South Tower Armouring Guild

Iron in the Weald

2012-02-13T19:23:00.000-08:00

One of the nice things about the interwebs is the ability to download some wonderful books. The above are excerpted from Starkey's book about iron working.

Horses of the AEsir

2012-02-10T15:50:00.000-08:00

Blóðughófi: "Bloody-hoof";
Falhófnir: "Hairy-hoof" or "Hidden-hoof", i.e. whoses hoofs are covered with hair, or "Pale-hoof";
Gulltoppr: "Gold-tuft";
Gísl: related to "beam", "ray";
Glaðr: "Glad" or "Bright";
Glær^[4]: "Clear", "Glassy";
Gullfaxi: "Golden-mane"
Gyllir^[5]: "Golden";
Hófvarpnir : "Hoof-thrower";
Léttfeti: "Light-foot";
Silfrintoppr: "Silver-tuft";
Sinir: "Sinewy";
Skeiðbrimir: "the one which snorts as he runs";
Sleipnir: "trickster";

Snorri Sturluson paraphrases this stanza in his Gylfaginning:

Each day the Æsir ride thither up over Bifröst, which is also called the Æsir's Bridge. These are the names of the Æsir's steeds: Sleipnir is best, which Odin has; he has eight feet. The second is Gladr, the third Gyllir, the fourth Glenr, the fifth Skeidbrimir, the sixth Silfrintoppr, the seventh Sinir, the eighth Gisl, the ninth Falhófnir, the tenth Gulltoppr, the eleventh Léttfeti. Baldr's horse was burnt with him; and Thor walks to the judgment.

—Gylfaginning (15), Brodeur's translation^[2]

The viking standing stone shows Slepnier, the one with the eight legs. In fact you see a whole bunch of folk on that stone!

Gauntlets

2012-02-10T06:50:00.000-08:00

These are the gauntlets I made for Mr. Plummer (who played Barrymore playing Richard III) back in February. Like many items made for movies, they show signs of unhappy haste. They are oversimplified, but even considering they are rushed, they don't look all that bad. I gave them a quick matt black spray before delivering them...remove some of the "star wars storm trooper" look the white primer paint gave them!

Above is a close up of the roping. Keep in mind that the very worst job in armouring is the dreaded "outside roll". These gauntets had the outside roll, which get this! It needed to be roped as well. This roping was done on the "flat" like all roping, and when it was all done, then it was shaped over the horn of the anvil with a rubber mallet which hopefully would not leave too many dents. The material was sixteen gauge aluminum, which was even more annoying because that stuff dents when you drop it, toss it on the "finished" pile or whatever. And aluminum has the unfortunate habit of once you dent it, you can't fix that dent!

The first part of the job, of course, is to roll a bale into the metal. (a bale is a wire which supports the edge, and prevents it from "kinking".) I used a copper wire as the bale, which worked better than the steel wire I usually use. Once the roll was made, I divided the edge up into several little squares and drew diagonal lines which would correspond to the chisel marks. Then I had to make a chisel with a curved face, not too sharp. I used a railroad spike for that purpose. Each groove is made with four strikes, which progress over the bale. Its okay to give a bit of a backwards curve as you progress...it only makes it look more like a twisted rope.

I have had people tell me that scaled fingers are not period. I wonder what source they are referencing! They are certainly easier to make than the articulated fingers. Below is a Milanese gauntlet with scaled fingers and a bell cuff with a nice roll to it. The rivets would have attached a leather inside cuff which would probably flare out over the vambrace...both protecting the metal of the vambrace and giving a punch of colour to the harness.

Below is a German "gothic" armour with articulated fingers. They should not be any harder to make than the scales, however, I find that if you don't get the articulation joints in 'exactly' the right place, they have to be redone until you do. In that respect, they are much more fiddly than the scaled fingers, and consequently much more difficult to get right

And below is a close up of the stunning "gold armour" which was actually used in the joust. This incredibly complex armour is more pretty than useful, but because it shows signs of having been used in the joust, I think we can presume that it was useful as well. Not just a pretty statue. As you can see, this wonderous armour has scale'd fingers.

All these armours are on display in Leeds at the Tower of London Armoury.

2012-02-05T19:02:00.001-08:00

5. If exceedingly large weights are to be raised, they must not be trusted to a mere axle; but the axle being retained by the gudgeons, a large drum should be fixed on it, which some call a drum-wheel (tympanum): the Greeks name it ἀμφίρευσις, or περίτροχος.

6. In these machines the blocks are constructed differently from those already described. Having, at top and bottom, two ranks of pulleys, the rope passes through a hole in the lower block, so that each end of the rope is equal in length when extended. It is there bound and made fast to the lower block, and both parts of the ropes so retained, that neither of them may swerve either to the right or the left. The ends of the rope are then returned to the outside of the upper block, and carried over its lower pulleys; whence they descend to the lower block, and passing round its pulleys on the inner side, are carried up right and left over the tops of the higher pulleys of the upper block;

7. whence descending on the outer sides, they are secured to the axle on the right and left of the drum-wheel, about which another rope is now wound, and carried to the capstan. On the turning of the capstan, the drum-wheel and axle, and consequently the ropes fastened to it, are set in action, and raise the weights gently and without danger. But if a larger drum-wheel be affixed, either in the middle or on one of the sides, of such dimensions that men may walk therein, a more effectual power is obtained than the capstan will afford.

8. There is another species of machine, ingenious in respect of its contrivance, and of ready application in practice; but it should not be used except by experienced persons. A pole or log of timber is raised, and kept in its situation by means of four guy ropes in opposite directions. Under the place where the guy ropes at top are made fast to the pole, two cheeks are fixed, above which the block is tied with ropes. Under the block, a piece of timber •about two feet long, six inches wide, and four inches thick, is placed. The blocks have three ranks of pulleys latitudinally, so that it is necessary to conduct three leading ropes from the upper part of the machine; these are brought down to the lower block, passing from the outer sides of the lower pulleys to the inner sides of the lower pulleys of the upper block.

9. Descending once more to the inferior block, they pass round the second rank of pulleys from the inner to the outer side, and are then returned to the second rank of pulleys in the higher block, over which they pass and return to the lowest, whence they are again carried upwards, and passing round the uppermost pulley, return to the lower part of the machine. A third block is fixed near the bottom of the pole, whose Greek name is ἐπάγων, but with us it is called Artemo. This block, which is made fast to the pole at a small distance from the ground, has three pulleys through which the ropes are passed, for the men to work them. Thus, three sets of men, working without the intervention of a capstan, quickly raise the weight to its required height.

10. This species of machine is called Polyspaston, because the facility and dispatch in working it, is obtained by means of many pulleys. One convenience in using a single pole is, that the situation of the weight in relation to the pole, whether before it or to the right or left of it, is of no consequence. All the machines above described, are not only adapted to the purposes mentioned, but are also useful in loading and unloading ships, some upright, others horizontal, with a rotatory motion. On the ground, however, without the aid of the poles, ships are drawn on shore by the mere application of blocks and ropes.

from

Marcus Vitruvius Pollio:
de Architectura, Book X

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Vitruvius/home.html

Translated by Bill Thayer
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/HELP/contact.html

Click on the picture to see its true magnificence....

William Marshal

2012-02-04T06:18:00.000-08:00

From
http://smuhlberger.blogspot.com/search/label/William%20Marshal

which has the rest of it.....

Translated from Gregory of Tours

One could do a lot worse than to spend an evening reading through Steve's blogs.
(The pic? Oh that fellow lived a whole lot later on than the Marshal did! I just liked the armour.)

there were no weaklings on that field.

The count of Saint-Pol was taken there

by the bridle of his horse,

but the worthy Marshal,

like the valiant knight he was, rescued him

from the hands of seven and more who were striving

to do him injury and were leading him away.

On that field the cowards stayed behind.

There you would have seen many a banner

soiled in the mud and trampled on,

and many a knight trampled on too

when they were knocked to the ground.

But the saying used to go that

the brave and the valiant are to be sought

often between the hooves of horses,

for never will cowards fall down there,

never will they so hate their lives

as to be willing to join the fray;

they take care not to do themselves injury,

they have no wish to get involved in that.

There you would have seen knights taken and horses won and lost.

Any man who was able to take another man's bridle

strove with might and main to hold on to him,

and the other did just as much to stave him off,

to join battle with him and defend himself.

At that point, any man wishing to separate the two

by negotiation would have had little success,

for words would have been no use whatever.

Fan Expo (guest post)

2012-02-03T09:01:00.000-08:00

Events
FanExpo Canada 2011

By Jorge Figueiredo - August 28th, 2011

Other Friends

At FanExpo, there are a lot of retailer booths dealing with comic books and related goods; there are also the larger, glitzy general show booths for the larger companies. While I love all of those booths, there are some smaller ones that I really enjoyed visiting. Some of these are run by very cool friends of mine, while others are run by people who I would love to hang out with (due to the fact that they are also very cool).

South Tower Armouring Guild

Bill and Brenda Fedun will -and this is a quote from their web site- “personally make you a real battle armour that fits perfectly! It will allow you to perform so well that they will write songs about you!”

While that may sound kind of funny, it is probably true. The South Tower Armouring Guild, based out of Metcalfe, Ontario, is a family-owned medieval armour crafting shop. They make quality goods for a reasonable price; not only that, but the finished pieces look fantastic.

It would be a reasonable assumption to think that Bill enjoys his job. Brenda thinks that he might enjoy it a little too much.

On top of the creation of armour (seriously, they have a real forge; how cool is that?), they are also Canadian agents for other weapon-making outfits outside of Canada. Bill also teaches broadsword handling, armour and chain mail making, and Kenjuitsu.

Above all else, the two of them are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. With ready smiles, warm hearts and friendly banter always at the ready, it is always a good time around their booth.

Click here to see a few more pictures of the South Tower Armouring Guild booth. »

Brent S. three piece cuirass

2012-02-03T06:15:00.000-08:00

Above is the way Brent's armour looked when it was in my shop.
Below is how it looked on him.

This was the three piece suit with the sliding front rivet that I made for Brent S. I am pleased to see that he is long enough in the body to wear this armour. Those shoulders with the cute outside machine made bead rolls is not mine! I do have to admit that the rondel style elbow aillettes are a nice touch, but again, not mine.

He seems to have the mobility, but that back top plate is flipping up a little too much for my liking. That has always been a problem with a mobile back. But just because it is "period" does not make it comfortable on the eye. The single and two piece backs are just impossible to hunch over like Brent is doing in this picture so yeah, he clearly has the mobility he wanted. That being said, I think if Brent were to tighten that top strap up a notch or two that would drag the back into place. But would it limit his mobility? Or maybe just bend the top tabs in a bit. Would not take much. Hmmm. I'll have to ask him. Wish I there to mess with it. I think if he just cinches that top strap in a bit, it will all fall neatly into place.

Compare to the top picture.

And the portrait. I think he looks good. And the armour looks pretty spiffy. Note that Brent has laced the tassets on. Later on, when he gets a spare forty bucks burning a hole in his wallet, he can get some buckles installed. (Or better yet, install them himself!)

I wonder where he got the gambeson with the left half red and the right half white?
Looks really comfortable.

The reply to Willy MacBride

2012-01-28T17:00:00.000-08:00

Of course most people are familiar with the tune
The Green Fields of France.
This is one of my favorites...the Drop Kick Murphys.
(The visuals will kick your heart like a mule...watch at your own risk)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UvQ52A7ksM&feature=related

Steve Suffet wrote "Willie MacBride's reply.
This is a very pretty guitar based version of Suffet's work

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYBuz1ZZ84Q

Salute......

Where the Brave will Live Forever
On the Road to Passchendale

Knights of the round table

2012-01-21T21:52:00.001-08:00

When they actually used real armour in their fight scenes....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzF_XoNgOfU

And the final scene from El Cid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8ki2YJpg0s&feature=related

Love the horsie armour.

Godwinson

2012-01-16T23:26:00.000-08:00

The sun is going down on the battlefield, the third time since I slept last.
It hurts, and I am so very very tired.

Once I was great king!
Only last week I had won a great battle, and invaders who thought to lodge in my land's castles
now lodge in the crops of the crows and ravens up in the north.
Today, I lay, huddled in this chain byrnie, the horrible arrow lodged in the bone behind my eye.
Oh, it hurts.
This was the end of it. I did not fear dying...that was the simple and it comes to all men.
it is the pain of living.
but the king must not be half blind or the land will be half blind.
If the king be half dead, then the land will be half dead.
There were two great arrows that hit the land only weeks apart, one missed the eye...the other...well.
It is hard to concentrate...the pain is so intense, and there was so much yet to do.

My commitas is still tightly gathered around...the bastards had circled them on the hill, but my commitas had not run!
Oh no, not them! My brave fyrdmen had run right after the gaulish swine, only to find that it was a trick.
But they were fyrdmen...farmers first, warriors second, fighters always. Now mostly all dead.
The bastard faked a retreat, and stole them away from their wonderful defensive shield wall.
A wonderful wall it was too!
A hundred men wide, a great arc on the side of the hill facing the horsemen.
They refused to come close, those horsemen!
They had tried at first, then his shield wall had faded back a dozen paces revealing the slanted pikes,
planted pikes that even the horses recognized as a greater hazard than those shouting iron covered monsters with the axes.
Every pike had a name engraved on it....the owner, the clan, the district...the names of the owners.
All dead now, the last service their masters gave for me, their king,
was when the living dragged their prized boar spears from their bloody curled fingers.
I ordered them placed in shallow holes in the turf, to form an obstacls to the bastard's horses.

Oh Edith...it has come to this!
Every quill on that hedghog of death is a dead fyrdman.
Upon becoming a warrior, his father gave him an ancient forged spear, and upon dying, I put them to use.
None will dare to charge into them...for they dance and flicker in the setting sun, the ghosts of their fallen owners still
guiding them into a foe's horse, or his chin strap. Or maybe it is merely the breeze catching the broad flat heads,
making them bounce on their slender shafts.
I prefer the mystical explanation. Maybe if the Normans believe it too, they will leave us alone until morning.
Oh it hurts. Look, over there...it is Odo! The bastard's bishop!
Look at him whistle his great vine staff around his head like a centurion of old!
He likes to kill with that heavy stick. But he can always say he never shed blood!
A pious claim from a man of the cloth!

Oh my dear Edith....you are not here to see me now.
And why should you be? You are not my wife, but you are the mother of my children.
Oh what will become of them now! The bastard will not let them live!
Enough. I must concentrate...I have orders to give.

Ho, priest...please come close.
Yes yes, I know...there is much work for an ankorite in this foul place.
But I need you now.
You must move swiftly to safeguard my family.
I have done all I can now...this is the charter for the abbey in Winchester that we spoke of, and another in Devon.
And I have a third charter right here....no, you cannot have it yet you greedy man. I will sign it when you make me better.
The field is lost, and I shall retire with my commitas.
You and your gang of white clad ghosts will move me and what is left of my bodyguard out of here
I don't know where I will go. The battle is lost.
I am lost. The kingdom is lost.
And I am tired.
I feel sleep coming upon me. Move me to safety as far away from here as you can.

