Erik The Red: His Storied Life as Told in Many Sagas Throughout the Ages

ERIK

THE THE

RED

HIS STORIED LIFE AS TOLD IN MANY SAGAS THROUGHOUT THE AGES

HIS STORIED LIFE AS TOLD IN MANY SAGAS THROUGHOUT THE AGES

WILLIAM “PETER” MCARTHUR

Copyright © William “Peter” McArthur, 2021

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Printed and bound in Alberta, Canada

ISBN: 979-8-51299-644-7

Independently Published

by Caribou Publishing PO Box 240, Viking, Alberta T0B 4N0 www.cariboupublishing.ca Chapter Six is re-published from the original printing of The Viking News in 1922 and is protected by copyright laws. All volumes of The Viking News are owned and kept by The Weekly Review in Viking, Alberta - one of four active legacy community newspapers owned and operated by Caribou Publishing

Edited by Leslie Cholowsky and Eric Anderson Cover design and text layout by Eric Anderson

- CONTENTS PREFACE A LITTLE BACKGROUND, AROUND ERIK THE RED; A GENERAL OVERVIEW TO ACQUAINT YOU

1

vii

ERIK THE RED EMBARKS ON A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY

2

1

ERIK’S ELDEST SON LEIF ERIKSON, SERVES IN

THE KING’S COURT AND RECEIVES A ROYAL

6

COMMISSION TO BUILD AT WINELAND

3

KARLSEFNI AND GUDRID DEVELOP A HOUSE AT HOP

4

A KILLER PLAGUE HITS GREENLAND

5

A THIRD WINELAND VOYAGE

6

ERIK THE RED RETURNS

25 30

23

17

- FOREWORD -

ERIK THE RED REDISCOVERED ENSHRINED IN ICE FOR A THOUSAND YEARS

An Historical Novel based on history of the Old Norse. This author is drawing on some common-sense factors in order to disclose another version of what may have been Erik the Red's glory days or the glory days of his ancestry and his followers. Written by William “Peter” McArthur who has, during the COVID-19 lock-up, written his own autobiography: “My Many Hats,” and more recently another historical novel: “Pearl of the West,” written around Anthony Henday’s Bedmate 754/55.

It was the pandemic of 2020 that prompted this historian, who has always been intensely interested in all aspects of history, to put his pen to paper. Peter grew up in a large family; having many aunts and uncles much older than his father, Peter S. McArthur 1899-1963, who was a child of his paternal grandfather: John McArthur 1850-1928 of Renfrew, Ontario. The latter was a wheelwright who came west to a homestead in 1906 where he was living in a tent with his wife and seven children. His father’s eldest half-brother, from John McArthur’s first marriage, was the author’s uncle, James McArthur 1872-1960. John had five children with his first wife, including James, and four with this second, including Peter’s father.

On his maternal side, his grandfather Gunder Olson Boraas was born on the Vester Boraas Farm in Norway in 1857-1931. He came to America v

on the Steamship Leif in 1874 and had five children by his first wife, all born in the USA and six by his second wife, all born in Alberta, Canada.

Peter’s mother was Olava Boraas, 1914-1990, and she had one sister, Selma, along with brothers George, Oscar, Iver, and Alfred. It was these Norwegian uncles with whom he spent much time in his formative years, listening to each of them relating the Norse sagas as best they could recall, much like they had heard them from their father and other Norse settlers who had been born in Norway and settled in the USA before relocating to Viking, Alberta.

This historical novel draws heavily on his memory of those old tales as he had heard them from many years earlier. Some sagas conflict with the others, as details were first written a thousand years after the events.

Naturally some events become a little twisted; as this author found when compiling his notes, and often credits may go to the wrong outward voyage, yet the importance of key events; such as their meetings with the Skrellings, is hard to question. Read on and enjoy this novel as Peter shares his many years of studying the Norse Sagas. Note the Author’s notes will be numbers when he is adding clarity: for example, A-N 1; A-N 2; these notes appear in smaller print.

vi

- PREFACE A Little Background, around ERIK THE RED; a general overview to acquaint you

ERIK THE RED

Perhaps there is no better-known Norseman than Erik the Red, yet the details leading to much of what he was have never been told. There is good reason to explain this Earl (King) of the Norwegians. Here, then, is a novel, directed at the history into which Erik would become the great leader he was. We know that Erik found many ways to settle a feud, generally based on his upbringing, where he was raised among leaders that ruled by sheer brutal strength when it became necessary. This was their authority, not ever to be questioned; this brutal strength of leadership became known in the days of his great-great grandfathers back in the days of the Varangian Ruz; when the ancestors of Erik were included with the Norse sailing across the northern seas; going east with the Varangian Ruz into Constantinople.

vii

A-N 1 - C 750 AD saw the Varangian Rus (Norse Armies) sailing in large numbers east into the Baltics (they were linked to the Khagante Rus and settled in Varaga. Vikings had turned eastward earlier and established trade routes through the Mediterranean and Baltic areas. Their attack on Constantinople established the Vikings in that area as a fierce and shrewd army of Norsemen.

Vikings made landfall in many countries of Northern Europe from the Baltic and Slavic Countries of the east to France, the British Isles, the Isle of Man, the Faroes, the Orknies. From Scotland and Ireland they advanced further to Iceland and Greenland before locating Leifsbuder in Vinland and moving onward into the west of North America. They were firmly in command of the Northern Seas and worked trade routes throughout the area over which Viking Ships sailed extending southward to Northern Africa.

While the Norse were there it is said that the local people were well controlled and well behaved. While these Norse visitors; vicious as they appeared, maintained a simple control over the people of Constantinople, there was a reckoning of order while the Norse were present. When the Norse left, returning to Norway; which included ancestors of Erik the Red; soon thereafter Constantinople fell into an uncontrollable mob and their leaders invited the Norse back to rule over their people.

A-N 2- 872 AD saw the Unification of Norway as a result of the vastly successful Viking raids throughout the Northern Seas. It was into this era that Erik the Red appears on the scene, takes a wife and has a son named Lief Erikson. Erik had learned the Norse means of settling a dispute too well; and soon was banished from Jaedderen, Norway for a period of three years; this led Erik to settle in Iceland.

The leadership among these Norse, ship captains and their crews, sailed and ruled the north seas far and wide across the northern seas for many generations; each learning from the previous captain. There is no doubt that Bjarne Herjólfsson, who was an uncle of Erik the Red; had learned his seafaring skills as a captain from his father and grandfathers. These Norse Sea Captains learned to chart a course by the stars, the sun, the moon and by the use of pigeons to sight a land base; even those yet unknown to them.

Even the raging storms of the North Atlantic, which might blow them off course; would not totally fool them as to how their course had been affected.

The perfect example of this was in C-985 A.D. when Erik’s Uncle, Bjarne Herjólfsson, a fine sea captain, was blown off course in a North Atlantic storm, causing his ship to pass within sight of an unknown western land mass. Having been at sea in the stormy North Atlantic for many days, he was driven into unknown territory. The crew had all they could do just to ride this one out; yet Bjarne had maintained a sense of how far they might have been driven off course.

Bjarne was quick to determine his latitude and easting. After sighting land in the west; Bjarne corrected a course back to Iceland where his father, Bard Herjólfsson was living; and it was in Iceland that Bjarne would learn viii

that his nephew, Erik the Red, was now living in Greenland at Brattahlid.

Erik had been banished from Jaedderen, Norway, for a period of three years, for a crime there, as it was determined by the Thing (Court). This took Erik and his wife Thorvard to Iceland. After Thorvard's death; Erik married Thodhild, dau of Jorund and Thorblorg, the ship-chested of the Hauksdal family. They were to relocate in Iceland to Ericstadir by Vatnahorn. Erik had a growing family, some of seafaring capability. They were Leif, Thorvald, and Thorstein, and one daughter Freydis, who was wed to a very wealthy man named Thorvard. Thorvard was a man of timid character, which suited Freydis, as she fit well in the captain’s shoes.

Here Erik loaned his outer bed-boards to his neighbor, Thorgest, and thereafter a dispute arose which led to Erik being declared an outlaw; he was banished from Iceland. This led to Erik, with many of his followers, setting sail to the yet-unknown land located to the west. After settling over winter there he returned to Iceland, calling his new land “Groenland,” which attracted more followers to Eriksey. Later he settled at Ericsfirth, which was further north on the east coast of Greenland; he called this settlement Brattahlid in Ericsfirth, along the eastern shores of Greenland. It has been said that thirty-five ships sailed with them to Greenland of which we are told fourteen ships arrived safely, while the others were either lost at sea or turned back due to the challenging North Atlantic Seas.

