Previous Section

40. EIRIK AND HAKON MAKE A WAR LEVY.

When Earl Eirik, the son of Hakon, who at that time was in

Raumarike, heard the tidings, he immediately gathered troops, and

went to the Uplands, and thence over the mountains to Throndhjem,

and joined his father Earl Hakon.  Thord Kolbeinson speaks of

this in the lay of Eirik: --

     "News from the south are flying round;

     The bonde comes with look profound,

     Bad news of bloody battles bringing,

     Of steel-clad men, of weapons ringing.

     I hear that in the Danish land

     Long-sided ships slide down the strand,

     And, floating with the rising tide,

     The ocean-coursers soon will ride."

The earls Hakon and Eirik had war-arrows split up and sent round

the Throndhjem country; and despatched messages to both the

Mores, North More and South More, and to Raumsdal, and also north

to Naumudal and Halogaland.  They summoned all the country to

provide both men and ships.  So it is said in Eirik's lay:

     "The skald must now a war-song raise,

     The gallant active youth must praise,

     Who o'er the ocean's field spreads forth

     Ships, cutters, boats, from the far north.

     His mighty fleet comes sailing by, --

     The people run to see them glide,

     Mast after mast, by the coast-side."

Earl Hakon set out immediately to the south, to More, to

reconnoitre and gather people; and Earl Eirik gathered an army

from the north to follow.

41. EXPEDITION OF THE JOMSBORG VIKINGS.

The Jomsborg vikings assembled their fleet in Limafjord, from

whence they went to sea with sixty sail of vessels.  When they

came under the coast of Agder, they steered northwards to

Rogaland with their fleet, and began to plunder when they came

into the earl's territory; and so they sailed north along the

coast, plundering and burning.  A man, by name Geirmund, sailed

in a light boat with a few men northwards to More, and there he

fell in with Earl Hakon, stood before his dinner table, and told

the earl the tidings of an army from Denmark having come to the

south end of the land.  The earl asked if he had any certainty of

it.  Then Geirmund stretched forth one arm, from which the hand

was cut off, and said, "Here is the token that the enemy is in

the land."  Then the earl questioned him particularly about this

army.  Geirmund says it consists of Jomsborg vikings, who have

killed many people, and plundered all around.  "And hastily and

hotly they pushed on," says he "and I expect it will not be long

before they are upon you."  On this the earl rode into every

fjord, going in along the one side of the land and out at the

other, collecting men; and thus he drove along night and day.  He

sent spies out upon the upper ridges, and also southwards into

the Fjords; and he proceeded north to meet Eirik with his men.

This appears from Eirik's lay: --

     "The earl, well skilled in war to speed

     O'er the wild wave the viking-steed,

     Now launched the high stems from the shore,

     Which death to Sigvalde's vikings bore.

     Rollers beneath the ships' keels crash,

     Oar-blades loud in the grey sea splash,

     And they who give the ravens food

     Row fearless through the curling flood."

Eirik hastened southwards with his forces the shortest way he

could.

42. OF THE JOMSBORG VIKINGS.

Earl Sigvalde steered with his fleet northwards around Stad, and

came to the land at the Herey Isles.  Although the vikings fell

in with the country people, the people never told the truth about

what the earl was doing; and the vikings went on pillaging and

laying waste.  They laid to their vessels at the outer end of Hod

Island, landed, plundered, and drove both men and cattle down to

the ships, killing all the men able to bear arms.

As they were going back to their ships, came a bonde, walking

near to Bue's troop, who said to them, "Ye are not doing like

true warriors, to be driving cows and calves down to the strand,

while ye should be giving chase to the bear, since ye are coming

near to the bear's den."

"What says the old man?" asked some.  "Can he tell us anything

about Earl Hakon?"

The peasant replies, "The earl went yesterday into the

Hjorundarfjord with one or two ships, certainly not more than

three, and then he had no news about you."

Bue ran now with his people in all haste down to the ships,

leaving all the booty behind.  Bue said, "Let us avail ourselves

now of this news we have got of the earl, and be the first to the

victory."  When they came to their ships they rode off from the

land.  Earl Sigvalde called to them, and asked what they were

about.  They replied, "The earl is in the fjord;" on which Earl

Sigvalde with the whole fleet set off, and rowed north about the

island Hod.

43. BATTLE WITH THE JOMSBORG VIKINGS.

The earls Hakon and Eirik lay in Halkelsvik, where all their

forces were assembled.  They had 150 ships, and they had heard

that the Jomsborg vikings had come in from sea, and lay at the

island Hod; and they, in consequence, rowed out to seek them.

When they reached a place called Hjorungavag they met each other,

and both sides drew up their ships in line for an attack.  Earl

Sigvalde's banner was displayed in the midst of his army, and

right against it Earl Hakon arranged his force for attack.  Earl

Sigvalde himself had 20 ships, but Earl Hakon had 60.  In Earl's

army were these chiefs, -- Thorer Hjort from Halogaland, and

Styrkar from Gimsar.  In the wing of the opposite array of the

Jomsborg vikings was Bue the Thick, and his brother Sigurd, with

20 ships.  Against him Earl Eirik laid himself with 60 ships; and

with him were these chiefs, -- Gudbrand Hvite from the Uplands,

and Thorkel Leira from Viken.  In the other wing of the Jomsborg

vikings' array was Vagn Akason with 20 ships; and against him

stood Svein the son of Hakon, in whose division was Skegge of

Yrjar at Uphaug, and Rognvald of Aervik at Stad, with 60 ships.

It is told in the Eirik's lay thus: --

     "The bonde's ships along the coast

     Sailed on to meet the foemen's host;

     The stout earl's ships, with eagle flight,

     Rushed on the Danes in bloody fight.

     The Danish ships, of court-men full,

     Were cleared of men, -- and many a hull

     Was driving empty on the main,

     With the warm corpses of the slain."

Eyvind Skaldaspiller says also in the "Haleygja-tal": --

     "Twas at the peep of day, --

     Our brave earl led the way;

     His ocean horses bounding --

     His war-horns loudly sounding!

     No joyful morn arose

     For Yngve Frey's base foes

     These Christian island-men

     Wished themselves home again."

Then the fleets came together, and one of the sharpest of

conflicts began.  Many fell on both sides, but the most by far on

Hakon's side; for the Jomsborg vikings fought desperately,

sharply, and murderously, and shot right through the shields.  So

many spears were thrown against Earl Hakon that his armour was

altogether split asunder, and he threw it off.  So says Tind

Halkelson: --

     "The ring-linked coat of strongest mail

     Could not withstand the iron hail,

     Though sewed with care and elbow bent,

     By Norn (1), on its strength intent.

     The fire of battle raged around, --

     Odin's steel shirt flew all unbound!

     The earl his ring-mail from him flung,

     Its steel rings on the wet deck rung;

     Part of it fell into the sea, --

     A part was kept, a proof to be

     How sharp and thick the arrow-flight

     Among the sea-steeds in this fight."

ENDNOTES:

(1)  Norn, one of the Fates, stands here for women, whose

     business it was to sew the rings of iron upon the cloth

     which made these ring-mail coats or shirts.  The needles,

     although some of them were of gold, appear to have been

     without eyes, and used like shoemaker's awls. -- L.