Good morning.
How long have I been asleep? I feel my wounds have actually begun to heal.
The sisters of St. Mary hmmm?
Wait...that is in Chester. My, I WAS asleep for a long time! You must tell me all the news!
No, there is nothing I can do.
They really brought my Edith on that foul battlefield to identify me?
Oh Edith of the Swan Neck. My precious lady.
Oh that was ill done! But they think I died there do they? Well good.
I cannot rule now with only one eye, and who knows...maybe my cousin the bastard will do a better job of it.
No, they call him the bastard because he IS a bastard.
The apple of his old man's eye, but still a by-blow, and the only country he will ever rule is one he takes by force.
But we got along well enough as children. He used to vist me, I would go hunting with him.
He is saying that I once offered him the kingdom if I was dead?
Bold words. But naught I can do about them is there.
No, it is time I simply vanish from the world, and the cloister is as good a place as any.
Better than most.

Ah yes, the charter. Well, here is my signature. You can see the bishop dated it last year.
The bastard might actually recognize its valididty.
There is much more. I do not have the power of a king, but I DO have plenty of gold.
And remember, it was I who was anointed at Kingston, not him!
If you want it, it is yours. A bit at a time mind, so it will reward you to keep me whole
healthy, and out of William the Bastard's hands.
Come close and I will tell of the hiding place of the first cache I put aside before I went up to Stamford Bridge.

Oh Edith. I did not intend to shock you with my presence...but no one could tell you before now.
I hear they walked you all over that place of death looking for me!
They dragged the armour off the still wrigging corpses did they? Well, it is only to be expected.
It is expensive stuff. Some of those chain shirts were worn by a half dozen men during the course of that week!
Each would take it from one who did not really need it any more.
And William has brought all the spears to Winchester?
Ah good. So many proud fathers will make songs about their sons.
Yes, it is the women's lot to weep. But the fathers do as well. While they sing.
I think we shall be safe here...though I understand if you wish to be with your father.
They killed him too did they? Oh I AM sorry. He is not wasting any time is he!

What is that? The Bastard's son, here? After so many years!
He is seeking a rumour that I might be alive? Well show him in.

What seek you here sir? The son of Godwin? No, he died at the lake of blood.
You think I look like him do you. Well look well.
See this great wound in my eye?
A man with one eye cannot be king. You know that as well as I do.
None would follow his banner.
None would rise with him at their head.
You would do well to seek a man sound in sight and limb, and let an old Ankorite like me be.
The bastard knows it too does he. So why are you here?
To assure me of my comfort?
A true son of a king are you, but I thank you to merely the sleeping dog lie in peace.
They are building a church on the spot where Godwinson fell?
Oh the foolishness of men.
Come join me on my daily walk.
It is the highlight of my day.
You wish you had this much peace and quiet? Be careful what you wish for!
I get very little peace.
Each day, the ghost of another person who depended upon me comes up to me.
Disturbes my walk. I must tell them to join me in the chapel.
Often they do! But never twice.

Who will comfort MY ghost when my time is come?

Odo choked on a chicken bone! Oh that old faker. Where did you bury him.
Ahh, back in Normandy. Good. I never liked him.
Good morrow you you sir, and may God bless.

(Harold Godwinson's ghost still walks from the Ankorite cottage outside the cathedral
to the chapel in Chester every night,
but it ignores mere men such as we! A royal ghost, much come down in the world.
I hear that once in a while, he is joined by a female in nun's clothing. It is popularly
supposed that is Edith, the lovely swan necked mother of Godwinson's children who went
to the Abbey of St Mary after the great battle of Hastings. They
are together, but still in hiding after centuries. I think it is because they love each
other too much to be parted...her to heaven, and him to hell, so they stay here.
A love eternal.

Nesting

2012-01-10T12:47:00.000-08:00

Nesting is what you call it when you lay out your templates in an efficient a way as possible. I think I have achieved this. I suspect I might have been able to save a couple of square centimeters over in the far corner though!

This is a slightly new style for me....an armour based on Richard Beauchamp's effigy.
Lots of people have fallen in love with Beauchamp's armour. In fact, the armour I made for Eric D. was the "Beauchamp" armour.
The Beauchamp armour is an over the top version of a fairly standard Italian style...Starkey Gardner's book has a great picture of the more "fightable" version of this armour. I think that is what we are going to "go for" rather than the over priced, over the top Beauchamp Armour. But without the fluting...grin!

Drawbacks? well, there is almost no room for "crunch" above the plaquart (what...two inches or so, and less with the strap?) so the armour needs to be super high waisted in order to not drive that plaquart up into your throat when the horse breaks into a canter. Straps are high and hidden away under the shoulders. Plusses...a very functional armour. Looks stunning.

I am making this armour for Phil S. and he knows all the drawbacks and is still okay with going with that style. We will come up with something different, more manoeverable than those big honking shoulders, and drop the waist a little lower in front. As you can see by the layout, I have made the plaquart an unusual length...a good eleven inches. His natural waist is 14 inches from waist to collarbone, so the long plaquart will certainly look good. I know...it doesn't look so long in the picture does it? Well, they never DO until you bend 'em around the body!
What you don't see in the layout drawing above is the back plate. Beauchamp's back plate is a mirror image of the breast plate, well, maybe a little less scooped out on top. Wow! That IS unusual. I made one like that years ago for a guy who was generously proportioned. I didn't show the layout there because the back will be a 18 gauge piece of metal, not the heavy 16 gauge that the front is. The back plate and greaves of course will be eighteen gauge, as will the vambraces, rerebraces and gauntlets.

(I have never found out who did those really nice drawings...if you know, let me know, and I will provide links, or remove them if the owner desires. I find them to be so amazingly useful as a reference that I continually refer to them. I think they were all sent to me as a set several years ago sans info.)

Grads 2011

2012-01-10T11:43:00.000-08:00

Brown Bess

2012-01-05T16:24:00.000-08:00

“	In the days of lace-ruffles, perukes, and brocade Brown Bess was a partner whom none could despise - An out-spoken, flinty-lipped, brazen-faced jade, With a habit of looking men straight in the eyes - At Blenheim and Ramillies, fops would confess They were pierced to the heart by the charms of Brown Bess.	”
—Rudyard Kipling, "Brown Bess," 1911

The Brown Bess musket was the standard "all services" weapon for about a hundred and twenty years...putting the boots to Napoleon and was reliable enough to even find fifty year old guns in service in the war between the States. Its name is German actually, the German words Braun Buss mean "Brown Gun", with the word "brown" in this case having the connotation of being "strong". It shoots a three quarter inch ball twice a minute with a grouping of five inches at fifty yards.
The top picture is me at the Royal Armoury in Leeds, with a short Land Pattern Brown Bess with a MOST unusual rear site. I checked...it was not rifled.
The second picture down is a lock which I cleaned up...the third picture is what it looked like before I cleaned it. I had just got a wonderful tool...a vibrating tub filled with rice, barley, sand and brasso into which you drop those rusty old pieces and let them hum for a couple of days. Wonderful tool! Of course, we won't mention how hard it was to get some of those screws out!

And the next two down are from Pedersoli's musket repair manual. Just in case I need parts. Which of course I DID.

Gosh I like messing with flint locks!!!

should I spam?

2012-01-04T09:12:00.000-08:00

At my last Barter Club dinner, I was buttonholed by Mike. "Bill, I have started a new business!" Well, Mike, you start a new business about once every two years. Whats this one about? "Well, we want you to provide a discount coupon (on line of course) which we will send to thousands of people and you will get hundreds of orders as a result. All we want is for you to provide content, and we will get it "out there" and of course, we expect a piece of the action.

This went on for awhile, as I tried to understand how this would be a sustainable business model. First of all, it certainly seems that there are many companies that are doing just that. As far as I can see, what I would get out of this is a pile of "leads". Thats ad man talk for "email addresses". Possibly targeted addresses in that it would include a pile of people that are actually interested in my product. Or more likely, people who are just interested in getting the best possible deal.

In other words, spam.

I dunno. I suspect that I would get a huge list of people who are looking for cheap stuff, instead of good stuff. I don't think I want to "deep discount" my work for ANY reason. It cheapens it.
I think this might work for hotels. I don't think it is a sustainable business model for hand made suits of armour.
What do the readers think?

Time watch tournaments

2011-12-20T06:58:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0LamXQ39EQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

This is a youtube clip from "Time Watch". Take a half hour out and watch this!

Roman Britain Online

2011-12-18T19:14:00.000-08:00

This has GOT to be one of the most entertaining four oh four error messages I have EVER found!

Enjoy! It almost makes it worth falling into the great "no file found" morass!

FUBAR Alert!

404 Error - Not Found

Something has gone horribly wrong

The resource you have requested could not be found on the server. There are so many possible reasons for this that we can only list some of them:

The file does not exist in the requested directory. It may have been on our server at some time in the dim and distant past but has since disappeared without trace. Perhaps we moved it. Perhaps it's been renamed. Who can tell?
The file exists but is not accessible. Possibly because the bloody server is having its weekly identity crisis just when you wanted to get some work done.
You used an out-of-date 'bookmark' or 'favourite' to reach our site. In which case, get your act together and bookmark us again, you apeth! ... Although we do not suggest that you bookmark this particular page. That would, indeed, be an exceedingly pointless exercise.
Your search engine returned an out-of-date listing for our site. If you used a search engine such as Yahoo, Bing or Google to arrive at this page, then we've absolutely no idea what's going on (but see point 2 below).
Someone posted a bad link on your Social Networking site. If you followed a link posted on a social networking site such as YouTube, MySpace or FaceBook, we are sorry to tell you that you may have been misled by idiots.
Some other, undefineable wierdness occurred while processing your request.

However you arrived at this Code 404, we suggest that you try the following steps to rectify the situation:

If you manually typed the URL into the browser address bar, please verify that you have used the proper case, as all HTTP requests on our server are case-sensitive.
Go to the RBO Home Page and look for links to the information you want.
Go to our Site Map and see if you can find what you are looking for in the links listed.
If all else fails please feel free to Go Back to wherever you came from and start again, but this time try not to screw things up.
If difficulties persist, please contact the RBO Web-Master using the link below.

Click Here to Contact the RBO Web-Master

Three dee modeling

2011-12-06T07:05:00.000-08:00

I have been playing with some innovations. Like feathers for scale, or brass edging of steel that look like flames or just repeating patters, that sort of thing. Most of them take an excrutiatingly long time to cut out and attach to the metal. Often doing such work is soul destroying, repetitive, boring and sometimes not what the client wanted at all. There are software programs which can create these things as required. Below is the letter I wrote to a major three dee software designer I am evaluating at the present.

cut and paste follows

>Well, this is a sort of "chicken or the egg" isn't it! I am searching for an edge on my competition, and the use of machinery which uses three dee modeling might be the edge. Or it might not. And that means tools which can run that machinery. Or it might not. If there is a technological answer, it exists in 3-d modeling. Or it might not.

What I DO is make custom suits of armour for people. Right now, they are made the hard way....each one is a "one off custom job" with many similarities from one to t'other. By their nature, they tend to be very pricey.
They have to be able to be worn, and they have to be made from steel because, well, they have a function to perform as well as a look.

There are an increasingly large number of people doing this kind of work, many of them are offshore, and have access to remarkably inexpensive labour and some of that labour is quite skilled! Trust me, there are lots of suits of armour being made....there are plenty of people who have always wanted to be "the knight in shining armour". And the offshore people know this. For me to stay in business, I have to come up with something they don't have. That means imagination and quality and innovation.

The breakdown of processes involved in making a suit of armour is not very complicated. Imagine a tailor making a suit. You have the material. (aluminum for actors, stainless for rental firms, steel for re-enactors.) and cutting tools, hammers and rollers to fabricate the parts. And then there are the sales staff, designers, web developers, book keepers and shippers. There is a fair amount of room to grow, and not enough sales to accomplish that growth, but with a unique product, I can regain my top spot in this market.
Now, you have to remember Justin, that I am fifty six years old, and have been doing this job now for twenty two years. Its time I conserved by skills and time on the hammer and prepare for the future. And innovation is nothing new to me...every day I discover and have to master a new skill.

So what can three dee modeling do for me? Oh, lordy, who knows! However, lets start with something simple. A scale for a scale coat.
Right now, scales are labouriously cut by hand from scrap metal. Good use of scrap. Now they have to be cut, drilled, sanded and shaped into a little shield. Excellent concurrent activity for my staff who would be standing around with their thumbs up their tush anyway, but soul destroying work to do full time. So I accumulate several hundred pounds of business card sized scales on the off chance that somebody wants them someday. They sit there and go rusty and eventually I use them. But what if somebody wants an innovative scale coat? Say, one which uses scales of a different size? Or different material? Or different shape? Say, he wants feathers, or dragon scales, or fancy gauntlet fingers. I can't economically cut all the possible shapes out on the off chance that somebody might need them someday. But I CAN have the design as a template which I can get a contractor with a water jet cutter to manufactur as required. Heck, if this approach were to become popular, I might get a water jet or a trumph laser here in my shop, in which case, I would be able to bid on short time line contracts.

But for scales, Gimp or paint shop pro might be more appropriate. Perhaps easier to learn or be supported by more machinery or whatever. I don't know the answers to these questions. Which is why I am evaluationg all three at this time.

But a scale is not a three dee rendering. Nor does it require three dee software. What "would" require your product? Well, how about a steel gauntlet? Making a gauntlet is a very complex and difficult process at present. It involves a lot of cardboard and scissor work, and a lot of trial and error. Most gauntlets therefore do not have much compound curving to them. They look to be cut out of flat sheets because, well because they "are" cut out of flat sheet metal. Which provides a sort of look which is okay I guess, but that look is achieved at an ungodly low price by my competition off shore. I need to come up with ways to change it on "paper", model it on screen first, and them print out the templates. Again, it would be good to have those templates repeatable, and be able to cut out a hundred gauntlets as easily as one. To be able to have nesting compound curves is desirable and with difficulty, achievable with present methods. And then there is the issue of "sizes". Small, medium, large, and Xtra large come to mind. Or if it exists only on a program perhaps an infinite size range could be accomodated as required. (variables would be distance around the hand, length of fingers, that sort of thing.
Then there is labeling and surface details. A laser or a water cutter can be dialed back to allow for surface marking instead of cutting. To mark a size and part number into the back of every plate would ensure that we don't get them mixed up. Or imagine engraving stuff onto the surface to decorate it or texture it. Or even engrave the client's name into each piece.

This is what I have in mind for innovation. To do this, I am evaluating your product versus about three different flavors of auto cad.
So what do YOU think? So far, xxxxxx design seems to be winning out. Do you think xxxxxx 3-d modeling would accomplish my desired innovations?

Architectural Details

2011-11-24T08:32:00.000-08:00

click on this image to enlarge. This was one of the pictures that Pierre brought back from his tour of Prague Castle. Again, I nothing of the provenance, but they are too good not to put up here!

