But when Freyvid and his party met their kinsmen and friends they said
that they would join their company, and this offer all accepted
joyfully.
At once the deliberation was referred to the two brothers, and numbers
followed them, yet all were at one in saying that they would no longer
have Olaf king over them, and would not endure his breaches of law and
his arrogance, for he would hear no man's cause, even though great
chiefs told him the truth.
But when Freyvid found the vehemence of the people, then he saw into
what danger matters had come, and he held a meeting with the chiefs, and
thus spoke before them: 'It seems to me that if this great measure is to
be taken, to remove Olaf Ericsson from the kingdom, we Up-Swedes ought
to have the ruling of it; it has always been so, that what the chiefs of
the Up-Swedes have resolved among them, to this the other men of the
land have listened. Our fathers needed not to receive advice from the
West Gauts about their ruling of the land. Now are we not so degenerate
that Emund need teach us counsel; I would have us bind our counsel
together, kinsmen and friends.'
To this all agreed, and thought it well said. After that the whole
multitude of the people turned to join this union of the Up-Swedish
chiefs; so then Freyvid and Arnvid became chiefs over the people. But
when Emund found this, he guessed how the matter would end. So he went
to meet these brothers, and they had a talk together; and Freyvid asked
Emund: 'What mean ye to do if Olaf Ericsson is killed; what king will ye
have?'
Emund answered; 'Whosoever suits us best, whether of royal family or
not.'
Freyvid answered: 'We Up-Swedes will not that the kingdom in our days go
out of the family who from father to son have long held it, while such
good means may be taken to shun that as now can be. King Olaf has two
sons, and we will have one of them for king. There is, however, a great
difference between them; one is nobly born and Swedish on both sides,
the other is a bondwoman's son and half Wendish.'
At this decision there was great acclaim, and all would have Jacob for
king.
Then said Emund: 'You Up-Swedes have power to rule this for the time;
but I warn you that hereafter some of those who will not hear now of
anything else but that the kingdom of Sweden go in the royal line, will
themselves live to consent that the kingdom pass into other families,
and that will turn out better.'
After this the brothers Freyvid and Arnvid caused Jacob the King's son
to be led before the assembly, and there they gave him the title of
king, and therewith the Swedes gave him the name Onund, and henceforth
he was so called. He was then ten or twelve years old.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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