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