Okay, so its not armour. But it IS medieval!
And not a bad starting point for anybody who seriously wants to build their own castle.
(Or cottage, whatever.)

turning steel

2011-11-22T12:59:00.000-08:00

from Dick Holdstock. It is on his CD, Winter in the Woods
For information go to:
http://www.dickholdstock.com/discography.html

Below are the lyrics.

TURNING STEEL

You wake up in the morning,
The dawn's as black as night.
Your father's shouting down the hall
And you know she's winning the fight.
Well you best venture out of bed me lad
For the time is getting late.
Then down the stairs and up the street
And through the factory gate.

chorus:
Turning steel how do you feel,
As in the chuck you spin?
If you felt like me,
You'd go right out right
And never turn again.

Wet and bleak the morning,
As you squeeze through the gate,
As the clock in the bell will ring,
Eight hours is your fate.
Off comes your coat all wet and damp
And "Right lads" is the cry.
With an eye on the lathe,
And the other on the clock,
You'll wish that time would fly.

chorus:

The Gaffer's walking down the shop
And so it's work you must.
The dizzy, grinding, groaning metal,
The hot air and the dust.
But I'm often thinking of my girl
While walking through the park
While gazing at the blooming steel
And a million flying sparks.

chorus:

Old Tom Black last Friday
His final bell did ring.
With his hair as white as his face beneath,
his oily sunken skin.
Well he's made a speech
And he's bid farewell
To a lifetime working here
As I shook his hand I knew that he
Had labored fifty years.

chorus:

And when at last me time it comes,
And I can leave this place,
I'll walk out past the charge hand's desk
And I'll never turn me face.
Out through the gates into the sun,
I'll leave this place behind
With but one regret For the lads I've left
To carry on the ground.

chorus:

Doug Sneyd

2011-11-21T07:20:00.001-08:00

How many people remember Doug Sneyd? Ah well. I remember him fondly. A Canadian, an illustrator he practically single handedly made Playboy into the classy magazine of my youth.
Here he is with me on Artist Alley at Fan Expo, admiring the lightly armoured and charming Mab.
A charming man, and a delight to be around. This is Doug Sneyd's home page for anyone who is trying to place his name....grin!

http://www.dougsneyd.com/

Red Dawn visited South Tower

2011-11-20T22:08:00.000-08:00

A wallpaper.

photo manipulation

A black and white wallpaper for you.

Its so nice to see lovely ladies come by.

Prague Armour

2011-11-17T06:44:00.000-08:00

Looks like the South Tower Armouring Guild lineup! Pierre took these in Prague a couple of years ago. I am not sure why they are in their museum at all! Its not like they date back farther than, say, 1990. But hey...they are nice armours, and worth checking out their details. Click on the above image to see details.

Starting from the top...that cool flip up visor face with the framed oculars! Very well done! Plus about two hundred holes for the chain mail. Good chain mail too. The four lame spadlers look nice, but four lames make it too long for my taste, when the owner lifts up his arm, the bottom lame will bite into the inside of his elbow. I would have made a longer rere brace.

The elbows are quite straight forward. I rather like the figure eight wings...they look like two big testicles driving a sword towards your tenders. Interesting design detail. The articulation is limited, the owner will not be able to bend his arm past about 90 degrees before it locks up. You need at least two more lames to get full mobility with elbows like that. On the other hand, most armour that has the wings throated to go around the inside limits your swing to a right angle anyway, so no doubt the training takes this into account.

The rolled edges are not like mine...these roll to the outside. A design detail which I used to think dated an armour to before 1460, but that little trick of dating an armour is really suspect, and must be used in conjunction with other evidentury details. It does its job though, and is really hard to do neatly.

The commercial hinges on the vambrace and cuisse are a glaring touch of modern that I don't like. If I use modern hinges (which I do all the time!) I hide the hinge inside, and leave a little slot for the barrel.

I love the gauntlets! Very tough looking! I especially like that the roll on the top of the gauntlet matches the roll at the top of the vambrace. Good detail.

The keeled breastplate has the keel coming very neatly onto the three lame faulds. Two thumbs up...and the bottom of the back fauld is rolled to protect the saddle from the armour. Most armour makers will have a problem stretching the metal out that far at the bottom...and normally just weld a piece in. I suspect that was done here since I can see no evidence of any hashing (what I call the stretching of the metal with a cross pein hammer) which is what I do. I see that the plaquart and breast plate are riveted together. I don't think that is right...unless there are slots in the breastplate underneath where you can't see them. The little clover leaf detail at the top is cute. The tassets are interesting...the keel ends about three fingerspans from the top to allow a smooth transition to the bottom fauld lame.

The two piece cuisse look really nice with the fairly straightforward ace of spades knee cops. I think they are supposed to articulate, and they may have pounded an extra rivet right at the top for who knows what reason. Lordy, check out the fabulous work on the greaves! This shows the true skill of the armour maker...to make greaves that good! (Bill is jealous!) The so neatly fit over the three down one up sabatons with those impossible to form points!
All in all, I think the work that comes out of my shop is this good, but remember, it has taken me some twenty years to get this far.

Now, after all the above description of a good armour, what do you think I would say about this one? I think that I shall just let it go...if I ever made such a bad armour in my shop I would deserve to go bankrupt. This shows the use of several machines which are not really made for a fine art project like this...the beader which puts the beads in the tassets is just the beginning....the single piece-articulated abortion which make up the elbows...this armour was made by a tin smith, not an armourer. There is, like NO comparison to the armour at the top. Pfffui.

Nice blued armour....this is done in a fire, and is difficult to get right. Looks good with brass and gold highlights though. There are enough pictures of knights in black armour to admit that they must have done that!

Well, details. Well, that big fancy grandguard. Now that is pretty cool. But there is something about it that doesn't ring true for me...I think there should be ridges to catch the lance, and the fence which obscures the face should be attached differently. But it may not be unexampled somewhere. And I really don't like the machine finished brass trim, though just possibly, it is hand made, I doubt it. You see more of that trim detail on the elbow cop, and very nicely done it is too! But hey....the rest of the armour is worth clicking on to enlarge and please join me in an enjoyable survey of a well made armour.

The breastplate is really well made...and correctly finished on a surface plate by hammering instead of on a wheel like most of mine is. The nine piece articulated lames match the articulated cuisses...something you don't see every day...and the elbow cops are correctly made with two up and two down lames, and enclosed wings. Nicely done! The gauntlets are mitten gaunts, which is what should be found on a jousting suit. The knee cops are fairly standard run of the mill, but check out the lower legs! Oh my gosh, that fancy articulation at the ankle! And it all blends into the well made sabotons. This armour maker spend more time on those ankles and shoes than he spent on the rest of the armour combined! Two thumbs up!

And a chain mail suit, just to give you a break from the heavy iron!
The helm at the bottom is kind of neat...it shows how the cross in the bottom of the barrel helm holds a chain, which in turn is holding a little shield. I have never seen a little shield being held by a chain that way, though of course it was common to attach a sword that way.

A three piece suit. Oh my!
Well, details would include the lovely keel down the front, and for some reason, the pieces are riveted together. Again, I wonder why...are they actually slotted to the piece underneath? I have been known to slot breastplates this way, but never five slots per placquart. They would shift around and jam up! I just have to shrug, and point out some nicer parts of this armour.
The rolls inside the vambrace at the inside of the elbow. Clearly not done by machine! It is done by hand, the same way I do it here in my shop.
I wish the same could be said for the tassetts and the pelvic arch.
The fluted shoulder cops. Now that is nicely done! Those are made over an anvil, not by a machine. And it shows. Wish I could do work that good.

'

Mirror

2011-11-14T06:37:00.001-08:00

This was the big mirror I did for Tony. I think it looks kind of nice, very frou frou, not like me at all.

But it came out of my shop, and it is all MY work. And though it is not to MY taste, it gets a lot of WOW! when people see it. They are grape leaves, Italian cork oak leaves and those big edible dandelion leaves.

Lots of work. I rather like it.

Summer Grads 2011

2011-11-04T13:13:00.000-07:00

Above is the basic class at Algonquin which graduated in October of 2011. And below is the advanced class (or what is left of them after I got finished with them...its not an easy course of study!) Funny, every single one of them signed back up and joined the ones above in another advanced course which should finish just in time for Christmas.

Above is the Plante Rec Centre course which graduated the same week. Natalia, Dmitri, Jason, Trevor and Alex in the back. The usual suspects in the front.

CBC Interview

2011-10-31T09:51:00.000-07:00

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (Radio 1) did an interview with me on Saturday Morning. It aired Monday morning at way too early. But it can be heard on the CBC archive.

This was the chat leading up to it.

William Fedun 10/31/2011 8:02 am >>>

I listened to that interview Stu, and thought it was just fine. Very professional.
Thank you.

Bill Fedun
Armour Maker

Bill,
I thought it turned out pretty well, too. Your workshop produced lots of great sound, and I think you came across as a thoughtful guy living a very interesting life!
By the end of today, you'll see your smilin' face at cbc.ca/ottawa, in my "12 Days of Pumpkin" feature.
— I told [a mutual friend and fellow reporter] and his producer about your big massacre this weekend, so you may see him down there,
Thanks again!
Stu

Stu Mills
Radio News & Current Affairs
CBC Radio Ottawa
(613) 288-6213
Twitter: StuMillsCBC

This face....it was MADE for radio!!!!

This is the link to the archive footage with the interview.
http://www.cbc.ca/ottawamorning/2011/10/31/on-the-twelfth-day-of-pumpkin---a-pumpkin-massacre/

Three piece armour

2011-10-25T19:33:00.000-07:00

These tassets were very pretty...they matched the faulds, and were made by grooving the plates with a chisel.

The armour looks good from the side....at one point I actually trimmed away the metal because it was coming up into the armpit. Client told me he wants to be able to sommersault in it. Safety suggested that we make sure nothing will dig in.

And I noticed that the front top tabs actually do NOT match up...client tugged it up and away. Should have been me that did that.

Unusual details would include the use of front opening buckles instead of my more usual buckles on the back. No squire needed.

Nice flare on that back. AJ did an especially good job there. Note the bulges over the top of the spine and the shoulder blades. Makes a good effect. Click on the picture to enlarge.

The front sections slide on concealed rivets. All you see is the attachment points. He is a tall man, and needed one extra lame in the fauld. (Normally there are only three lames.) However, the request to accomodate ten full inches of fauld was easily handled. I think the pelvic arch looks absolutely stunning. The faulds and tassets are laced on...that being the cheapest way. Buckles can be added later when the client gets more cash and wants to pretty up this armour a bit.
His only complaint was that the chest was a bit too broad for comfortable cross body strikes. Well, I suppose we "could" make them a bit narrower in front.
Sliding rivets in 18 gauge require a re-enforcement plate. So no time saved by going to 18 gauge.

The quality of the buckles and straps is second to none. Long after the cheap offshore leather breaks, these buffalo hide belts will be carrying on.

William Wallace

2011-10-24T12:27:00.000-07:00

Uploaded from the Internet Archive.

Click on the images to embiggen, as usual.

Back in February...

2011-10-17T06:27:00.001-07:00

Lots of nice action shots...

grads back in March

2011-10-17T05:57:00.000-07:00

This was Mark and Tin Man at the Tapas party.

And a fine looking group of grads. Matt merely looks puzzled, Trevor lookes harrassed, Jason looks stretched beyond all endurance, and Erin merely looks bemused. And thats just the back row!

South tower Gals

2011-10-16T06:08:00.001-07:00

AJ looking seriously bad ass.

A classical pose.

Nadia with her patented killer glance.

Lisa...preparing for the apocalypse

Sonja ready for war.

How lovely they are....

(Now THIS post should get some more views!!!!)

Talhoffer Wrestling

2011-10-08T05:33:00.000-07:00

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Wrestling+moves+pictures&view=detail&id=7BFCCD3E56339C2C8CE40C38372FEB0E20878F25&first=0

A large part of fighting, even now, is wrestling. It always seems to come down to the wrestling. Just as an exercise, see if you can pick out which of the above "modern" wrestling moves are reflected in the Talhoffer images.
Hint...the first one is on the lower right,...grin!

Gunnlaug Wurmtongue and Raven the Skald

2011-09-27T19:30:00.000-07:00

The Project Gutenberg EBook of
The Story Of Gunnlaug The Worm-Tongue And Raven The Skald,
by Anonymous

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and
 with almost no restrictions whatsoever. 
You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook
 or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title:
 The Story Of Gunnlaug The Worm-Tongue And Raven The Skald
1875  Author: Anonymous  Translator:
Eirikr Magnusson And William Morris
Release Date: January 25, 2008 [EBook #24421]  Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORY OF GUNNLAUG ***
Produced by David Widger    

THE STORY OF GUNNLAUG THE WORM-TONGUE AND RAVEN THE SKALD.
Translated From The  Icelandic By
Eirikr Magnusson And William Morris 1875 
[Transcriber's Note: Thought to be written in the 13th Century]
_EVEN AS ARI THORGILSON THE LEARNED, THE PRIEST, HATH TOLD IT,
 WHO WAS THE MAN OF ALL ICELAND MOST LEARNED IN TALES OF THE
 LAND'S INHABITING AND IN LORE OF TIME AGONE_.
 
CHAPTER I.

