The Saga of Ale-Hood
Ölkofra saga
Sagas of Icelanders
© 2025 We Vikings translation by Eiður Eyþórsson
of Ölkofra saga (e. The Saga of Ale-Hood), a.k.a Ölkofra þáttr (e. The tale of Ale-Hood),
from Old Norse to English.
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Table of contents
Here begins The Saga of Ale-Hood
1
Chapter 1
There was a man named Thorhall. He lived in Blaskogar at Thorhallstadir. He was well-off and of considerable age at the time this saga takes place. He was small and ugly. He was no athlete, but he was skilled with iron and wood. He had the practice of brewing ale at the assemblies for his own profit, and from this craft, he soon became well-known among all the great men because they bought most of his ale. It was, as often is, that ale can vary in popularity, as did those who sold it. Thorhall was not known for his generosity, but rather for being frugal. His eyes were heavy. It was often his custom to wear a hood on his head, especially at assemblies, but because he was not a man of renown, the assemblymen gave him the name that stuck to him, calling him Ale-Hood.
It was one autumn when Ale-Hood went into the forest he owned and intended to burn charcoal, which he did. The forest was above Hrafnabjorg and east of Longuhlid. He stayed there for several days, preparing the charcoal, and then burned the wood, keeping watch over the pits at night. As the night wore on, he fell asleep, but a fire broke out in the pits and quickly spread to nearby tree branches, igniting it. Soon, the forest caught on fire and began to burn. A strong wind then began blowing. Now Ale-Hood woke up and was relieved that he managed to escape. The fire spread into the forest. The first forest to burn was the one that Ale-Hood owned, but then the fire spread to the nearby forests, and many woods burned around the rugged terrain. This place is now called Svidning.
There burned the forest that was called Godaskog. It was owned by six chieftains. One was Snorri the Chieftain, another Gudmund Eyjolfsson, the third Skafti the Lawman, the fourth Thorkel Geitisson, the fifth Eyjolf son of Thord the Yeller, and the sixth Thorkel the Red-Bjarnarson. They had bought those woods to use for their needs at the assembly.
After this charcoal burning, Ale-Hood went home. But this news spread widely throughout the districts and first reached Skafti, a man who had suffered damages. In the autumn, he sent word north to Eyjafjord with men who were traveling between the districts, informing Gudmund about the forest burning and that the matter was financially significant. Those messages also went west to the districts of those who had owned the forests. The messengers traveled during the winter among them all, stating that the six chieftains should meet at the assembly and all be of one mind, while Skafti would prepare the case since he was nearest.
When spring came and the days for legal charges arrived, Skafti rode out with many men and brought charges against Ale-Hood for the forest burning and argued he’d be made an outlaw. Ale-Hood began talking rapidly and rather boastfully, suggesting that if his friends came to the assembly, Skafti would not be so tough. Skafti answered little and rode away.
In the summer that followed, the six chieftains who had owned the forests came to the assembly and soon had their meeting, and it was decided that the case should be pursued, but they would demand a considerable amount of money or have the right of self-judgment.
Ale-Hood came to the assembly and had ale to sell; he then met with his friends who were accustomed to buying ale from him. He asked them for help and offered to sell them ale, but they all answered in the same way, that they would not engage in business with favors attached. They said they would not want to contend with powerful men like them over his case. No one wanted to pledge their support to him, nor did anyone want to do business with him. At that point, he thought the matter was becoming rather difficult. He then walked between the booths but received no responses, even though he asked people for help. With that, his grandstanding and arrogance came to an end.
One day, Ale-Hood came to the booth of Thorstein Side-Hallsson and asked for his support. Thorstein gave him the same kind of responses as others.
2
Chapter 2
There was a man named Broddi Bjarnason, the brother-in-law of Thorstein. He sat closest to him. Broddi was then in his twenties. Ale-Hood walked out of the booth after Thorstein had denied him support.
Broddi then said: “It seems to me, brother-in-law, that this man will not fare well as an outlaw, and it is a small matter to accuse him for those who think themselves great men. Now it is an act of honor, brother-in-law, to offer him help, and you may find it wise to do so.”
Thorstein replied: “Help him if you are willing, I will support you in this matter as I would in any other.”
Broddi spoke to a man to go after Ale-Hood. He did so, went out, and there by the booth wall, he met Ale-Hood. There he stood and wept pitifully.
This man asked him to go into the booth and stop sobbing, “and do not sniffle when you come to Thorstein.”
Ale-Hood became deeply grateful and did as he was told.
When they came before Thorstein, Broddi spoke: “It seems to me that Thorstein wishes to help you, and he considers this accusation injust. You could not have protected the woods that you burned, if you were unable to save your own.”
Ale-Hood replied: “Who is this blessed man who now speaks to me?”
“I am called Broddi,” he said.
Then Ale-Hood said: “Are you Broddi Bjarnason?”
“Indeed I am,” said Broddi.
“Both are true,” said Ale-Hood, “that you are more noble in appearance than other men, and you are indeed of noble lineage,” and he spoke many words about this and became bold in his speech.