A-N 3 - 983 AD Erik the Red had settled a score around items that had been loaned to his neighbor, Thorgust who later refused to return same. In the settling, Erik reclaimed his property, by simply taking it back. He was chased by two sons of Thorgust and Erik, in his pagan style, slew the two.

Erik reacted again when his slaves were murderously punished by Valthjof for starting a landslide on the Valthjof’s farm. This time he killed Valthjof. He was convicted by a (Thing) and banished from Iceland for three years.

Leif Erikson later went to Norway to serve in the Court of King Olaf Tryggvasson at Nidaros (Later Trondheim) in Norway. Trondheim had become the leading center in Norway; known as Nidaros from the days of the Varangian Rus; yet once the name was changed to Trondheim, that has been ever since been the name of this great seaport centre.

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- CHAPTER 1 -

ERIK THE RED EMBARKS ON A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY

During a large family gathering at the home of Bjarne Herjólfsson’s father, Bard Herjólfsson, in Iceland; Bjarne made a surprise offer to his great-nephew, Leif Erikson, who himself was showing great promise as a sea captain. Bjarne offered Leif a leading seaman’s role on his ship, on a return trip to Bergen and Trondheim, Norway for the next supply mission.

This would be a great opportunity for Leif to learn many navigational skills aboard the very ship which was so thoroughly tested as it endured being tossed and thrashed about in that wild North Atlantic storm when Bjarne first sighted an unknown land in the far west. Leif accepted the offer with a thank you to his great uncle.

Leif’s half-sister Freydis was visibly feeling left without an opportunity to hone her skills at sea; when her father, Erik the Red suggested she could join his crew in his seafaring ship; giving her the opportunity to investigate and perhaps even visit the new unknown land which Bjarne reported having sighted in the far west, across the North Atlantic Sea. This would be a daring mission; but Erik trusted that Uncle Bjarne could give him suitable bearings that would enable them to make landfall and investigate the lands.

1

Freydis was immediately quite excited about her father’s suggestion.

She made it quite clear that Erik the Red had just suggested a daring venture that she would not allow him to back down from. Bjarne, having overheard Erik’s proposal, had little choice other than to share with the assembled family what he felt would be the best course in order to reach the new land and the safest way to attempt the crossing. There were more ears glued to Bjarne’s detailed explanation than Bjarne might have ever anticipated. Bjarne knew then that in fact there would be a discovery mission to the land upon which he had not permitted his own crew to land upon in 985 A.D. when it was first sighted.

Now it became clear that Erik and Freydis would be making a voyage of discovery, as both were mentally locked in on the seafaring adventure into the yet unknown land to the west. Erik stood like a seven-foot giant as he proclaimed that Freydis would be his leading mate for this voyage, where she would take charge of all preparations for their outward-bound trip into yet-unknown territory. Erik declared that the crew must be prepared to contact the unknown inhabitants if any. Erik would take care of manpower requirements both for sailing and any potential requirements at arms. The ship was to be equipped with one year of rations for the crew, with a full understanding that they should be equipped to winter over if necessary.

Freydis acknowledged her understanding. Her thoughts of her support workers were already well into anticipating the many requirements for one year of rations for a crew of thirty to forty; hard-working and hard-eating members, all seeking their place among the Earl’s Crew. Erik was admired much like a King and each of their chosen crew would willingly follow him through any danger.

Meanwhile Bjarne had all the details well in hand for his return trip to Norway, but wanted his great-nephew to take charge of his fine ship one day. Thus, they had much to discuss in Leif’s learning experience; as loading was being done by his well-trained crew. Bjarne had long been the Master Captain of his supply ship to make regular runs from between Norway and Iceland. Of course, much of this was done for the King of Norway at Nidaros; (later named Trondheim) placing much of their cargo under the scrutiny of Kings Olaf Tryggvarsson’s Court.

A-N 4- C-984 AD Herjolf was a kinsman and foster-brother to Ingolf the Land-taker, who granted land to Herjolfers between Reykjaness and Vag [in Iceland]. The Herjolf’s son was Bard, the father of Herjolf the younger, who went to Greenland and got into the Ocean-whirl, when Erik settled that land. Herjolf the younger lived first at Drepstock. He was married to Thorgard, and Bjarne was their son.

2

The wise old skipper, Captain Bjarne, would share with Erik, Leif and Freydis the importance of taking advantage of the ocean currents of the North Atlantic Ocean in order to make it to the shoreline of the lands he had first seen in 985 A.D. This was a most important sharing of the captain's knowledge, as only he knew it; having ridden out the storm of 985 A.D. Both Erik and Freydis listened intently to his well-meaning advice.

Freydis herself was already quite capable as a ship’s captain. They would start their journey as early as possible; assuring them of some time to build houses in which they might winter over; not being able to be certain of such an outcome in the summer season.

Freydis prepared as she had done in the past; carefully checking that no details were overlooked. Her crew of thirty-five members were all in support, all well trained, sharing some of their excitement for what appeared to them all as an opportunity to locate and perhaps even settle in a new, yet-unknown land; to perhaps meet with people yet unknown to the world; perhaps friendly but possibly very uncivilized and a warring type.

Bjarne and Leif were present to see them off as they sailed away into the west, with instructions to sail past the first large land, already know known as Greenland. Then they would soon be setting sail into the southwest.

There would be an extensive distance of sailing before they might sight land to their right. How they might approach this land, Bjarne was unable to advise them; however, they might best be led by any birds as to what might be found there. Each crew member had their own feelings in regard to the trip being planned and as confident Norse Crews were in those times, were adventurous, an important part of each of their expeditions into the unknown. Erik was to show some of this Norse adventure; too, as he turned south before reaching a land base, reasoning that when he reached the latitude at which Bjarne sighted land he could turn westward to reach it, as the North Atlantic was calm and there were no signs of a wild storm about to erupt. Freydis was aware of his decision and said nothing.

Sighting a far-off outline of some distant shoreline stirred an excitement that drew the entire crew into much conversation as to what lay ahead for a possible landing. The decision would be made by King Erik himself; as he was responsible for the safety of the ship. They passed around the mosteasterly point of today’s Newfoundland; seeing no promise of an ideal landing place on this rocky shore. The ship, with Erik at the helm, continued south until seeing another land; (today's Nova Scotia); around 3

which they sailed within eyesight of the shores. They “finally reached what is now Cape Cod Bay and sailed along Seituate Beach past Coronet Rock into Boston Harbor, and thence up the Charles River into the Buck Bay, where he landed near Cambridge and built a large house.” (The Viking News of April 26th, 1922).

A-N 5 - Confirmation of this was found by archaeologists on the property of the family of Eban Norton Horsford; later a statue of Leif Erickson was placed in Fancuil Hall, Boston. These archaeologists are said to have unearthed many items of Norse origin on that site, including: “Ruins of various dwellings, fish pits, canals, bowls, stone sinkers for salmon fishing, a marble cup.” (Viking News of April 26th, 1922).

Further to the report from the Boston dig sight; back at Straumsey, in Greenland, in the mid 1950s there was discovered a lump of coal that was determined to have come from Boston! It has been said that Erik left a small group of Norse Settlers at that Boston site, no doubt they would have become conversant in time with the Algonquian Aboriginals of that area. In fact there have also been some attempts at determining if the Norse Language made an influence in the Native Algonquian Language.

While this report from Boston seems to have fallen into oblivion; there is no doubt some truth to it; the finding of a lump of coal which researchers have determined to have been matched to Boston coal became known much later, serving as good testimony to the historical facts. It perhaps this same group of settlers who ventured into Nova Scotia and offered the Mic Mac Natives “Milk”; as this is something which has never been forgotten by the Mic Mac aboriginals there.

While a portion of this expedition crew were left to overwinter at Boston; we can well apply some common sense and realize that there were at least two ships that made this expedition: Erik’s ship, that was now under Freydis as the captain in charge; and a second under the unknown captain who remained there to overwinter. There can be little doubt that Freydis did not winter over at that Boston location as she soon appeared back at the Greenland Settlement.

There was no doubt then, that they sailed back to Greenland. Erik was suffering much pain from having fallen off his horse, suffering a lame leg.

