111. OF THE PEOPLE OF HALOGALAND.
Olaf rigged out five ships
in spring (A.D. 1020), and had with
him about 300 men. When he
was ready for sea he set northwards
along the land; and when he
came to Naumudal district he summoned
the bondes to a Thing, and
at every Thing was accepted as king.
He also made the laws to be
read there as elsewhere, by which the
people are commanded to observe
Christianity; and he threatened
every man with loss of life,
and limbs, and property who would
not subject himself to Christian
law. He inflicted severe
punishments on many men, great
as well as small, and left no
district until the people had
consented to adopt the holy faith.
The most of the men of power
and of the great bondes made feasts
for the king, and so he proceeded
all the way north to
Halogaland. Harek of Thjotta
also made a feast for the king, at
which there was a great multitude
of guests, and the feast was
very splendid. Harek was made
lenderman, and got the same
privileges he had enjoyed under
the former chiefs of the country.
112. OF ASMUND GRANKELSON.
There was a man called Grankel,
or Granketil, who was a rich
bonde, and at this time rather
advanced in age. In his youth he
had been on viking cruises,
and had been a powerful fighter; for
he possessed great readiness
in all sorts of bodily exercises.
His son Asmund was equal to
his father in all these, and in some,
indeed, he excelled him. There
were many who said that with
respect to comeliness, strength,
and bodily expertness, he might
be considered the third remarkably
distinguished for these that
Norway had ever produced.
The first was Hakon Athelstan's
foster-son; the second, Olaf
Trygvason. Grankel invited King
Olaf to a feast, which was
very magnificent; and at parting
Grankel presented the king
with many honourable gifts and tokens
of friendship. The king invited
Asmund, with many persuasions,
to follow him; and as Asmund
could not decline the honours
offered him, he got ready to
travel with the king, became his
man, and stood in high favour
with him. The king remained in
Halogaland the greater part
of the summer, went to all the
Things, and baptized all the
people. Thorer Hund dwelt at that
time in the island Bjarkey.
He was the most powerful man in the
North, and also became one
of Olaf's lendermen. Many sons of
great bondes resolved also
to follow King Olaf from Halogaland.
Towards the end of summer King
Olaf left the North, and sailed
back to Throndhjem, and landed
at Nidaros, where he passed the
winter (A.D. 1021). It was
then that Thorkel the Fosterer came
from the West from Orkney,
after killing Einar Rangmumd, as
before related. This autumn
corn was dear in Throndhjem, after a
long course of good seasons,
and the farther north the dearer was
the corn; but there was corn
enough in the East country, and in
the Uplands, and it was of
great help to the people of Throndhjem
that many had old corn remaining
beside them.
113. OF THE SACRIFICES OF THE
THRONDHJEM PEOPLE.
In autumn the news was brought
to King Olaf that the bondes had
had a great feast on the first
winter-day's eve, at which there
was a numerous attendance and
much drinking; and it was told the
king that all the remembrance-cups
to the Asas, or old gods, were
blessed according to the old
heathen forms; and it was added,
that cattle and horses had
been slain, and the altars sprinkled
with their blood, and the sacrifices
accompanied with the prayer
that was made to obtain good
seasons. It was also reported that
all men saw clearly that the
gods were offended at the Halogaland
people turning Christian.
Now when the king heard this news he
sent men into the Throndhjem
country, and ordered several bondes,
whose names he gave, to appear
before him. There was a man
called Olver of Eggja, so called
after his farm on which he
lived. He was powerful, of
great family, and the head-man of
those who on account of the
bondes appeared before the king.
Now, when they came to the
king, he told them these accusations;
to which Olver, on behalf of
the bondes, replied, that they had
had no other feasts that harvest
than their usual entertainments,
and social meetings, and friendly
drinking parties. "But as to
what may have been told you
of the words which may have fallen
from us Throndhjem people in
our drinking parties, men of
understanding would take good
care not to use such language; but
I cannot hinder drunken or
foolish people's talk." Olver was a
man of clever speech, and bold
in what he said, and defended the
bondes against such accusations.
In the end, the king said the
people of the interior of Thorndhjem
must themselves give the
best testimony to their being
in the right faith. The bondes got
leave to return home, and set
off as soon as they were ready.
114. OF THE SACRIFICES BY THE
PEOPLE OF THE INTERIOR OF THE
THRONDHJEM DISTRICT.
Afterwards, when winter was
advanced, it was told the king that
the people of the interior
of Throndhjem had assembled in great
number at Maerin, and that
there was a great sacrifice in the
middle of winter, at which
they sacrificed offerings for peace
and a good season. Now when
the king knew this on good authority
to be true, he sent men and
messages into the interior, and
summoned the bondes whom he
thought of most understanding into
the town. The bondes held
a council among themselves about this
message; and all those who
had been upon the same occasion in the
beginning of winter were now
very unwilling to make the journey.
Olver, however, at the desire
of all the bondes, allowed himself
to be persuaded. When he came
to the town he went immediately
before the king, and they talked
together. The king made the
same accusation against the
bondes, that they had held a mid-
winter sacrifice. Olver replies,
that this accusation against
the bondes was false. "We
had," said he, "Yule feasts and
drinking feasts wide around
in the districts; and the bondes do
not prepare their feasts so
sparingly, sire, that there is not
much left over, which people
consume long afterwards. At Maerin
there is a great farm, with
a large house on it, and a great
neighbourhood all around it,
and it is the great delight of the
people to drink many together
in company." The king said little
in reply, but looked angry,
as he thought he knew the truth of
the matter better than it was
now represented. He ordered the
bondes to return home. "I
shall some time or other," said he,
"come to the truth of
what you are now concealing, and in such a
way that ye shall not be able
to contradict it. But, however,
that may be, do not try such
things again." The bondes returned
home, and told the result of
their journey, and that the king was
altogether enraged.
115. MURDER OF OLVER OF EGGJA.
At Easter (A.D. 1021) the king
held a feast, to which he had
invited many of the townspeople
as well as bondes. After Easter
he ordered his ships to be
launched into the water, oars and
tackle to be put on board,
decks to be laid in the ships, and
tilts (1) and rigging to be
set up, and to be laid ready for sea
at the piers. Immediately
after Easter he sent men into Veradal.
There was a man called Thoralde,
who was the king's bailiff, and
who managed the king's farm
there at Haug; and to him the king
sent a message to come to him
as quickly as possible. Thoralde
did not decline the journey,
but went immediately to the town
with the messenger. The king
called him in and in a private
conversation asked him what
truth there was in what had been told
him of the principles and living
of the people of the interior
of Throndhjem, and if it really
was so that they practised
sacrifices to heathen gods.
"I will," says the king, "that thou
declare to me the things as
they are, and as thou knowest to be
true; for it is thy duty to
tell me the truth, as thou art my
man."