44. EARL SIGVALDE'S FLIGHT.

The Jomsborg vikings had larger and higher-sided ships; and both

parties fought desperately.  Vagn Akason laid his ship on board

of Svein Earl Hakon's son's ship, and Svein allowed his ship to

give way, and was on the point of flying.  Then Earl Eirik came

up, and laid his ship alongside of Vagn, and then Vagn gave way,

and the ships came to lie in the same position as before.

Thereupon Eirik goes to the other wing, which had gone back a

little, and Bue had cut the ropes, intending to pursue them.

Then Eirik laid himself, board to board, alongside of Bue's ship,

and there was a severe combat hand to hand.  Two or three of

Eirik's ships then laid themselves upon Bue's single vessel.  A

thunder-storm came on at this moment, and such a heavy hail-storm

that every hailstone weighed a pennyweight.  The Earl Sigvalde

cut his cable, turned his ship round, and took flight.  Vagn

Akason called to him not to fly; but as Earl Sigvalde paid no

attention to what he said, Vagn threw his spear at him, and hit

the man at the helm.  Earl Sigvalde rowed away with 35 ships,

leaving 25 of his fleet behind.

45. BUE THROWS HIMSELF OVERBOARD.

Then Earl Hakon laid his ship on the other side of Bue's ship,

and now came heavy blows on Bue's men.  Vigfus, a son of

Vigaglum, took up an anvil with a sharp end, which lay upon

the deck, and on which a man had welded the hilt to his sword

just before, and being a very strong man cast the anvil with both

hands at the head of Aslak Holmskalle, and the end of it went

into his brains.  Before this no weapon could wound this Aslak,

who was Bue's foster-brother, and forecastle commander, although

he could wound right and left.  Another man among the strongest

and bravest was Havard Hoggande.  In this attack Eirik's men

boarded Bue's ship, and went aft to the quarter-deck where Bue

stood.  There Thorstein Midlang cut at Bue across his nose, so

that the nosepiece of his helmet was cut in two, and he got a

great wound; but Bue, in turn, cut at Thorstein's side, so that

the sword cut the man through.  Then Bue lifted up two chests

full of gold, and called aloud, "Overboard all Bue s men," and

threw himself overboard with his two chests.  Many of his people

sprang overboard with him.  Some fell in the ship, for it was of

no use to call for quarter.  Bue's ship was cleared of people

from stem to stern, and afterwards all the others, the one after

the other.

46. VIKINGS BOUND TOGETHER IN ONE CHAIN.

Earl Eirik then laid himself alongside of Vagn's ship, and there

was a brave defence; but at last this ship too was cleared, and

Vagn and thirty men were taken prisoners, and bound, and brought

to land.  Then came up Thorkel Leira, and said, "Thou madest a

solemn vow, Vagn, to kill me, but now it seems more likely that I

will kill thee."  Vagn and his men sat all upon a log of wood

together.  Thorkel had an axe in his hands, with which he cut

at him who sat outmost on the log.  Vagn and the other prisoners

were bound so that a rope was fastened on their feet, but they

had their hands free.  One of them said, "I will stick this

cloak-pin that I have in my hand into the earth, if it be so that

I know anything, after my head is cut off."  His head was cut

off, but the cloak-pin fell from his hand.  There sat also a very

handsome man with long hair, who twisted his hair over his head,

put out his neck, and said, "Don't make my hair bloody."  A man

took the hair in his hands and held it fast.  Thorkel hewed with

his axe; but the viking twitched his head so strongly that he who

was holding his hair fell forwards, and the axe cut off both his

hands, and stuck fast in the earth.  Then Earl Eirik came up, and

asked, "Who is that handsome man?"

He replies, "I am called Sigurd, and am Bue's son.  But are all

the Jomsborg vikings dead?"

Eirik says, "Thou art certainly Boe's son.  Wilt thou now take

life and peace?"

"That depends," says he, "upon who it is that offers it."

"He offers who has the power to do it -- Earl Eirik."

"That will I," says he, "from his hands."  And now the rope was

loosened from him.

Then said Thorkel Leira, "Although thou should give all these men

life and peace, earl, Vagn Akason shall never come from this with

life."  And he ran at him with uplifted axe; but the viking

Skarde swung himself in the rope, and let himself fall just

before Thorkel's feet, so that Thorkel œell over him, and Vagn

caught the axe and gave Thorkel a death-wound.  Then said the

earl, "Vagn, wilt thou accept life?"

"That I will," says he, "if you give it to all of us."

"Loose them from the rope," said the earl, and it was done.

Eighteen were killed, and twelve got their lives.

47. DEATH OF GISSUR OF VALDERS.

Earl Hakon, and many with him, were sitting upon a piece of wood,

and a bow-string twanged from Bue's ship, and the arrow struck

Gissur from Valders, who was sitting next the earl, and was

clothed splendidly.  Thereupon the people went on board, and

found Havard Hoggande standing on his knees at the ship's

railing, for his feet had been cut off (1), and he had a bow in

his hand.  When they came on board the ship Havard asked, "Who

fell by that shaft?"

They answered, "A man called Gissur."

"Then my luck was less than I thought," said he.

"Great enough was the misfortune," replied they; "but thou shalt

not make it greater."  And they killed him on the spot.

The dead were then ransacked, and the booty brought all together

to be divided; and there were twenty-five ships of the Jomsborg

vikings in the booty.  So says Tind:

     "Many a viking's body lay

     Dead on the deck this bloody day,

     Before they cut their sun-dried ropes,

     And in quick flight put all their hopes.

     He whom the ravens know afar

     Cleared five-and-twenty ships of war:

     A proof that in the furious fight

     None can withstand the Norsemen's might."

Then the army dispersed.  Earl Hakon went to Throndhjem, and was

much displeased that Earl Eirik had given quarter to Vagn Akason.

It was said that at this battle Earl Hakon had sacrificed for

victory his son, young Erling, to the gods; and instantly came

the hailstorm, and the defeat and slaughter of the Jomsborg

vikings.

Earl Eirik went to the Uplands, and eastward by that route to his

own kingdom,  taking Vagn Akason with him.  Earl Eirik married

Vagn to Ingebjorg, a daughter of Thorkel Leira, and gave him a

good ship of war and all belonging to it, and a crew; and they

parted the best of friends.  Then Vagn went home south to

Denmark, and became afterwards a man of great consideration, and

many great people are descended from him.

ENDNOTES:

(1)  This traditionary tale of a warrior fighting on his knees

     after his legs were cut off, appears to have been a popular

     idea among the Northmen, and is related by their descendants

     in the ballad oœ Chevy Chase. -- L.

48. KING HARALD GRENSKE'S DEATH.

Harald Grenske, as before related, was king in Vestfold, and was

married to Asta, a daughter of Gudbrand Kula.  One summer (A.D.