This time Freydis was to captain Erik’s ship. Erik was in much pain but refused to admit just how much; while his daughter was very much aware of the situation as she had left her number one crew member in charge to captain her ship; which remained at Boston with this small camp of Vikings in the new land to establish a small colony and winter over.

They returned to Greenland without incident in Erik’s Ship with Freydis taking charge under Erik’s close watch; he had been training her for some 4

time. Then he became fully aware of her navigational skills and knowledge of the seas. Erik was made very proud of her as they were tossed about in the North Atlantic. This return voyage allowed them to gain a better understanding of the seas in the west, as they chose to follow up the east coast of the mainland, giving them an understanding of the islands separated from the mainland. They continued sailing further north; passing Markland, covered with giant timber, and Helluland, which appeared as a desolate rocky land to the shore.

What great knowledge they had gained as they had reached the latitude of Greenland; where they turned east. With their north bearings it was now a matter of looking east for the Greenland shore. Upon reaching the western shore; Erik had the good sense to know this was a part of his beloved Greenland, the land which he had settled after being banished from Iceland, placing their return date at C 986 A.D.; sailing in the Greenland Sea and making anchor on the east shore near Erik’s waiting houses at Ericsey.

“We are home,” he said, adding, “I hope the settlers in the new land settlement are also very much at home in their houses,” adding a silent prayer that they were doing fine.

Erik turned his attention to Leif; he told Freydis that Leif may soon be returning to Iceland with Bjarne. It was Erik's intention to venture over there after getting settled in Greenland. Freydis noted that it wouldn't be a long journey after what they had just completed.

5

- CHAPTER 2 ERIK’S ELDEST SON, LEIF ERIKSON, SERVES IN THE KING’S COURT AND RECEIVES A ROYAL COMMISSION TO BUILD AT WINELAND

There was no tiring these Norse as the sea life was very much their way.

Soon Erik and Freydis were at sea once again, with Freydis as captain of her father’s ship, arriving in good time at the home of Bjarne’s father; Bard Herjólfsson, where they met with Bjarne and Leif. They soon learned Bjarne had made a deal with Leif, who had a most profitable turn-around trip to Norway. Leif had been engaged by King Olaf Tryggvarsson at Nidaros, serving time in his Court. With his newly purchased ship from Bjarne; Leif was to venture the next year on a trip to the new land under a Royal Commission of King Olaf; to establish houses in the New World at a suitable site for colonization.

Leif was indeed lucky to obtain such a Royal Commission. Bjarne knew well that the King had judged him to be a “chip off the old block” and every bit as capable of carrying out this Commission to establish the Norse 6

Kingdom in the new lands as his father, Erik the Red, had done in Greenland. First Leif was to return to Norway and serve over winter in King Olaf’s Court where he would receive further instructions. Bjarne would then turn his ship over to Leif. Soon Leif would become known as “Leif The Lucky” forever after. (this came about after he saved a faltering ship in a North Atlantic Storm).

Like his father, Erik the Red, Leif didn’t flinch at the task ahead. He was determined and fully capable of handling his newly acquired ship and its crew; with a vigorous attitude to launch for the New Land; to which Bjarne had well described the sea route. His suggested route was not around the east coast of the Island as Erik had ventured; but rather Bjarne had suggested a more westerly route going westward beyond the south tip of Greenland and westward to the sighting of land; then a south route along the shoreline; checking for a good place to anchor his seafaring ship; with overwintering advantages in safety. These were the best instructions from the old sea captain, based from many years of experience. Leif would wisely remember the words of his great uncle Bjarne.

Bjarne was a well-heeled and knowledgeable sea captain; perhaps one of the best; who was happy to have made all this possible for Leif. Bjarne saw in Leif all the great leadership qualities of his father, Erik the Red, who had continued to suffer after the fall from his horse. It had now become doubtful that Erik would be up to joining Leif for the next expedition. The expedition was aimed at establishing houses sufficient for settlement in accordance with King Olaf’s grant of a Commission; to establish a Norse Settlement of Long Houses there in the New Land; a mission that Erik would have very much liked to participate in.

Erik was still a proven leader with the know-how and experience to establish houses in a new land; since he had accomplished much the same in his Greenland. Even though Leif was also involved with Erik and his followers to build houses in Greenland; Leif would now draw on Erik’s vast knowledge to be sure that no details were missed, as this crossing was much further than the crossing from Iceland to Greenland three years earlier.

As Leif was seeking Erik’s best advice. Erik told him that because his need for iron was unknown; it would be wise to engage a skilled smithy, capable of making iron from any bog bearing iron. Having such a skilled smithy along would be most beneficial, Erik counselled Leif. He also passed on many lesser suggestions, for which Leif thanked his father. Erik was pleased that his eldest son still respected the wisdom of his years and 7

experience, and added another suggestion for Leif: “Be sure you have a good stone mason with good tools, as this is a required skill for many purposes.”

Planning progressed well and Bjarne could hardly wait to see them off; however, for Erik it was a difficult launch to watch. He would have preferred to be an active participant, engaged as he had been for so many years past; including the difficult voyage to Boston. The captain for this mission was to be Leif, with his own ship; the discovery ship he had purchased from his great-uncle Bjarne. Erik knew that Leif was now well trained in every aspect of sea worthiness, except for the unpredictable North Atlantic storms that could rise up out of nowhere and grasp the control of a ship from the crew and captain.

Equally unpredictable in this case would be any native inhabitants that this mission might meet up with; that would be the real test for the younger Leif. His sister Freydis might have been more inclined to handle any unknown natives speaking yet-unknown languages where the communication rests more with their abilities to interpret body gestures or movements; smiles or grimaces and the visible signals between any members of a group encountered. These skills were a natural quality of Erik himself as a leader and Freydis appeared to be capable of dealing with any such confrontation.

Leif quickly brought together the crew best-suited for this expedition to establish a “Budor” or the settlement of houses in the new land. The availability of various building materials was yet unknown to them, which necessitated having a highly skilled variety of workers, all ready, able, and willing to work out any problems that arose, using whatever materials were available. Their crew were all skilled in many ways of building shelters and there were preparations among the crew for various possibilities. They were all becoming prepared in their own minds for whatever they would encounter, with the possibility of native inhabitants receiving many varied thoughts beyond any possible guess; friendly or unfriendly?

There was a very careful, yet loosely knit leadership among the many skilled crew members. As they had all shown in the past, this crew would be quite adept at solving many unique problems. They all understood that success would depend on their skills; working together in order to establish a viable settlement in the New Land. Freydis was equally busy; readying and loading her father’s ship to carry the variety of animals which had been determined to be included; along with their keepers, and supplies with which to establish the needs of the colony as she best understood all these matter as the two ships would sail away; flanked each by the other 8

to make a first crucial landing and development of housing in the New World.

With Leif’s ship heavily loaded, the crews were becoming anxious to set sail. Finally, set sail they did, heading out past the south shores of Greenland and westward; Leif would stick to the suggested route which his Great Uncle thought would be the most viable in order to take advantage of the North Atlantic currents while avoiding the wildest North Atlantic Storms. If they got entangled in one of those storms, they could lose control of their route to the final destination. Leif would remain watchful for any indication of the rising up of a monstrous North Atlantic storm; this was with some sea sense that Erik had taught him well.

Although Erik was unable to participate; he could hardly contain his pride as he watched his eldest daughter sailing alongside his eldest son on this mission into the yet-unknown seas of the west. As a leading Norseman and a fine captain of the North Seas, Erik knew that a fine report of their venture would one day be shared with all the Norse in King Olaf Tryggvarsson’s kingdom. Erik was delighted as he watched the wind applying a full pull on the sails on the two ships; each drawing a favorable wind to increase the ship's speed, closely correlated each with the other. Leif led the departure, with Freydis following nearby, maintaining a reasonable visual connection.

Erik turned to his wife and proposed that they attend the church and share a prayer for a safe voyage, with much success and a safe return. On this occasion Erik sought the help of the Lord, in the Greenland Church built on his own settlement in Greenland. Those remaining in the settlement joined with them for the communal prayer for the two ships and all those engaged with them. The Bishop of Greenland was pleased to provide a special Service at Erik’s request; however, more often it was Erik’s wife who would turn to the Bishop, requesting prayers for Erik’s safe return from a seafaring voyage.

They had watched the two ships gain full speed, with all sails set in a fair wind, making the promise of a speedy start. All that could be heard was the bellowing of the cattle aboard. The crews were pleased to see the residents of the settlement appearing in great numbers to bid them farewell and safe sailing.