Thoralde replies, "Sire,
I will first tell you that I have
brought here to the town my
two children, my wife, and all my
loose property that I could
take with me, and if thou desirest to
know the truth it shall be
told according to thy command; but
if I declare it, thou must
take care of me and mine."
The king replies, "Say
only what is true on what I ask thee, and
I will take care that no evil
befall thee."
Then said Thoralde, "If
I must say the truth, king, as it is, I
must declare that in the interior
of the Throndhjem land almost
all the people are heathen
in faith, although some of them are
baptized. It is their custom
to offer sacrifice in autumn for a
good winter, a second at mid-winter,
and a third in summer. In
this the people of Eyna, Sparby,
Veradal, and Skaun partake.
There are twelve men who preside
over these sacrifice-feasts; and
in spring it is Olver who has
to get the feast in order, and he
is now busy transporting to
Maerin everything needful for it."
Now when the king had got to
the truth with a certainty, he
ordered the signal to be sounded
for his men to assemble, and for
the men-at-arms to go on board
ship. He appointed men to steer
the ships, and leaders for
the people, and ordered how the people
should be divided among the
vessels. All was got ready in haste,
and with five ships and 300
men he steered up the fjord. The
wind was favourable, the ships
sailed briskly before it, and
nobody could have thought that
the king would be so soon there.
The king came in the night
time to Maerin, and immediately
surrounded the house with a
ring of armed men. Olver was taken,
and the king ordered him to
be put to death, and many other men
besides. Then the king took
all the provision for the feast, and
had it brought to his ships;
and also all the goods, both
furniture, clothes, and valuables,
which the people had brought
there, and divided the booty
among his men. The king also let
all the bondes he thought had
the greatest part in the business
be plundered by his men-at-arms.
Some were taken prisoners and
laid in irons, some ran away,
and many were robbed of their
goods. Thereafter the bondes
were summoned to a Thing; but
because he had taken many powerful
men prisoners, and held them
in his power, their friends
and relations resolved to promise
obedience to the king, so that
there was no insurrection against
the king on this occasion.
He thus brought the whole people back
to the right faith, gave them
teachers, and built and consecrated
churches. The king let Olver
lie without fine paid for his
bloodshed, and all that he
possessed was adjudged to the king;
and of the men he judged the
most guilty, some he ordered to be
executed, some he maimed, some
he drove out of the country, and
took fines from others. The
king then returned to Nidaros.
ENDNOTES:
(1) The ships appear to have
been decked fore and aft only; and
in the middle, where the
rowers sat, to have had tilts or
tents set up at night
to sleep under. -- L.
116. OF THE SONS OF ARNE.
There was a man called Arne
Arnmodson, who was married to Thora,
Thorstein Galge's daughter.
Their children were Kalf, Fin,
Thorberg, Amunde, Kolbjorn,
Arnbjorn, and Arne. Their daughter,
who was called Ragnhild, was
married to Harek of Thjotta. Arne
was a lenderman, powerful,
and of ability, and a great friend of
King Olaf. At that time his
sons Kalf and Fin were with the
king, and in great favour.
The wife whom Olver of Eggja had left
was young and handsome, of
great family, and rich, so that he who
got her might be considered
to have made an excellent marriage;
and her land was in the gift
of the king. She and Olver had two
sons, who were still in infancy.
Kalf Arneson begged of the king
that he would give him to wife
the widow of Olver; and out of
friendship the king agreed
to it, and with her he got all the
property Olver had possessed.
The king at the same time made him
his lenderman, and gave him
an office in the interior of the
Throndhjem country. Kalf became
a great chief, and was a man of
very great understanding.
117. KING OLAF'S JOURNEY TO
THE UPLANDS.
When King Olaf had been seven
years (A.D. 1015-1021) in Norway
the earls Thorfin and Bruse
came to him, as before related, in
the summer, from Orkney, and
he became master of their land. The
same summer Olaf went to North
and South More, and in autumn to
Raumsdal. He left his ships
there, and came to the Uplands, and
to Lesjar. Here he laid hold
of all the best men, and forced
them, both at Lesjar and Dovre,
either to receive Christianity or
suffer death, if they were
not so lucky as to escape. After they
received Christianity, the
king took their sons in his hands as
hostages for their fidelity.
The king stayed several nights at a
farm in Lesjar called Boar,
where he placed priests. Then he
proceeded over Orkadal and
Lorodal, and came down from the
Uplands at a place called Stafabrekka.
There a river runs along
the valley, called the Otta,
and a beautiful hamlet, by name
Loar, lies on both sides of
the river, and the king could see far
down over the whole neighbourhood.
"A pity it is," said the
king, "so beautiful a
hamlet should be burnt." And he proceeded
down the valley with his people,
and was all night on a farm
called Nes. The king took
his lodging in a loft, where he slept
himself; and it stands to the
present day, without anything in it
having been altered since.
The king was five days there, and
summoned by message-token the
people to a Thing, both for the
districts of Vagar, Lear, and
Hedal; and gave out the message
along with the token, that
they must either receive Christianity
and give their sons as hostages,
or see their habitations burnt.
They came before the king,
and submitted to his pleasure; but
some fled south down the valley.
118. THE STORY OF DALE-GUDBRAND.
There was a man called Dale-Gudbrand,
who was like a king in the
valley (Gudbrandsdal), but
was only herse in title. Sigvat the
skald compared him for wealth
and landed property to Erling
Skjalgson. Sigvat sang thus
concerning Erling: --
"I know but one who
can compare
With Erling for broad
lands and gear --
Gudbrand is he, whose
wide domains
Are most like where some
small king reigns.
These two great bondes,
I would say,
Equal each other every
way.
He lies who says that
he can find
One by the other left
behind."
Gudbrand had a son, who is
here spoken of. Now when Gudbrand
received the tidings that King
Olaf was come to Lear, and obliged
people to accept Christianity,
he sent out a message-token, and
summoned all the men in the
valley to meet him at a farm called
Hundthorp. All came, so that
the number could not be told; for
there is a lake in the neighbourhood
called Laugen, so that
people could come to the place
both by land and by water. There
Gudbrand held a Thing with
them, and said, "A man is come to Loar
who is called Olaf, and will
force upon us another faith than
what we had before, and will
break in pieces all our gods. He
says that he has a much greater
and more powerful god; and it is
wonderful that the earth does
not burst asunder under him, or
that our god lets him go about
unpunished when he dares to talk
such things. I know this for
certain, that if we carry Thor, who
has always stood by us, out
of our temple that is standing upon
this farm, Olaf's god will
melt away, and he and his men be made
nothing so soon as Thor looks
upon them." Then the bondes all
shouted as one person that
Olaf should never get away with life
if he came to them; and they
thought he would never dare to come
farther south through the valley.
They chose out 700 men to go
northwards to Breida, to watch
his movements. The leader of this
band was Gudbrand's son, eighteen
years of age, and with him were
many other men of importance.
When they came to a farm called
Hof they heard of the king;
and they remained three nights there.
