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ingdom　in　fief　under　him。〃

The　king　replies　with　all　gentleness；　〃I　will　give　thee　an　advice；　Asgaut；　in　return。　　Go　back　to　the　east　again　to　thy　king；　and　tell　him　that　early　in　spring　I　will　make　myself　ready；　and　will　proceed　eastward　to　the　ancient　frontier　that　divided　formerly　the　kingdom　of　the　kings　of　Norway　from　Sweden。　　There　he　may　come　if　he　likes；　that　we　may　conclude　a　peace　with　each　other；　and　each　of　us　will　retain　the　kingdom　to　which　he　is　born。〃

Now　the　messengers　turned　back　to　their　lodging；　and　prepared　for　their　departure；　and　the　king　went　to　table。　　The　messengers　came　back　soon　after　to　the　king's　house；　but　the　doorkeepers　saw　it；　and　reported　it　to　the　king；　who　told　them　not　to　let　the　messengers　in。　　〃I　will　not　speak　with　them；〃　said　he。　　Then　the　messengers　went　off；　and　Thorgaut　said　he　would　now　return　home　with　his　men；　but　Asgaut　insisted　still　that　he　would　go　forward　with　the　king's　errand：　so　they　separated。　　Thorgaut　proceeded　accordingly　through　Strind；　but　Asgaut　went　into　Gaulardal　and　Orkadal；　and　intended　proceeding　southwards　to　More；　to　deliver　his　king's　message。　　When　King　Olaf　came　to　the　knowledge　of　this　he　sent　out　his　pursuivants　after　them；　who　found　them　at　the　ness　in　Stein；　bound　their　hands　behind　their　backs；　and　led　them　down　to　the　point　called　Gaularas；　where　they　raised　a　gallows；　and　hanged　them　so　that　they　could　be　seen　by　those　who　travelled　the　usual　sea…way　out　of　the　fjord。　　Thorgaut　heard　this　news　before　he　had　travelled　far　on　his　way　home　through　the　Throndhjem　country；　and　he　hastened　on　his　journey　until　he　came　to　the　Swedish　king；　and　told　him　how　it　had　gone　with　them。　　The　king　was　highly　enraged　when　he　heard　the　account　of　it；　and　he　had　no　lack　of　high　words。