While at sea the two ships were making good time, with favorables winds. This allowed their oarsmen to keep busy doing other chores, in meal preparation and keeping the ships in good repair when there may be a requirement by the ship's carpenter to have some caulking repaired be9

fore a bad leak might open up. Any water overlapping the decks and getting into a hold would also require baling out. Any sign of a possible flawed sail had to be checked and repairs made; thus the oarsmen had plenty to keep them busy and forever alert. Even the greasing of the oar supports would be required whenever the oarsmen were required to keep the ships moving when the winds failed them; or whenever it became necessary to use the oarsmen to redirect their course; although not something that occurred often.

Sailing along in good seas with an abundance of icebergs; they also had many magnificent sightings of the great humpbacked whales in this North Sea, where whales were seen scooping up a good feeding of cod fish, so abundant in limitless schools, also more than sufficient to supply the ship's needs. Keeping watch on the horizon came second nature to the entire crew as they knew that any sighting of land would have to be reported, then requiring the Mast Rigger to climb up with his telescope and sight it out for further confirmation.

All the fish of the sea were more than abundant; as these were virgin waters with no commercial fishing along the Atlantic Shelf, as the European fishing ships had not yet learned of these waters. The sea was teaming with cod fish. Seeing the humpbacked whales gorging themselves with every scoop was proof of the density of the schools of fish in these waters.

The ships found a plentiful supply easy to net for the needs of their crews; and some extra was wisely preserved for future needs. These chores kept everyone busy and made for much satisfaction among the crews, with both kept busy. The sails also required adjustments to keep on course; as far as Leif determined that to be. For charting their course each captain took readings of the sunrise, sunsets, the moon's positioning and its frequency, which had an effect on ocean currents.

The positioning of the Polar Star and its shaping of the Big Dipper was essential to determine their north latitude in relation to their homeland of Norway; or Greenland; allowing them to always have a chart suitable for the homeward-bound mission. Without any formal education Leif always had a sharp feeling for the ship's positioning, much like Bjarne had mastered when he was tossed about in that North Atlantic Storm for several days.

Entertainment by way of storytelling was a gift of all old crew members.

As time permitted, stories of years gone by were told and retold, keeping alive the history of the Norse travels across the North Seas. Among the stories the favorites were told many times over; and became known as 10

sagas. Indeed, they relayed much very reliable history; telling of voyages that had occurred in earlier generations and told in such detail that a thousand years later they were finally recorded in script by a writer who simply understood that there was much truth to the stories that had been told and retold in such revealing detail.

The two ships sailed across the ocean, cutting the waves of the sea like a knife; far to the west of the Greenland shore and finally sighting land.

The shouts were almost loud enough to be heard by the sister ship; land seen in the west! Drawing nearer, it was determined to be a barren, rocky land. Leif made a note on his chart; then took sight of the positioning of the sun to determine a time of day. He would call this rocky place Helluland. Turning their course to the south, they followed south to the latitude where Bjarne had told him they should reach the place he had first seen; yet Leif reckoned that their west bearing had taken them well beyond the position at which his great uncle had expected they would reach “his” land.

Leif reckoned that if they followed a south course they should come upon the north shore of the land his great uncle had first seen. Sailing further southward, they came upon a vastly timbered shoreline that Leif called Markland; which made them think of making a landfall. Leif would reserve that idea for a while. Continuing along this shore; they finally sighted land to the left. Leif now determined that because of the latitude, he referenced it to be south of Greenland. This may well have been the land which Bjarne had mentioned. They continued sailing an easterly course in a fine breeze.

Having crossed the strait from Markland; they determine not one but two lands. The one on the left was an Island located north of the mainland; which Leif was now fairly certain was the land seen by Bjarne in 985 A.D. This land, Leif is now satisfied, was his great uncle Bjarne’s New Found Land. This is where we must build our long-house, he told his lead mate, and soon word spread among the entire crew; it is here that they will build a settlement. They sailed around the east side to get clear of the west winds and finding the mouth of a river emptying into the ocean, Leif determined that there they should build.

With a landing crew of his most trusted seamen with a small landing boat, they paddled up this river to a lush meadow that seemed to welcome Leif along with seven others of his crew. Leif pulled a blade of this grass to check it out; this grass tasted very sweet. “This is where we shall erect our buildings,” Leif told his crew and those in his small landing group agreed that this was a fine place with sweet grass meadows; it later became known as Leif’s Budor.

11

With a crew of his most trusted seamen; Leif searched out the indications of high tide marks and determined where and how a settlement could be established on this fine sweet grass meadow on high land free of flooding. Their examinations determined a suitable site where there was a small lake to be the anchoring place for their ships; accessible only at high tide.

Leif would have Freydis come into the same landing area with her landing boat for a second captain's opinion, as she might see some other aspects to which his crew have not yet noted. He felt that Freydis would be equally pleased with this fine sweet grass meadow. She was welcomed to come up river with her landing crew.

Freydis arrived in good time after receiving Leif’s signal to come up river and join them. She was quick to ask how far high tide would allow them to bring their ships for dry-dock and how well would this location serve their needs. Freydis viewed the site with more detail, much like Leif had expected of her. They determined some of the finer details before high tide arrived to test their plan to see if the area would serve as a dry dock as is, or if some improvements would need to be made, with any required work carried out before the next high tide. Freydis pointed out an area that looked like an ideal area for fish pits that would entrap plenty of fish at each high tide. They agreed that this was a fine meadow on which to be located, even if the dry-dock may not have been the best. The chosen location on the north end of the mainland would always be defendable; and it came with a supply of running water. This area of the mainland would also always be easily found by any sea captain with minimum skills; making a return to this place a sure thing.

Freydis wanted to see how a rivulet could be directed from the river higher up in order to deliver water to run continuously through the main longhouse. It was the lay of the land on this sweet grass meadow that made this an ideal situation as the water could flow continually through the longhouse and then carry outgoing waste to the sea at a lower level. “A fine set-up,” Freydis said, “let’s bring the first ship in at high tide; then we can be sure.”

When the high tide was arriving Leif put his crew to the test of bringing his ship upstream to the location where they had sought to dry-dock his ship while building this settlement. Freydis would leave her ship at anchor near the shore as she planned to run a discovery voyage southward along the east coast to investigate what there was further south on this eastern shore. The number one thought was to find any signs of life, and if there were inhabitants, determine whether they were friendly or not. This ven12

ture was not necessarily to make landfall; as the intent was to return to Leif’s Budor and join Leif’s crew.

They wanted to discover if this east shoreline was likely the shoreline that her great uncle Bjarne had seen in 985 A.D. from within the North Atlantic storm. There were not a lot of good waterways coming off the land mass as they proceeded south until finally they came upon an island (Sop’s Island) located off the headland, where there was a bay into a lake beyond the island. Beyond there the mainland turned eastward, indicating to Freydis that it was some distance further east to the eastern shore of this land which they knew may be attached to Markland and Helluland. Perhaps it was a very large island, Freydis thought.

From her ship; two German crew mates thought they saw some grapes growing and asked Freydis to allow them go ashore and check out the grape vines using a small landing boat. Freydis agreed with their plan and allowed the two to make a quick survey of the grapes while she took her ship a short way further along the north-facing shoreline with a promise that the main ship would return in a very reasonable time. The two Germans paddled the landing boat to the shore before running inland to check out the grapes they thought they had seen.

A short distance along this north facing shoreline Freydis and her crew saw the first signs of life. These were natives with skin canoes that showed no signs of being friendly. Seeing that these inhabitants apparently were not friendly, Freydis turned her ship about in order to return and pick up the two Germans. They arrived back and learned that the German runners were sure that indeed they had found grapes, with the potential for wine making. They returned to Leif’s Budor with a full report to Leif from the place they called Hops.

Freydis also reported to Leif the sighting of native inhabitants, whom she judged were not of a friendly nature. Hearing of local unfriendly inhabitants alerted Leif’s crew of the need to be alert at all times. Leif enquired of Freydis if she had seen any sign of local inhabitants when making the western voyage last year with Erik. Freydis told him they had seen only a vast shoreline with no convenient landing place, but only part of the land.

They called these inhabitants “Skrellings” and the same people, later known as the “Beotek,” of Newfoundland, have now been totally lost to us in history as they died off after the days of first contact. (As for the berries said to be grapes; it is more likely that the two Germans had found some gooseberries; which are plentiful at Sop’s Arm and also make a fine wine.)