  Of Thorstein Egilson and his Kin.
 There was a man called Thorstein, the son of Egil, the son
of Skallagrim, the son of Kveldulf the Hersir of Norway.
Asgerd was the mother of Thorstein; she was the daughter of
Biorn Hold. Thorstein dwelt at Burg in Burg-firth; he was rich
of fee, and a great chief, a wise man, meek and of measure in
all wise. He was nought of such wondrous growth and strength
as his father Egil had been; yet was he a right mighty man, and
much beloved of all folk.  Thorstein was goodly to look on,
flaxen-haired, and the best-eyed of men; and so say men of
lore that many of the kin of the Mere-men, who are come of Egil,
have been the goodliest folk; yet, for all that, this kindred
have differed much herein, for it is said that some of them
have been accounted the most ill-favoured of men: but in
that kin have been also many men of great prowess in many
wise, such as Kiartan, the son of Olaf Peacock, and
Slaying-Bardi, and Skuli, the son of Thorstein.
Some have been great bards, too, in that kin, as Biorn,
the champion of Hit-dale, priest Einar Skulison,
Snorri Sturluson, and many others.
   Now, Thorstein had to wife Jofrid, the daughter of
Gunnar, the son of Hlifar. This Gunnar was the best
skilled in weapons, and the lithest of limb of all
bonderfolk who have been in Iceland; the second was
Gunnar of Lithend; but Steinthor of Ere was the third.
Jofrid was eighteen winters old when Thorstein wedded
her; she was a widow, for Thorodd, son of Odd of Tongue,
had had her to wife aforetime. Their daughter was Hungerd,
who was brought up at Thorstein's at Burg. Jofrid was a
very stirring woman; she and Thorstein had many children
betwixt them, but few of them come into this tale. Skuli
was the eldest of their sons, Kollsvein the second,
Egil the third.
   CHAPTER II.
   Of Thorsteins Dream.
    One summer, it is said, a ship came from over the
main into Gufaros. Bergfinn was he hight who was the
 master thereof, a Northman of kin, rich in goods,
and somewhat stricken in years, and a wise man he was
withal.  Now, goodman Thorstein rode to the ship, as it
was his wont mostly to rule the market, and this he
did now. The Eastmen got housed, but Thorstein took the
master to himself, for thither he prayed to go. Bergfinn
was of few words throughout the winter, but Thorstein
treated him well The Eastman had great joy of dreams.
   One day in spring-tide Thorstein asked Bergfinn if
 he would ride with him up to Hawkfell, where at that
time was the Thing-stead of the Burg-firthers; for
Thorstein had been told that the walls of his booth
had fallen in. The Eastman said he had good will to go,
so that day they rode, some three together, from home,
and the house-carles of Thorstein withal, till they
came up under Hawkfell to a farmstead called Foxholes.
There dwelt a man of small wealth called Atli, who was
Thorstein's tenant Thorstein bade him come and work
with them, and bring with him hoe and spade. This he
did, and when they came to the tofts of the booth,
they set to work all of them, and did out the walls. 
The weather was hot with sunshine that day, and
Thorstein and the Eastman grew heavy; and when they
had moved out the walls, those two sat down within
the tofts, and Thorstein slept, and fared ill in his
sleep. The Eastman sat beside him, and let him have
his dream fully out, and when he awoke he was much
wearied. Then the Eastman asked him what he had dreamt,
as he had had such an ill time of it in his sleep.
 Thorstein said, "Nay, dreams betoken nought."  But
as they rode homeward in the evening, the Eastman asked
him again what he had dreamt.  Thorstein said, "If I
tell thee the dream, then shalt thou unriddle it to me,
as it verily is."  The Eastman said he would risk it. 
Then Thorstein said: "This was my dream; for methought
I was at home at Burg, standing outside the men's-door,
and I looked up at the house-roof, and on the ridge I
saw a swan, goodly and fair, and I thought it was mine
own, and deemed it good beyond all things. Then I saw a
great eagle sweep down from the mountains, and fly
thitherward and alight beside the swan, and chuckle
over her lovingly; and methouht the swan seemed well
content thereat; but I noted that the eagle was
black-eyed, and that on him were iron claws: valiant he
seemed to me.  "After this I thought I saw another fowl
come flying from the south quarter, and he, too, came
hither to Burg, and sat down on the house beside the
swan, and would fain be fond with her. This also was a
mighty eagle.  "But soon I thought that the eagle
first-come ruffled up at the coming of the other. Then
they fought fiercely and long, and this I saw that both
bled, and such was the end of their play, that each
tumbled either way down from the house-roof, and there
they lay both dead.  "But the swan sat left alone,
drooping much, and sad of semblance.  "Then I saw a
fowl fly from the west; that was a falcon, and he sat
beside the swan and made fondly towards her, and they
flew away both together into one and the same quarter,
and therewith I awoke.  "But a dream of no mark this is,"
he says, "and will in all likelihood betoken gales, that
they shall meet in the air from those quarters whence I
deemed the fowl flew."  The Eastman spake: "I deem it
nowise such," saith he.  Thorstein said, "Make of the
dream, then, what seemeth likest to thee, and let me
hear."  Then said the Eastman: "These birds are like
to be fetches of men: but thy wife sickens now, and
she will give birth to a woman-child fair and lovely;
and dearly thou wilt love her; but high-born men shall
 woo thy daughter, coming from such quarters as the
eagles seemed to fly from, and shall love her with
overweening love, and shall fight about her, and both
lose their lives thereby. And thereafter a third man,
from the quarter whence came the falcon, shall woo her,
and to that man shall she be wedded. Now, I have
unravelled thy dream, and I think things will befall
as I have said."

Thorstein answered: "In evil and unfriendly wise is the
dream interpreted, nor do I deem thee fit for the work
of unriddling dreams."  Then Eastman said, "Thou shalt
find how it will come to pass."  But Thorstein estranged
himself from the Eastman thenceforward, and he left that
summer, and now he is out of the tale.

 CHAPTER III.
 Of the Birth and Fostering of Helga the Fair.

 This summer Thorstein got ready to ride to the Thing, and
spake to Jofrid his wife before he went from home.
"So is it," he says, "that thou art with child now, but
thy child shall be cast forth if thou bear a woman; but
nourished if it be a man."  Now, at this time when all
the land was heathen, it was somewhat the wont of such
 men as had little wealth, and were like to have many
young children on their hands, to have them cast forth,
but an evil deed it was always deemed to be.  And now,
when Thorstein had said this, Jofrid answers, "This is a
word all unlike thee, such a man as thou art, and surely
to a wealthy man like thee it will not seem good that
this should be done." 
Thorstein answered: "Thou knowest my mind, and that no
good will hap if my will be thwarted."  So he rode to
the Thing; but while he was gone Jofrid gave birth to a
woman-child wondrous fair. The women would fain show her
to the mother; she said there was little need thereof,
but had her shepherd Thorvard called to her, and spake
to him:--  "Thou shalt take my horse and saddle it, and
bring this child west to Herdholt, to Thorgerd, Egil's
daughter, and pray her to nourish it secretly, so that
 Thorstein may not know thereof. For with such looks of
love do I behold this child, that surely I cannot bear
to have it cast forth. Here are three marks of silver,
 have them in reward of thy work; but west there Thorgerd
will get thee fare and food over the sea."  Then Thorvard
did her bidding; he rode with the child to Herdholt, and
gave it into Thorgerd's hands, and she had it nourished
at a tenant's of hers who dwelt at Freedmans-stead up
in Hvamfirth; but she got fare for Thorvard north in
Steingrims-firth, in Shell-creek, and gave him meet
outfit for his sea-faring: he went thence abroad, and
is now out of the story.  Now when Thorstein came home
from the Thing, Jofrid told him that the child had been
cast forth according to his word, but that the herdsman
had fled away and stolen her horse. Thorstein said she
had done well, and got himself another herdsman.
So six winters passed, and this matter was nowise
wotted of.  Now in those days Thorstein rode to
Herdholt, being bidden there as guest of his
brother-in-law, Olaf Peacock, the son of Hoskuld,
 who was then deemed to be the chief highest of worth
among all men west there. Good cheer was made Thorstein,
as was like to be; and one day at the feast it is said
that Thorgerd sat in the high seat talking with her
brother Thorstein, while Olaf was talking to other men;
but on the bench right over against them sat three little
maidens. Then said Thorgerd,-- 
"How dost thou, brother, like the look of these three
little maidens sitting straight before us?"  "Right well,"
he answers, "but one is by far the fairest; she has all
the goodliness of Olaf, but the whiteness and the
countenance of us, the Mere-men." 
Thorgerd answered: "Surely this is true, brother,
wherein thou sayest that she has the fairness and
countenance of us Mere-folk, but the goodliness of
Olaf Peacock she has not got, for she is not his
daughter."  "How can that be," says Thorstein,
"being thy daughter none the less?" 
She answered: "To say sooth, kinsman," quoth she,
"this fair maiden is not my daughter, but thine." 
And therewith she told him all as it had befallen, and
prayed him to forgive her and his own wife that trespass. 
Thorstein said: "I cannot blame you two for having done
this; most things will fall as they are fated, and well
have ye covered over my folly: so look I on this maiden
that I deem it great good luck to have so fair a child.
But now, what is her name?"  "Helga she is called,"
says Thorgerd.  "Helga the Fair," says Thorstein.
"But now shalt thou make her ready to come home with
me."  She did so, and Thorstein was led out with good
gifts, and Helga rode with him to his home, and was
brought up there with much honour and great love from
father and mother and all her kin.

 CHAPTER IV.
   Of Gunnlaug Worm-tongue and his Kin.

Now at this time there dwelt at Gilsbank, up in
White-water-side, Illugi the Black, son of Hallkel,
the son of Hrosskel. The mother of Illugi was
Thurid Dandle, daughter of Gunnlaug Worm-tongue. 
Illugi was the next greatest chief in Burg-firth
after Thorstein Egilson. He was a man of broad lands and
hardy of mood, and wont to do well to his friends; he
had to wife Ingibiorg, the daughter of Asbiorn Hordson,
from Ornolfsdale; the mother of Ingibiorg was Thorgerd,
the daughter of Midfirth-Skeggi. The children of Illugi
and Ingibiorg were many, but few of them have to do with
this story. Hermund was one of their sons, and Gunnlaug
another; both were hopeful men, and at this time of ripe
growth.  It is told of Gunnlaug that he was quick of
growth in his early youth, big, and strong; his hair
was light red, and very goodly of fashion; he was
dark-eyed, somewhat ugly-nosed, yet of lovesome
countenance; thin of flank he was, and broad of shoulder,
and the best-wrought of men; his whole mind was very
masterful; eager was he from his youth up, and in all
wise unsparing and hardy; he was a great skald, but
somewhat bitter in his rhyming, and therefore was he
called Gunnlaug Worm-tongue.  Hermund was the best
beloved of the two brothers, and had the mien of a
great man.
 When Gunnlaug was fifteen winters old he prayed his
father for goods to fare abroad withal, and said he had
will to travel and see the manners of other folk.
Master Illugi was slow to take the matter up, and said
he was unlike to be deemed good in the out-lands "when
I can scarcely shape thee to my own liking at home." 
On a morning but a very little afterwards it happened
that Illugi came out early, and saw that his storehouse
was opened, and that some sacks of wares, six of them,
had been brought out into the road, and therewithal
too some pack-gear. Now, as he wondered at this, there
came up a man leading four horses, and who should it be
but his son Gunnlaug. Then said he:--  "I it was who
brought out the sacks."  Illugi asked him why he had
done so. He said that they should make his faring goods. 
Illugi said: "In nowise shalt thou thwart my will, nor
fare anywhere sooner than I like!" and in again he swung
the ware-sacks therewith.  Then Gunnlaug rode thence and
came in the evening down to Burg, and goodman Thorstein
asked him to bide there, and Gunnlaug was fain of that
proffer. He told Thorstein how things had gone betwixt
him and his father, and Thorstein offered to let him bide
there as long as he liked, and for some seasons
Gunnlaug abode there, and learned law-craft of Thorstein,
and all men accounted well of him.  Now Gunnlaug and Helga
would be always at the chess-playing together, and very
soon each found favour with the other, as came to be
proven well enough afterwards: they were very nigh of an
age.  Helga was so fair, that men of lore say that she
was the fairest woman of Iceland, then or since; her
hair was so plenteous and long that it could cover her
all over, and it was as fair as a band of gold; nor was
there any so good to choose as Helga the Fair in all
Burgfirth, and far and wide elsewhere.
     Now one day, as men sat in the hall at Burg,
Gunnlaug spake to Thorstein: "One thing in law there
is which thou hast not taught me, and that is how to woo
me a wife."  Thorstein said, "That is but a small matter,"
and therewith taught him how to go about it.  Then said
Gunnlaug, "Now shalt thou try if I have understood all:
I shall take thee by the hand and make as if I were
wooing thy daughter Helga."  "I see no need of that,"
says Thorstein. Gunnlaug, however, groped then and t
here after his hand, and seizing it said, "Nay, grant
me this though."  "Do as thou wilt, then," said
Thorstein; "but be it known to all who are hereby
that this shall be as if it had been unspoken, nor
shall any guile follow herein."  Then Gunnlaug named
for himself witnesses, and betrothed Helga to him,
and asked thereafter if it would stand good thus.
Thorstein said that it was well; and those who were
present were mightily pleased at all this.

   CHAPTER V.

   Of Raven and his Kin. 
  There was a man called Onund, who dwelt in the south
at Mossfell: he was the wealthiest of men, and had a
priesthood south there about the nesses. He was married,
and his wife was called Geirny. She was the daughter of
Gnup, son of Mold-Gnup, who settled at Grindwick, in the
south country. Their sons were Raven, and Thorarin, and
Eindridi; they were all hopeful men, but Raven was in
all wise the first of them. He was a big man and a
strong, the sightliest of men and a good skald; and when
he was fully grown he fared between sundry lands, and
was well accounted of wherever he came.  Thorod the Sage,
the son of Eyvind, then dwelt at Hjalli, south in Olfus,
with Skapti his son, who was then the spokesman-at-law
in Iceland. The mother of Skapti was Ranveig, daughter
of Gnup, the son of Mold-Gnup; and Skapti and the sons
of Onund were sisters' sons. Between these kinsmen was
much friendship as well as kinship.  At this time
Thorfin, the son of Selthorir, dwelt at Red-Mel, and had
seven sons, who were all the hopefullest of men; and of
them were these--Thorgils, Eyjolf, and Thorir; and they
were all the greatest men out there. But these men who
 have now been named lived all at one and the same time.
 Next to this befell those tidings, the best that ever
have befallen here in Iceland, that the whole land became
Christian, and that all folk cast off the old faith.

 CHAPTER VI.

How Helga was vowed to Gunnlaug,
and of Gunnlaug's faring abroad. 

Gunnlaug Worm-Tongue was, as is aforesaid, whiles at Burg
with Thorstein, whiles with his father Illugi at Gilsbank,
 three winters together, and was by now eighteen winters
old; and father and son were now much more of a mind. 
There was a man called Thorkel the Black; he was a
house-carle of Illugi, and near akin to him, and had
been brought up in his house. To him fell an heritage
north at As, in Water-dale, and he prayed Gunnlaug to
go with him thither. This he did, and so they rode, the
two together, to As. There they got the fee; it was given
up to them by those who had the keeping of it, mostly
because of Gunnlaug's furtherance.  But as they rode from
the north they guested at Grimstongue, at a rich bonder's
who dwelt there; but in the morning a herdsman took
Gunnlaug's horse, and it had sweated much by then he got
it back. Then Gunnlaug smote the herdsman, and stunned
him; but the bonder would in nowise bear this, and
claimed boot therefor. Gunnlaug offered to pay him one
mark. The bonder thought it too little.
 Then Gunnlaug sang,--           
"Bade I the middling mighty          
To have a mark of waves' flame;          
Giver of grey seas? glitter,          
This gift shalt thou make shift with.          
If the elf sun of the waters          
From out of purse thou lettest,          
O waster of the worm's bedy          
Awaits thee sorrow later." 