“Now to the point,” said Thorstein, “if you are willing, Broddi, to offer him some help, as he speaks so highly of you.”
Broddi then stood up with many men alongside him and walked out of the booth. He then took Ale-Hood aside and spoke with him. Afterwards, they went up to the field. There were many people present. They had been in the law council. But when the other men had left, Gudmund and Skafti remained and discussed the laws.
Broddi and his companions wandered around the field while Ale-Hood stepped into the law council.
He fell to the ground entirely and knelt at their feet, saying: “I am blessed to have found you, my noble men and leaders. Will you good men help me, even though I am unworthy, for I am now entirely at your mercy unless you assist me?”
It is hard to recount all the words Ale-Hood spoke, but he made himself seem as pitiful as possible.
Then Gudmund said to Skafti: “How pathetic is this man’s display.”
Skafti replied: “Where is your pride now, Ale-Hood? It seemed unlikely to you in spring when we came on the summoning trip, that you would consider me as the best option to handle the case. How great will the support of those chieftains be to you now, which you threatened in spring?”
Ale-Hood said: “I was out of my mind then – or worse, to not wish you to judge my case. Those chieftains cannot keep their hearts from racing when they see you two coming. I would be happy if I could bring my case under your judgment. Do I have any hope of that? But it is a pity, my Skafti, that you have become so angry with me that now there is no chance of it. I was foolish and an idiot when I rejected your offer, but I do not dare to face those fierce men, who will kill me without hesitation if the two of you do not help me.”
He often repeated the same, saying that he would be happy if they would judge his case: “I think it is best for my wealth that you have it.”
Gudmund said to Skafti: “I do not think this man is well-suited for outlawry, would it not be wiser that we make him happy and let him choose men to negotiate the matter? However, I do not know how the others, those whom this case concerns, will feel about it.”
“Well then, good gentlemen,” said Ale-Hood, “I trust you will grant me assistance after this.”
Skafti said: “It’s my responsibility to conclude this matter since I am prosecuting the case. We will take the risk, Ale-Hood, that Gudmund and I will settle it. I believe our support will suffice you.”
Then Ale-Hood stood up, and they shook hands, then promptly naming one witness after another, and as word of the witness naming got out, men gathered around. Ale-Hood began by naming Broddi and his companions.
Skafti said: “Our defendant asks Gudmund and me to settle this case, and although we had agreed among all those who suffered damages that we would have self-judgment, Gudmund and I now want to offer him that we will instead settle it rather than involving others – if Thorhall will accept this choice. You shall be named witnesses that this case will be settled with compensation, not outlawry. With my handshake, I hereby drop the accusations I pursued in the spring.”
Then they broke the handshake.
Then Skafti said to Gudmund: “Would it not be better to get this over with?”
“It would,” said Gudmund.
Ale-Hood said: “Don’t be hasty – I have not decided to choose you two over other men.”
Gudmund replied: “It was agreed that we should settle the matter, unless you prefer to choose others who are involved in this case with us.”
Ale-Hood said: “I have always denied that they should do so, but it was understood in the handshake that I should choose the two men I want.”
They then entrusted the witnesses of the handshake to clarify the agreement’s terms. Meanwhile, the assemblymen of Gudmund and Skafti engaged in considerable debate regarding the agreement’s interpretation. However, Broddi and his companions decisively stated that the understanding was as Ale-Hood said: that he should choose men for the settlement.
Then Skafti said: “Where did this wave under Ale-Hood come from? I see that your tail is wiggling higher than it was a moment ago: which men will you choose for the settlement?”
Ale-Hood replied: “I will not take long to decide. I choose Thorstein Hallsson and Broddi Bjarnason, his brother-in-law, believing they will settle the matter better than you would.”
Skafti said that he thought the matter was well placed even if they handled it, “for our case is evident and just, and they are wise enough to determine how harshly you should be punished.”
Ale-Hood then joined Broddi’s side, and the men went home to their booths.
3
Chapter 3
The day after, the settlement was to be declared. Thorstein and Broddi met to discuss their plan. Thorstein wanted to take greater action than Broddi, who insisted that it was easiest if Thorstein did as he wanted and declared the settlement himself. Broddi asked him to choose whether he wished to declare the settlement or defend the case if any men were to challenge the settlement. Thorstein preferred to declare the settlement rather than argue with the chieftains. Then Thorstein said that Ale-Hood should not have to wait long for the resolution, and that his payment should be made in full at Law-Rock.
Then they went to Law-Rock. When the legal proceedings were concluded, Thorstein Hallsson asked if the chieftains were present at Law-Rock, who were set to argue the case against Ale-Hood: “I have been told that Broddi and I shall handle this matter. We shall now declare the settlement if you are willing to listen.”
They said they expected to be justly treated by them in the settlement.
Then Thorstein spoke: “We think your forests were of little worth to you fellows. They were of low quality and too distant from you to be of use. It was great selfishness by those men who already have ample means to lay claim to those forests. He could not have saved your woods when he burned his own forest – which are tragic events. Since it is stated in the arbitral process, something should be done about it. The six of you owned the forests. We will grant six ells of cloth to each of you, which shall be paid here immediately.”