13

Leif managed to bring his ship in to the determined dry-dock area as they had planned, then they planned to bring in the second ship in near the first and put all their efforts into the building of Leif’s Budor. It was well known that the weather alone could seriously interfere with the erection of buildings; thus the number one task was now establishing the settlement. That was successfully carried out.

Back in Greenland, Erik the Red continued to wonder how his two eldest were managing the task as communication with the new land was only by sea, and there would be nothing known until their return. Thus Erik trusted his faith in the success of his children and would await the day of their return as they had waited on his return so many times in the past.

Now he was a recipient of the unknown concerns, sharing the difficulty of such a wait.

As the settlement layout was determined and walls began rising up; the lush sweet grasses began to suffer from the traffic and paths for their most essential traffic became visible. Common-sense then came into play to protect certain areas of the grasslands; they had learned the value of all good grassland by experiencing shortages in Greenland. The lush sweet grasses here would be highly respected and valued by everyone in their settlement.

Buildings took shape with a great deal of caring and sharing of skilled labor and willing assistance toward all the tasks at hand. There was a common purpose at work here that may have been fueled by a shared knowledge that if there was to be a wintering over here, of yet unknown temperatures and available food supplies from the land, their assurance of an abundance from the sea was unquestionable as they prepared for winter rations. Whether they would even choose to winter over was a fair consideration; they knew also of the limited resources yet available back in Greenland.

While Erik was concerned for the voyage; these new inhabitants were sharing his concerns from across the Atlantic. The building continued with no definite decision to winter over and little talk was made of that prospect as they all trusted their two skippers, Leif and Freydis, to know best. The rivulet which they created to provide running water to the main long house was proving to be a good and steady flow of clear running water to provide both the fresh water needed and sufficient flow for cleaning and the carrying away of waste water out to sea. This was needed to keep everything clean and maintain the sanitation of the long house.

It was there where communal meals would be served. The staple of their 14

food supply was the fresh salmon netted upriver and cod fish out of their many fish pits; which provided far more beyond their daily requirements.

For this reason, among others, Leif and Freydis were already considering a return to Greenland with their ships loaded to convince others to join them later. A load of timber would be aboard one ship; which would provide ample testimony as to the timber found there as well as a load of sweet grass for hay as further testimony.

Back in Greenland, Erik was carefully doing the mental math with regards to any possible return of the land seekers and indeed he was doing some preparation for their return. It was hard to surprise his ever-thinking mind as he had simply been at sea far too many times to disregard the common-sense needs when a ship is away from the home port. Certain supplies from Norway are always desired when long voyages were undertaken. In this case, reasoning that certain supplies would be required for a new colony, Erik suspected that the ships would return before winter, carrying back the farm animals.

The decision was made by the settlers to load the ships for a return to Greenland; along with much evidence from the new world and a huge supply of salmon and timber that was so readily available at Leif’s Budor.

The buildings were all brought to a state of readiness for when a group of settlers should return, making the colonization much easier for the next group to come. They would return once again with farm animals sufficient then for a permanent settlement. Leif and Freydis agreed that their father Erik would be very pleased with this forward plan, thinking ahead for a future group having made the houses ready for settlement.

Leaving this land behind, everyone aboard the two ships had to wonder if and when the ships might return and if they might themselves return. It would depend as much on Erik the Red as it might depend on others; a matter which was well understood as he was still the Earl and seen as the leader of these Norwegians out of Greenland.

While their sails were set with full wind toward the north; they kept track of their northern latitude; watching to reach the latitude of south Greenland before turning for an easterly sailing. As they came within a sighting of Greenland’s southern tip they were able again to view the enormous ice fields across this land. It had been months since they had viewed these lands and it was now that they had to admire how Erik had found enough grassland to establish his colony here ten years earlier following his banishment from Iceland.

As their ships rounded the southeast headland they were soon spotted 15

by some of the settlers from Erik’s settlement which was soon relayed to Erik, and all the settlement arrived to witness their return. Erik especially was seen in to be most excited while sharing the view of their return with his wife. Both his children were indeed a chip off the old block, he thought, as each had mastered the challenge and returned in a timely way. Leif and Freydis would dock their ships in this well-known port of Greenland at Ericsey before they would share their many stories of the past summer.

Erik surely was most interested as he would no doubt have been able to relate with much of what they would have to tell of their voyage. The family shared a communal supper where they heard the stories of the New Land. His wife was already busy with the preparations. One of their workers had been sent to summon the Bishop of Greenland to give divine thanks for the safe return of both ships.

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- CHAPTER 3 KARLSEFNI AND GUDRID DEVELOP A HOUSE AT HOP

Erik thanked all members of both ships as he fully understood that each and every one of them had made a fair contribution to the success reported.

He told the crews that if it was their wish and desire that he would help them, over the winter, to prepare for a settlement voyage that may reward them with settlers enough to make a permanent settlement upon the sweet grass plain they had discovered. “Perhaps I might join your mission next year,” he said, as he provided them all with a joyful laugh. Erik advised them that they must prepare the animals that they would require for a permanent settlement on the sweet grass plain.

There began much serious discussion with sharing of knowledge that pleased Erik as they completed a fine communal meal; complete with stories fresh from across the Northern Seas. The captains agreed to have one ship make a voyage to the home of Bjarne’s father, Bard Herjólfsson, in Iceland to obtain required supplies that they had determined would be needed for a return voyage.

Others were preparing houses at Erik’s fjord to spend the winter in Greenland. There simply was no time to be wasted, Erik told them, their early preparation in the fall would enable an early start in the spring for their return to the New World. Now that houses had been built at the sweet grass meadow they knew that more of their people may join the voyage in 17

the spring, attracted no doubt by their tales and having seen the sweet grass hay brought back to Greenland. Everyone was confident of the fine place “Wineland” would be for a settlement.

Having heard Leif’s report supported by that of Freydis it was clear to everyone that a move to the new land seemed very favorable. Groups were now discussing the possibilities; first in small groups and soon larger groups; as most of them knew the limitations of Greenland. The new land was located in a more favorable latitude; judging by the North Star. This was their promised land indeed.

Another able sea captain by the name of Thorfinn Karlsefni, had an eye upon Gudrid, widow of the late Thorstein Erikson – Erik's younger son, half-brother to Leif and full brother to Freydis. Karlsefni made a proposal, whereupon Gudrid deferred her decision to her brother-in-law Leif for his approval. Leif approved the match, and the two would marry.

Leif deemed Karlsefni a fine mate for his sister-in-law. Freydis was happy to hear Leif approve the union. Karlsefni was asked if he was going to continue to do the supply ship run from Norway or if he would join the expedition to the New Land by Erik. He indicated that he would be very pleased to join the expedition, if Leif was supportive of the voyage; and if Gudrid was in agreement, as my wife. He confirmed to Erik the Red that he, his wife, and his ship would join the expedition.

Erik was pleased to grant his daughter-in-law Gudrid permission to be wed and join with Karlsefni, whom he trusted with all his heart. This was a fine man, he knew, and now the family presence would be even stronger in the new land. This decision came at a critical time, as Leif’s other halfbrother, Thorvald, was lining up an agreement to captain Leif’s ship, the discovery ship sold to Leif by Bjarne Herjólfsson. Such a privilege was considered an honor by Thorvald and he was very pleased to be the captain for the planned voyage in the spring.

Leif, as the eldest son of Erik the Red, had decided that he should remain in Greenland with his parents due to his father’s lame leg. Erik and Leif had discussed the arrangements for the expedition. With Freydis as captain of Erik’s ship, she would be the lead captain and have control over Leif’s Budor in the sweet grass meadows. Karlsefni and Gudrid would follow them and make a voyage of discovery to the south toward the place where the two German crew members had made a run looking for grapes, that they'd called “Hops” reflecting on the presence of “Grapes.” (They were more likely gooseberries at Sop’s Arm.) (Today the property is owned by the elderly Mr. Watson Budden, aged 103 years in 2020.)

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Thorvald Erikson agreed that he would captain a third ship while a fourth ship may be added before departure; a supply ship loaded with the farm animals. Thorvald had worked a great deal with the Greenland herd and best understood the animals. His first stop would be at the sweet grass meadows where Freydis would receive the animals destined for Leif’s Budor. The rest of the animals, it had been planned, would be taken to the chosen location of Karlsefni and Gudrid, putting them in a favorable position to winter over within a reasonable distance of Freydis at Leif’s Budor.