994) Harald Grenske made an expedition to the Baltic to gather

property, and he came to Svithjod.  Olaf the Swede was king

there, a son of Eirik the Victorious, and Sigrid, a daughter of

Skoglartoste.  Sigrid was then a widow, and had many and great

estates in Svithjod.  When she heard that her foster-brother was

come to the country a short distance from her, she sent men to

him to invite him to a feast.  He did not neglect the invitation,

but came to her with a great attendance of his followers, and was

received in the most friendly way.  He and the queen sat in the

high-seat, and drank together towards the evening, and all his

men were entertained in the most hospitable manner.  At night,

when the king went to rest, a bed was put up for him with a

hanging of fine linen around it, and with costly bedclothes; but

in the lodging-house there were few men.  When the king was

undressed, and had gone to bed, the queen came to him, filled a

bowl herself for him to drink, and was very gay, and pressed to

drink.  The king was drunk above measure, and, indeed, so were

they both.  Then he slept, and the queen went away, and laid

herself down also.  Sigrid was a woman of the greatest

understanding, and clever in many things.  In the morning there

was also the most excellent entertainment; but then it went on as

usual when people have drunk too much, that next day they take

care not to exceed.  The queen was very gay, and she and the king

talked of many things with each other; among other things she

valued her property, and the dominions she had in Svithjod, as

nothing less than his property in Norway.  With that observation

the king was nowise pleased, and he found no pleasure in anything

after that, but made himself ready for his journey in an ill

humor.  On the other hand, the queen was remarkably gay, and made

him many presents, and followed him out to the road.  Now Harald

returned about harvest to Norway, and was at home all winter; but

was very silent and cast down.  In summer he went once more to

the Baltic with his ships, and steered to Svithjod.  He sent a

message to Queen Sigrid that he wished to have a meeting with her

and she rode down to meet him.  They talked together and he soon

brought out the proposal that she should marry him.  She replied,

that this was foolish talk for him, who was so well married

already that he might think himself well off. Harald says, "Asta

is a good and clever woman; but she is not so well born as I am."

Sigrid replies, "It may be that thou art of higher birth, but I

think she is  now pregnant with both your fortunes."  They

exchanged but few words more before the queen rode away.  King

Harald was now depressed in mind, and prepared himself again to

ride up the country to meet Queen Sigrid.  Many of his people

dissuaded him; but nevertheless he set off with a great

attendance, and came to the house in which the queen dwelt.  The

same evening came another king, called Vissavald, from Gardarike

(Russia), likewise to pay his addresses to Queen Sigrid.  Lodging

was given to both the kings, and to all their people, in a great

old room of an out-building, and all the furniture was of the

same character; but there was no want of drink in the evening,

and that so strong that all were drunk, and the watch, both

inside and outside, fell fast asleep.  Then Queen Sigrid ordered

an attack on them in the night, both with fire and sword.  The

house was burnt, with all who were in it and those who slipped

out were put to the sword.  Sigrid said that she would make these

small kings tired of coming to court her.  She was afterwards

called Sigrid the Haughty (Storrada).

49. BIRTH OF OLAF, SON OF HARALD GRENSKE.

This happened the winter after the battle of the Jomsborg vikings

at Hjorungavag.  When Harald went up the country after Sigrid, he

left Hrane behind with the ships to look after the men.  Now when

Hrane heard that Harald was cut off, he returned to Norway the

shortest way he could, and told the news.  He repaired first to

Asta, and related to her all that had happened on the journey,

and also on what errand Harald had visited Queen Sigrid.  When

Asta got these tidings she set off directly to her father in the

Uplands, who received her well; but both were enraged at the

design which had been laid in Svithjod, and that King Harald had

intended to set her in a single condition.  In summer (A.D. 995)

Asta, Gudbrand's daughter, was confined, and had a boy child, who

had water poured over him, and was called Olaf.  Hrane himself

poured water over him, and the child was brought up at first in

the house of Gudbrand and his mother Asta.

50. ABOUT EARL HAKON.

Earl Hakon ruled over the whole outer part of Norway that lies on

the sea, and had thus sixteen districts under his sway.  The

arrangement introduced by Harald Harfager, that there should be

an earl in each district, was afterward continued for a long

time; and thus Earl Hakon had sixteen earls under him.  So says

the "Vellekla": --

     "Who before has ever known

     Sixteen earls subdued by one?

     Who has seen all Norway's land

     Conquered by one brave hero's hand?

     It will be long in memory held,

     How Hakon ruled by sword and shield.

     When tales at the viking's mast go round,

     His praise will every mouth resound."

While Earl Hakon ruled over Norway there were good crops in the

land, and peace was well preserved in the country among the

bondes.  The Earl, for the greater part of his lifetime, was

therefore much beloved by the bondes; but it happened, in the

longer course of time, that the earl became very intemperate in

his intercourse with women, and even carried it so far that he

made the daughters of people of consideration be carried away and

brought home to him; and after keeping them a week or two as

concubines, he sent them home.  He drew upon himself the

indignation of me relations of these girls; and the bondes began

to murmur loudly, as the Throndhjem people have the custom of

doing when anything goes against their judgment.

51. THORER KLAKKA'S JOURNEY.

Earl Hakon, in the mean time, hears some whisper that to the

westward, over the Norœh sea, was a man called Ole, who was

looked upon as a king.  From the conversation of some people, he

fell upon the suspicion that he must be of the royal race of

Norway.  It was, indeed, said that this Ole was from Russia; but

the earl had heard that Trygve Olafson had had a son called Olaf,

who in his infancy had gone east to Gardarike, and had been

brought up by King Valdemar.  The earl had carefully inquired

about this man, and had his suspicion that he must be the same

person who had now come to these western countries.  The earl had

a very good friend called Thorer Klakka, who had been long upon

viking expeditions, sometimes also upon merchant voyages; so that

he was well acquainted all around.  This Thorer Earl Hakon sends

over the North sea, and told him to make a merchant voyage to

Dublin, many were in the habit of doing, and carefully to

discover who this Ole was.  Provided he got any certainty that he

was Olaf Trygvason, or any other of the Norwegian royal race,

then Thorer should endeavor to ensnare him by some deceit, and

bring him into the earl's power.

52. OLAF TRYGVASON COMES TO NORWAY.

On this Thorer sails westward to Ireland, and hears that Ole is

in Dublin with his wife's father King Olaf Kvaran.  Thorer, who

was a plausible man, immediately got acquainted with Ole; and as

they often met, and had long conversations together, Ole began to

inquire about news from Norway, and above all of the Upland kings

and great people, -- which of them were in life, and what

dominations they now had.  He asked also about Earl Hakon, and if

he was much liked in the country.  Thorer replies, that the earl

is such a powerful man that no one dares to speak otherwise than

he would like; but that comes from there being nobody else in the

country to look to.  "Yet, to say the truth, I know it to be the

mind of many brave men, and of whole communities, that they would

much rather see a king of Harald Harfager's race come to the

kingdom.  But we know of no one suited for this, especially now

that it is proved how vain every attack on Earl Hakon must be."

As they often talked together in the same strain, Olaf disclosed

to Thorer his name and family, and asked him his opinion, and

whether he thought the bondes would take him for their king if he

were to appear in Norway.  Thorer encouraged him very eagerly to

the enterprise, and praised him and his talents highly.  Then

Olaf's inclination to go to the heritage of his ancestors became

strong.  Olaf sailed accordingly, accompanied by Thorer, with

five ships; first to the Hebrides, and from thence to the

Orkneys.  At that time Earl Sigurd, Hlodver's son, lay in

Osmundswall, in the island South Ronaldsa, with a ship of war, on

his way to Caithness.  Just at the same time Olaf was sailing

with his fleet from the westward to the islands, and ran into the

same harbour, because Pentland Firth was not to be passed at that

tide.  When the king was informed that the earl was there, he

made him be called; and when the earl came on board to speak with

the king, after a few words only had passed between them, the

king says the earl must allow himself to be baptized, and all the

people of the country also, or he should be put to death

directly; and he assured the earl he would lay waste the islands

with fire and sword, if the people did not adopt Christianity.