Broddi had measured and cut the cloth into pieces, throwing a piece to each of them, saying: “I call this a petty tax.”
Skafti said: “It is clear, Broddi, that you are eager to have ill will towards us. You have been very involved in this matter and you have shown little inclination to avoid enmity with us. Perhaps we will find other cases easier.”
Broddi replied: “You will need to take more on other charges, Skafti, if you are to fill in the gap that your kinsman Orm took from you for the slanderous poem you composed about his wife. That was an ill act, and naturally it was ill-repaid.”
Then Thorkell the Trefill spoke: “For such a man as Broddi, he is making a horrible mistake. He seeks the friendship of Ale-Hood, or some bribes, and in return he’s willing to make enemies of men such as he is taking on.”
Broddi said: “It is not a mistake to maintain your conviction, even if there is a difference in status between you and Ale-Hood. But it was foolish of you when you rode to the spring assembly and you did not watch out for Steingrim, who had a well-fed stallion which mounted up against your back, while the mare you rode was skinny and fell beneath you. I have not heard for certain who actually got trapped then, but people saw that you were stuck there a long while because the horse laid its legs over your cloak.”
Eyjolf Thordarson interjected: “It is true to say that the man has dealt us a blow, and the gods speak against us to boot.”
Broddi replied: “I have not dealt you a blow. That you did yourself when you went north to Skagafjord and stole oxen from Thorkell Eiriksson. Goddale-Starri rode after you, and you noticed the pursuit when you reached Vatnsdal. You became so frightened that you fell into a mare-like state, which was a great shame. Starri drove the oxen back, so he indeed dealt you a blow.”
Then Snorri the Chieftain spoke: “It is pointless for us to bicker here with Broddi. However, it is most likely that we will recall the enmity that Broddi has shown us if we ever get an opportunity.”
Broddi said: “Your sense of honour is misplaced, Snorri, if you focus your efforts on taking vengeance against me, but you don’t avenge your father.”
Then Thorkell Geitisson spoke: “It seems like the only thing you’ve gotten from your namesake is wanting to make every man worse off. That people do not endure, and you will lie dead in due time.”
Broddi said: “There is no honour for us, kinsman, in bringing up the misfortunes of our kin here before the people. However, one can not hide the fact, which is well known, that Brodd-Helgi was killed. I have also been told that your father took the greater share of the compensation, yet I think if you try, you will find with your fingers where my father scarred you in Bodvarsdal.“
After that, they parted ways and returned to their booths.
Now Ale-Hood is out of the story.
4
Chapter 4
The day after, Broddi went to the booth of Thorkell Geitsson, he walked inside it, and spoke to Thorkell. His response was short and his anger flared.
Broddi said: “The reason I am here, kinsman, is that I have come to recognize the error of my prior words to you. I wish to ask you to attribute it to my youth and ignorance. Let us not allow our kinship to worsen. Here is an ornamented sword that I wish to give you. Additionally, I want to invite you to my home for a feast this summer, and it will be clear that there shall be no better gifts in my possession than those you shall receive.”
Thorkell accepted this gratefully, saying that he was eager for them to strengthen their kinship. Then Broddi went home.
It was in the evening before the assembly that Broddi went west across the river. At the end of the bridge, he passed Gudmund. They did not greet each other.
But when they parted, Gudmund turned back and said: “Which way will you ride after the assembly, Broddi?”
He turned back and said: “If you are curious to know, I will ride by Kjol to Skagafjord, then to Eyjafjord, from there to Ljosavatnsskard, and then to Myvatn and after that Modrudalsheidi.”
Gudmund said: “Fulfill your words and ride Ljosavatnsskard.”
Broddi replied: “I will keep my word, or are you, Gudmund, going to block my passage? You would be greatly mistaken if you think you can prevent me from passing Ljosavatnsskard with my companions, when it’s not beyond doubt if you can guard that small pass between your buttocks.”
They parted after this, and these words were discussed throughout the assembly.
When Thorkell Geitsson heard of this, he went to meet Broddi and asked him to ride Sandleid or else the eastern route.
Broddi said: “I will ride the way I have told Gudmund, otherwise he will take me for a coward if I do not go that way.”
Thorkell said: “Then we shall ride together, kinsman, along with our small group.”
Broddi said that he thought it honorable to be in his company and it was very much to his liking.
Then Thorkell and Broddi both rode together with their groups north over Oxnadalsheidi. They were in one company along with Einar Eyjolfsson, Thorkell’s father-in-law. Broddi and Thorkell rode to Thvera with Einar and stayed there for the night. Then Einar rode on with them with a large company and did not part ways until they had reached the Skjalfandafljot. Einar then rode home, but Thorkell and Broddi continued their journey until they arrived in Vopnafjord at their homes.
That summer, Thorkell went to a feast at his cousin Broddi’s and brought good gifts. They then had the best kinship with friendship which lasted as long as they lived.
Here ends the story of Ale-Hood.
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