People streamed to them from
all parts, from Lesjar, Loar, and
Vagar, who did not wish to
receive Christianity. The king and
Bishop Sigurd fixed teachers
in Loaf and in Vagar. From thence
they went round Vagarost, and
came down into the valley at Sil,
where they stayed all night,
and heard the news that a great
force of men were assembled
against them. The bondes who were in
Breida heard also of the king's
arrival, and prepared for battle.
As soon as the king arose in
the morning he put on his armour,
and went southwards over the
Sil plains, and did not halt until
he came to Breida, where he
saw a great army ready for battle.
Then the king drew up his troops,
rode himself at the head of
them, and began a speech to
the bondes, in which he invited them
to adopt Christianity. They
replied, "We shall give thee
something else to do to-day
than to be mocking us;" and raised a
general shout, striking also
upon their shields with their
weapons. Then the king's men
ran forward and threw their spears;
but the bondes turned round
instantly and fled, so that only few
men remained behind. Gudbrand's
son was taken prisoner; but the
king gave him his life, and
took him with him. The king was four
days here. Then the king said
to Gudbrand's son, "Go home now to
thy father, and tell him I
expect to be with him soon."
He went accordingly, and told
his father the news, that they had
fallen in with the king, and
fought with him; but that their
whole army, in the very beginning,
took flight. "I was taken
prisoner," said he, "but
the king gave me my life and liberty,
and told me to say to thee
that he will soon be here. And now we
have not 200 men of the force
we raised against him; therefore I
advise thee, father, not to
give battle to that man."
Says Gudbrand, "It is
easy to see that all courage has left thee,
and it was an unlucky hour
ye went out to the field. Thy
proceeding will live long in
the remembrance of people, and I see
that thy fastening thy faith
on the folly that man is going about
with has brought upon thee
and thy men so great a disgrace."
But the night after, Gudbrand
dreamt that there came to him a man
surrounded by light, who brought
great terror with him, and said
to him, "Thy son made
no glorious expedition against King Olaf;
but still less honour wilt
thou gather for thyself by holding a
battle with him. Thou with
all thy people wilt fall; wolves will
drag thee, and all thine, away;
ravens wilt tear thee in
stripes." At this dreadful
vision he was much afraid, and tells
it to Thord Istermage, who
was chief over the valley. He
replies, "The very same
vision came to me." In the morning they
ordered the signal to sound
for a Thing, and said that it
appeared to them advisable
to hold a Thing with the man who had
come from the north with this
new teaching, to know if there was
any truth in it. Gudbrand
then said to his son, "Go thou, and
twelve men with thee, to the
king who gave thee thy life." He
went straightway, and found
the king, and laid before him their
errand; namely, that the bondes
would hold a Thing with him, and
make a truce between them and
him. The king was content; and
they bound themselves by faith
and law mutually to hold the peace
so long as the Thing lasted.
After this was settled the men
returned to Gudbrand and Thord,
and told them there was made a
firm agreement for a truce.
The king, after the battle with the
son of Gudbrand, had proceeded
to Lidstad, and remained there for
five days: afterwards he went
out to meet the bondes, and hold a
Thing with them. On that day
there fell a heavy rain. When the
Thing was seated, the king
stood up and said that the people in
Lesjar, Loaf, and Vagar had
received Christianity, broken down
their houses of sacrifice,
and believed now in the true God who
had made heaven and earth and
knows all things.
Thereupon the king sat down,
and Gudbrand replies, "We know
nothing of him whom thou speakest
about. Dost thou call him God,
whom neither thou nor any one
else can see? But we have a god
who call be seen every day,
although he is not out to-day,
because the weather is wet,
and he will appear to thee terrible
and very grand; and I expect
that fear will mix with your very
blood when he comes into the
Thing. But since thou sayest thy
God is so great, let him make
it so that to-morrow we have a
cloudy day but without rain,
and then let us meet again."
The king accordingly returned
home to his lodging, taking
Gudbrand's son as a hostage;
but he gave them a man as hostage in
exchange. In the evening the
king asked Gudbrand's son what like
their god was. He replied,
that he bore the likeness of Thor;
had a hammer in his hand; was
of great size, but hollow within;
and had a high stand, upon
which he stood when he was out.
"Neither gold nor silver
are wanting about him, and every day he
receives four cakes of bread,
besides meat." They then went to
bed, but the king watched all
night in prayer. When day dawned
the king went to mass, then
to table, and from thence to the
Thing. The weather was such
as Gudbrand desired. Now the bishop
stood up in his choir-robes,
with bishop's coif upon his head,
and bishop's staff in his hands.
He spoke to the bondes of the
true faith, told the many wonderful
acts of God, and concluded
his speech well.
Thord Istermage replies, "Many
things we are told of by this
horned man with the staff in
his hand crooked at the top like a
ram's horn; but since ye say,
comrades, that your god is so
powerful, and can do so many
wonders, tell him to make it clear
sunshine to-morrow forenoon,
and then we shall meet here again,
and do one of two things, --
either agree with you about this
business, or fight you."
And they separated for the day.
119. DALE-GUDBRAND IS BAPTIZED.
There was a man with King Olaf
called Kolbein Sterke (the
strong), who came from a family
in the Fjord district. Usually
he was so equipped that he
was girt with a sword, and besides
carried a great stake, otherwise
called a club, in his hands.
The king told Kolbein to stand
nearest to him in the morning; and
gave orders to his people to
go down in the night to where the
ships of the bondes lay and
bore holes in them, and to set loose
their horses on the farms where
they were; all which was done.
Now the king was in prayer
all the night, beseeching God of His
goodness and mercy to release
him from evil. When mass was
ended, and morning was grey,
the king went to the Thing. When he
came there some bondes had
already arrived, and they saw a great
crowd coming along, and bearing
among them a huge man's image
glancing with gold and silver.
When the bondes who were at the
Thing saw it they started up,
and bowed themselves down before
the ugly idol. Thereupon it
was set down upon the Thing-field;
and on the one side of it sat
the bondes, and on the other the
king and his people.
Then Dale-Gudbrand stood up,
and said, "Where now, king, is thy
god? I think he will now carry
his head lower; and neither thou,
nor the man with the horn whom
ye call bishop, and sits there
beside thee, are so bold to-day
as on the former days; for now
our god, who rules over all,
is come, and looks on you with an
angry eye; and now I see well
enough that ye are terrified, and
scarcely dare to raise your
eyes. Throw away now all your
opposition, and believe in
the god who has all your fate in his
hands."
The king now whispers to Kolbein
Sterke, without the bondes
perceiving it, "If it
come so in the course of my speech that the
bondes look another way than
towards their idol, strike him as
hard as thou canst with thy
club."
The king then stood up and
spoke. "Much hast thou talked to us
this morning, and greatly hast
thou wondered that thou canst not
see our God; but we expect
that he will soon come to us. Thou
wouldst frighten us with thy
god, who is both blind and deaf, and
can neither save himself nor
others, and cannot even move about
without being carried; but
now I expect it will be but a short
time before he meets his fate:
for turn your eyes towards the
east, -- behold our God advancing
in great light."