In the position the earl found himself, he preferred becoming

Christian, and he and all who were with him were baptized.

Afterwards the earl took an oath to the king, went into his

service, and gave him his son, whose name was Hvelp (Whelp), or

Hunde (Dog), as an hostage; and the king took Hvelp to Norway

with him.  Thereafter Olaf went out to sea to the eastward, and

made the land at Morster Island, where he first touched the

ground of Norway.  He had high mass sung in a tent, and

afterwards on the spot a church was built.  Thorer Klakka said

now to the king, that the best plan for him would be not to make

it known who he was, or to let any report about him get abroad;

but to seek out Earl Hakon as fast as possible and fall upon him

by surprise.  King Olaf did so, sailing northward day and night,

when wind permitted, and did not let the people of the country

know who it was that was sailing in such haste.  When he came

north to Agdanes, he heard that the earl was in the fjord, and

was in discord with the bondes.  On hearing this, Thorer saw that

things were going in a very different way from what he expected;

for after the battle with the Jomsborg vikings all men in Norway

were the most sincere friends of the earl on account of the

victory he had gained, and of the peace and security he had given

to the country; and now it unfortunately turns out that a great

chief has come to the country at a time when the bondes are in

arms against the earl.

53. EARL HAKON'S FLIGHT.

Earl Hakon was at a feast in Medalhus in Gaulardal and his ships

lay out by Viggja.  There was a powerful bonde, by name Orm

Lyrgja, who dwelt in Bunes, who had a wife called Gudrun, a

daughter of Bergthor of Lundar.  She was called the Lundasol; for

she was the most-beautiful of women.  The earl sent his slaves to

Orm, with the errand that they should bring Orm's wife, Gudrun,

to the earl.  The thralls tell their errand, and Orm bids them

first seat themselves to supper; but before they had done eating,

many people from the neighbourhood, to whom Orm had sent notice,

had gathered together: and now Orm declared he would not send

Gudrun with the messengers.  Gudrun told the thralls to tell the

earl that she would not come to him, unless he sent Thora of

Rimul after her.  Thora was a woman of great influence, and one

of the earl's best beloved.  The thralls say that they will come

another time, and both the bonde and his wife would be made to

repent of it; and they departed with many threats.  Orm, on the

other hand, sent out a message-token to all the neighbouring

country, and with it the message to attack Earl Hakon with

weapons and kill him.  He sent also a message to Haldor in

Skerdingsstedja, who also sent out his message-token.  A short

time before, the earl had taken away the wife of a man called

Brynjolf, and there had very nearly been an insurrection about

that business.  Having now again got this message-token, the

people made a general revolt, and set out all to Medalhus.  When

the earl heard of this, he left the house with his followers, and

concealed himself in a deep glen, now called Jarlsdal (Earl's

Dale).  Later in the day, the earl got news of the bondes' army.

They had beset all the roads; but believed the earl had escaped

to his ships, which his son Erlend, a remarkably handsome and

hopeful young man, had the command of.  When night came the earl

dispersed his people, and ordered them to go through the forest

roads into Orkadal; "for nobody will molest you," said he, "when

I am not with you.  Send a message to Erlend to sail out of the

fjord, and meet me in More.  In the mean time I will conceal

myself from the bondes."  Then the earl went his way with one

thrall or slave, called Kark, attending him.  There was ice upon

the Gaul (the river of Gaulardal), and the earl drove his horse

upon it, and left his coat lying upon the ice.  They then went to

a hole, since called Jarlshella (the Earl's Hole), where they

slept.  When Kark awoke he told his dream, -- that a black

threatening mad had come into the hole, and was angry that people

should have entered it; and that the man had said, "Ulle is

dead."  The earl said that his son Erlend must be killed.  Kark

slept again and was again disturbed in his sleep; and when he

awoke he told his dream, -- that the same man had again appeared

to him, and bade him tell the earl that all the sounds were

closed.  From this dream the earl began to suspect that it

betokened a short life to him.  They stood up, and went to the

house of Rimul.  The earl now sends Kark to Thora, and begs of

her to come secretly to him.  She did so and received the earl

kindly and he begged her to conceal him for a few nights until

the army of the bondes had dispersed.  "Here about my house,"

said she, "you will be hunted after, both inside and outside; for

many know that I would willingly help you if I can.  There is but

one place about the house where they could never expect to find

such a man as you, and that is the swine-stye."  When they came

there the earl said, "Well, let it be made ready for us; as to

save our life is the first and foremost concern."  The slave dug

a great hole in it, bore away the earth that he dug out, and laid

wood over it.  Thora brought the tidings to the earl that Olaf

Trygvason had come from sea into the fjord, and had killed his

son Erlend.  Then the earl and Kark both went into the hole.

Thora covered it with wood, and threw earth and dung over it, and

drove the swine upon the top of it.  The swine-style was under a

great stone.

54. ERLEND'S DEATH.

Olaf Trygvason came from sea into the fjord with five long-ships,

and Erlend, Hakon's son, rowed towards him with three ships.

When the vessels came near to each other, Erlend suspected they

might be enemies, and turned towards the land.  When Olaf and his

followers saw long-ships coming in haste out of the fjord, and

rowing towards them, they thought Earl Hakon must be here; and

they put out all oars to follow them.  As soon as Erlend and his

ships got near the land they rowed aground instantly, jumped

overboard, and took to the land; but at the same instant Olaf's

ship came up with them.  Olaf saw a remarkably handsome man

swimming in the water, and laid hold of a tiller and threw it at

him.  The tiller struck Erlend, the son of Hakon the earl, on the

head, and clove it to the brain; and there left Erlend his life.

Olaf and his people killed many; but some escaped, and some were

made prisoners, and got life and freedom that they might go and

tell what had happened.  They learned then that the bondes had

driven away Earl Hakon, and that he had fled, and his troops were

all dispersed.

55. EARL HAKON'S DEATH.

The bondes then met Olaf, to the joy of both, and they made an

agreement together.  The bondes took Olaf to be their king, and

resolved, one and all, to seek out Earl Hakon.  They went up

Gaulardal; for it seemed to them likely that if the earl was

concealed in any house it must be at Rimul, for Thora was his

dearest friend in that valley.  They come up, therefore, and

search everywhere, outside and inside the house, but could not

find him.  Then Olaf held a House Thing (trusting), or council

out in the yard, and stood upon a great stone which lay beside

the swine-stye, and made a speech to the people, in which he

promised to enrich the man with rewards and honours who should

kill the earl.  This speech was heard by the earl and the thrall

Kark.  They had a light in their room.

"Why art thou so pale," says the earl, "and now again black as

earth?  Thou hast not the intention to betray me?"

"By no means," replies Kark.

"We were born on the same night," says the earl, "and the time

will be short between our deaths."

King Olaf went away in the evening.  When night came the earl

kept himself awake but Kark slept, and was disturbed in his

sleep.  The earl woke him, and asked him "what he was dreaming

of?"

He answered, "I was at Hlader and Olaf Trygvason was laying a

gold ring about my neck."

The earl says, "It will be a red ring Olaf will lay about thy

neck if he catches thee.  Take care of that!  From me thou shalt

enjoy all that is good, therefore betray me not."

