help.' When the jarl had 

 ended his speech Thorgnyr was silent for a while, and then 

 answered : ' You behave strangely ; you like to have the high 

 name of jarl, and yet you know no expedient when you get 

 into some difficulty. Why didst thou not remember, before 

 promising this journey, that thou hast not power to speak 

 against King Olaf. It seems to me more worthy to be reckoned 

 among bcendr and be free in one's speech, though the king be 

 present. I will go to the Upsala Thing, and give thee such 

 help that thou shalt say without fear before the king what thou 

 likest.' The jarl thanked him for this promise, and remained 

 with Thorgnyr and rode with him to the Thing. A great 

 crowd was with King Olaf. who was with his bodyguard. The 

 first day, when the Thing began, King Olaf sat on a chair, and 

 around him stood his bodyguard. In another place sat 

 Rognvald jarl and Thorgnyr, and in front of them the jarl's 

 guard and Thorgnyr's troop of Imskarlar (house carls) ; behind 

 the chair stood a crowd of boendr in a circle. Some even went 

 up on the hills and mounds to listen. When the king had 

 made his customary speech at the Thing, Bjorn Stallari rose 

 near the jarl's seat and said aloud : ' King Olaf sent me 



