A GREAT AEVEL. j<) 



bered.' Sigvaldi answered : ' We think it most becoming, 

 and best for the entertainment that you, lord (herra), should 

 make the first proposal, for we all have to obey you, and we 

 all will assent to the entertainment you desire.' The king 

 said : ' I know it has always been customary at great feasts 

 and meetings, and where select men have met, to make vows 

 to entertain and make themselves renowned, and I am willing 



O 



to try that now, for as you, Jomsvikings, are far more famous 

 than all other men in all the northern half of the world, it is 

 easy to know that the vows you will make here will be us 

 much more renowned than others as you are greater than 

 other men, and it is likely that people will long remember 

 them, and I will begin. I vow that I will, before the third 

 winter-nights hereafter have passed, have driven King Ethelred 

 (of England) out of his realm, or else have slain him, and 

 thus have got his realm. Now is thy turn, Sigvaldi, and make 

 no less a vow than I "... (Jomsvikinga Saga, c. 37). 



" Ingjald had a great feast prepared at Upsala, and intended 

 to >ive an arvel after his father Onund, in a hall no less large 

 or stately than the hall at Upsala. This he called the hall of 

 the seven kings, for seven high-seats were in it. He sent men 

 throughout Sweden, and invited kings and jarls and other 

 high-born men ; to this arvel came six kings, who were seated in 

 the new-made hall. One of the high-seats which Ingjald had 

 had prepared was empty. All the guests were seated in the 

 new hall, and Ingjald had placed his hird and all his men in 

 Upsala-hall. It was customary at that time that, where an arvel 

 was made after the death of kings or jarls, the one who gave it 

 and was to be led to the inheritance should sit on the step in 

 front of the high-seat until the horn, called Bragi's horn, was 

 brought in, then he had to rise, take the horn, make a vow, and 

 drain it to the bottom. After this he was to be led to the high- 

 seat of his father, and then he was the owner of all his inheri- 

 tance. Thus was it done here ; when the horn of Bragi came 

 in Ingjald rose, and took the large deer's horn ; he vowed that 

 he would increase his realm by half in every quarter, or else die ; 

 then he drank it off. In the evening when the men were 

 drunk, Ingjald said to Folkvid and Hulvid, the sons of Svipdag, 

 that they and their men should arm themselves as was agreed 

 upon. They went out to the new hall and set it on fire ; six 

 kings with all their men were burnt there, and those who tried 

 to escape were soon slain. Thereupon Ingjald took possession 

 of all the realms owned by these kings, and took taxes from 

 them " (Ynglinga Saga, c. 40). 1 



1 Cf. also Lnndnama. iii. c. 10. 

 VOL. II. E 



