CHAPTER XXIV. HOW HOWARD DIED FULL OF YEARS — The Story of Howard the Halt, The Story of the Banded Men, The Story of Hen Thorir (tr. William Morris and Eirikr Magnusson (1891))

AND HONOUR.

BUT of Howard it is told that he sold his lands, and they went their ways north to Swarfadardale, and up into a dale called Oxdale. There he built a house, and abode there certain winters, calling that stead Howardstead.

But within certain winters heard Howard these tidings, that Earl Hakon was dead, and King Olaf

68 The Saga Library.

Trygvison come to the land and gotten to be sole king over Norway, and that he set forth new beliefs and true. So when Howard heard hereof he broke up his household, and fared out with Biargey and Thorhall his kinsman. They came to King Olaf and he gave them good welcome. Th^re was Howard christened with all his house, and abode there that winter well accounted of by King Olaf. That same winter died Biargey ; but the nextsummer Howard and Thorhall his kinsman fared out to Iceland. Howard had out with him church-wood exceeding big : he set up house in the nether part of Thorhallsdale, and abode there no long time before he fell sick ; then he called to him Thorhall his kinsman, and spake : " Things have come to this that I am sick with the sickness that will bring me to my death ; so I will that thou take the goods after me, whereof I wish thee joy ; for thou hast served me well and given me good fellowship. Thou shalt flit thine house to the upper part of Thorhallsdale and there shalt thou build a church, wherein I would be buried."

So when he had ordered things as he would, he died a little after.

Thorhall fell to speedily, and brought his house up the dale, and made a goodly stead there, and called it Thorhallstead : he wedded well, and many men are come from him ; and there he dwelt till eld.

Moreover it is said that when Christ's faith came to Iceland Thorhall let make a church of that wood which Howard had brought out hither.

The stateliest house was that, and therein was

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set Howard's grave, and he was held for a very great man.

Wherewith make we an end of this tale as for this time

THE BANDED MEN.