So the peace was made as Gunnlaug bade, and in such wise
the two rode south.  Now, a little while after, Gunnlaug
asked his father a second time for goods for going abroad. 
Illugi says, "Now shalt thou have thy will, for thou hast
wrought thyself into something better than thou wert."
So Illugi rode hastily from home, and bought for Gunnlaug
half a ship which lay in Gufaros, from
Audun Festargram
--this Audun was he who would not flit
 abroad the sons of Oswif the Wise, after the slaying
 of Kiartan Olafson, as is told in the story of the
Laxdalemen, which thing though betid later than this.--
And when Illugi came home, Gunnlaug thanked him well. 
Thorkel the Black betook himself to seafaring with
Gunnlaug, and their wares were brought to the ship; but
Gunnlaug was at Burg while they made her ready, and
found more cheer in talk with Helga than in toiling with
chapmen.  Now one day Thorstein asked Gunnlaug if he
would ride to his horses with him up to Long-water-dale.
Gunnlaug said he would. So they ride both together till
they come to the mountain-dairies of Thorstein, called
Thorgils-stead. There were stud-horses of Thorstein,
four of them together, all red of hue. There was one
horse very goodly, but little tried: this horse
Thorstein offered to give to Gunnlaug. He said he was in
 no need of horses, as he was going away from the
country; and so they ride to other stud-horses. There
was a grey horse with four mares, and he was the best of
horses in Burgfirth. This one, too, Thorstein offered to
give Gunnlaug, but he said, "I desire these in no wise
more than the others; but why dost thou not bid me what
I will take?" 
"What is that?" said Thorstein. 
"Helga the Fair, thy daughter," says Gunnlaug. 
"That rede is not to be settled so hastily,"
 said Thorstein; and therewithal got on other talk.
And now they ride homewards down along Long-water. 
Then said Gunnlaug, "I must needs know what thou wilt
answer me about the wooing."  Thorstein answers:
"I heed not thy vain talk," says he. 
Gunnlaug says, "This is my whole mind, and no vain words."
 Thorstein says, "Thou shouldst first know thine own
will. Art thou not bound to fare abroad? and yet thou
makest as if thou wouldst go marry. Neither art thou an
even match for Helga while thou art so unsettled, and
therefore this cannot so much as be looked at." 
Gunnlaug says, "Where lookest thou for a match for thy
daughter, if thou wilt not give her to the son of
Illugi the Black; or who are they throughout Burg-firth
who are of more note than he?"  Thorstein answered:
"I will not play at men-mating," says he, "but if thou
wert such a man as he is, thou wouldst not be
turned away." 
Gunnlaug said, "To whom wilt thou give thy daughter
rather than to me?"  Said Thorstein, "Hereabout are
many good men to choose from. Thorfin of Red-Mel
hath seven sons, and all of them men of good
 manners."  Gunnlaug answers, "Neither Onund nor
Thorfin are men as good as my father. Nay, thou thyself
clearly fallest short of him--or what hast thou to set
against his strife with Thorgrim the Priest, the son of
Kiallak, and his sons, at Thorsness Thing, where he
carried all that was in debate?"
Thorstein answers, "I drave away Steinar, the son of
Onund Sioni, which was deemed somewhat of a deed."
Gunnlaug says, "Therein thou wast holpen by thy father
 Egil; and, to end all, it is for few bonders to cast
away my alliance."  Said Thorstein,
"Carry thy cowing away to the fellows up yonder at the
 mountains; for down here, on the Meres, it shall
avail thee nought."  Now in the evening they come
home; but next morning Gunnlaug rode up to Gilsbank,
and prayed his father to ride with him a-wooing out
to Burg.  Illugi answered,
"Thou art an unsettled man, being bound for faring
abroad, but makest now as if thou wouldst busy thyself
with wife-wooing; and so much do I know, that this is
 not to Thorstein's mind."  Gunnlaug answers, "I shall
go abroad all the same, nor shall I be well pleased but
if thou further this."  So after this Illugi rode with
eleven men from home down to Burg, and Thorstein
greeted him well. Early in the morning Illugi said to
Thorstein, "I would speak to thee."  "Let us go, then,
to the top of the Burg, and talk together there," says
 Thorstein; and so they did, and Gunnlaug went with them. 

Then said Illugi, "My kinsman Gunnlaug tells me that he
has begun a talk with thee on his own behalf, praying
that he might woo thy daughter Helga; but now I would
fain know what is like to come of this matter. His kin
is known to thee, and our possessions; from my hand
shall be spared neither land nor rule over men, if
such things might perchance further matters."  Thorstein
 said, "Herein alone Gunnlaug pleases me not, that I
find him an unsettled man; but if he were of a mind
like thine, little would I hang back."  Illugi said,
 "It will cut our friendship across if thou
gainsayest me and my son an equal match." 
Thorstein answers, "For thy words and our friendship
then, Helga shall be vowed, but not betrothed, to
Gunnlaug, and shall bide for him three winters: but
Gunnlaug shall go abroad and shape himself to the ways
of good men; but I shall be free from all these matters
if he does not then come back, or if his ways are not
to my liking."  Thereat they parted; Illugi rode home,
but Gunnlaug rode to his ship. But when they had wind
at will they sailed for the main, and made the northern
 part of Norway, and sailed landward along Thrandheim
to Nidaros; there they rode in the harbour, and
unshipped their goods.

   CHAPTER VII.  
 Of Gunnlaug in the East and the West.

In those days Earl Eric, the son of Hakon, and his
 brother Svein, ruled in Norway. Earl Eric abode as
 then at Hladir, which was left to him by his father,
 and a mighty lord he was. Skuli, the son of
Thorstein, was with the earl at that time, and
was one of his court, and well esteemed.  Now they
say that Gunnlaug and Audun Festargram, and seven
of them together, went up to Hladir to the earl.
Gunnlaug was so clad that he had on a grey kirtle
and white long-hose; he had a boil on his foot by
the instep, and from this oozed blood and matter as
he strode on. In this guise he went before the earl
with Audun and the rest of them, and greeted him
well. The earl knew Audun, and asked him tidings
from Iceland. Audun told him what there was toward.
Then the earl asked Gunnlaug who he was, and
Gunnlaug told him his name and kin. Then the earl
said: "Skuli Thorstein's son, what manner of man
is this in Iceland?"  "Lord," says he, "give him
good welcome, for he is the son of the best man in
Iceland, Illugi the Black of Gilsbank, and my
foster-brother withal."  The earl asked, "What ails
thy foot, Icelander?"  "A boil, lord," said he. 
"And yet thou wentest not halt?"  Gunnlaug answers,
"Why go halt while both legs are long alike?"  Then
said one of the earl's men, called Thorir:
"He swaggereth hugely, this Icelander! It would not
be amiss to try him a little."  Gunnlaug looked at
him and sang:--           
"A courtman there is          
Full evil I wis,          
A bad man and black,         
Belief let him lack." 

Then would Thorir seize an axe. The earl spake:
"Let it be," says he; "to such things men should pay no
heed. But now, Icelander, how old a man art thou?" 
Gunnlaug answers: "I am eighteen winters old as now,"
says he. 
Then says Earl Eric, "My spell is that thou shalt not
 live eighteen winters more."  Gunnlaug said,
somewhat under his breath: "Pray not against me, but
for thyself rather."  The earl asked thereat, "What
didst thou say, Icelander?"  Gunnlaug answers,
"What I thought well befitting, that thou shouldst bid
no prayers against me, but pray well for thyself rather." 
"What prayers, then?" says the earl. 
"That thou mightest not meet thy death after the manner
of Earl Hakon, thy father." 
The earl turned red as blood, and bade them take the
rascal in haste; but Skuli stepped up to the earl, and
said: "Do this for my words, lord, and give this man
peace, so that he depart at his swiftest."  The earl
answered, "At his swiftest let him be off then, if he
will have peace, and never let him come again within
mv realm."  Then Skuli went out with Gunnlaug down to
the bridges, where there was an England-bound ship
ready to put out; therein Skuli got for Gunnlaug a
berth, as well as for Thorkel, his kinsman; but
Gunnlaug gave his ship into Audun's ward, and so
much of his goods as he did not take with him. 
Now sail Gunnlaug and his fellows into the English
main, and come at autumntide south to London Bridge,
where they hauled ashore their ship.  Now at that
time King Ethelred, the son of Edgar, ruled over
England, and was a good lord; this winter he sat in
London. But in those days there was the same tongue
in England as in Norway and Denmark; but the tongues
 changed when William the Bastard won England, for
thenceforward French went current there, for he was
of French kin.  Gunnlaug went presently to the king,
and greeted him well and worthily, The king asked him
from what land he came, and Gunnlaug told him all as
it was. "But," said he, "I have come to meet thee,
lord, for that I have made a song on thee, and I
 would that it might please thee to hearken to that
 song." The king said it should be so, and Gunnlaug
gave forth the song well and proudly; and this is
the burden thereof:--
 "As God are all folk fearing          
The free lord King of England,          
Kin of all kings and all folk,          
To Ethelred the head tow." 

The king thanked him for the song, and gave him as
song-reward a scarlet cloak lined with the costliest
of furs, and golden-broidered down to the hem; and
made him his man; and Gunnlaug was with him all the
winter, and was well accounted of.  One day, in the
morning early, Gunnlaug met three men in a certain
street, and Thororm was the name of their leader;
he was big and strong, and right evil to deal with.
He said, "Northman, lend me some money."  Gunnlaug
answered, "That were ill counselled to lend one's
money to unknown men."  He said, "I will pay it
thee back on a named day." 
"Then shall it be risked," says Gunnlaug; and he lent
him the fee withal.  But some time afterwards Gunnlaug
met the king, and told him of the money-lending.
The king answered, "Now hast thou thriven little,
for this is the greatest robber and reiver; deal with
him in no wise, but I will give thee money as much as
thine was."  Gunnlaug said, "Then do we, your men, do
after a sorry sort, if, treading sackless folk under
foot, we let such fellows as this deal us out our lot.
Nay, that shall never be."  Soon after he met Thororm
and claimed the fee of him. He said he was not going
to pay it.  Then sang Gunnlaug:--           
"Evil counselled art thou,          
Gold from us withholding;          
The reddener of the edges,          
Pricking on with tricking.          
Wot ye what? they called me,         
Worm-tongue, yet a youngling;          
Nor for nought so hight I;          
Now is time to show it!"

"Now I will make an offer good in law,"
 says Gunnlaug; "that thou either pay me my money, or
else that thou go on holm with me in three nights'
space."  Then laughed the viking, and said, "Before
thee none have come to that, to call me to holm,
despite of all the ruin that many a man has had to
take at my hands. Well, I am ready to go."  Thereon
they parted for that time.  Gunnlaug told the king
what had befallen; and he said, "Now, indeed, have
things taken a right hopeless turn; for this man's eyes
can dull any weapon. But thou shalt follow my rede;
here is a sword I will give thee--
with that thou shalt fight, but before the battle
show him another."

 Gunnlaug thanked the king well therefor.  Now when
they were ready for the holm, Thororm asked what sort
of a sword it was that he had. Gunnlaug unsheathed it
and showed him, but had a loop round the handle of the
king's sword, and slipped it over his hand; the bearserk
looked on the sword, and said, "I fear not that sword." 
But now he dealt a blow on Gunnlaug with his sword, and
cut off from him nigh all his shield; Gunnlaug smote in
turn with the king's gift; the bearserk stood shieldless
before him, thinking he had the same weapon he had shown
him, but Gunnlaug smote him his deathblow then and
there.  The king thanked him for this work, and he got
much fame therefor, both in England and far and wide
elsewhere.  In the spring, when ships sailed from land
to land, Gunnlaug prayed King Ethelred for leave to
sail somewhither; the king asks what he was about then.
Gunnlaug said, "I would fulfil what I have given my
word to do," and sang this stave withal:--

 "My ways must I be wending          
Three kings' walls to see yet,          
And earls twain, as I promised          
Erewhile to land-sharers.         
Neither will I wend me          
Back, the worms'-bed lacking,          
By war-lord's son, the wealth-free,          
For work done gift well given." 

"So be it, then, skald," said the king, and withal he
gave him a ring that weighed six ounces;
"but," said he, "thou shalt give me thy word to come
back next autumn, for I will not let thee go
altogether, because of thy great prowess." 


  CHAPTER VIII.

 Of Gunnlaug in Ireland.

Thereafter Gunnlaug sailed from England with chapmen
north to Dublin. In those days King
Sigtrygg Silky-beard, son of King Olaf Kvaran and
Queen Kormlada, ruled over Ireland; and he had then
borne sway but a little while. Gunnlaug went before
the king, and greeted him well and worthily. The
king received him as was meet. Then Gunnlaug said,
"I have made a song on thee, and I would fain have
silence therefor."  The king answered, "No men have
before now come forward with songs for me, and surely
will I hearken to thine." Then Gunnlaug brought the
song, whereof this is the burden,--           
"Swaru's steed          
Doth Sigtrygg feed." 
And this is therein also:--           
"Praise-worth I can          
Well measure in man,          
And kings, one by one--          
Lo here, Kvararis son!          
Gruageth the king          
Gift of gold ring?          
I, singer, know          
His wont to bestow.          
Let the high king say,          
Heard he or this day,          
Song drapu-measure          
Dearer a treasure?" 

The king thanked him for the song, and called his
treasurer to him, and said, "How shall the song be
rewarded?"  "What hast thou will to give, lord?"
says he.  "How will it be rewarded if I give him
two ships for it?" said the king. 
Then said the treasurer, "This is too much, lord; o
ther kings give in regard of songs good keepsakes,
fair swords, or golden rings."  So the king gave him
his own raiment of new scarlet, a gold-embroidered
kirtle, and a cloak lined with choice furs, and a
gold ring which weighed a mark. Gunnlaug thanked
him well.  He dwelt a short time here, and then went
thence to the Orkneys.
 Then was lord in Orkney, Earl Sigurd, the son of
Hlodver; he was friendly to Icelanders. Now Gunnlaug
greeted the earl well, and said he had a song to bring
him. The earl said he would listen thereto, since he
was of such great kin in Iceland.  Then Gunnlaug
brought the song; it was a shorter lay, and well done.
The earl gave him for lay-reward a broad axe, all
inlaid with silver, and bade him abide with him.  Gunnlaug
thanked him both for his gift and his offer, but said he
was bound east for Sweden; and thereafter he went on
board ship with chapmen who sailed to Norway.  In the
autumn they came east to King's Cliff, Thorkel, his
kinsman, being with him all the time.

From King's Cliff they got a guide up to West Gothland,
and came upon a cheaping-stead, called Skarir: there
ruled an earl called Sigurd, a man stricken in years.
Gunnlaug went before him, and told him he had made a
 song on him; the earl gave a willing ear hereto,
and Gunnlaug brought the song, which was a shorter lay. 
The earl thanked him, and rewarded the song well, and
bade him abide there that winter.  Earl Sigurd had a
great Yule-feast in the winter, and on Yule-eve came
thither men sent from Earl Eric of Norway, twelve of
them together, and brought gifts to Earl Sigurd. The
earl made them good cheer, and bade them sit by
Gunnlaug through the Yule-tide; and there was great
mirth at drinks.  Now the Gothlanders said that no
earl was greater or of more fame than Earl Sigurd;
but the Norwegians thought that Earl Eric was by far
the foremost of the two. Hereon would they bandy words,
till they both took Gunnlaug to be umpire in the
matter.  Then he sang this stave:--
 "Tell ye, staves of spear-din,          
How on sleek-side sea-horse          
Oft this earl hath proven          
Over-toppling billows;          
But Eric, victory's ash-tree,          
Oft hath seen in east-seas          
More of high blue billows          
Before the bows a-roaring." 

