his man, and stood in high favour wath him. The king
remained in Halogaland the greater part of the summer,
went to all the Things, and baptized all the people.
Thorer Ilund dwelt at that time in the island Bjarkey.
Pie was the most powerful man in the North, and also be-
came one of Olaf's lendermen. Many sons of great
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SAGA OF OLAF IIARALDSON
bondes resolved also to follow King- Olaf from 1 laloga-
land. Towards the end of summer King Olaf left the
North, and sailed back to Throndhjem* and landed at
Nidaros, where he passed the winter (10;il). It was
then that Thorkel the Fosterer came from the West from
Orkney, after killing Einar Rangmund, 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 coun-
try, 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 Tlie 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 remem-
brance-cups to the Asas, or old gods, were blessed accord-
ing 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 gootl seasons. It was also re-
ported, that all men saw clearly that the gods were of-
fended 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
S 413
THE IIEIMSKRINGLA
he lived. lie was powerful, of great family, and the
head-man of those who on account of the bondes ap-
peared 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 w'hich
may have fallen from us Throndhjem people in our drink-
ing 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
si)eech, 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 INTE-
RIOR OF THE THRONDHJEM DISTRICT.
Afterwards, when v^'inter was advanced, it was told
the king that the people of the interior of Throndhjem
had assembled in great number at Mserin, 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 sum-
moned the bondes whom he thought of most understand-
414
SAGA OF OLAF IIARALDSON
ing" into the town. Tlic bondes held a council aiTJong
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 ]\I?erin 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 i>eople 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 lx)ndes returned
home, and told the result of their journey, and that the
king was altogether enraged.
115. MURDER OF OLVER OF EGGJA.
At Easter (1021) the king held a feast, to which he had
415
THE HEIMSKRINGLA
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^ 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 pos-
sible. Thoralde did not decline the journey, but wenti
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 he 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 tw^o 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 ac-
cording to thy command; but if I declare it, thou must
take care of me and mine."
The king replies, "Say only wdiat 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,
'The ships appear to have been decked fore and aft only; and in the
middle, where the rowers sat, to have had tills or teuts set up at night
to Bleep under. — L.
416
SAGA OF OLAF HARALDSON
as it h, T must declare that in the interior of the Thrond-
hjcm land almost all the people are heathen in faith, al-
though 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
arc twelve men who preside over these sacrifice-feasts;
and in spring it is Olvcr who has to get the feast in
order, and he is now busy transporting to Motrin every-
thing 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 30O 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 Mserin, 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, 1x)th furniture, clothes, and valuables,
which the people had brought there, and divided the
booty among his men. The king also let all the Ixindes
he thought had the greatest part in the business be plun-
dered l)y his men-at-arms. Some were taken prisoners
and laid in irons, some ran away, and many were robbed
417
THE HEIMSKRINGLA
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
Telations 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.
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 hid 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
418
SAGA OF OLAF IIARALDSON
of Olver; and ont of friendship the king agreed to it, and
with Iier lie 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 Throiidhjem
country. Kalf became a great chief, and was a man of
very great understanding.
117. KING OLAF's journey TO THE UPLANDS.
Wlicn King Olaf had been seven years (1015-1021) in
Norway the earls Thorfin and Bruse came to him, as be-
fore 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, wdiere 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 dow^n over the wdiole neighbourhood. "A
pity it is," said the king, "so beautiful a hamlet should be
burnt." And he proceeded down the valley with his peo-
ple, and was all night on a farm called Nes. The king
419
THE HEIMSKRINGLA
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, Loar, 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 These two great bondes, I would say,
With Erling for broad lands and Equal each other every way.
gear — He lies who says that he can find
Gudbrand is he, whose wide domains One by the other left behind."
Are most like where some small
king roigns.
Gudbrand had a son, who is here spoken of. Now
when Gudbrand received the tidings that King Olaf was
come to Loar, 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 Ilundthorp.
All came, so that the number could not be told ; fiM' there
is a lake in the neighlx3urhood called Laugc^i, so that peo-
ple could come to the place both by land and by water.
420
SAGA OF OLAF IIARALDSON
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
braak in pieces all our gods. He says that he has a much
greater and more powerful god ; and it is wonderful that
the earth docs not burst asunder under him, or that our
gCKl 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 wath life if he came to
them ; and they thought he would never dare to come far-
ther south through the valley. They chose out 700 men
to eo 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 im-
portance. 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 Lcsjar,
Loar, and Vagar, who did not wish to receive Chris-
tianity. The king and Bishop Sigurd fixed teachers in
Loar 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 l^ondes
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
421
THE HEIMSKRINGLA
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,
"W'e 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 re-
mained 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."
Sa) s 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 aloout with has brought upon thee and
thy men so great a disgrace."
But the night after, Gudbrand dreamt that there came
422
SAGA OF OLAF HARALDSON
to him a man surrounded l)y lii^lit, wlin brought great
terror with him, and said t(^ him. "Thy son made no
glorious expedition against King Olaf ; but still less hon-
our wilt thou gather for thyself by holding a battle with
him. Thou with all thy people wiU 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 Gud-
brand 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 re-
mained 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 Lcsjar,
Loar, and Vagar had received Christianity, broken down
their houses of sacrifice, and believed now in the tnie
423
THE HEIMSKRINGLA
God who had made licavcn 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 can 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 w'ill 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 re-
plied, that he bore the likeness of Thor; had a hammer
in his hand ; w-as of great size, but hollow within ; and had
a high stand, upon which he stood when he w^as 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 w^atched 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 bishq> stood up in his
choir-rol)cs, 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.
424
SAC A OF OLAF IIARALDSON
Tliord Istermage replies, "IVIany things \vc are told
of by this horned man with the staff in his hand crookctl
at the top like a ram's horn ; but since ye say, comrades,
that your god is so powerful, and can do so many won-
ders, tell him to make it clear sunshine to-morrow fore-
noon, 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, other-
wise 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, be-
seeching 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
425
THE HEIMSKRINGLA
the one side of it sat the bondcs, and on the other the
kint^ and his i^eople.
Then Dale-Giulbrand 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
426
SAGA OF OLAF IIARALDSON
terrified that some iled to their ships; Init wlicn they
sprani^ out u{xyn 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 sil-
ver, 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 tnist
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 vic-
tory be to them to whom the God we w^orship 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
427
THE IIEIMSKRINGLA
baptized there; but as be bad formerly carried away tbeir
i<ings as prisoners, be 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 Hada-
land and Thoten, improving the customs of the people,