58。　OLAF　AND　ERLING　RECONCILED。

The　spring　thereafter　（A。D。　1016）　King　Olaf　Haraldson　calls　out　an　army　from　the　Throndhjem　land；　and　makes　ready　to　proceed　eastward。　　Some　of　the　Iceland　traders　were　then　ready　to　sail　from　Norway。　　With　them　King　Olaf　sent　word　and　token　to　Hjalte　Skeggjason；　and　summoned　him　to　come　to　him；　and　at　the　same　time　sent　a　verbal　message　to　Skapte　the　lagman；　and　other　men　who　principally　took　part　in　the　lawgiving　of　Iceland；　to　take　out　of　the　law　whatever　appeared　contrary　to　Christianity。　　He　sent；　besides；　a　message　of　friendship　to　the　people　in　general。　　The　king　then　proceeded　southwards　himself　along　the　coast；　stopping　at　every　district；　and　holding　Things　with　the　bondes；　and　in　each　Thing　he　ordered　the　Christian　law　to　be　read；　together　with　the　message　of　salvation　thereunto　belonging；　and　with　which　many　ill　customs　and　much　heathenism　were　swept　away　at　once　among　the　common　people：　for　the　earls　had　kept　well　the　old　laws　and　rights　of　the　country；　but　with　respect　to　keeping　Christianity；　they　had　allowed　every　man　to　do　as　he　liked。　　It　was　thus　come　so　far　that　the　people　were　baptized　in　the　most　places　on　the　sea…coast；　but　the　most　of　them　were　ignorant　of　Christian　law。　In　the　upper　ends　of　the　valleys；　and　in　the　habitations　among　the　mountains；　the　greater　part　of　the　people　were　heathen；　for　when　the　common　man　is　left　to　himself；　the　faith　he　has　been　taught　in　his　childhood　is　that　which　has　the　strongest　hold　over　his　inclination。　　But　the　king　threatened　the　most　violent　proceedings　against　great　or　small；　who；　after　the　king's　message；　would　not　adopt　Christianity。　　In　the　meantime　Olaf　was　proclaimed　king　in　every　Law　Thing　in　the　country；　and　no　man　spoke　against　him。　　While　he　lay　in　Karmtsund　messengers　went　between　him　and　Erling　Skjalgson；　who　endeavoured　to　make　peace　between　them；　and　the　meeting　was　appointed　in　Whitings　Isle。　When　they　met　they　spoke　with　each　other　about　agreement　together；　but　Erling　found　something　else　than　he　expected　in　the　conversation：　for　when　he　insisted　on　having　all　the　fiefs　which　Olaf　Trygvason；　and　afterwards　the　Earls　Svein　and　Hakon；　had　given　him；　and　on　that　condition　would　be　his　man　and　dutiful　friend；　the　king　answered；　〃It　appears　to　me；　Erling；　that　it　would　be　no　bad　bargain　for　thee　to　get　as　great　fiefs　from　me　for　thy　aid　and　friendship　as　thou　hadst　from　Earl　Eirik；　a　man　who　had　done　thee　the　greatest　injury　by　the　bloodshed　of　thy　men；　but　even　if　I　let　thee　remain　the　greatest　lenderman　in　Norway；　I　will　bestow　my　fiefs　according　to　my　own　will；　and　not　act　as　if　ye　lendermen　had　udal　right　to　my　ancestor's　heritage；　and　I　was　obliged　to　buy　your　services　with　manifold　rewards。〃　Erling　had　no　disposition　to　sue　for　even　the　smallest　thing；　and　he　saw　that　the　king　was　not　easily　dealt　with。　　He　saw　also　that　he　had　only　two　conditions　before　him：　the　one　was　to　make　no　agreement　with　the　king；　and　stand　by　the　consequences；　the　other　to　leave　it　entirely　to　the　king's　pleasure。　　Although　it　was　much　against　his　inclination；　he　chose　the　latter；　and　merely　said　to　the　king；　〃The　service　will　be　the　most　useful　to　thee　which　I　give　with　a　free　will。〃　　And　thus　their　conference　ended。　Erling's　relations　and　friends　came　to　him　afterwards；　and　advised　him　to　give　way；　and　proceed　with　more　prudence　and　less　pride。　　〃Thou　wilt　still；〃　they　said；　〃be　the　most　important　and　most　respected　lenderman　in　Norway；　both　on　account　of　thy　own　and　thy　relations'　abilities　and　great　wealth。〃　　Erling　found　that　this　was　prudent　advice；　and　that　they　who　gave　it　did　so　with　a　good　intention；　and　he　followed　it　accordingly。　　Erling　went　into　the　king's　service　on　such　conditions　as　the　king　himself　should　determine　and　please。　　Thereafter　they　separated　in　some　shape　reconciled；　and　Olaf　went　his　way　eastward　along　the　coast　（A。D。　1016）。