Both sides were content with his finding, but the
Norwegians the best. But after Yule-tide those
messengers left with gifts of goodly things, which
Earl Sigurd sent to Earl Eric.  Now they told
Earl Eric of Gunnlaug's finding: the earl thought that
he had shown upright dealing and friendship to him
herein, and let out some words, saying that Gunnlaug
should have good peace throughout his land. What the
earl had said came thereafter to the ears of Gunnlaug. 
But now Earl Sigurd gave Gunnlaug a guide east to
Tenthland, in Sweden, as he had asked.    

CHAPTER IX.
 Of the Quarrel between Gunnlaug
and Raven before the Swedish King. 

In those days King Olaf the Swede, son of King Eric
the Victorious, and Sigrid the High-counselled,
daughter of Skogul Tosti, ruled over Sweden.
He was a mighty king and renowned, and full fain
of fame.  Gunnlaug came to Upsala towards the time
of the Thing of the Swedes in spring-tide; and when
he got to see the king, he greeted him. The king
took his greeting well, and asked who he was. He
said he was an Iceland-man.  Then the king called out:
 "Raven," says he, "what man is he in Iceland?" 
Then one stood up from the lower bench, a big man
and a stalwart, and stepped up before the king,
and spake: "Lord," says he, "he is of good kin,
and himself the most stalwart of men." 
"Let him go, then, and sit beside thee," said the king. 
Then Gunnlaug said, "I have a song to set forth before
thee, king, and I would fain have peace while thou
hearkenest thereto."  "Go ye first, and sit ye down,"
says the king, "for there is no leisure now to sit
listening to songs."  So they did as he bade them. 
Now Gunnlaug and Raven fell a-talking together, and
each told each of his travels. Raven said that he had
gone the summer before from Iceland to Norway, and had
come east to Sweden in the forepart of winter. They soon
got friendly together.  But one day, when the Thing was
over, they were both before the king, Gunnlaug and Raven. 
Then spake Gunnlaug, "Now, lord, I would that thou
shouldst hear the song."  "That I may do now," said
the king.  "My song too will I set forth now," says Raven.
 "Thou mayst do so," said the king.  Then Gunnlaug said,
 "I will set forth mine first if thou wilt have
it so, king." 

"Nay," said Raven, "it behoveth me to be first, lord,
 for I myself came first to thee." 
"Whereto came our fathers forth, so that my father was
the little boat towed behind? Whereto, but nowhere?"
says Gunnlaug. "And in likewise shall it be with us."
Raven answered, "Let us be courteous enough not to
make this a matter of bandying of words. Let the king
rule here."  The king said, "Let Gunnlaug set forth
his song first, for he will not be at peace till he
has his will."  Then Gunnlaug set forth the song which
he had made to King Olaf, and when it was at an end the
king spake. "Raven," says he, "how is the song done?" 
"Right well," he answered; "it is a song full of big
words and little beauty; a somewhat rugged song, as is
Gunnlaug's own mood."  "Well, Raven, thy song," said
the king.  Raven gave it forth, and when it was done
the king said, "How is this song made, Gunnlaug?" 
"Well it is, lord," he said; "this is a pretty song,
as is Raven himself to behold, and delicate of
countenance. But why didst thou make a short song
on the king, Raven? Didst thou perchance deem him
unworthy of a long one?"  Raven answered, "Let us
not talk longer on this; matters will be taken up
again, though it be later." 
And thereat, they parted. 
Soon after Raven became a man of King Olaf's, and
asked him leave to go away. This the king granted him.
And when Raven was ready to go, he spake to Gunnlaug,
and said, "Now shall our friendship be ended, for that
thou must needs shame me here before great men; but in
time to come I shall cast on thee no less shame than
thou hadst will to cast on me here."
Gunnlaug answers: "Thy threats grieve me nought.
Nowhere are we likely to come where I shall be thought
less worthy than thou."  King Olaf gave to Raven good
gifts at parting, and thereafter. 

  CHAPTER X.   
How Raven came home to Iceland, and asked for
Helga to Wife.  Now this spring Raven came from the
east to Thrandheim, and fitted out his ship, and sailed
in the summer to Iceland. He brought his ship to
Leiruvag, below the Heath, and his friends and
kinsmen were right fain of him. That winter he
was at home with his father, but the summer after
he met at the Althing his kinsman, Skapti the
law-man.  Then said Raven to him, "Thine aid would
I have to go a-wooing to Thorstein Egilson, to bid
Helga his daughter."  Skapti answered, "But is she
not already vowed to Gunnlaug Worm-tongue?" 
Said Raven, "Is not the appointed time of waiting
between them passed by? And far too wanton is he
withal, that he should hold or heed it aught." 
"Let us then do as thou wouldst," said Skapti. 
Thereafter they went with many men to the booth
of Thorstein Egilson, and he greeted them well. 
Then Skapti spoke: "Raven, my kinsman, is minded to
woo thy daughter Helga. Thou knowest well his blood,
his wealth, and his good manners, his many mighty
kinsmen and friends."  Thorstein said, "She is already
the vowed maiden of Gunnlaug, and with him shall I
hold all words spoken."  Skapti said, "Are not the
three winters worn now that were named between you?" 
"Yes," said Thorstein; "but the summer is not yet
worn, and he may still come out this summer." 
Then Skapti said, "But if he cometh not this summer,
what hope may we have of the matter then?" 
Thorstein answered, "We are like to come here next
summer, and then may we see what may wisely be done,
but it will not do to speak hereof longer as at this
time."  Thereon they parted. And men rode home from
the Althing. But this talk of Raven's wooing of Helga
was nought hidden.  That summer Gunnlaug came not out. 
The next summer, at the Althing, Skapti and his folk
pushed the wooing eagerly, and said that Thorstein was
free as to all matters with Gunnlaug. 

Thorstein answered, "I have few daughters to see to,
and fain am I that they should not be the cause of
strife to any man. Now I will first see Illugi the
Black." And so he did. .  And when they met, he
said to Illugi, "Dost thou not think that I am free
from all troth with thy son Gunnlaug?"  Illugi said,
"Surely, if thou wiliest it. Little can I say herein,
as I do not know clearly what Gunnlaug is about." 
Then Thorstein went to Skapti, and a bargain was
struck that the wedding should be at Burg, about
winter-nights, if Gunnlaug did not come out that
summer; but that Thorstein should be free from all
troth with Raven if Gunnlaug should come and fetch
his bride.  After this men ride home from the Thing,
and Gunnlaug's coming was long drawn out. But Helga
thought evilly of all these redes.    

CHAPTER XI.  
 Of how Gunnlaug must needs abide away from Iceland.

Now it is to be told of Gunnlaug that he went from
Sweden the same summer that Raven went to Iceland,
 and good gifts he had from King Olaf at parting. 
King Ethelred welcomed Gunnlaug worthily, and that
 winter he was with the king, and was held in great
 honour.  In those days Knut the Great, son of Svein,
ruled Denmark, and had new-taken his father's
heritage, and he vowed ever to wage war on England,
for that his father had won a great realm there before
 he died west in that same land.  And at that time
there was a great army of Danish men west there, whose
chief was Heming, the son of Earl Strut-Harald, and
brother to Earl Sigvaldi, and he held for King Knut
that land that Svein had won.  Now in the spring Gunnlaug
asked the king for leave to go away, but he said,
"It ill beseems that thou, my man, shouldst go away
now, when all bodes such mighty war in the land." 
Gunnlaug said, "Thou shalt rule, lord; but give me
leave next summer to depart, if the Danes come not." 
The king answered, "Then we shall see."  Now this
summer went by, and the next winter, but no Danes came;
and after midsummer Gunnlaug got his leave to depart from
the king, and went thence east to Norway, and found
Earl Eric in Thrandheim, at Hladir, and the earl greeted
him well, and bade him abide with him. Gunnlaug thanked
him for his offer, but said he would first go out to
Iceland, to look to his promised maiden.  The earl said,
"Now all ships bound for Iceland have sailed."  Then
said one of the court,
"Here lay, yesterday, Hallfred Troublous-Skald,
out tinder Agdaness."  The earl answered,
"That may well be; he sailed hence five nights ago."
Then Earl Eric had Gunnlaug rowed put to Hallfred,
 who greeted him with joy; and forthwith a fair wind
bore them from land, and they were right merry. 

This was late in the summer: but now Hallfred said to
Gunnlaug, "Hast thou heard of how Raven, the son of
Onund, is wooing Helga the Fair?"  Gunnlaug said he had
heard thereof but dimly. Hallfred tells him all he
knew of it, and therewith, too, that it was the talk of
many men that Raven was in nowise less brave a man than
Gunnlaug. Then Gunnlaug sang this stave:--          
"Light the weather wafteth;          
But if this east wind drifted          
Week-long, wild upon us          
Little were I recking;          
More this word I mind of          
Me with Raven mated,          
Than gain for me the gold-foe          
Of days to make me grey-haired." 

Then Hallfred said, "Well, fellow, may'st thou fare
better in thy strife with Raven than I did in mine.
I brought my ship some winters ago into Leiruvag, and
had to pay a half-mark in silver to a house-carle of
Raven's, but I held it back from him. So Raven rode at
us with sixty men, and cut the moorings of the ship,
and she was driven up on the shallows, and we were
bound for a wreck. Then I had to give selfdoom to
 Raven, and a whole mark I had to pay; and that is the
tale of my dealings with him."  Then they two talked
together alone of Helga the Fair, and Gunnlaug praised
her much for her goodliness; and Gunnlaug sang:--           
"He who brand of battle          
Beareth over-wary,          
Never love shall let him          
Hold the linen-folded;          
For we when we were younger          
In many a way were playing          
On the outward nesses          
From golden land outstanding." 

"Well sung!" said Hallfred.    

CHAPTER XII.
Of Gunnlaug's landing, and how he
 found Helga wedded to Raven.

 They made land north by Fox-Plain, in Hraunhaven,
half a month before winter, and there unshipped their
goods. Now there was a man called Thord, a bonder's
son of the Plain, there. He fell to wrestling with the
chapmen, and they mostly got worsted at his hands. 
Then a wrestling was settled between him and Gunnlaug.
The night before Thord made vows to Thor for the
victory; but the next day, when they met, they
fell-to wrestling. Then Gunnlaug tripped both feet from
 under Thord, and gave him a. great fall; but the foot
that Gunnlaug stood on was put out of joint, and
Gunnlaug fell together with Thord. 
Then said Thord, "Maybe that other things go
no better for thee." 
"What then?" says Gunnlaug. 
"Thy dealings with Raven, if he wed Helga the Fair
at winter-nights. I was anigh at the Thing when that was
settled last summer." 
Gunnlaug answered naught thereto.  Now the foot was swathed,
and put into joint again, and it swelled mightily;
but he and Hallfred ride twelve in company till they come
to Gilsbank, in Burg-firth, the very Saturday night when
folk sat at the wedding at Burg. Illugi was fain of his
son Gunnlaug and his fellows; but Gunnlaug said he
would ride then and there down to Burg. Illugi said
it was not wise to do so, and to all but Gunnlaug that
seemed good. But Gunnlaug was then unfit to walk,
because of his foot, though he would not let that
be seen. Therefore there was no faring to Burg. 
On the morrow Hallfred rode to Hreda-water, in
North-water dale, where Galti, his brother and a
brisk man, managed their matters.

 CHAPTER XIII.
 Of the Winter-Wedding at Skaney,
and how Gunnlaug gave the Kings Cloak to Helga. 
Tells the tale of Raven, that he sat at his
weddings-feast at Burg, and it was the talk of most
men that the bride was but drooping; for true is the
saw that saith,
"Long we remember what youth gained us,"
 and even so it was with her now.  But this new
thing befell at the feast, that Hungerd, the daughter
 of Thorod and Jofrid, was wooed by a man named
Sverting, the son of Hafr-Biorn, the son of
Mold-Gnup, and the wedding was to come off that
winter after Yule, at Skaney, where dwelt Thorkel,
a kinsman of Hungerd, and son of Torn Valbrandsson;
 and the mother of Torn was Thorodda, the sister
of Odd of the Tongue.

Now Raven went home to Mossfell with Helga his wife.
When they had been there a little while, one morning
early before they rose up, Helga was awake, but
Raven slept, and fared ill in his sleep. And when he
woke Helga asked him what he had dreamt.
 Then Raven sang:--           
"In thine arms, so dreamed I,          
Hewn was I, gold island!          
Bride, in blood I bled there,          
Bed of thine was reddened.          
Never more then mightst thou,          
Mead-bowl'spourer speedy,          
Bind my gashes bloody--          
Lind-leek-bough thou likst it."

Helga spake: "Never shall I weep therefor," quoth she;
"ye have evilly beguiled me, and Gunnlaug has surely
come out." And therewith she wept much.  But, a little
after, Gunnlaug's coming was bruited about, and Helga
became so hard with Raven, that he could not keep her at
home at Mossfell; so that back they had to go to Burg,
 and Raven got small share of her company.  Now men
get ready for the winter-wedding. Thorkel of Skaney
bade Illugi the Black and his sons. But when master
Illugi got ready, Gunnlaug sat in the hall, and
stirred not to go. Illugi went up to him and said,
"Why dost thou not get ready, kinsman?"
 Gunnlaug answered, "I have no mind to go." 
Says Illugi, "Nay, but certes thou shalt go, kinsman,"
says he; "and cast thou not grief over thee by yearning
for one woman. Make as if thou knewest nought of it, for
 women thou wilt never lack."  Now Gunnlaug did as his
father bade him; so they came to the wedding, and
Illugi and his sons were set down in the high seat;
but Thorstein Egilson, and Raven his son-in-law, and
the bridegroom's following, were set in the other high
seat, over against Illugi.  The women sat on the dais,
and Helga the Fair sat next to the bride. Oft she turned
her eyes on Gunnlaug, thereby proving the saw,
"Eyes will bewray if maid love man."
 Gunnlaug was well arrayed, and had on him that goodly
raiment that King Sigtrygg had given him; and now he
was thought far above all other men, because of many
things, both strength, and goodliness, and growth. 
There was little mirth among folk at this wedding.
But on the day when all men were making ready to go
away the women stood up and got ready to go home.
Then went Gunnlaug to talk to Helga, and long they
talked together: but Gunnlaug sang:--           
"Light-heart lived the Worm-tongue          
All day long no longer          
In mountain-home, since Helga          
Had name of wife of Raven;          
Nought foresaw thy father,          
Hardener white of fight-thaw,          
What my words should come to.          
--The maid to gold was wedded."

And again he sang:--           
"Worst reward I owe them,          
Father thine, O wine-may,          
And mother, that they made thee          
So fair beneath thy maid-gear;          
For thou, sweet field of sea-flame,          
All joy hast slain within me.--          
Lo, here, take it, loveliest          
E'er made of lord and lady!" 