They then kept themselves awake both; the one, as it were,

watching upon the other.  But towards day the earl suddenly

dropped asleep; but his sleep was so unquiet that he drew his

heels under him, and raised his neck, as if going to rise, and

screamed dreadfully high.  On this Kark, dreadfully alarmed, drew

a large knife out of his belt, stuck it in the earl's throat, and

cut it across, and killed Earl Hakon.  Then Kark cut off the

earl's head, and ran away.  Late in the day he came to Hlader,

where he delivered the earl's head to King Olaf, and told all

these circumstances of his own and Earl Hakon's doings.  Olaf had

him taken out and beheaded.

56. EARL HAKON'S HEAD.

King Olaf, and a vast number of bondes with him, then went out to

Nidarholm, and had with him the heads of Earl Hakon and Kark.

This holm was used then for a place of execution of thieves and

ill-doers, and there stood a gallows on it.  He had the heads of

the earl and of Kark hung upon it, and the whole army of the

bondes cast stones at them, screaming and shouting that the one

worthless fellow had followed the other.  They then sent up to

Gaulardal for the earl's dead body.  So great was the enmity of

the Throndhjem people against Earl Hakon, that no man could

venture to call him by any other name than Hakon the Bad; and he

was so called long after those days.  Yet, sooth to say of Earl

Hakon, he was in many respects fitted to be a chief: first,

because he was descended from a high race; then because he had

understanding and knowledge to direct a government; also manly

courage in battle to gain victories, and good luck in killing his

enemies.  So says Thorleif Raudfeldson: --

     "In Norway's land was never known

     A braver earl than the brave Hakon.

     At sea, beneath the clear moon's light,

     No braver man e'er sought to fight.

     Nine kings to Odin's wide domain

     Were sent, by Hakon's right hand slain!

     So well the raven-flocks were fed --

     So well the wolves were filled with dead!"

Earl Hakon was very generous; but the greatest misfortunes

attended even such a chief at the end of his days: and the great

cause of this was that the time was come when heathen sacrifices

and idolatrous worship were doomed to fall, and the holy faith

and good customs to come in their place.

57. OLAF TRYGVASON ELECTED KING.

Olaf Trvgvason was chosen at Throndhjem by the General Thing to

be the king over the whole country, as Harald Harfager had been.

The whole public and the people throughout all the land would

listen to nothing else than that Olaf Trygvason should be king.

Then Olaf went round the whole country, and brought it under his

rule, and all the people of Norway gave in their submission; and

also the chiefs in the Uplands and in Viken, who before had held

their lands as fiefs from the Danish king, now became King Olaf's

men, and held their hands from him.  He went thus through the

whole country during the first winter (A.D. 996) and the

following summer.  Earl Eirik, the son of Earl Hakon, his brother

Svein, and their friends and relations, fled out of the country,

and went east to Sweden to King Olaf the Swede, who gave them a

good reception.  So says Thord Kolbeinson: --

     "O thou whom bad men drove away,

     After the bondes by foul play,

     Took Hakon's life!  Fate will pursue

     These bloody wolves, and make them rue.

     When the host came from out the West,

     Like some tall stately war-ship's mast,

     I saw the son of Trygve stand,

     Surveying proud his native land."

And again, --

     "Eirik has more upon his mind,

     Against the new Norse king designed,

     Than by his words he seems to show --

     And truly it may well be so.

     Stubborn and stiff are Throndhjem men,

     But Throndhjem's earl may come again;

     In Swedish land he knows no rest --

     Fierce wrath is gathering in his breast."

58. LODIN'S MARRIAGE

Lodin was the name of a man from Viken who was rich and of good

family.  He went often on merchant voyages, and sometimes on

viking cruises.  It happened one summer that he went on a

merchant voyage with much merchandise in a ship of his own.  He

directed his course first to Eistland, and was there at a market

in summer.  To the place at which the market was held many

merchant goods were brought, and also many thralls or slaves for

sale.  There Lodin saw a woman who was to be sold as a slave: and

on looking at her he knew her to be Astrid Eirik's daughter, who

had been married to King Trygve.  But now she was altogether

unlike what she had been when he last saw her; for now she was

pale, meagre in countenance, and ill clad.  He went up to her,

and asked her how matters stood with her.  She replied, "It is

heavy to be told; for I have been sold as a slave, and now again

I am brought here for sale."  After speaking together a little

Astrid knew him, and begged him to buy her; and bring her home to

her friends.  "On this condition," said he, "I will bring thee

home tn Norway, that thou wilt marry me."  Now as Astrid stood in

great need, and moreover knew that Lodin was a man of high birth,

rich, and brave, she promised to do so for her ransom.  Lodin

accordingly bought Astrid, took her home to Norway with him, and

married her with her friends' consent.  Their children were

Thorkel Nefia, Ingerid, and Ingegerd.  Ingebjorg and Astrid were

daughters of Astrid by King Trygve.  Eirik Bjodaskalle's sons

were Sigird, Karlshofud, Jostein, and Thorkel Dydril, who were

all rich and brave people who had estates east in the country.

In Viken in the east dwelt two brothers, rich and of good

descent; one called Thorgeir, and the other Hyrning; and they

married Lodin and Astrid's daughters, Ingerid and Ingegerd.

59. OLAF BAPTIZES THE COUNTRY OF VIKEN.

When Harald Gormson, king of Denmark, had adopted Christianity,

he sent a message over all his kingdom that all people should be

baptized, and converted to the true faith.  He himself followed

his message, and used power and violence where nothing else would

do.  He sent two earls, Urguthrjot and Brimilskjar, with many

people to Norway, to proclaim Christianity there.  In Viken,

which stood directly under the king's power, this succeeded, and

many were baptized of the country folk.  But when Svein Forked-

beard, immediately after his father King Harald's death, went out

on war expeditions in Saxland, Frisland, and at last in England,

the Northmen who had taken up Christianity returned back to

heathen sacrifices, just as before; and the people in the north

of the country did the same.  But now that Olaf Trygvason was

king of Norway, he remained long during the summer (A.D. 996) in

Viken, where many of his relatives and some of his brothers-in-

law were settled, and also many who had been great friends of his

father; so that he was received with the greatest affection.

Olaf called together his mother's brothers, his stepfather Lodin,

and his brothers-in-law Thorgeir and Hyrning, to speak with them,

and to disclose with the greatest care the business which he

desired they themselves should approve of, and support with all

their power; namely, the proclaiming Christianity over all his

kingdom.  He would, he declared, either bring it to this, that

all Norway should be Christian, or die.  "I shall make you all,"

said he, "great and mighty men in promoting this work; for I

trust to you most, as blood relations or brothers-in-law."  All

agreed to do what he asked, and to follow him in what he desired.

King Olaf immediately made it known to the public that he

recommended Christianity to all the people in his kingdom, which

message was well received and approved of by those who had before

given him their promise; and these being the most powerful among

the people assembled, the others followed their example, and

all the inhabitants of the east part of Viken allowed themselves

to be baptized.  The king then went to the north part of Viken

and invited every man to accept Christianity; and those who

opposed him he punished severely, killing some, mutilating

others, and driving some into banishment.  At length he brought

it so far, that all the kingdom which his father King Trvgve had

ruled over, and also that of his relation Harald Grenske,

accepted of Christianity; and during that summer (A.D. 996) and

the following winter (A.D. 997) all Viken was made Christian.

