While he was a real person, he has been the subject of many folk tales because of his interest in and study in witchcraft.
He owned the farm Vogsósar, and was the vicar of Selvog church in the parish of Selvogur from 1677–1716.
As a child he attended the Cathedral School at Skálholt to about 1658 and was ordained in 1668 by Bishop Brynjólfur Sveinsson as curate of Arnarboeli.
Eírikur exorcises the ghost by means of a slip of paper and a ball of wool with two knots in it which he gives to two men seeking his help.
Years later he is summoned to Biskupstungar, where the Bishop of Skálholt shows him Gráskinna and asks him whether he knows any of the signs in it.