The sun was rising, and all
turned to look. At that moment
Kolbein gave their god a stroke,
so that the idol burst asunder;
and there ran out of it mice
as big almost as cats, and reptiles,
and adders. The bondes were
so terrified that some fled to their
ships; but when they sprang
out upon them they filled with water,
and could not get away. Others
ran to their horses, but could
not find them. The king then
ordered the bondes to be called
together, saying he wanted
to speak with them; on which the
bondes came back, and the Thing
was again seated.
The king rose up and said,
"I do not understand what your noise
and running mean. Ye see yourselves
what your god can do, -- the
idol ye adorned with gold and
silver, and brought meat and
provisions to. Ye see now that
the protecting powers who used it
were the mice and adders, reptiles
and paddocks; and they do ill
who trust to such, and will
not abandon this folly. Take now
your gold and ornaments that
are lying strewed about on the
grass, and give them to your
wives and daughters; but never hang
them hereafter upon stock or
stone. Here are now two conditions
between us to choose upon,
-- either accept Christianity, or
fight this very day; and the
victory be to them to whom the God
we worship gives it."
Then Dale-Gudbrand stood up
and said, "We have sustained great
damage upon our god; but since
he will not help us, we will
believe in the God thou believest
in."
Then all received Christianity.
The bishop baptized Gudbrand and
his son. King Olaf and Bishop
Sigurd left behind them teachers,
and they who met as enemies
parted as friends; and Gudbrand built
a church in the valley.
120. HEDEMARK BAPTIZED.
King Olaf proceeded from thence
to Hedemark, and baptized there;
but as he had formerly carried
away their kings as prisoners, he
did not venture himself, after
such a deed, to go far into the
country with few people at
that time, but a small part of
Hedemark was baptized; but
the king did not desist from his
expedition before he had introduced
Christianity over all
Hedemark, consecrated churches,
and placed teachers. He then
went to Hadaland and Thoten,
improving the customs of the people,
and persisting until all the
country was baptized. He then went
to Ringerike, where also all
people went over to Christianity.
The people of Raumarike then
heard that Olaf intended coming to
them, and they gathered a great
force. They said among
themselves that the journey
Olaf had made among them the last
time was not to be forgotten,
and he should never proceed so
again. The king, notwithstanding,
prepared for the journey. Now
when the king went up into
Raumarike with his forces, the
multitude of bondes came against
him at a river called Nitja; and
the bondes had a strong army,
and began the battle as soon as
they met; but they soon fell
short, and took to flight. They
were forced by this battle
into a better disposition, and
immediately received Christianity;
and the king scoured the whole
district, and did not leave
it until all the people were made
Christians. He then went east
to Soleys, and baptized that
neighbourhood. The skald Ottar
Black came to him there, and
begged to be received among
his men. Olaf the Swedish king had
died the winter before (A.D.
1021), and Onund, the son of Olaf,
was now the sole king over
all Sweden. King Olaf returned, when
the winter (A.D. 1022) was
far advanced, to Raumarike. There he
assembled a numerous Thing,
at a place where the Eidsvold Things
have since been held. He made
a law, that the Upland people
should resort to this Thing,
and that Eidsvold laws should be
good through all the districts
of the Uplands, and wide around in
other quarters, which also
has taken place. As spring was
advancing, he rigged his ships,
and went by sea to Tunsberg. He
remained there during the spring,
and the time the town was most
frequented, and goods from
other countries were brought to the
town for sale. There had been
a good year in Viken, and
tolerable as far north as Stad;
but it was a very dear time in
all the country north of there.
121. RECONCILIATION OF THE
KING AND EINAR.
In spring (A.D. 1022) King
Olaf sent a message west to Agder, and
north all the way to Hordaland
and Rogaland, prohibiting the
exporting or selling of corn,
malt, or meal; adding, that he, as
usual, would come there with
his people in guest-quarters. The
message went round all the
districts; but the king remained in
Viken all summer, and went
east to the boundary of the country.
Einar Tambaskelfer had been
with the Swedish king Olaf since the
death of his relation Earl
Svein, and had, as the khag's man,
received great fiefs from him.
Now that the king was dead, Einar
had a great desire to come
into friendship agreement with Olaf;
and the same spring messages
passed between them about it. While
the king was lying in the Gaut
river, Einar Tambaskelfer came
there with some men; and after
treating about an agreement, it
was settled that Einar should
go north to Throndhjem, and there
take possession of all the
lands and property which Bergliot had
received in dower. Thereupon
Einar took his way north; but the
king remained behind in Viken,
and remained long in Sarpsborg in
autumn (A.D. 1022), and during
the first part of winter.
122. RECONCILIATION OF THE
KING AND ERLING.
Erling Skjalgson held his dominion
so, that all north from Sogn
Lake, and east to the Naze,
the bondes stood under him; and
although he had much smaller
royal fiefs than formerly, still so
great a dread of him prevailed
that nobody dared to do anything
against his will, so that the
king thought his power too great.
There was a man called Aslak
Fitiaskalle, who was powerful and of
high birth. Erling's father
Skjalg, and Aslak's father Askel,
were brother's sons. Aslak
was a great friend of King Olaf, and
the king settled him in South
Hordaland, where he gave him a
great fief, and great income,
and ordered him in no respect to
give way to Erling. But this
came to nothing when the king was
not in the neighbourhood; for
then Erling would reign as he used
to do, and was not more humble
because Aslak would thrust himself
forward as his equal. At last
the strife went so far that Aslak
could not keep his place, but
hastened to King Olaf, and told him
the circumstances between him
and Erling. The king told Aslak to
remain with him until he should
meet Erling; and sent a message
to Erling that he should come
to him in spring at Tunsberg. When
they all arrived there they
held a meeting at which the king said
to him, "It is told me
concerning thy government, Erling, that no
man from Sogn Lake to the Naze
can enjoy his freedom for thee;
although there are many men
there who consider themselves born to
udal rights, and have their
privileges like others born as they
are. Now, here is your relation
Aslak, who appears to have
suffered great inconvenience
from your conduct; and I do not know
whether he himself is in fault,
or whether he suffers because I
have placed him to defend what
is mine; and although I name him,
there are many others who have
brought the same complaint before
us, both among those who are
placed in office in our districts,
and among the bailiffs who
have our farms to manage, and are
obliged to entertain me and
my people."
Erling replies to this, "I
will answer at once. I deny
altogether that I have ever
injured Aslak, or any one else, for
being in your service; but
this I will not deny, that it is now,
as it has long been, that each
of us relations will willingly be
greater than the other: and,
moreover, I freely acknowledge that
I am ready to bow my neck to
thee, King Olaf; but it is more
difficult for me to stoop before
one who is of slave descent in
all his generation, although
he is now your bailiff, or before
others who are but equal to
him in descent, although you bestow
honours on them."