60. OF THE HORDALAND PEOPLE.

Early in spring (A.D. 997) King Olaf set out from Viken with a

great force northwards to Agder, and proclaimed that every man

should be baptized.  And thus the people received Christianity,

for nobody dared oppose the king's will, wheresoever he came.  In

Hordaland, however, were many bold and great men of Hordakare's

race.  He, namely, had left four sons, -- the first Thorleif

Spake; the second, Ogmund, father of Thorolf Skialg, who was

father of Erling of Sole; the third was Thord father of the Herse

Klyp who killed King Sigurd Slefa, Gunhild's son; and lastly,

Olmod, father of Askel, whose son was Aslak Fitjaskalle; and that

family branch was the greatest and most considered in Hordaland.

Now when this family heard the bad tidings, that the king was

coming along the country from the eastward with a great force,

and was breaking the ancient law of the people, and imposing

punishment and hard conditions on all who opposed him, the

relatives appointed a meeting to take counsel with each other,

for they knew the king would come down upon them at once: and

they all resolved to appear in force at the Gula-Thing, there to

hold a conference with King Olaf Trygvason.

61. ROGALAND BAPTIZED.

When King Olaf came to Rogaland, he immediately summoned the

people to a Thing; and when the bondes received the message-

token for a Thing, they assembled in great numbers well armed.

After they had come together, they resolved to choose three men,

the best speakers of the whole, who should answer King Olaf, and

argue with the king; and especially should decline to accept of

anything against the old law, even if the king should require it

of them.  Now when the bondes came to the Thing, and the Thing

was formed, King Olaf arose, and at first spoke good-humoredly to

the people; but they observed he wanted them to accept

Christianity, with all his fine words: and in the conclusion he

let them know that those who should speak against him, and not

submit to his proposal, must expect his displeasure and

punishment, and all the ill that it was in his power to inflict.

When he had ended his speech, one of the bondes stood up, who was

considered the most eloquent, and who had been chosen as the

first who should reply to King Olaf.  But when he would begin to

speak such a cough seized him, and such a difficulty of

breathing, that he could not bring out a word, and had to sit

down again.  Then another bonde stood up, resolved not to let an

answer be wanting, although it had gone so ill with the former:

but he stammered so that he could not get a word uttered, and all

present set up a laughter, amid which the bonde sat down again.

And now the third stood up to make a speech against King Olaf's;

but when he began he became so hoarse and husky in his throat,

that nobody could hear a word he said, and he also had to sit

down.  There was none of the bondes now to speak against the

king, and as nobody answered him there was no opposition; and it

came to this, that all agreed to what the king had proposed.  All

the people of the Thing accordingly were baptized before the

Thing was dissolved.

62. ERLING SKJALGSON'S WOOING.

King Olaf went with his men-at-arms to the Gula-Thing; for the

bondes had sent him word that they would reply there to his

speech.  When both parties had come to the Thing, the king

desired first to have a conference with the chief people of the

country; and when the meeting was numerous the king set forth his

errand, -- that he desired them, according to his proposal, to

allow themselves to be baptized.  Then said Olmod the Old, "We

relations have considered together this matter, and have come to

one resolution.  If thou thinkest, king, to force us who are

related together to such things as to break our old law, or to

bring us under thyself by any sort of violence, then will we

stand against thee with all our might: and be the victory to him

to whom fate ordains it.  But if thou, king, wilt advance our

relations' fortunes, then thou shalt have leave to do as thou

desirest, and we will all serve thee with zeal in thy purpose."

The king replies, "What do you propose for obtaining this

agreement?"

Then answers Olmod, "The first is, that thou wilt give thy sister

Astrid in marriage to Erling Skjalgson, our relation, whom we

look upon as the most hopeful young man in all Norway."

King Olaf replied, that this marriage appeared to him also very

suitable; "as Erling is a man of good birth, and a good-looking

man in appearance: but Astrid herself must answer to this

proposal."

Thereupon the king spoke to his sister.  She said, "It is but of

little use that I am a king's sister, and a king~s daughter, if I

must marry a man who has no high dignity or office.  I will

rather wait a few years for a better match."  Thus ended this

conference.

63. HORDALAND BAPTIZED.

King Olaf took a falcon that belonged to Astrid, plucked off all

its feathers, and then sent it to her.  Then said Astrid, "Angry

is my brother."  And she stood up, and went to the king, who

received her kindly, and she said that she left it to the king to

determine her marriage.  "I think," said the king, "that I must

have power enough in this land to raise any man I please to high

dignity."  Then the king ordered Olmod and Erling to be called

to a conference, and all their relations; and the marriage was

determined upon, and Astrid betrothed to Erling.  Thereafter the

king held the Thing, and recommended Christianity to the bondes;

and as Olmod, and Erling, and all their relations, took upon

themselves the most active part in forwarding the king's desire,

nobody dared to speak against it; and all the people were

baptized, and adopted Christianity.

64. ERLING SKJALGSON'S WEDDING.

Erling Skjalgson had his wedding in summer, and a great many

people were assembled at it.  King Olaf was also there, and

offered Erling an earldom.  Erling replied thus: "All my

relations have been herses only, and I will take no higher title

than they have; but this I will accept from thee, king, that thou

makest me the greatest of that title in the country."  The king

consented; and at his departure the king invested his brother-in

law Erling with all the land north of the Sognefjord, and east to

the Lidandisnes, on the same terms as Harald Harfager had given

land to his sons, as before related.

65. RAUMSDAL AND FJORD-DISTRICTS BAPTIZED.

The same harvest King Olaf summoned the bondes to a Thing of the

four districts at Dragseid, in Stad: and there the people from

Sogn, the Fjord-districts, South More, and Raumsdal, were

summoned to meet.  King Olaf came there with a great many people

who had followed him from the eastward, and also with those who

had joined him from Rogaland and Hordaland.  When the king came

to the Thing, he proposed to them there, as elsewhere,

Christianity; and as the king had such a powerful host with him,

they were frightened.  The king offered them two conditions, --

either to accept Christianity, or to fight.  But the bondes saw

they were in no condition to fight the king, and resolved,

therefore, that all the people should agree to be baptized.  The

king proceeded afterwards to North More, and baptized all that

district.  He then sailed to Hlader, in Throndhjem; had the

temple there razed to the ground; took all the ornaments and all

property out of the temple, and from the gods in it; and among

other things the great gold ring which Earl Hakon had ordered to

be made, and which hung in the door of the temple; and then had

the temple burnt.  But when the bondes heard of this, they sent

out a war-arrow as a token through the whole district, ordering

out a warlike force, and intended to meet the king with it.  In

the meantime King Olaf sailed with a war force out of the fjord

along the coast northward, intending to proceed to Halogaland,

and baptize there.  When he came north to Bjarnaurar, he heard

from Halogaland that a force was assembled there to defend the

country against the king.  The chiefs of this force were Harek of

Thjotta, Thorer Hjort from Vagar, and Eyvind Kinrifa.  Now when

King Olaf heard this, he turned about and sailed southwards along

the land; and when he got south of Stad proceeded at his leisure,

and came early in winter (A.D. 998) all the way east to Viken.

