Side were Thorstein and Egil, Thorwald and Ljot, and Thidrandi,
whom, it is said, the goddesses slew.
There was a man named Thorir, whose surname was Holt-Thorir; his
sons were these: — Thorgeir Craggeir, and Thorleif Crow, from
whom the Wood-dwellers are come, and Thorgrim the Big.
ENDNOTES:
(1) Hall’s mother’s name was Thordisa, and she was a daughter of
Auzur, the son of Hrodlaug, the son of Earl Rognvald of
Maeren, the son of Eystein the Noisy.
(2) Thidrandi was the son of Kettle Rumble, the son of Thorir,
the son of Thidrandi of Verudale. The brothers of Thidrandi
were Kettle Rumble, in Njordwick, and Thorwald, the father
of Helgi Droplaug’s son. Hallkatla was the sister of
Joreida. She was the mother of Thorkel Geiti’s son, and
Thidrandi.
96. OF THE CHANGE OF FAITH
There had been a change of rulers in Norway, Earl Hacon was dead
and gone, but in his stead was come Olaf Tryggvi’s son. That was
the end of Earl Hacon, that Kark the thrall cut his throat at
Rimul in Gaulardale.
Along with that was heard that there had been a change of faith
in Norway; they had cast off the old faith, but King Olaf had
christened the western lands, Shetland, and the Orkneys, and the
Faroe Isles.
Then many men spoke so that Njal heard it, that it was a strange
and wicked thing to throw off the old faith.
Then Njal spoke and said, “It seems to me as though this new
faith must be much better, and he will be happy who follows this
rather than the other; and if those men come out hither who
preach this faith, then I will back them well.”
He went often alone away from other men and muttered to himself.
That same harvest a ship came out into the firths east to
Berufirth, at a spot called Gautawick. The captain’s name was
Thangbrand. He was a son of Willibald, a count of Saxony.
Thangbrand was sent out hither by King Olaf Tryggvi’s son, to
preach the faith. Along with him came that man of Iceland whose
name was Gudleif (1). Gudleif was a great manslayer, and one of
the strongest of men, and hardy and forward in everything.
Two brothers dwelt at Beruness; the name of the one was Thorleif,
but the other was Kettle. They were sons of Holmstein, the son
of Auzur of Broaddale. These brothers held a meeting and forbade
men to have any dealings with them. This Hall of the Side heard.
He dwelt at Thvattwater in Alftafirth; he rode to the ship with
twenty-nine men, and he fares at once to find Thangbrand, and
spoke to him and asked him, “Trade is rather dull, is it not?”
He answered that so it was.
“Now will I say my errand,” says Hall; “it is, that I wish to ask
you all to my house, and run the risk of my being able to get rid
of your wares for you.”
Thangbrand thanked him, and fared to Thvattwater that harvest.