And therewith Gunnlaug gave Helga the cloak,
Ethelred's-gift, which was the fairest of things,
and she thanked him well for the gift. 
Then Gunnlaug went out, and by that time riding-horses
had been brought home and saddled, and among them were
 many very good ones; and they were all tied up in the
road. Gunnlaug leaps on to a horse, and rides a
hand-gallop along the homefield up to a place where
Raven happened to stand just before him; and Raven
had to draw out of his way. Then Gunnlaug said,-- 
"No need to slink aback, Raven, for I threaten thee
nought as at this time; but thou knowest forsooth,
what thou hast earned.". 

Raven answered and sang,--           
"God of wound-flamed glitter,          
Glorier of fight-goddess,          
Must we fall a-fighting          
For fairest kirtle-bearer?          
Death-staffs many such-like          
Fair as she is are there          
In south-lands o'er the sea floods.          
Sooth saith he who knoweth." 

"Maybe there are many such, but they do not seem
 so to me," said Gunnlaug. 

Therewith Illugi and Thorstein ran up to them, and
 would not have them fight. 
Then Gunnlaug sang,--           
"The fair-hued golden goddess          
For gold to Raven sold they,          
(Raven my match as men say)          
While the mighty isle-king,          
Ethelred, in England          
From eastward way delayed me,          
Wherefore to gold-waster          
Waneth tongue's speech-hunger." 

Hereafter both rode home, and all was quiet and
tidingless that winter through; but Raven had
nought of Helga's fellowship after her meeting
with Gunnlaug.   

CHAPTER XIV. 
  Of the Holmgang at the Althing.

Now in summer men ride a very many to the Althing:
Illugi the Blacky and his sons with him, Gunnlaug and
Hermund; Thorstein Egilson and Kolsvein his son;
Onund, of Mossfell, and his sons all, and Sverting,
Hafr-Biorn's son. Skapti yet held the
spokesmanship-at-law. 

One day at the Thing, as men went thronging to the
Hill of Laws, and when the matters of the law were
done there, then Gunnlaug craved silence, and said:
--  "Is Raven, the son of Onund, here?"
 He said he was.  Then spake Gunnlaug,
"Thou well knowest that thou hast got to wife my
avowed bride, and thus hast thou made thyself my foe.
Now for this I bid thee to holm here at the Thing,
in the holm of the Axe-water, when three nights
are gone by." 
Raven answers, "This is well bidden, as was to be
 looked for of thee, and for this I am ready,
whenever thou wiliest it."
Now the kin of each deemed this a very ill thing.
 But, at that time it was lawful for him who thought
himself wronged by another to call
him to fight on the holm. 
So when three nights had gone by they got ready for
 the holmgang, and Illugi the Black followed his son
 thither with a great following. But Skapti, the
lawman, followed Raven, and his father and other
kinsmen of his.  Now before Gunnlaug went
upon the holm he sang,--           
"Out to isle ofeel-field          
Dight am I to hie me:          
Give, O God, thy singer          
With glaive to end the striving.          
Here shall I the head cleave          
Of Helga's love's devourer,          
At last my bright sword bringeth          
Sundering of head and body." 

Then Raven answered and sang,--           
"Thou, singer, knowest not surely          
Which of us twain shall gain it;          
With edge for leg-swathe eager,          
Here are the wound-scythes bare now.         
In whatso-wise we wound us,          
The tidings from the Thing here,          
And fame of thanes' fair doings,          
The fair young maid shall hear it." 

Hermund held shield for his brother, Gunnlaug; but
Sverting, Hafr-Biorn's son, was Raven's shield-bearer.
Whoso should be wounded was to ransom himself from
the holm with three marks of silver. 

Now, Raven's part it was to deal the first blow, as he
 was the challenged man. He hewed at the upper part of
 Gunnlaug's shield, and the sword brake asunder just
beneath the hilt, with so great might he smote;
but the point of the sword flew up from the shield and
struck Gunnlaug's cheek, whereby he got just grazed;
with that their fathers ran in between them, and many
other men.  "Now," said Gunnlaug,
"I call Raven overcome, as he is weaponless." 
"But I say that thou art vanquished, since thou art
wounded," said Raven.  Now, Gunnlaug was nigh mad,
and very wrathful, and said it was not tried out yet. 
Illugi, his father, said they should try no more for
that time.  Gunnlaug said,
"Beyond all things I desire that I might in such wise
 meet Raven again, that thou, father, wert not anigh
 to part us."  And thereat they parted for that time,
 and all men went back to their booths.  But on the
second day after this it was made law in the law-court
 that, henceforth, all holmgangs should be forbidden;
and this was done by the counsel of all the wisest
men that were at the Thing; and there, indeed, were
all the men of most counsel in all the land. And this
was the last holmgang fought in Iceland, this,
wherein Gunnlaug and Raven fought.  But this Thing
was the third most thronged Thing that has been held
in Iceland; the first was after Njal's burning, the
second after the Heath-slaughters.  Now, one morning,
as the brothers Hermund and Gunnlaug went to
Axe-water to wash, on the other side went many women
towards the river, and in that company
was Helga the Fair. Then said Hermund,
--  "Dost thou see thy friend Helga there on the
other side of the river?"  "Surely, I see her,"
 says Gunnlaug, and withal he sang:--           
"Born was she for men's bickering:          
Sore bale hath wrought the war-stemy          
And I yearned ever madly          
To hold that oak-tree golden.          
To me then, me destroyer          
Of swan-mead's flame, unneedful          
This looking on the dark-eyed,          
This golden land's beholding." 

Therewith they crossed the river, and Helga and
Gunnlaug spake awhile together, and as the brothers
crossed the river eastward back again, Helga
stood and gazed long after Gunnlaug.  Then Gunnlaug
looked back and sang:--           
"Moon of linen-lapped one,          
Leek-sea-bearing goddess,          
Hawk-keen out of heaven          
Shone all bright upon me;          
But that eyelid's moonbeam          
Of gold-necklaced goddess          
Her hath all undoing          
Wrought, and me made nought of." 

  CHAPTER XV.
 How Gunnlaug and Raven agreed
 to go East to Norway, to try the matter again.

 Now after these things were gone by men rode home
from the Thing, and Gunnlaug dwelt at home at
Gilsbank.  On a morning when he awoke all men had
risen up, but he alone still lay abed; he lay in a
shut-bed behind the seats. Now into the hall came
twelve men, all full armed, and who should be
there but Raven, Onund's son; Gunnlaug sprang up
forthwith, and got to his weapons.  But Raven
spake, "Thou art in risk of no hurt this time,"
quoth he, "but my errand hither is what thou
shalt now hear: Thou didst call me to a holmgang
last summer at the Althing, and thou didst not
deem matters to be fairly tried therein; now I
will offer thee this, that we both fare away
from Iceland, and go abroad next summer, and
go on holm in Norway, for there our kinsmen are not
like to stand in our way."  Gunnlaug answered,
"Hail to thy words, stoutest of men! this thine offer
 I take gladly; and here, Raven, mayest thou have
cheer as good as thou mayest desire." 
"It is well offered," said Raven, "but this time we
 shall first have to ride away." Thereon they parted
.  Now the kinsmen of both sore misliked them of
this, but could in no wise undo it, because of the
wrath of Gunnlaug and Raven; and, after all, that
must betide that drew towards.  Now it is to be
said of Raven that he fitted out his ship in
Leiruvag; two men are named that went with him,
sisters' sons of his father Onund, one hight Grim,
the other Olaf, doughty men both. All the kinsmen
of Raven thought it great scathe when he went away,
 but he said he had challenged Gunnlaug to the
holmgang because he could have no joy soever of
Helga; and he said, withal, that one must fall before
the other.  So Raven put to sea, when he had wind at
will, and brought his ship to Thrandheim, and was
there that winter and heard nought of Gunnlaug that
winter through; there lie abode him the summer
following: and still another winter was he in
Thrandheim, at a place called Lifangr. 

Gunnlaug Worm-tongue took ship with
Hallfred Troublous-Skald, in the north at The Plain;
they were very late ready for sea.  They sailed
into the main when they had a fair wind, and
made Orkney a little before the winter.
Earl Sigurd Lodverson was still lord over the
isles, and Gunnlaug went to him and abode there
that winter, and the earl held him of much account. 
In the spring the earl would go on warfare, and
Gunnlaug made ready to go with him; and that summer
they harried wide about the South-isles and
Scotland's firths, and had many fights, and
Gunnlaug always showed himself the bravest and
doughtiest of fellows, and the hardiest of men
wherever they came.  Earl Sigurd went back home
early in the summer, but Gurmlaug took ship with
chapmen, sailing for Norway, and he and Earl Sigurd
parted in great friendship.  Gunnlaug fared north to
Thrandheim, to Hladir, to see Earl Eric, and dwelt
there through the early winter; the earl welcomed
him gladly, and made offer to Gunnlaug to stay
with him, and Gunnlaug agreed thereto.  The earl
had heard already how all had befallen between
Gunnlaug and Raven, and he told Gunnlaug that he
laid ban on their fighting within his realm; Gunnlaug
said the earl should be free to have his will herein.
So Gunnlaug abode there the winter through, ever
heavy of mood.

   CHAPTER XVI.
   How the two Foes met and fought at Dingness.

 But on a day in spring Gunnlaug was walking abroad,
 and his kinsman Thorkel with him; they walked away
from the town, till on the meads. before them they
saw a ring of men, and in that ring were two men
with weapons fencing; but one was named Raven, the
other Gunnlaug, while they who stood by said that
Icelanders smote light, and were slow to remember
their words.  Gunnlaug saw the great mocking
hereunder, and much jeering was brought into the
play; and withal he went away silent.  So a little
while after he said to the earl that he had no mind
to bear any longer the jeers and mocks of his
courtiers about his dealings with Raven, and
therewith he prayed the earl to give him a guide
to Lifangr: now before this the earl had been told
that Raven had left Lifangr and gone east to Sweden;
therefore, he granted Gunnlaug leave to go, and
gave him two guides for the journey.
 Now Gunnlaug
went from Hladir with six men to Lifangr; and, on
the morning of the very day whereas Gunnlaug came
in in the evening, Raven had left Lifangr with
four men. Thence Gunnlaug went to Vera-dale,
and came always in the evening to where Raven had
 been the night before.  So Gunnlaug went on till
he came to the uppermost farm in the valley,
called Sula, wherefrom had Raven fared in the
morning; there he stayed not his journey, but
kept on his way through the night.  Then in the
morning at sun-rise they saw one another. Raven
had got to a place where were two waters, and
between them flat meads, and they are called
Gleipni's meads: but into one water stretched a
little ness called Dingness. There on the ness Raven
and his fellows, five together, took their stand.
With Raven were his kinsmen, Grim and Olaf. 
Now when they met, Gunnlaug said, "It is well that
we have found one another."  Raven said that he had
nought to quarrel with therein;  "But now," says he,
"thou mayest choose as thou wilt, either that we
fight alone together, or that we fight all of us
man to man."  Gunnlaug said that either way seemed
good to him.  Then spake Raven's kinsmen,
Grim and Olaf, and said that they would little like
to stand by and look on the fight, and in like
wise spake Thorkel the Black, the kinsman of
Gunnlaug.  Then said Gunnlaug to the earl's guides,
"Ye shall sit by and aid neither side, and be here
to tell of our meeting;" and so they did. 
So they set on, and fought dauntlessly, all of them.
Grim and Olaf went both against Gunnlaug alone,
and so closed their dealings with him that Gunnlaug
slew them both and got no wound. This proves
Thord Kolbeinson in a song that he made
 on Gunnlaug the Wormtongue:--           
"Grim and Olaf great-hearts          
In Gondul's din, with thin sword          
First did Gunnlaug fell there          
Ere at Raven fared he;          
Bold, with blood be-drifted          
Bane of three the thane was;          
War-lord of the wave-horse          
Wrought for men folks' slaughter." 

Meanwhile Raven and Thorkel the Black,
Gunnlaug's kinsman, fought until Thorkel fell before
 Raven and lost his life; and so at last all their
fellowship fell. Then they two alone fought together
with fierce onsets and mighty strokes, which they
dealt each the other, falling on furiously without
stop or stay. 
Gunnlaug had the sword Ethelred's-gift, and that
was the best of weapons. At last Gunnlaug dealt a
mighty blow at Raven, and cut his leg from under him;
but none the more did Raven fall, but swung round up
to a tree-stem, whereat he steadied the stump. 
Then said Gunnlaug, "Now thou art no more meet for
battle, nor will I fight with thee any longer,
a maimed man."  Raven answered: "So it is," said he,
"that my lot is now all the worser lot, but it were
well with me yet, might I but drink somewhat." 
Gunnlaug said, "Bewray me not if I bring thee water
in my helm."  "I will not bewray thee," said Raven.
Then went Gunnlaug to a brook and fetched water in
his helm, and brought it to Raven; but Raven
stretched forth his left hand to take it, but with his
right hand drave his sword into Gunnlaug's head, and
that was a mighty great wound.  Then Gunnlaug said,
"Evilly hast thou beguiled me, and done traitorously
wherein I trusted thee."  Raven answers,
"Thou sayest sooth, but this brought me to it,
that I begrudged thee to lie in the bosom of
Helga the Fair."  Thereat they fought on, recking of
nought; but the end of it was that Gunnlaug overcame
Raven, and there Raven lost his life..  Then the
earl's guides came forward and bound the head-wound
of Gunnlaug, and in meanwhile, he sat and sang:--           
"O thou sword-storm stirrer,          
Raven, stem of battle          
Famous, fared against me          
Fiercely in the spear din.          
Many a flight of metal          
Was borne on me this morning,          
By the spear-walls' builder,          
Ring-bearer, on hard Dingness." 

After that they buried the dead, and got Gunnlaug
on to his horse thereafter, and brought him right
down to Lifangr. There he lay three nights, and
got all his rights of a priest, and died thereafter,
and was buried at the church there.  All men thought
it great scathe of both of these men,
Gunnlaug and Raven, amid such deeds as they died.

 CHAPTER XVII.    
The News of the Fight brought to Iceland.

 Now this summer, before these tidings were brought
out hither to Iceland, Illugi the Black, being at
home at Gilsbank, dreamed a dream: he thought that
Gunnlaug came to him in his sleep, all bloody, and
he sang in the dream this stave before him; and
Illugi remembered the song when he woke,
and sang it before others:--           
"Knew I of the hewing          
Of Raven's hilt-finned steel-fish          
Byrny-shearing--sword-edge          
Sharp clave leg of Raven.--          
Of warm wounds drank the eagle,         
When the war-rod slender,          
Cleaver of the corpses,          
Clave the head of Gunnlaug." 

This portent befel south at Mossfell, the self-same
night, that Onund dreamed how Raven came to him,
covered all over with blood, and sang:--           
"Red is the sword, but I now          
Am undone by Sword-Odin.          
'Gainst shields beyond the sea-flood          
The ruin of shields was wielded.          
Methinks the blood-fowl blood-stained          
In blood der men's heads stood there,          
The wound-erne yet wound-eager          
Trod over wounded bodies?" 