Now the friends of both interfered,
and entreated that they would
be reconciled; saying, that
the king never could have such
powerful aid as from Erling,
"if he was your friend entirely."
On the other hand, they represent
to Erling that he should give
up to the king; for if he was
in friendship with the king, it
would be easy to do with all
the others what he pleased. The
meeting accordingly ended so
that Erling should retain the fiefs
he formerly had, and every
complaint the king had against Erling
should be dropped; but Skjalg,
Erling's son, should come to the
king, and remain in his power.
Then Aslak returned to his
dominions, and the two were
in some sort reconciled. Erling
returned home also to his domains,
and followed his own way of
ruling them.
123. HERE BEGINS THE STORY
OF ASBJORN SELSBANE.
There was a man named Sigurd
Thoreson, a brother of Thorer Hund
of Bjarkey Island. Sigurd
was married to Sigrid Skjalg's
daughter, a sister of Erling.
Their son, called Asbjorn, became
as he grew up a very able man.
Sigurd dwelt at Omd in
Thrandarnes, and was a very
rich and respected man. He had not
gone into the king's service;
and Thorer in so far had attained
higher dignity than his brother,
that he was the king's
lenderman. But at home, on
his farm, Sigurd stood in no respect
behind his brother in splendour
and magnificence. As long as
heathenism prevailed, Sigurd
usually had three sacrifices every
year: one on winter-night's
eve, one on mid-winter's eve, and the
third in summer. Although
he had adopted Christianity, he
continued the same custom with
his feasts: he had, namely, a
great friendly entertainment
at harvest time; a Yule feast in
winter, to which he invited
many; the third feast he had about
Easter, to which also he invited
many guests. He continued this
fashion as long as he lived.
Sigurd died on a bed of sickness
when Asbjorn was eighteen years
old. He was the only heir of his
father, and he followed his
father's custom of holding three
festivals every year. Soon
after Asbjorn came to his heritage
the course of seasons began
to grow worse, and the corn harvests
of the people to fail; but
Asbjorn held his usual feasts, and
helped himself by having old
corn, and an old provision laid up
of all that was useful. But
when one year had passed and another
came, and the crops were no
better than the year before, Sigrid
wished that some if not all
of the feasts should be given up.
That Asbjorn would not consent
to, but went round in harvest
among his friends, buying corn
where he could get it, and some he
received in presents. He thus
kept his feasts this winter also;
but the spring after people
got but little seed into the ground,
for they had to buy the seed-corn.
Then Sigurd spoke of
diminishing the number of their
house-servants. That Asbjorn
would not consent to, but held
by the old fashion of the house in
all things. In summer (A.D.
1022) it appeared again that there
would be a bad year for corn;
and to this came the report from
the south that King Olaf prohibited
all export of corn, malt, or
meal from the southern to the
northern parts of the country.
Then Asbjorn perceived that
it would be difficult to procure what
was necessary for a house-keeping,
and resolved to put into the
water a vessel for carrying
goods which he had, and which was
large enough to go to sea with.
The ship was good, all that
belonged to her was of the
best, and in the sails were stripes of
cloth of various colours.
Asbjorn made himself ready for a
voyage, and put to sea with
twenty men. They sailed from the
north in summer; and nothing
is told of their voyage until one
day, about the time the days
begin to shorten, they came to
Karmtsund, and landed at Augvaldsnes.
Up in the island Karmt
there is a large farm, not
far from the sea, and a large house
upon it called Augvaldsnes,
which was a king's house, with an
excellent farm, which Thorer
Sel, who was the king's bailiff, had
under his management. Thorer
was a man of low birth, but had
swung himself up in the world
as an active man; and he was polite
in speech, showy in clothes,
and fond of distinction, and not apt
to give way to others, in which
he was supported by the favour of
the king. He was besides quick
in speech, straightforward, and
free in conversation. Asbjorn,
with his company, brought up
there for the night; and in
the morning, when it was light,
Thorer went down to the vessel
with some men, and inquired who
commanded the splendid ship.
Asbjorn named his own and his
father's name. Thorer asks
where the voyage was intended for,
and what was the errand.
Asbjorn replies, that he wanted
to buy corn and malt; saying, as
was true, that it was a very
dear time north in the country.
"But we are told that
here the seasons are good; and wilt thou,
farmer, sell us corn? I see
that here are great corn stacks, and
it would be very convenient
if we had not to travel farther."
Thorer replies, "I will
give thee the information that thou
needst not go farther to buy
corn, or travel about here in
Rogaland; for I can tell thee
that thou must turn about, and not
travel farther, for the king
forbids carrying corn out of this to
the north of the country.
Sail back again, Halogalander, for
that will be thy safest course."
Asbjorn replies, "If it
be so, bonde, as thou sayest, that we can
get no corn here to buy, I
will, notwithstanding, go forward upon
my errand, and visit my family
in Sole, and see my relation
Erling's habitation."
Thorer: "How near is thy
relationship to Erling?"
Asbjorn: "My mother is
his sister."
Thorer: "It may be that
I have spoken heedlessly, if so be that
thou art sister's son of Erling."
Thereupon Asbjorn and his crew
struck their tents, and turned the
ship to sea. Thorer called
after them. "A good voyage, and come
here again on your way back."
Asbjorn promised to do so, sailed
away, and came in the evening
to Jadar. Asbjorn went on shore
with ten men; the other ten
men watched the ship. When Asbjorn
came to the house he was very
well received, and Erling was very
glad to see him, placed him
beside himself, and asked him all the
news in the north of the country.
Asbjorn concealed nothing of
his business from him; and
Erling said it happened unfortunately
that the king had just forbid
the sale of corn. "And I know no
man here." says he, "who
has courage to break the king's order,
and I find it difficult to
keep well with the king, so many are
trying to break our friendship."
Asbjorn replies, "It is
late before we learn the truth. In my
childhood I was taught that
my mother was freeborn throughout her
whole descent, and that Erling
of Sole was her boldest relation;
and now I hear thee say that
thou hast not the freedom, for the
king's slaves here in Jadar,
to do with thy own corn what thou
pleasest."
Erling looked at him, smiled
through his teeth, and said, "Ye
Halogalanders know less of
the king's power than we do here; but
a bold man thou mayst be at
home in thy conversation. Let us now
drink, my friend, and we shall
see tomorrow what can be done in
thy business."
They did so, and were very
merry all the evening. The following
day Erling and Asbjorn talked
over the matter again, and Erling
said. "I have found out
a way for you to purchase corn, Asbjorn.
It is the same thing to you
whoever is the seller." He answered
that he did not care of whom
he bought the corn, if he got a good
right to his purchase. Erling
said. "It appears to me probable
that my slaves have quite as
much corn as you require to buy; and
they are not subject to law,
or land regulation, like other men."
Asbjorn agreed to the proposal.