This would be the start of two settlements within easy reach by ship sailing southward along the east coast in White Bay. This would allow the group to take along sufficient animals to establish a permanent settlement in the new land; such was the plan. Erik was very pleased as they were now looking to make a permanent home among the sweet grass meadows, with so much promise that Erik was overjoyed even when he was unable to be in attendance in the new land. He no doubt had a reasonable picture in his mind which no doubt was a little overblown in some ways; which fed his fatherly pride. While he would not have a clear picture of the plan Karlsefni was about to fulfill, his mind was more about the Hops; and the potential that site might yield.

Planning over winter was completed in time for a favorable spring launch from Greenland with Erik and Leif bidding them all a safe voyage as the Greenland Bishop led them in prayers. Erik was at the head of the group of Greenland settlers that now formed the elder members, who like Erik, had seen many voyages in the north seas. Now they were older and wiser, less able perhaps for the sailing of ships but now settled into the Greenland Settlement and sharing Erik’s pride of having been with the earliest to settle here. Now their children, fully grown, with Erik’s children, were to repeat that history in a yet unsettled land. Gathered for the send off was a very proud Greenland settlement.

The outward movement with loaded ships soon took full wind as they sped away to the west; once again passing the headland of Greenland’s southern limits before turning due west to Helluland where their course turned into the south, passing the Markland shores before reaching the area from which they would turn east toward the new land where Leif’s Budor stood. The new settlement stood in wait of the settlers for whom the houses had been built. That fact alone was a great time saver and what a welcome sight it would be.

Among the three captains, following the lead of Freydis, there were some anxious moments as they now were passing among the humpbacked 19

whales and flowing icebergs in these waters. Thorfinn was being exposed for the first time to this beautiful sight, but each presented a degree of hazard to the white-sailed ships as they cut a path across the northern sea.

Soon they had passed around to the entrance of the huge White Bay into which they sailed to reach the river’s mouth, leading up to Leif’s Budor; which would be as far as Freydis was going to sail for now. The other three ships set anchor in the sea, awaiting a decision for their next move; however, each of the captains made landfall in a small landing boat in order to witness the sweet grass meadows and to view the houses before returning to their ships; having told Freydis of their intention to sail to Hop. They first would offload some of the cattle and farm animals, plus supplies for Freydis, before heading down to Hop; then the three ships would sail to Hop (Sop’s Arm). They relied upon verbal descriptions and direction from some crew members who had been with Freydis when she sailed this way the previous year. They had sailed along this same bay, checking the shore line where they now knew that it would turn east; near an Island (Sop’s Island) in White Bay. When they reached that area they planned to enter the lake off the headland; where their ships could rest at anchor while they checked out theheadland. They already knew about the river waters falling into the west side of this lake out of the mountains, rich with plenty of salmon. Karlsefni determined this headland (Sop’s Arm) is where they would erect a house and a stockade because of the yet-unknown Skrellings who could show up at any time.

The crews discussed the best place to pasture the cattle and a commonsense conclusion was to place them out on the Island (Sop’s Island); located just to the east and off the headland, which would require no fencing. First they would determine if a source of water was available there, making the island a quick source of pasture until another suitable location could be found near the house. In the meantime, they had straumsy (fast-flowing waters) between the island and the headland while the tide is rising and falling to deal with, so their passage across the open water was best done between the two daily cycles of tide waters.

The headland where Karlsefni and Gudrid would choose to build their house, after discovering a perfect lake off the large bay; was just beyond Sop’s Island. It seemed like a perfectly sheltered place to dock their ship, just alongside the place where they would build. The lake was just to the south of the Sop’s Arm headland which provided the best-possible shelter for the ships. This lake also had a fine river flowing into the lake from the mountains in the west, also rich in good salmon. Here Karlsefni would 20

have a stockade built around their house; as Gudrid was now expecting their first child and Karlsefni had heard the reports of apparently unfriendly native inhabitants which they called “Skrellings” being not too distant. (The Beotek natives of Newfoundland.)

Having the cattle taken care of; more hands were available for the building of Karlsefni’s house; to become the place of the first Norse birth in the new world. Gudrid would give birth to their son “SNORRIE at Sop’s Arm, New Found Land C-1000 A.D. The workers were kept busy; building the stockade around the house with some digging of reindeer pits; as they had discovered that this was a location where vast herds of reindeer would make a crossing in great numbers. Properly placed; these pits would soon be prepared and ready to entrap some fine reindeer; providing meat that they knew well.

An early winter was a test of their preparedness but they soon made any necessary adjustments; one ship had returned to Leif’s Budor and others had built houses there. They were all set for their first winter in the new land. Freydis was eager to see what plans her sister-in-law Gudrid and Karlsefni had been completing for the winter; and she wondered if had they been visited by the Skrellings or not, which was of some concern, therefore she chose to visit the settlement at Hops.

While Freydis was visiting with Gudrid; the Skrellings also came calling; showing up with several canoes and talking in an unknown language. The expectant Gudrid remained in her house while Freydis, with her broadsword in hand, tried to communicate with these alien people as she stood guard in the doorway of Gudrid’s house. Freydis tried giving them a few trinkets in good faith that were not well accepted, it was clear that the natives were not there with friendly intentions. Freydis must have appeared like a huge giant in their eyes, as the natives were all of a small stature, yet as a group they seemed to act like they were in charge as this had long been their territory.

Freydis bared her breasts and slapped them with her broadsword. Upon seeing this strange event the Skrellings turned and quickly paddled away in their canoes. This quick act by Freydis was never forgotten as this may have had a very serious encounter had the Skrellings not turned back to their canoes. After having turned the Skrellings away with this brave act, Freydis completed her viewing of the Karlsefni location before returning to Leif’s Budor to prepare for her return to Greenland.

It had been decided that Thorvald would return to Karlsefni’s House and build there to winter over. This meant he would bring his ship, loaded 21

with supplies, from Leif’s Budor while Freydis and Halvord would be returning to Greenland. In this way the houses at Sop’s Arm (Straumsy) would be better protected and the sweet grass that was cut for a winter supply would also be brought to Straumsy. Many very important decisions had been made well in advance of the first wintering over in the New Land, this made Freydis quite proud knowing that during the coming winter when her sister-in-law would be giving birth the basic supplies required would be closer at hand.

Thorvald was making good headway on the building of his house with much help from the crews of the two ships. The longhouse was well located, with a freshwater feed in and the usual flow tracks throughout the longhouse to provide water for all their needs and the carrying away of waste. Cattle-sharing space in the longhouse would provide a great deal of heat, enabling their survival through the winter months. This co-habitation was common in the Norse longhouses as the winter weather would always be quite cold and unpredictable, while the animals become very domesticated. With this preparation well underway; Freydis and Halvord broke camp at Leif’s Budor and were well started on their return voyage back to Greenland; with a full wind in their sails. They were taking along with them some sweet grass tay for Erik’s cattle in Greenland. Erik would be delighted to get this sample of the sweet grass delivered to his farm, they thought, as they sailed across the northern sea that was now becoming quite familiar to Freydis.

Freydis was to bring the news of the coming birth back to her proud parents; their grandchild would be the first Norse birth in the New World; and Freydis knew this would make her father, Erik the Red, the proudest man in the world. Erik had sailed all the north seas, setting foot on most of the lands found in his many voyages; yet this would be a very special event. The first Norse to be born in the New World would no doubt have been important to him.

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- CHAPTER 4 A KILLER PLAGUE HITS GREENLAND

In the year 992 A.D.; while Leif was in Greenland, a deadly plague had befallen the residents of Eriksfjord in Greenland. This plague sickened the elderly first, as it would claim the weakest of those early followers of Erik the Red, stripping the life from the first settlers who had come with Erik to Greenland, his dearest and most trusted friends. Though they had survived many hard tests in the North Atlantic where many others were lost as the waters churned their boats about, devouring many good ships that were followers of Erik the Red, this plague came calling and was claiming many more of them. It simply took all their strength and they were being claimed very quickly. There was no time for any funeral services as too many were laid sick in a short time, which seemed like an endless death claim with very few maintaining any sign of being in good health. It was a dreadful scourge.

As Freydis and Halvord guided their ships toward Eriksfjord they had not the faintest idea of what was now happening at Eriksfjord. The lives taken by this plague included Erik himself. Leif laid Erik out with full armor and his spear; wrapped much like a mummy, with his remains laid in an ice crevice in his own beloved land. With Leif having done this, other surviving settlers thought this to be a great way to be preserved for future generations in this ice-bound country and planned a mass internment 23

much like Erik’s.