Now the second summer after this, Illugi the Black
spoke at the Althing from the Hill of Laws, and said:-- 
"Wherewith wilt thou make atonement to me for my
son, whom Raven, thy son, beguiled in his troth?" 
Onund answers, "Be it far from me to atone for
him, so sorely as their meeting hath wounded me.
Yet will I not ask atonement of thee for my son." 
"Then shall my wrath come home to some of thy kin,"
says Illugi. And withal after the Thing was Illugi
at most times very sad.

Tells the tale how this autumn Illugi rode from
 Gilsbank with thirty men,
and came to Mossfell early in the morning. Then Onund
 got into the church with his sons, and took sanctuary;
but Illugi caught two of his kin, one called Biorn and
the other Thorgrim, and had Biorn slain, but the feet
smitten from Thorgrim. And thereafter Illugi rode home,
and there was no righting of this for Onund.  Hermund,
Illugi's son, had little joy after the death of
Gunnlaug his brother, and deemed he was none the more
avenged even though this had been wrought.  Now
there was a man called Raven, brother's son to Onund
of Mossfell; he was a great sea-farer, and had a ship
that lay up in Ramfirth: and in the spring
Hermund Illugison rode from home alone north over
Holt-beacon Heath, even to Ramfirth, and out as far as
Board-ere to the ship of the chapmen. The chapmen were
then nearly ready for sea; Raven, the ship-master, was
on shore, and many men with him; Hermund rode up to
him, and thrust him through with his spear, and rode
away forthwith: but all Raven's men were bewildered at
seeing Hermund.  No atonement came for this slaying,
and therewith ended the dealings of Illugi the Black
and Onund of Mossfell.

 CHAPTER XVIII. 
  The Death of Helga the Fair.

AS time went on, Thorstein Egilson married his
daughter Helga to a man called Thorkel, son of
Hallkel, who lived west in Hraundale. Helga went
to his house with him, but loved him little, for she
cannot cease to think of Gunnlaug, though he be dead.
Yet was Thorkel a doughty man, and wealthy of goods,
and a good skald.  They had children together not a
few, one of them was called Thorarin, another
Thorstein, and yet more they had.  But Helga's chief
joy was to pluck at the threads of that cloak,
Gunnlaug's gift, and she would be ever gazing at it. 
But on a time there came a great sickness to the
house of Thorkel and Helga, and many were bed-ridden
for a long time. Helga also fell sick, and yet she
could not keep abed.  So one Saturday evening Helga
sat in the fire-hall, and leaned her head upon her
husband's knees, and had the cloak Gunnlaug's gift
sent for; and when the cloak came to her she sat up
and plucked at it, and gazed thereon awhile, and then
sank back upon her husband's bosom, and was dead.
Then Thorkel sang this:--          
"Dead in mine arms she droopeth,          
My dear one, gold-rings bearer,          
For God hath changed the life-days          
Of this Lady of the linen.          
Weary pain hath pined her,          
But unto me, the seeker          
Of hoard of fishes highway,          
Abiding here is wearier." 

Helga was buried in the church there, but Thorke dwelt
 yet at Hraundale: but a great matter seemed the death
of Helga to all, as was to be looked for.

AND HERE ENDETH THE STORY.     

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook
 of The Story Of Gunnlaug The Worm-Tongue
 And Raven The Skald,
 by Anonymous 
*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORY OF GUNNLAUG
***  *****
This file should be named 24421.txt or 24421.zip
***** This and all associated files of various
formats will be found in:        
http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/4/2/24421/ 
Produced by David Widger 
Updated editions will replace the previous one--
the old editions will be renamed. 
Creating the works from public domain print editions
means that no one owns a United States copyright in
these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy
and distribute it in the United States without
permission and without paying copyright royalties. 
Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of
Use part of this license, apply to copying and
distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and
trademark.  Project Gutenberg is a registered
trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the
eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. 
If you do not charge anything for copies of this
eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. 
You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such
as creation of derivative works, reports, performances
and research.  They may be modified and printed and
given away--you may do practically ANYTHING with
public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is subject
to the trademark license, especially commercial
redistribution.  
*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE PLEASE READ
THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK 
To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of
promoting the free distribution of electronic works,
by using or distributing this work (or any other
work associated in any way with the phrase
"Project Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all
the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg-tm License
(available with this file or online at
http://gutenberg.org/license).  

Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing
 Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works 
1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project
 Gutenberg-tm electronic work, you indicate that you
have read, understand, agree to and accept all the
terms of this license and intellectual property (
trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not
agree to abide by all the terms of this agreement,
you must cease using and return or destroy all
copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining
a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg-tm
electronic work and you do not agree to be bound
by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a
refund from the person or entity to whom you paid
 the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. 

1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.
 It may only be used on or associated in any way
with an electronic work by people who agree to be
bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a
few things that you can do with most
Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works even without
complying with the full terms of this agreement. 
See paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things
you can do with Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
if you follow the terms of this agreement and help
preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm
 electronic works.  See paragraph 1.E below. 

1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
 ("the Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation
copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg-tm
electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in
the collection are in the public domain in the
United States.  If an individual work is in the
public domain in the United States and you are
located in the United States, we do not claim a
right to prevent you from copying, distributing,
performing, displaying or creating derivative
works based on the work as long as all references
to Project Gutenberg are removed.  Of course, we
hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm
mission of promoting free access to electronic works
by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in
compliance with the terms of this agreement for
keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated
with the work.  You can easily comply with the
terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the
same format with its attached full
Project Gutenberg-tm License when you share it
without charge with others.

 1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are
 located also govern what you can do with this work.
 Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant
 state of change.  If you are outside the United States,
 check the laws of your country in addition to the
 terms of this agreement before downloading,
copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
creating derivative works based on this work or
any other Project Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation
makes no representations concerning the copyright
status of any work in any country outside the
United States.

 1.E.
 Unless you have removed all references to
Project Gutenberg:

1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to,
or other immediate access to, the full
Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear
prominently whenever any copy of a
Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which
the phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is
accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or
distributed:  This eBook is for the use of anyone
anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions
whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or re-use
it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License
included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org 

1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
work is derived from the public domain (does not contain
a notice indicating that it is posted with permission
of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and
distributed to anyone in the United States without
paying any fees or charges.  If you are redistributing
or providing access to a work with the phrase
"Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on
the work, you must comply either with the requirements
of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission
for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm
trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. 

1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
 work is posted with the permission of the copyright
holder, your use and distribution must comply with
both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms
will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for
all works posted with the permission of the copyright
holder found at the beginning of this work. 

1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full
Project Gutenberg-tm License terms from this work,
or any files containing a part of this work or any
other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. 

1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or
redistribute this electronic work, or any part of this
electronic work, without prominently displaying the
sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links
 or immediate access to the full terms of the
 Project Gutenberg-tm License.

 1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this
 work in any binary, compressed, marked up,
 nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you
provide access to or distribute copies of a
Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "
Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the
official version posted on the official
Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to
the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy,
or a means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the
work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or
other form.  Any alternate format must include
the full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified
in paragraph 1.E.1.

 1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing,
displaying, performing, copying or distributing
any Project Gutenberg-tm works unless you comply
with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

 1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies
 of or providing access to or distributing
Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided that
- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross
profits you derive from     
the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated
 using the method      you already use to calculate
 your applicable taxes.  The fee is    
owed to the owner of the
Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he  
  has agreed to donate royalties under this
paragraph to the   
 Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.
 Royalty payments  
  must be paid within 60 days
following each date on which you
    prepare (or are legally required to prepare)
 your periodic tax      returns. 
Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such
 and      sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary
Archive Foundation at the     
address specified in Section 4, "Information about
donations to      the Project Gutenberg Literary
Archive Foundation."
- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a
 user who notifies      you in writing (or by e-mail)
 within 30 days of receipt that s/he      does not
 agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
    License.  You must require such a user to return or
 destroy all copies of the works possessed in a
 physical medium      and discontinue all use of
 and all access to other copies of    
Project Gutenberg-tm works.  -
You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3,
a full refund of any      money paid for a work or a
replacement copy, if a defect in the     
electronic work is discovered and reported to you
within 90 days      of receipt of the work.  -
You comply with all other terms of this agreement
for free      distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.

 1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute
a Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of
works on different terms than are set forth in this
 agreement, you must obtain permission in writing
from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
Foundation and Michael Hart, the owner of the Project
Gutenberg-tm trademark. 
Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.

1.F.
1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees
 expend considerable effort to identify, do copyright
 research on, transcribe and proofread public domain
 works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm collection.
 Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm
electronic works, and the medium on which they may be
stored, may contain "Defects," such as, but not
limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data,
transcription errors, a copyright or other
intellectual property infringement, a defective or
damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or
computer codes that damage or cannot be read by your
equipment.

 1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES -
 Except for the "Right of Replacement or Refund"
described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg
Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
 Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party
 distributing a Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
work under this agreement, disclaim all liability
 to you for damages, costs and expenses,
including legal fees. 
YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE,
STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF
CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. 
YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER,
AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT
 BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT,
CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN
IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

 1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND -
If you discover a defect in this electronic work within
 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of
 the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
written explanation to the person you received
the work from.  If you received the work on a
physical medium, you must return the medium with
your written explanation.  The person or entity
that provided you with the defective work may elect
to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. 
If you received the work electronically, the person
or entity providing it to you may choose to give you
a second opportunity to receive the work electronically
in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy is also
defective, you may demand a refund in writing
without further opportunities to fix the problem. 

1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or
 refund set forth in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is
provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES
OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS
FOR ANY PURPOSE.

 1.F.5.  Some states do not allow
disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the
exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this
agreement violates the law of the state applicable
to this agreement, the agreement shall be
interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or
limitation permitted by the applicable state law. 
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision
of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.

 1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold
 the Foundation, the trademark owner, any agent or
 employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies
of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
with this agreement, and any volunteers associated
 with the production, promotion and distribution of
Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, harmless from
all liability, costs and expenses, including legal
 fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of
 the following which you do or cause to occur:
(a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm work,
(b) alteration, modification, or additions or
deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and
(c) any Defect you cause.  

Section  2.  Information about the Mission of
Project Gutenberg-tm  Project Gutenberg-tm is
synonymous with the free distribution of electronic
works in formats readable by the widest variety of c
omputers including obsolete, old, middle-aged
and new computers.  It exists because of the efforts
of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
people in all walks of life.  Volunteers and financial
support to provide volunteers with the assistance
they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
goals and ensuring that the Project
Gutenberg-tm collection will remain freely available
for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
 Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created
to provide a secure and permanent future for Project
 Gutenberg-tm and future generations. To learn more
 about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
 and how your efforts and donations can help,
see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation web page at
 http://www.pglaf.org.  

Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg
Literary Archive Foundation  The Project Gutenberg
 Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit 501(c)(3)
 educational corporation organized under the laws of
the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt
status by the Internal Revenue Service. 
The Foundation's EIN or federal tax
identification number is 64-6221541. 
Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
http://pglaf.org/fundraising. 
Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary
Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full
extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
The Foundation's principal office is located at
 4557 Melan Dr. S. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its
volunteers and employees are scattered throughout
 numerous locations.  Its business office is located
at 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116,
(801) 596-1887, email business@pglaf.org.
Email contact links and up to date contact information
can be found at the Foundation's web site and
official page at http://pglaf.org 
For additional contact information:     
Dr. Gregory B. Newby     
Chief Executive and Director     
gbnewby@pglaf.org  

Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project
 Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation  Project
Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without
wide spread public support and donations to carry out
its mission of increasing the number of public domain
and licensed works that can be freely distributed
 in machine readable form accessible by the widest
 array of equipment including outdated equipment.
Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are particularly
important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS.
The Foundation is committed to complying with
the laws regulating charities and charitable
donations in all 50 states of the United States. 
Compliance requirements are not uniform and it
takes a considerable effort, much paperwork and
 many fees to meet and keep up with these
requirements.  We do not solicit donations in
locations where we have not received written
confirmation of compliance. 
To SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of
compliance for any particular state visit
http://pglaf.org  While we cannot and do not
solicit contributions from states where we have
not met the solicitation requirements, we know
of no prohibition against accepting unsolicited
 donations from donors in such states who
approach us with offers to donate. 
International donations are gratefully accepted,
but we cannot make any statements concerning tax
 treatment of donations received from outside the
United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for
current donation methods and addresses.  Donations
are accepted in a number of other ways including checks,
 online payments and credit card donations.
To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate  

Section 5.  General Information About Project
Gutenberg-tm electronic works. 
Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the
Project Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of
electronic works that could be freely
shared with anyone.  For thirty years,
he produced and distributed Project
Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network
of volunteer support.   Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks
 are often created from several printed editions,
all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in
the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included.
Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in
compliance with any particular paper edition.
 Most people start at our Web site which has
 the main PG search facility:      
http://www.gutenberg.org 
This Web site includes information about
Project Gutenberg-tm, including how to make
 donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
Archive Foundation, how to help produce our
 new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email
newsletter to hear about new eBooks.

Metalworking

2011-09-20T12:06:00.001-07:00

That picture? Participants at the battle of Wakefield. Love the little tassets behind the big tassets, and the fancy wings on the legs. Niiiiiiccccceeeeee.

A couple of metal working books.
First Lessons in Metalworking by Alfred Compton. Professor at the University of New York.
http://www.archive.org/stream/firstlessonsinm00compgoog#page/n8/mode/2up

Workshop notes and sketches. by Thomas Clarke. You might wish to just skip over to chapter three for a pleasant dissertation about the state of metalwork in the 1880's.
http://www.archive.org/stream/workshopnotesske00clarrich#page/n7/mode/2up

Mediaeval craftsmanship and the Modern Amateur. By Newton Wethered, in London. This 1923 book is a valuable read, particulary for anyone who is planning to do some old style enameling and jewelry. A rattlin' good read on a sunny winter's afternoon.
http://www.archive.org/stream/mediaevalcraftsm00wethuoft#page/n7/mode/2up

South Tower Armouring Guild

Iron in the Weald

Horses of the AEsir

Gauntlets

Marcus Vitruvius Pollio: de Architectura, Book X

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Vitruvius/home.html

William Marshal

Fan Expo (guest post)

EventsFanExpo Canada 2011

Other Friends

South Tower Armouring Guild

Brent S. three piece cuirass

The reply to Willy MacBride

Knights of the round table

Godwinson

Nesting

Grads 2011

Brown Bess

should I spam?

Time watch tournaments

Roman Britain Online

FUBAR Alert!

404 Error - Not Found

Something has gone horribly wrong

Click Here to Contact the RBO Web-Master

Three dee modeling

Architectural Details

turning steel

Doug Sneyd

Red Dawn visited South Tower

Prague Armour

Mirror

Summer Grads 2011

CBC Interview

Three piece armour

William Wallace

Back in February...

grads back in March

South tower Gals

Talhoffer Wrestling

Gunnlaug Wurmtongue and Raven the Skald

Metalworking

Marcus Vitruvius Pollio:
de Architectura, Book X

Events
FanExpo Canada 2011