Family records of the Bruces and the Cumyns

208 JARLS OF ORKNEY AND EARLS OF CAITHNESS.
each give a feast to the other, and that first the earl should be Thork ell's guest
at Sandvic. The earl went accordingly, but was not cheerful, and the day they
were to depart (Thorkcll accompanying them) he sent men before to examine
the road. These men came back to Thorkell and said they had discovered
three ambushes, and believed there was deceit on foot. Thorkell lengthened
out his preparations and collected people around him. At last he came into
the hall in which Eynor was sitting, followed by an Icelandman named
" Harvard," who locked the door after him ; and the earl asked him, " Art thou
ready at last, Thorkell ? "
Thorkell answers, " Now I am ready," and strikes the earl upon the head, so
that he fell upon the floor !
Then they went out at the opposite door where all Thorkell's men were
standing, ready armed. The earl's men went in and took up the earl, but he
was already dead, and nobody thought of avenging him. Thorkell went to his
ship and came safe to Norway, where he was well received by King Olaf.
After Earl Eynor's fall, Brusee took that part of the country which he had pos-
sessed, for it was known on what conditions Brusee and Eynor had entered into
partnership. Although Torphin thought it would be more just that each of
them should have half the islands, Brusee retained the two-thirds all that winter.
In spring they held Things and meetings about it. Torphin would not be con-
tent with less than half. Brusee replied, " When I took my heritage from my
father I was satisfied with a third, and now I have succeeded to another third
in heritage, after my brother, according to a lawful agreement between us ; and
although I cannot maintain a feud with thee, my brother, I will seek some
other way." For Torphin had both a greater dominion and also the aid of his
mother's brother (?) the King of Scotland.
So Brusee went east to Olaf (the Saint), King of Norway, in the seventh year
of that king's reign, and took with him Rognvald his son, then ten years of
age. Brusee declared his errand, and was well received, and asked help to
defend his kingdom of Orkney. In his answer, the king began by showing
how Harald Haarfager had appropriated to himself the udal rights of Orkney,
and how Eric Blodaxe and his sons had taken scatt there, and Olaf Trygge-
vesson also; and now that he, having the heritage, would give them to "Bruse'e"
as a fief, on his becoming his man. That if he would not accept these terms, he
would win back the islands to himself.
After consideration and consultation with his friends, the earl accepted these
terms. Soon after, Torphin arrived expecting to be well received, and the king
made the same proposition to him ; but Torphin said that he could not be his