The slaves were now spoken to
about the purchase, and they
brought forward corn and malt, which
they sold to Asbjorn, so that
he loaded his vessel with what he
wanted. When he was ready
for sea Erling followed him on the
road, made him presents of
friendship, and they took a kind
farewell of each other. Asbjorn
got a good breeze, landed in the
evening at Karmtsund, near
to Augvaldsnes, and remained there for
the night. Thorer Sel had
heard of Asbjorn's voyage, and also
that his vessel was deeply
laden. Thorer summoned people to him
in the night, so that before
daylight he had sixty men; and with
these he went against Asbjorn
as soon as it was light, and went
out to the ship just as Asbjorn
and his men were putting on their
clothes. Asbjorn saluted Thorer,
and Thorer asked what kind of
goods Asbjorn had in the vessel.
He replied, "Corn and
malt."
Thorer said, "Then Erling
is doing as he usually does, and
despising the king's orders,
and is unwearied in opposing him in
all things, insomuch that it
is wonderful the king suffers it."
Thorer went on scolding in
this way, and when he was silent
Asbjorn said that Erling's
slaves had owned the corn.
Thorer replied hastily, that
he did not regard Erling's tricks.
"And now, Asbjorn, there
is no help for it; ye must either go on
shore, or we will throw you
overboard; for we will not be
troubled with you while we
are discharging the cargo."
Asbjorn saw that he had not
men enough to resist Thorer;
therefore he and his people
landed, and Thorer took the whole
cargo out of the vessel. When
the vessel was discharged Thorer
went through the ship, and
observed. "Ye Halogalanders have good
sails: take the old sail of
our vessel and give it them; it is
good enough for those who are
sailing in a light vessel." Thus
the sails were exchanged.
When this was done Asbjorn and his
comrades sailed away north
along the coast, and did not stop
until they reached home early
in whiter. This expedition was
talked of far and wide, and
Asbjorn had no trouble that winter in
making feasts at home. Thorer
Hund invited Asbjorn and his
mother, and also all whom they
pleased to take along with him, to
a Yule feast; but Asbjorn sat
at home, and would not travel, and
it was to be seen that Thorer
thought Asbjorn despised his
invitation, since he would
not come. Thorer scoffed much at
Asbjorn's voyage. "Now,"
said he, "it is evident that Asbjorn
makes a great difference in
his respect towards his relations;
for in summer he took the greatest
trouble to visit his relation
Erling in Jadar, and now will
not take the trouble to come to me
in the next house. I don't
know if he thinks there may be a
Thorer Sel in his way upon
every holm." Such words, and the like
sarcasms, Asbjorn heard of;
and very ill satisfied he was with
his voyage, which had thus
made him a laughing-stock to the
country, and he remained at
home all winter, and went to no
feasts.
124. MURDER OF THORER SEL.
Asbjorn had a long-ship standing
in the noust (shipshed), and it
was a snekke (cutter) of twenty
benches; and after Candlemas
(February 2, 1023), he had
the vessel put in the water, brought
out all his furniture, and
rigged her out. He then summoned to
him his friends and people,
so that he had nearly ninety men all
well armed. When he was ready
for sea, and got a wind, he sailed
south along the coast, but
as the wind did not suit, they
advanced but slowly. When
they came farther south they steered
outside the rocks, without
the usual ships' channel, keeping to
sea as much as it was possible
to do so. Nothing is related of
his voyage before the fifth
day of Easter (April 18, 1023), when,
about evening, they came on
the outside of Karmt Island. This
island is so shaped that it
is very long, but not broad at its
widest part; and without it
lies the usual ships' channel. It is
thickly inhabited; but where
the island is exposed to the ocean
great tracts of it are uncultivated.
Asbjorn and his men landed
at a place in the island that
was uninhabited. After they had
set up their ship-tents Asbjorn
said, "Now ye must remain here
and wait for me. I will go
on land in the isle, and spy what
news there may be which we
know nothing of." Asbjorn had on mean
clothes, a broadbrimmed hat,
a fork in his hand, but had girt on
his sword under his clothes.
He went up to the land, and in
through the island; and when
he came upon a hillock, from which
he could see the house on Augvaldsnes,
and on as far as
Karmtsund, he saw people in
all quarters flocking together by
land and by sea, and all going
up to the house of Augvaldsnes.
This seemed to him extraordinary;
and therefore he went up
quietly to a house close by,
in which servants were cooking meat.
From their conversation he
discovered immediately that the king
Olaf had come there to a feast,
and that he had just sat down to
table. Asbjorn turned then
to the feasting-room, and when he
came into the ante-room one
was going in and another coming out;
but nobody took notice of him.
The hall-door was open, and he
saw that Thorer Sel stood before
the table of the high-seat. It
was getting late in the evening,
and Asbjorn heard people ask
Thorer what had taken place
between him and Asbjorn; and Thorer
had a long story about it,
in which he evidently departed from
the truth. Among other things
he heard a man say, "How did
Asbjorn behave when you discharged
his vessel?" Thorer replied,
"When we were taking out
the cargo he bore it tolerably, but not
well; and when we took the
sail from him he wept." When Asbjorn
heard this he suddenly drew
his sword, rushed into the hall, and
cut at Thorer. The stroke
took him in the neck, so that the head
fell upon the table before
the king, and the body at his feet,
and the table-cloth was soiled
with blood from top to bottom.
The king ordered him to be
seized and taken out. This was done.
They laid hands on Asbjorn,
and took him from the hall. The
table-furniture and table-cloths
were removed, and also Thorer's
corpse, and all the blood wiped
up. The king was enraged to the
highest; but remained quiet
in speech, as he always was when in
anger.
125. OF SKJALG, THE SON OF
ERLING SKJALGSON.
Skjalg Erlingson stood up,
went before the king, and said, "Now
may it go, as it often does,
that every case will admit of
alleviation. I will pay thee
the mulct for the bloodshed on
account of this man, so that
he may retain life and limbs. All
the rest determine and do,
king, according to thy pleasure."
The king replies, "Is
it not a matter of death, Skjalg, that a
man break the Easter peace;
and in the next place that he kills a
man in the king's lodging;
and in the third that he makes my feet
his execution-block, although
that may appear a small matter to
thee and thy father?"
Skjalg replies, "It is
ill done, king, in as far as it displeases
thee; but the deed is, otherwise,
done excellently well. But if
the deed appear to thee so
important, and be so contrary to thy
will, yet may I expect something
for my services from thee; and
certainly there are many who
will say that thou didst well."
The king replies, "Although
thou hast made me greatly indebted to
thee, Skjalg, for thy services,
yet I will not for thy sake break
the law, or cast away my own
dignity."