Thus it was decided that seven others, all close friends of Erik the Red, those who would at any time follow him in battle or across any sea, were all laid to rest in the same fashion; within a crevice of ice. It was an amazing end for those who had stuck together throughout life. Leif found some pride in seeing so many of his father’s followers following him into the afterlife in this way; they would travel together to Valhalla. Leif, under these circumstances, was now showing that he, too, had some of the same leadership qualities that his father, Erik the Red, had always shown under extreme stress.

By the time Freydis and Halvord had occasion to anchor their ships at Eriksfjord they had missed being present at their father's death as the plague had been claiming the stricken settlement. Upon hearing of the demise which claimed Erik and many of his dearest friends, Freydis noted that this was a just way for them to be laid to rest. Those who did wish to bear witness and say a final good bye were able to visit the ice field into which the noble eight were entombed in time; as only the bravest, showing no fear of this strange burial, were present for a final prayer for Erik the Red and his close friends by the Bishop of Greenland.

The two then returned to the settlement where further plans were to be made for the future of Erik the Red's settlement in Greenland, where many who were born here in this settlement had known no other land. Here Leif and others would share a story with the crew mates of two ships of how this plague had struck Eriksfjord.

First taken was Grimhild, the wife of Thorstein Erikson; followed by Thorstein Erikson himself; then the next claimed was Grimhild, wife of Thorstein the Swarthy; whereupon Thorstein left to prepare a coffin; then followed Thorstein, and so there would be eight corpses claimed by this plague when it ended and Leif who was the Eldest son of Erik the Red; had made the provisions for a communal burial in the Greenland Ice to which they had all come together and now they were enshrined in a very fitting grave within the ice pack together. In this way; Leif trusted that they would stick together in the after-life as continue on their journey to Valhalla throughout the ages each standing in testimony to the others; as the similarity of their final days; no doubt had been frozen in ice; and frozen in time.

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- CHAPTER 5 A THIRD WINELAND VOYAGE

Leif spoke to the assembled people of Eriksfjord, telling them that judging by the cargo aboard the two returning ships that just arrived from Wineland; holding up some vines of grapes (perhaps gooseberries from Sop’s Arm) and showing them the cargo of timber and pelts, that Wineland seemed like it had a greater promise for their future. Only time would tell, however, for there in Greenland they were still much closer to their home of Norway, and to King Olaf’s Kingdom from which so many scarce supplies were still to be had.

Leif said he had never expected delivery of such a fine grass to Greenland. The finding of fine sweet grass, plentiful in the New Land, which had long been a dream, was the secret to good health, Leif told them all. He then directed questions to the crews of Freydis and Harvold, as it was their ships that had just crossed the northern seas from Wineland loaded with a wealth of cargo that spoke louder than any words. The whole matter of the plague which had struck Eriksfjord was shelved as the younger generation were now considering how and when they might find their way to Wineland.

At the same time Karlsefni and Gudrid were at Wineland, preparing their house for the coming winter. They were building a strong stockade about their large longhouse and would have it well furnished for man and 25

beast. At Wineland it was yet unknown how cold the coming winter might get, so Karlsefni was being careful to insure a full supply of all essentials.

Gudrid was wisely advising him to have storage nearby on the outside for extra firewood and animal feed; to which the animals would be allowed to walk to when weather permitted, then all provisions could be supplied with minimum labor.

Speaking of labor, Gudrid had helpers who were experienced with childbirth; therefore, they had no concern for the delivery of her child other than the warmth in the house. She had a special small room for the birth of her first child at Karlsefni’s house in Wineland. They knew nothing of the plague that had struck in Greenland; the crew of Karlsefni’s ship was busy getting their houses in order. While cutting sufficient wood for a healthy winter supply; they were also clearing an area for animals with some rail fencing. This was to be an area utilized as weather permitted for the cattle to be out for some exercise.

They had also dug some reindeer pits which they did not want cattle getting into now outside of the area fenced to pasture the cattle.

There had been much good planning for themselves and the cattle but perhaps not so well for any visit by the Skrellings. Yet they were lucky, for during this first winter the Skrellings did not appear. Wintering over was at about the latitude and temperature of Norway so they were all pleased with the climate.

The birth of the child came late in the winter and was in the year about 1000 A.D.; a son that Gudrid called Snorrie as he enjoyed many hours of sleep. He was an easy child to care for and Karlsefni was made a very proud father; as this was the first Norse birth at Wineland. These proud parents could hardly wait to show Snorrie off to Freydis in the spring when she was due to return with her shipload of supplies for the settlement.

At the same time Freydis and Thorvald were preparing ships for another voyage to Wineland. They entered the Greenland seas bearing the sad news of the plague that had struck Eriksfjord; laying so many elder citizens of Eriksfjord to an eternal rest. Such news was rare but yet not any different perhaps than a ship lost at sea in a wild storm; which was a much more frequent loss of lives in the Norse world. Erik the Red, with so many successful voyages, was known to be incredible as a captain; and thus had so many followers.

Thorvald also decided that he might make the move to Wineland, his crew was of a like state of mind. He decided they would be checking the lands from Leif’s Budor to the Karlsefni location; seeking out the best lo26

cation for himself. Following close with Freydis, Thorvald could see the advantages at Leif’s Budor where nobody had wintered over before them, but it also led him to believe the location chosen by Karlsefni and Gudrid must have some advantages. He and his crew were sailing southward in the large White Bay when Thorvald came upon a place where one of Leif’s ships had wrecked earlier; its keel remained on this eastern shoreline in White Bay. It was near this wrecked keel that Thorvald also saw three overturned canoes along the shore. Under each canoe they could see three native people. As the Norsemen drew nearer to the canoes there was a sudden burst of men from underneath. Armed with bow and arrows, they began their firing of arrows, one of which got redirected, striking Thorvald in the armpit. This was their first physical encounter with the Skrellings.

Thorvald's men took chase, capturing and killing eight of the nine Skrellings, while one escaped and was not seen further. Returning to their captain, Thorvald told them that the arrow which he had taken in the armpit would claim his life: thereupon he made it known to them all that he wished to be buried at this place, which they called Keelsness; then his wishes were carried out.

A-N 6 - This first physical encounter came about, it seems, without provocation by the Norse; yet the Skrellings were no doubt alarmed seeing this large ship appear in the waters of White Bay drawing an attack; much like the Norse may have done under similar circumstances. In this case though, the Skrellings were no doubt outnumbered and under-powered. The Skrellings set the stage for what happened; yet we must consider the damaging effect of the Norse striking the death blow that took eight lives. I believe that this set the stage of mistrust that the natives showed thereafter. In time it was this mistrust that led to the demise of the Skrellings (the Beotek natives of Newfoundland).

Freydis, with her ship, and another captain in charge of Thorvald’s Ship, would continue south to Wineland and the house of Karlsefni, leaving Keelsness behind where they had buried Thorvald, according to his last wish. At this place where there was a Keel up on the shore, Thorvald’s men turned on the Skrellings; capturing and killing eight of them; the lone ninth Skrelling escaped and was never seen further. Freydis would continue with Thorvald’s crew manning his ship; as his leading mate was a capable seaman. They continued on to Karlsefni’s House where Gudrid was pleased to see them and anxious to show off Snorrie. Karlsefni reported to the group that they had no encounters with the Skrellings yet, therefore he was surprised to hear of Thorvald’s death.

Further to that they were told of the plague that had stricken Eriksfjord, claiming Erik the Red and seven of his old seafaring friends, and were also 27

informed of Leif’s decision to entomb them in some of the Greenland ice.

Gudrid, who was a mindful thinker, expressed that this was a fitting way for this group of friends to stick together.

Following the sharing of this information, a group of Skrellings arrived with some pelts and other items, obviously seeking some trade. Karlsefni suggested that Gudrid give them milk, which they found very pleasing, and they left all their wares behind in exchange. This hardly seemed like the Skrellings with whom Thorvald had encountered. Karlsefni thought it best that a rune stone be engraved in order that all the history here could not disappear. Gudrid agreed and a stone mason was assigned the task and that rune stone would remain on the property of Karlsefni at Sop’s Arm, Newfoundland.

A-N 7 - The said rune stone, which was found on the property of Mr. Watson Budden at Sop’s Arm; was removed to the Cornerbrook Museum in Newfoundland C-2019 A.D.; this location has also been known as “Straumsfjord”; and more recently it has been called the “Budden Tickle.”