59。　EILIF　OF　GAUTLAND'S　MURDER。

As　soon　as　it　was　reported　that　Olaf　had　come　to　Viken；　the　Danes　who　had　offices　under　the　Danish　king　set　off　for　Denmark；　without　waiting　for　King　Olaf。　　But　King　Olaf　sailed　in　along　Viken；　holding　Things　with　the　bondes。　　All　the　people　of　the　country　submitted　to　him；　and　thereafter　he　took　all　the　king's　taxes；　and　remained　the　summer　（A。D。　1016）　in　Viken。　　He　then　sailed　east　from　Tunsberg　across　the　fjord；　and　all　the　way　east　to　Svinasund。　　There　the　Swedish　king's　dominions　begin；　and　he　had　set　officers　over　this　country；　namely；　Eilif　Gautske　over　the　north　part；　and　Hroe　Skialge　over　the　east　part；　all　the　way　to　the　Gaut　river。　　Hroe　had　family　friends　on　both　sides　of　the　river；　and　also　great　farms　on　Hising　Island；　and　was　besides　a　mighty　and　very　rich　man。　　Eilif　was　also　of　great　family；　and　very　wealthy。　　Now　when　King　Olaf　came　to　Ranrike　he　summoned　the　people　to　a　Thing；　and　all　who　dwelt　on　the　sea…coast　or　in　the　out…islands　came　to　him。　　Now　when　the　Thing　was　seated　the　king's　marshal；　Bjorn；　held　a　speech　to　them；　in　which　he　told　the　bondes　to　receive　Olaf　as　their　king；　in　the　same　way　as　had　been　done　in　all　other　parts　of　Norway。　　Then　stood　up　a　bold　bonde　by　name　Brynjolf　Ulfalde；　and　said；　〃We　bondes　know　where　the　division…boundaries　between　the　Norway　and　Danish　and　Swedish　kings'　lands　have　stood　by　rights　in　old　times；　namely；　that　the　Gaut　river　divided　their　lands　between　the　Vener　lake　and　the　sea；　but　towards　the　north　the　forests　until　Eid　forest；　and　from　thence　the　ridge　of　the　country　all　north　to　Finmark。　　We　know；　also；　that　by　turns　they　have　made　inroads　upon　each　other's　territories；　and　that　the　Swedes　have　long　had　power　all　the　way　to　Svinasund。　　But；　sooth　to　say；　I　know　that　it　is　the　inclination　of　many　rather　to　serve　the　king　of　Norway；　but　they　dare　not；　for　the　Swedish　king's　dominions　surround　us；　both　eastward；　southwards；　and　also　up　the　country；　and　besides；　it　may　be　expected　that　the　king　of　Norway　must　soon　go　to　the　north；　where　the　strength　of　his　kingdom　lies；　and　then　we　have　no　power　to　withstand　the　Gautlanders。　　Now　it　is　for　the　king　to　give　us　good　counsel；　for　we　have　great　desire　to　be　his　men。〃　After　the　Thing；　in　the　evening；　Brynjolf　was　in　the　king's　tent；　and　the　day　after　likewise；　and　they　had　much　private　conversation　together。　　Then　the　king　proceeded　eastwards　along　Viken。　　Now　when　Eilif　heard　of　his　arrival；　he　sent　out　spies　to　discover　what　he　was　about；　but　he　himself；　with　thirty　men；　kept　himself　high　up　in　the　habitations　among　the　hills；　where　he　had　gathered　together　bondes。　　Many　of　the　bondes　came　to　King　Olaf；　but　some　sent　friendly　messages　to　him。　　People　went　between　King　Olaf　and　Eilif；　and　they　entreated　each　separately　to　hold　a　Thing…meeting　between　themselves；　and　make　peace　in　one　way　or　another。　　They　told　Eilif　that　they　might　expect　violent　treatment　from　King　Olaf　if　they　opposed　his　orders；　but　promised　Eilif　he　should　not　want　men。　　It　was　determined　that　they　should　come　down　from　the　high　country；　and　hold　a　thing　with　the　bondes　and　the　king。　　King　Olaf　thereupon　sent　the　chief　of　his　pursuivants；　Thorer　Lange；　with　six　men；　to　Brynjolf。　　They　were　equipped　with　their　coats…of…mail　under　their　cloaks；　and　their　hats　over　their　helmets。　　The　following　day　the　bondes　came　in　crowds　down　with　Eilif；　and　in　his　suite　was　Brynjolf；　and　with　him　Thorer。　　The　king　laid　his　ships　close　to　a　rocky　knoll　that　stuck　out　into　the　sea；　and　upon　it　the　king　went　with　his　people；　and　sat　down。　　Below　was　a　flat　field；　on　which　the　bondes'　force　was；　but　Eilif's　men　were　drawn　up；　forming　a　shield…fence　before　him。　　Bjorn　the　marshal　spoke　long　and　cleverly　upon　the　king's　account；　and　when　he　sat　down　Eilif　arose　to　speak；　but　at　the　same　moment　Thorer　Lange　rose；　drew　his　sword；　and　struck　Eilif　on　the　neck；　so　that　his　head　flew　off。　　Then　the　whole　bonde…force　started　up；　but　the　Gautland　men　set　off　in　full　flight　and　Thorer　with　his　people　killed　several　of　them。　　Now　when　the　crowd　was　settled　again；　and　the　noise　over　the　king　stood　up；　and　told　the　bondes　to　seat　themselves。　They　did　so；　and　then　much　was　spoken。　　The　end　of　it　was　that　they　submitted　to　the　king；　and　promised　fidelity　to　him；　and　he；　on　the　other　hand；　promised　not　to　desert　them；　but　to　remain　at　hand　until　the　discord　between　him　and　the　Swedish　Olaf　was　settled　in　one　way　or　other。　　King　Olaf　then　brought　the　whole　northern　district　under　his　power；　and　went　in　summer　eastward　as　far　as　the　Gaut　river；　and　got　all　the　king's