Then the court was set, and with the earl were many men whom I knew by sight, honest thanes and franklins enough, and of that I was glad.
First of all one read, in the ears of all, that of which we two who were there bound were accused, giving the names of those half-dozen men who had found us fighting and had brought us for judgment.
Then said Earl Ulfkytel:
"Here is a matter that is not easy in itself, and I will not hide this, that the father of this Wulfric and I are unfriendly, and that Beorn has been a friend of mine, though no close one. Therefore is more need that I must be very careful that justice is not swayed by my knowledge and thoughts of the accused. So I put that away from me; I know naught of these two men but what I hear from witnesses."
Some people at the end of the hall sought to praise the even handedness of that saying loudly, but the earl frowned and shouted:
"Silence!--shall a judge be praised for doing right?"
"Then," said he, growing quiet again, and speaking plainly and slowly that all might hear, "this is how the matter stands. Here are two men found fighting over the body of a third who is known, as men say, to have been friendly with both. No man saw the beginning of the business. Now we will hear what was seen, but first let this Wulfric speak for himself;" and he turned his bright eyes on me.
Now I told him all the truth from the time when I parted from Lodbrok until the men came.
Then the earl asked me:
"Why thought you that Beorn slew the man?"