Then Skjalg turned round, and
went out of the hall. Twelve men
who had come with Skjalg all
followed him, and many others went
out with him. Skjalg said
to Thorarin Nefiulfson, "If thou wilt
have me for a friend, take
care that this man be not killed
before Sunday." Thereupon
Skjalg and his men set off, took a
rowing boat which he had, and
rowed south as fast as they could,
and came to Jadar with the
first glimpse of morning. They went
up instantly to the house,
and to the loft in which Erling slept.
Skjalg rushed so hard against
the door that it burst asunder at
the nails. Erling and the
others who were within started up. He
was in one spring upon his
legs, grasped his shield and sword,
and rushed to the door, demanding
who was there. Skjalg named
himself, and begs him to open
the door. Erling replies, "It was
most likely to be thee who
hast behaved so foolishly; or is there
any one who is pursuing thee?"
Thereupon the door was unlocked.
Then said Skjalg, "Although
it appears to thee that I am so
hasty, I suppose our relation
Asbjorn will not think my
proceedings too quick; for
he sits in chains there in the north
at Augvaldsnes, and it would
be but manly to hasten back and
stand by him." The father
and son then had a conversation
together, and Skjalg related
the whole circumstances of Thorer
Sel's murder.
126. OF THORARIN NEFIULFSON.
King Olaf took his seat again
when everything in the hall was put
in order, and was enraged beyond
measure. He asked how it was
with the murderer. He was
answered, that he was sitting out upon
the doorstep under guard.
The king says, "Why is
he not put to death?"
Thorarin Nefiulfson replies,
"Sire, would you not call it murder
to kill a man in the night-time?"
The king answers, "Put
him in irons then, and kill him in the
morning."
Then Asbjorn was laid in chains,
and locked up in a house for the
night. The day after the king
heard the morning mass, and then
went to the Thing, where he
sat till high mass. As he was going
to mass he said to Thorarin,
"Is not the sun high enough now in
the heavens that your friend
Asbjorn may be hanged?"
Thorarin bowed before the king,
and said, "Sire, it was said by
Bishop Sigurd on Friday last,
that the King who has all things in
his power had to endure great
temptation of spirit; and blessed
is he who rather imitates him,
than those who condemned the man
to death, or those who caused
his slaughter. It is not long till
tomorrow, and that is a working
day."
The king looked at him, and
said, "Thou must take care then that
he is not put to death to-day;
but take him under thy charge, and
know for certain that thy own
life shall answer for it if he
escape in any way."
Then the king went away. Thorarin
went also to where Asbjorn lay
in irons, took off his chains,
and brought him to a small room,
where he had meat and drink
set before him, and told him what the
king had determined in case
Asbjorn ran away. Asbjorn replies,
that Thorarin need not be afraid
of him. Thorarin sat a long
while with him during the day,
and slept there all night. On
Saturday the king arose and
went to the early mass, and from
thence he went to the Thing,
where a great many bondes were
assembled, who had many complaints
to be determined. The king
sat there long in the day,
and it was late before the people went
to high mass. Thereafter the
king went to table. When he had
got meat he sat drinking for
a while, so that the tables were not
removed. Thorarin went out
to the priest who had the church
under his care, and gave him
two marks of silver to ring in the
Sabbath as soon as the king's
table was taken away. When the
king had drunk as much as he
wished the tables were removed.
Then said the king, that it
was now time for the slaves to go to
the murderer and put him to
death. In the same moment the bell
rang in the Sabbath.
Then Thorarin went before the
king, and said, "The Sabbath-peace
this man must have, although
he has done evil."
The king said, "Do thou
take care, Thorarin, that he do not
escape."
The king then went to the church,
and attended the vesper
service, and Thorarin sat the
whole day with Asbjorn. On Sunday
the bishop visited Asbjorn,
confessed him, and gave him orders to
hear high mass. Thorarin then
went to the king, and asked him to
appoint men to guard the murderer.
"I will now," he said, "be
free of this charge."
The king thanked him for his care, and
ordered men to watch over Asbjorn,
who was again laid in chains.
When the people went to high
mass Asbjorn was led to the church,
and he stood outside of the
church with his guard; but the king
and all the people stood in
the church at mass.
127. ERLING'S RECONCILIATION
WITH KING OLAF.
Now we must again take up our
story where we left it, -- that
Erling and his son Skjalg held
a council on this affair, and
according to the resolution
of Erling, and of Skjalg and his
other sons, it was determined
to assemble a force and send out
message-tokens. A great multitude
of people accordingly came
together. They got ready with
all speed, rigged their ships, and
when they reckoned upon their
force they found they had nearly
1500 men. With this war-force
they set off, and came on Sunday
to Augvaldsnes on Karmt Island.
They went straight up to the
house with all the men, and
arrived just as the Scripture lesson
was read. They went directly
to the church, took Asbjorn, and
broke off his chains. At the
tumult and clash of arms all who
were outside of the church
ran into it; but they who were in the
church looked all towards them,
except the king, who stood still,
without looking around him.
Erling and his sons drew up their
men on each side of the path
which led from the church to the
hall, and Erling with his sons
stood next to the hall. When high
mass was finished the king
went immediately out of the church,
and first went through the
open space between the ranks drawn up,
and then his retinue, man by
man; and as he came to the door
Erling placed himself before
the door, bowed to the king, and
saluted him. The king saluted
him in return, and prayed God to
help him. Erling took up the
word first, and said, "My relation,
Asbjorn, it is reported to
me, has been guilty of misdemeanor,
king; and it is a great one,
if he has done anything that incurs
your displeasure. Now I am
come to entreat for him peace, and
such penalties as you yourself
may determine; but that thereby he
redeem life and limb, and his
remaining here in his native land."
The king replies, "It
appears to me, Erling, that thou thinkest
the case of Asbjorn is now
in thy own power, and I do not
therefore know why thou speakest
now as if thou wouldst offer
terms for him. I think thou
hast drawn together these forces
because thou are determined
to settle what is between us."
Erling replies, "Thou
only, king, shalt determine, and determine
so that we shall be reconciled."
The king: "Thinkest thou,
Erling, to make me afraid? And art
thou come here in such force
with that expectation? No, that
shall not be; and if that be
thy thought, I must in no way turn
and fly."
Erling replies, "Thou
hast no occasion to remind me how often I
have come to meet thee with
fewer men than thou hadst. But now I
shall not conceal what lies
in my mind, namely, that it is my
will that we now enter into
a reconciliation; for otherwise I
expect we shall never meet
again." Erling was then as red as
blood in the face.
Now Bishop Sigurd came forward
to the king and said, "Sire, I
entreat you on God Almighty's
account to be reconciled with
Erling according to his offer,
-- that the man shall retain life
and limb, but that thou shalt
determine according to thy pleasure
all the other conditions."
The king replies, "You
will determine."
Then said the bishop, "Erling,
do thou give security for Asbjorn,
such as the king thinks sufficient,
and then leave the conditions
to the mercy of the king, and
leave all in his power."
Erling gave a surety to the
king on his part, which he accepted.
Thereupon Asbjorn received
his life and safety, and delivered
himself into the king's power,
and kissed his hand.