66. OLAF PROPOSES MARRIAGE TO QUEEN SIGRID.

Queen Sigrid in Svithjod, who had for surname the Haughty, sat in

her mansion, and during the same winter messengers went between

King Olaf and Sigrid to propose his courtship to her, and she had

no objection; and the matter was fully and fast resolved upon.

Thereupon King Olaf sent to Queen Sigrid the great gold ring he

had taken from the temple door of Hlader, which was considered a

distinguished ornament.  The meeting for concluding the business

was appointed to be in spring on the frontier, at the Gaut river.

Now the ring which King Olaf had sent Queen Sigrid was highly

prized by all men; yet the queen's gold-smiths, two brothers, who

took the ring in their hands, and weighed it, spoke quietly to

each other about it, and in a manner that made the queen call

them to her, and ask "what they smiled at?"  But they would not

say a word, and she commanded them to say what it was they had

discovered.  Then they said the ring is false.  Upon this she

ordered the ring to be broken into pieces, and it was found to be

copper inside.  Then the queen was enraged, and said that Olaf

would deceive her in more ways than this one.  In the same year

(A.D. 998) King Olaf went into Ringenke, and there the people

also were baptized.

67. OLAF HARALDSON BAPTIZED.

Asta, the daughter of Gudbrand, soon after the fall of Harald

Grenske married again a man who was called Sigurd Syr, who was a

king in Ringerike.  Sigurd was a son of Halfdan, and grandson of

Sigurd Hrise, who was a son of Harald Harfager.  Olaf, the son of

Asta and Harald Grenske, lived with Asta, and was brought up from

childhood in the house of his stepfather, Sigurd Syr.  Now when

King Olaf Trygvason came to Ringerike to spread Christianity,

Sigurd Syr and his wife allowed themselves to be baptized, along

with Olaf her son; and Olaf Trygvason was godfather to Olaf, the

stepson of Harald Grenske.  Olaf was then three years old.  Olaf

returned from thence to Viken, where he remained all winter.  He

had now been three years king in Norway (A.D. 998).

68. MEETING OF OLAF AND SIGRID.

Early in spring (A.D. 998) King Olaf went eastwards to

Konungahella to the meeting with Queen Sigrid; and when they met

the business was considered about which the winter before they

had held communication, namely, their marriage; and the business

seemed likely to be concluded.  But when Olaf insisted that

Sigrid should let herself be baptized, she answered thus: -- "I

must not part from the faith which I have held, and my

forefathers before me; and, on the other hand, I shall make no

objection to your believing in the god that pleases you best."

Then King Olaf was enraged, and answered in a passion, "Why

should I care to have thee, an old faded woman, and a heathen

jade?" and therewith struck her in the face with his glove which

he held in his hands, rose up, and they parted.  Sigrid said,

"This may some day be thy death."  The king set off to Viken, the

queen to Svithjod.

69. THE BURNING OF WARLOCKS.

Then the king proceeded to Tunsberg, and held a Thing, at which

he declared in a speech that all the men of whom it should be

known to a certainty that they dealt with evil spirits, or in

witchcraft, or were sorcerers, should be banished forth of the

land.  Thereafter the king had all the neighborhood ransacked

after such people, and called them all before him; and when they

were brought to the Thing there was a man among them called

Eyvind Kelda, a grandson of Ragnvald Rettilbeine, Harald

Harfager's son.  Eyvind was a sorcerer, and particularly knowing

in witchcraft.  The king let all these men be seated in one room,

which was well adorned, and made a great feast for them, and gave

them strong drink in plenty.  Now when they were all very drunk,

he ordered the house be set on fire, and it and all the people

within it were consumed, all but Eyvind Kelda, who contrived to

escape by the smoke-hole in the roof.  And when he had got a long

way off, he met some people on the road going to the king, and he

told them to tell the king that Eyvind Kelda had slipped away

from the fire, and would never come again in King Olaf's power,

but would carry on his arts of witchcraft as much as ever.  When

the people came to the king with such a message from Eyvind, the

king was ill pleased that Eyvind had escaped death.

70. EYVIND KELDA'S DEATH.

When spring (A.D. 998) came King Olaf went out to Viken, and was

on visits to his great farms.  He sent notice over all Viken that

he would call out an army in summer, and proceed to the north

parts of the country.  Then he went north to Agder; and when

Easter was approaching he took the road to Rogaland with 300

(=360) men, and came on Easter evening north to Ogvaldsnes, in

Kormt Island, where an Easter feast was prepared for him.  That

same night came Eyvind Kelda to the island with a well-manned

long-ship, of which the whole crew consisted of sorcerers and

other dealers with evil spirits.  Eyvind went from his ship to

the land with his followers, and there they played many of their

pranks of witchcraft.  Eyvind clothed them with caps of darkness,

and so thick a mist that the king and his men could see nothing

of them; but when they came near to the house at Ogvaldsnes, it

became clear day.  Then it went differently from what Eyvind had

intended: for now there came just such a darkness over him and

his comrades in witchcraft as they had made before, so that they

could see no more from their eyes than from the back of their

heads but went round and round in a circle upon the island.  When

the king's watchman saw them going about, without knowing what

people these were, they told the king.  Thereupon he rose up with

his people, put on his clothes, and when he saw Eyvind with his

men wandering about he ordered his men to arm, and examine what

folk these were.  The king's men discovered it was Eyvind, took

him and all his company prisoners, and brought them to the king.

Eyvind now told all he had done on his journey.  Then the king

ordered these all to be taken out to a skerry which was under

water in flood tide, and there to be left bound.  Eyvind and all

with him left their lives on this rock, and the skerry is still

called Skrattasker.

71. OLAF AND ODIN'S APPARITION.

It is related that once on a time King Olaf was at a feast at

this Ogvaldsnes, and one eventide there came to him an old man

very gifted in words, and with a broad-brimmed hat upon his head.

He was one-eyed, and had something to tell of every land.  He

entered into conversation with the king; and as the king found

much pleasure in the guest's speech, he asked him concerning many

things, to which the guest gave good answers: and the king sat up

late in the evening.  Among other things, the king asked him if

he knew who the Ogvald had been who had given his name both to

the ness and to the house.  The guest replied, that this Ogvald

was a king, and a very valiant man, and that he made great

sacrifices to a cow which he had with him wherever he went, and

considered it good for his health to drink her milk.  This same

King Ogvald had a battle with a king called Varin, in which

battle Ogvald fell.  He was buried under a mound close to the

house; "and there stands his stone over him, and close to it his

cow also is laid."  Such and many other things, and ancient

events, the king inquired after.  Now, when the king had sat late

into the night, the bishop reminded him that it was time to go to

bed, and the king did so.  But after the king was undressed, and

had laid himself in bed, the guest sat upon the foot-stool before

the bed, and still spoke long with the king; for after one tale

was ended, he still wanted a new one.  Then the bishop observed

to the king, it was time to go to sleep, and the king did so; and

the guest went out.  Soon after the king awoke, asked for the

guest, and ordered him to be called, but the guest was not to be

found.  The morning after, the king ordered his cook and cellar-

master to be called, and asked if any strange person had been

with them.  They said, that as they were making ready the meat a

man came to them, and observed that they were cooking very poor

meat for the king's table; whereupon he gave them two thick and

fat pieces of beef, which they boiled with the rest of the meat.

Then the king ordered that all the meat should be thrown away,

and said this man can be no other than the Odin whom the heathens

have so long worshipped; and added, "but Odin shall not deceive

us."