Freydis was curious about the place she had seen Skrellings on her previous voyage and was steering her ship eastward in White Bay towards it, but failed to encounter them on this trip. She turned her course back to Leif’s Budor and the two crews; her own; and the ship of the late Thorfinn Erikson. Freydis had learned that Karlsefni and Gudrid planned to winter over once again while she was looking to load the two ships with a wealth of timber and other goods, all highly valued in Greenland, and then return to Eriksfjord.

Freydis had planned it well. Upon her successful return she was to become very wealthy after the success of her voyages. Leif had been mending many loose ends in Greenland as the heads of many families had suffered great losses. This resulted in Leif gaining a fine reputation and was he held in high esteem; much like his father Erik the Red had done.

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A-N 8 - AUTHORS NOTE; Bearing testimony to much about Erik the Red; I have chosen to copy a 1922 article from THE VIKING NEWS, VIKING, ALBERTA; which appeared on the Front Page on April 26th, 1922; as follows; enjoy.

- CHAPTER 6 ERIK THE RED RETURNS

The Viking News "King of Vikings" Found Preserved in Iceberg Startling Discovery Which Revealed a Picturesque Viking Perfectly Preserved after Being Entombed in an Iceberg for a Thousand Years Drifting for ten centuries through the uncharted seas north of the Arctic Circle, traversing heaven knows how many thousand miles of snow and silence perhaps pushed by the ever-grinding ice-flues to the North Pole itself, the body of a Viking King a thousand years old has been returned at last to civilization.

Encased from head to heel in a frozen winding sheet that preserved it more perfectly than any Egyptian mummy, the Viking body was discovered by Danish doctors standing upright in a huge iceberg cast up on the east coast of Greenland.

It towered before their amazed eyes like an incredible phantom – seven 30

feet tall, clad in crude ancient armor, gripping spear and shield, head crown with a winged helmet of Norse royalty, this whole dimly visible within the transparent tomb of ice.

Men with axes chopped away this natural casket, then the Viking stood unmarred by time as though he had died but yesterday. He was not dried or shrunken. The skin was white and firm. The hair of the head and the husky mustache was long and red and silky. The iceberg had kept him preserved for posterity.

The body is being taken on a ship to Copenhagen. There scientists will endeavor to perpetuate the process of preservation by the injection of chemicals. If they are successful, the body of the Viking king in the Copenhagen museum will be the most remarkable relic on earth. Millions will come to stare at the Norseman who lived and loved and fought a thousand years ago.

While Copenhagen scholars await the arrival of this extraordinary find they have dispatched an expedition to Greenland to continue excavations.

Word has reached them that seven more bodies, as untouched by the years as the first, have been found. Further explorations may give science the most valuable light it has ever had on the Norsemen and their voyages.

The early history of America may be rewritten before the investigators are through.

Already they are considering a theory that the Viking with his Royal winged helmet may be no less a celebrity than Leif Erikson, but may in fact be “Erik the Red,” famed in saga and ruin as a dauntless voyager, believed by many historians (who base their assumptions on authentic findings) to have landed on the shores of America four hundred years before Columbus steered the “Santa Maria” into harbor at San Salvador.

“Erik the Red”, according to Norse legend, was an Earl banished to Greenland because of his secret romance with his liege lord’s beautiful daughter. He was a great fighter, a great lover, a great adventurer. After settling at Battlelid and building seventeen dwellings (foundations of which were unearthed a few years ago), he heard from his uncle, Bjarne, a noted navigator, of a vast new land to the southwest.

Erik followed the lure of the unknown. By the account of his voyage preserved in Norse story, historians finally judged that he finally reached what is now Cape Cod bay, sailed along Scituate Bench past Coronet Rock into Boston Harbor, and thence up the Charles River into the Buck Bay, where he land(ed) near Cambridge and built a large house.

The archaeologists have found to confirm this legend ruins of various 31

dwellings, fish pits, canals, bowls, stone sinkers for salmon fishing, and a marble cup, all of unmistakable Norse origin. The family of Eben Norton Horsford, on whose property these tokens were unearthed, erected a statue of Leif Erikson in Fancuel Hall, Boston.

“Erik the Red” left a small colony of Vikings in the new world and sailed back to Greenland. There he died – violently, as became a king. The old sagas tell how he and his fellow chieftains pledged their last “skoal” in forming horns of mead before they roared forth in battle against an alien invader. But before the raider was driven into the sea his archers and spearmen slew “Erik the Red” and many of his followers.

They buried Erik according to Viking Custom, in full armor. His helmet, with its twin wings and its gold-encrusted lining was upon his head. His shield was buckled on his arm and his javelin was in his hand, that he might be fit to sit with the high gods. Buried with him were those of his companions who had fallen in battle.

But the earth was not their grave. They placed the body of Erik and those other bodies in galleys’ They rowed out to the ice floes grinding past the Greenland coast. In niches carved deep into the ice they laid the dead Vikings; then watched them disappear – slowly – majestically – into the red eye of the sunset on their long journey to Valhalla. Thus, sing the old sagas, passed “Erik the Red” in the year 922 A.D. or thereabouts. Now, a thousand years later, the icy mountains of the Arctic have given up their secret of the centuries.

Years passed. In the steady ceaseless grind of the floes immense chunks, mountain-tall, were broken off to become icebergs at the mercy of the ocean currents.

By what freak of ocean, wind, and tide the iceberg containing these eight bodies was brought to that particular spot on the Greenland coast only Providence knows. But eventually – possibly after completely circumnavigating Greenland – it was thrust up by the waves on to a lonely promontory on the southeastern seaboard.

Here the iceberg may have rested years before a human being passed that way. Even did some hungry animal miss the bodies buried in its side.

Only gradually did the iceberg melt under the action of the sun and wind until the helmeted chieftain was visible for the first time in a thousand years, through the thin sheet as through a window.

The discovery of the Vikings by the Danes came through an unusual chain of circumstances. For many months Eskimos, coming into the settlements, had brought ghostly tales of a specter haunted point on the lonely 32

east coast. But white men paid little attention to the stories. They were used to such superstitions in the frozen north – legends of beach walkers and dune hunters, of the ghastly “Yoe – Hoes” that stalk the trail of the hunters, of the phantom crews of lost ships in the night whistling – not singing, but whistling for the soul of the men who steered to their doom. The rumor of a fair skinned, red-haired giant staring out of the side of an iceberg seemed but another of their yarns.

Then, at the kryolite mines at Ivigtut, an epidemic of scurvy brought out the Danish government, who sent a party of physicians to the town.

They heard the story of the phantom giants in the iceberg and some more adventurous spirits of the party proposed an expedition.

The young doctors set out more in fun than in earnest. They believed they were stalking a ghost. But guided by the Eskimos, they stumbled at the end of their journey upon the find of a century – the Viking King, entombed for a thousand years, released from the icy casket by their swiftly chopping pick axes for the first time since he set forth for Valhalla in the dawn of the tenth century.

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elcome to this historical novel based upon this author’s understanding of the Norse Sagas; written a thousand years after the events which no doubt occurred; yet there has been some irregularities that would cause a first-time reader to doubt many of the stories related therein; it is those real-life stories that were told and retold over a thousand years that insured the memory of these ancient events.

W

Erik the Red was the renowned Norse Leader without whom little of these events herein related would have occurred at all; in fact, the Discovery of “Land in the West”; by his uncle came about long after the ancestors of these two men had themselves become great Sea Captains; sailing in the North Seas.

Erik stood alone as commander among his followers; who cherished his every move; which at times got him in trouble; yet he continued on working to improve the lot for every one of his followers.

All of the Sagas relate a special story or incident all of which have a connection to Erik the Red giving this novel an overall view; it is meant to tell the stories as they most likely occurred. The importance of events is brought to the reader as it likely happened; with some explanation by the author who grew up with the Sagas as a frequent diet for his listening ears; as his uncles told of the events.

William “Peter” McArthur was born at Viking, Alberta, Canada, on a day that our prime minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King, was in Bermuda. Both of Peter’s grandfathers were born in the 1850s, which explains his lifelong interest in history. His parents were born into the second families of their fathers, and he had a multitude of older aunts and uncles of those first families, maternally and paternally related, so searching history came second nature to this author.

ISBN: 979-8-51299-644-7

Design & Layout by Eric Anderson Edited by Leslie Cholowsky & Eric Anderson Printed and bound in Alberta, Canada Ebook also available through Amazon

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