Erling then withdrew with his
forces, without exchanging
salutation with the king; and
the king went into the hall,
followed by Asbjorn. The king
thereafter made known the terms of
reconciliation to be these:
-- "In the first place, Asbjorn, thou
must submit to the law of the
land, which commands that the man
who kills a servant of the
king must undertake his service, if
the king will. Now I will
that thou shalt undertake the office
of bailiff which Thorer Sel
had, and manage my estate here in
Augvaldsnes." Asbjorn
replies, that it should be according to
the king's will; "but
I must first go home to my farm, and put
things in order there."
The king was satisfied with this, and
proceeded to another guest-quarter.
Asbjorn made himself ready
with his comrades, who all
kept themselves concealed in a quiet
creek during the time Asbjorn
was away from them. They had had
their spies out to learn how
it went with him, and would not
depart without having some
certain news of him.
128. OF THORER HUND AND ASBJORN
SELSBANE.
Asbjorn then set out on his
voyage, and about spring (A.D. 1023)
got home to his farm. After
this exploit he was always called
Asbjorn Selsbane. Asbjorn
had not been long at home before he
and his relation Thorer met
and conversed together, and Thorer
asked Asbjorn particularly
all about his journey, and about all
the circumstances which had
happened on the course of it.
Asbjorn told everything as
it had taken place.
Then said Thorer, "Thou
thinkest that thou hast well rubbed out
the disgrace of having been
plundered in last harvest."
"I think so," replies
Asbjorn; "and what is thy opinion, cousin?"
"That I will soon tell
thee," said Thorer. "Thy first expedition
to the south of the country
was indeed very disgraceful, and that
disgrace has been redeemed;
but this expedition is both a
disgrace to thee and to thy
family, if it end in thy becoming the
king's slave, and being put
on a footing with that worst of men,
Thorer Sel. Show that thou
art manly enough to sit here on thy
own property, and we thy relations
shall so support thee that
thou wilt never more come into
such trouble."
Asbjorn found this advice much
to his mind; and before they
parted it was firmly, determined
that Asbjorn should remain on
his farm, and not go back to
the king or enter into his service.
And he did so, and sat quietly
at home on his farm.
129. KING OLAF BAPTIZES IN
VORS AND VALDERS.
After King Olaf and Erling
Skjalgson had this meeting at
Augvaldsnes, new differences
arose between them, and increased
so much that they ended in
perfect enmity. In spring (A.D. 1023)
the king proceeded to guest-quarters
in Hordaland, and went up
also to Vors, because he heard
there was but little of the true
faith among the people there.
He held a Thing with the bondes at
a place called Vang, and a
number of bondes came to it fully
armed. The king ordered them
to adopt Christianity; but they
challenged him to battle, and
it proceeded so far that the men
were drawn up on both sides.
But when it came to the point such
a fear entered into the blood
of the bondes that none would
advance or command, and they
chose the part which was most to
their advantage; namely, to
obey the king and receive
Christianity; and before the
king left them they were all
baptized. One day it happened
that the king was riding on his
way a singing of psalms, and
when he came right opposite some
hills he halted and said, "Man
after man shall relate these my
words, that I think it not
advisable for any king of Norway to
travel hereafter between these
hills." And it is a saying among
the people that the most kings
since that time have avoided it.
The king proceeded to Ostrarfjord,
and came to his ships, with
which he went north to Sogn,
and had his living in guest-quarters
there in summer (A.D. 1023);
when autumn approached he turned in
towards the Fjord district,
and went from thence to Valders,
where the people were still
heathen. The king hastened up to the
lake in Valders, came unexpectedly
on the bondes, seized their
vessels, and went on board
of them with all his men. He then
sent out message-tokens, and
appointed a Thing so near the lake
that he could use the vessels
if he found he required them. The
bondes resorted to the Thing
in a great and well-armed host; and
when he commanded them to accept
Christianity the bondes shouted
against him, told him to be
silent, and made a great uproar and
clashing of weapons. But when
the king saw that they would not
listen to what he would teach
them, and also that they had too
great a force to contend with,
he turned his discourse, and asked
if there were people at the
Thing who had disputes with each
other which they wished him
to settle. It was soon found by the
conversation of the bondes
that they had many quarrels among
themselves, although they had
all joined in speaking against
Christianity. When the bondes
began to set forth their own
cases, each endeavored to get
some upon his side to support him;
and this lasted the whole day
long until evening, when the Thing
was concluded. When the bondes
had heard that the king had
travelled to Valders, and was
come into their neighborhood, they
had sent out message-tokens
summoning the free and the unfree to
meet in arms, and with this
force they had advanced against the
king; so that the neighbourhood
all around was left without
people. When the Thing was
concluded the bondes still remained
assembled; and when the king
observed this he went on board his
ships, rowed in the night right
across the water, landed in the
country there, and began to
plunder and burn. The day after the
king's men rowed from one point
of land to another, and over all
the king ordered the habitations
to be set on fire. Now when the
bondes who were assembled saw
what the king was doing, namely,
plundering and burning, and
saw the smoke and flame of their
houses, they dispersed, and
each hastened to his own home to see
if he could find those he had
left. As soon as there came a
dispersion among the crowd,
the one slipped away after the other,
until the whole multitude was
dissolved. Then the king rowed
across the lake again, burning
also on that side of the country.
Now came the bondes to him
begging for mercy, and offering to
submit to him. He gave every
man who came to him peace if he
desired it, and restored to
him his goods; and nobody refused to
adopt Christianity. The king
then had the people christened, and
took hostages from the bondes.
He ordered churches to be built
and consecrated, and placed
teachers in them. He remained a long
time here in autumn, and had
his ships drawn across the neck of
land between the two lakes.
The king did not go far from the
sides of the lakes into the
country, for he did not much trust
the bondes. When the king
thought that frost might be expected,
he went further up the country,
and came to Thoten. Arnor, the
earl's skald, tells how King
Olaf burnt in the Uplands, in the
poem he composed concerning
the king's brother King Harald: --
"Against the Upland
people wroth,
Olaf, to most so mild,
went forth:
The houses burning,
All people mourning;
Who could not fly
Hung on gallows high.
It was, I think, in Olaf's
race
The Upland people to oppress."
Afterwards King Olaf went north
through the valleys to
Dovrefield, and did not halt
until he reached the Throndhjem
district and arrived at Nidaros,
where he had ordered winter
provision to be collected,
and remained all winter (A.D. 1024).
This was the tenth year of
his reign.
130. OF EINAR TAMBASKELFER.
The summer before Einar Tambaskelfer
left the country, and went
westward to England (A.D. 1023).
There he met his relative Earl
Hakon, and stayed some time
with him. He then visited King
Canute, from whom he received
great presents. Einar then went
south all the way to Rome,
and came back the following summer
(A.D. 1024), and returned to
his house and land. King Olaf and
Einar did not meet this time.