72. THE THING IN THRONDHJEM.

King Olaf collected a great army in the east of the country

towards summer, and sailed with it north to Nidaros in the

Throndhjem country.  From thence he sent a message-token over all

the fjord, calling the people of eight different districts to a

Thing; but the bondes changed the Thing-token into a war-token;

and called together all men, free and unfree, in all the

Throndhjem land.  Now when the king met the Thing, the whole

people came fully armed.  After the Thing was seated, the king

spoke, and invited them to adopt Christianity; but he had only

spoken a short time when the bondes called out to him to be

silent, or they would attack him and drive him away.  "We did

so," said they, "with Hakon foster-son of Athelstan, when he

brought us the same message, and we held him in quite as much

respect as we hold thee."  When King Olaf saw how incensed the

bondes were, and that they had such a war force that he could

make no resistance, he turned his speech as if he would give way

to the bondes, and said, "I wish only to be in a good

understanding with you as of old; and I will come to where ye

hold your greatest sacrifice-festival, and see your customs, and

thereafter we shall consider which to hold by."  And in this all

agreed; and as the king spoke mildly and friendly with the

bondes, their answer was appeased, and their conference with the

king went off peacefully.  At the close of it a midsummer

sacrifice was fixed to take place in Maeren, and all chiefs and

great bondes to attend it as usual.  The king was to be at it.

73. JARNSKEGGE OR IRON BEARD.

There was a great bonde called Skegge, and sometimes Jarnskegge,

or Iron Beard, who dwelt in Uphaug in Yrjar.  He spoke first at

the Thing to Olaf; and was the foremost man of the bondes in

speaking against Christianity.  The Thing was concluded in this

way for that time, -- the bondes returned home, and the king went

to Hlader.

74. THE FEAST AT HLADER.

King Olaf lay with his ships in the river Nid, and had thirty

vessels, which were manned with many brave people; but the king

himself was often at Hlader, with his court attendants.  As the

time now was approaching at which the sacrifices should be made

at Maeren, the king prepared a great feast at Hlader, and sent a

message to the districts of Strind, Gaulardal, and out to

Orkadal, to invite the chiefs and other great bondes.  When the

feast was ready, and the chiefs assembled, there was a handsome

entertainment the first evening, at which plenty of liquor went

round. and the guests were made very drunk.  The night after they

all slept in peace.  The following morning, when the king was

dressed, he had the early mass sung before him; and when the mass

was over, ordered to sound the trumpets for a House Thing: upon

which all his men left the ships to come up to the Thing.  When

the Thing was seated, the king stood up, and spoke thus: "We held

a Thing at Frosta, and there I invited the bondes to allow

themselves to be baptized; but they, on the other hand, invited

me to offer sacrifice to their gods, as King Hakon, Athelstan's

foster-son, had done; and thereafter it was agreed upon between

us that we should meet at Maerin, and there make a great

sacrifice.  Now if I, along with you, shall turn again to making

sacrifice, then will I make the greatest of sacrifices that are

in use; and I will sacrifice men.  But I will not select slaves

or malefactors for this, but will take the greatest men only to

be offered to the gods; and for this I select Orm Lygra of

Medalhus, Styrkar of Gimsar, Kar of Gryting, Asbjorn Thorbergson

of Varnes, Orm of Lyxa, Haldor of Skerdingsstedja;" and besides

these he named five others of the principal men.  All these, he

said, he would offer in sacrifice to the gods for peace and a

fruitful season; and ordered them to be laid hold of immediately.

Now when the bondes saw that they were not strong enough to make

head against the king, they asked for peace, and submitted wholly

to the king's pleasure.  So it was settled that all the bondes

who had come there should be baptized, and should take an oath to

the king to hold by the right faith, and to renounce sacrifice to

the gods.  The king then kept all these men as hostages who came

to his feast, until they sent him their sons, brothers, or other

near relations.

75. OF THE THING IN THRONDHJEM.

King Olaf went in with all his forces into the Throndhjem

country; and when he came to Maeren all among the chiefs of the

Throndhjem people who were most opposed to Christianity were

assembled, and had with them all the great bondes who had before

made sacrifice at that place.  There was thus a greater multitude

of bondes than there had been at the Frosta-Thing.  Now the king

let the people be summoned to the Thing, where both parties met

armed; and when the Thing was seated the king made a speech, in

which he told the people to go over to Christianity.  Jarnskegge

replies on the part of the bondes, and says that the will of the

bondes is now, as formerly, that the king should not break their

laws.  "We want, king," said he, "that thou shouldst offer

sacrifice, as other kings before thee have done."  All the bondes

applauded his speech with a loud shout, and said they would have

all things according to what Skegge said.  Then the king said he

would go into the temple of their gods with them, and see what

the practices were when they sacrificed.  The bondes thought well

of this proceeding, and both parties went to the temple.

76. THE THRONDHJEM PEOPLE BAPTIZED.

Now King Olaf entered into the temple with some few of his men

and a few bondes; and when the king came to where their gods

were, Thor, as the most considered among their gods, sat there

adorned with gold and silver.  The king lifted up his gold-inlaid

axe which he carried in his hands, and struck Thor so that the

image rolled down from its seat.  Then the king's men turned to

and threw down all the gods from their seats; and while the king

was in the temple, Jarnskegge was killed outside of the temple

doors, and the king's men did it.  When the king came forth out

of the temple he offered the bondes two conditions, -- that all

should accept of Christianity forthwith, or that they should

fight with him.  But as Skegge was killed, there was no leader in

the bondes' army to raise the banner against King Olaf; so they

took the other condition, to surrender to the king's will and

obey his order.  Then King Olaf had all the people present

baptized, and took hostages from them for their remaining true to

Christianity; and he sent his men round to every district, and no

man in the Throndhjem country opposed Christianity, but all

people took baptism.

77. A TOWN IN THE THRONDHJEM COUNTRY.

King Olaf with his people went out to Nidaros, and made houses on

the flat side of the river Nid, which he raised to be a merchant

town, and gave people ground to build houses upon.  The king's

house he had built just opposite Skipakrok; and he transported

thither, in harvest, all that was necessary for his winter

residence, and had many people about him there.

78. KING OLAF'S MARRIAGE.

King Olaf appointed a meeting with the relations of Jarnskegge,

and offered them the compensation or penalty for his bloodshed;

for there were many bold men who had an interest in that

business.  Jarnskegge had a daughter called Gudrun; and at last

it was agreed upon between the parties that the king should take

her in marriage.  When the wedding day came King Olaf and Gudrun

went to bed together.  As soon as Gudrun, the first night they

lay together, thought the king was asleep, she drew a knife, with

which she intended to run him through; but the king saw it, took

the knife from her, got out of bed, and went to his men, and told

them what had happened.  Gudrun also took her clothes, and went

away along with all her men who had followed her thither.  Gudrun

never came into the king's bed again.

79. BUILDING OF THE SHIP CRANE.

The same autumn (A.D. 998) King Olaf laid the keel of a great

long-ship out on the strand at the river Nid.  It was a snekkja;

and he employed many carpenters upon her, so that early in winter

the vessel was ready. It had thirty benches for rowers, was high

in stem and stern, but was not broad.  The king called this ship

Tranen (the Crane).  After Jarnskegge's death his body was

carried to Yrjar, and lies there in the Skegge mound on Austrat.

Next Section