Óðalsmerki
(Banner of heritage)
We, the descendants of Jarl, are sons of the north.
We are all free men, with no king; answering only to the decisions of the Þingi.
Only in wartime does the Þingi, consisting of all Erlingar, elect a Höfðingi to lead in battle.
The Erlinga Þingi is summoned and led by the Lögsögumaðr, acting as an administrator.
The title of Lögsögumaðr is a permanent responsibility, held until retirement or dismissal by vote.
Membership can only be taken into consideration by recommendation from an Erlingr.
To become an Erlingr one must be unanimously accepted by the Þingi.
Erlingar
Þorkell, Hárkon, Hengist,
Fragments of
Erlinga sögur ok kvæði
Erlingakviða in önnur
Hear me and listen,
kin of Heimdallr,
I shall tell you,
stories of old,
how spears pierced men,
and brother fought brother;
of heathen men,
and of their foes.
By northern shores,
off the isle of Skandza,
dreams were born,
in hearts of men,
for whom the sea
unto them called;
upon the waves,
they took their parting.
Far did travel,
the gleaming ship,
by the stem,
a young man stood,
fixed upon,
the edge of the world;
here he found,
a treasure dear.
By the waves,
of western winds,
foreign creatures,
those of men,
met the North-ship,
with much toil;
blood did seep,
into the sea.
Silence followed,
the slaughter dear,
from the depths, then,
a roar did sound,
a fellow Northman,
saw the sunlight;
anger flourished,
but friendship dawned.
Of his struggle,
he did tell,
Harkon Höfðing,
returned to life,
how he burned,
raped and pillaged;
western shores,
next to the sea.
Luck had failed him,
yet found again,
fickle friends,
were greedy men,
an oath was sworn,
upon the deck;
For honour and glory,
Erlingar forth!
[Here, the document has been torn]
[Hereunder loose fragments]
Erlingasöngr inn skamma
Erlingar men || harsh fighters,
Why sail to these shores?
For our desires || to fulfill our dreams,
Of treasure and bloody battle!
Hengistskviða in meiri
One night in the meadhall
In Lower Saxony,
Erlingar met Hengist
And he met his destiny.
They spoke with two brothers
Their names quite odd.
Hengist was sober,
Horsa was not.
Insults between Horsa
and Harkon were passed.
Until Hengist struck -
By the Gods! - he was fast.
His long seax, shining,
In Horsa's neck he placed,
A black eye only
On Harkon's face.
He then took a place
at an Erlingar oar.
But forget Horsa
He will nevermore.
Thus Hengist lost a brother
And gained some new.
Men never know
What the Norns spin for you.