ouse on it； and a great neighbourhood all around it； and it is the great delight of the people to drink many together in company。〃 The king said little in reply； but looked angry； as he thought he knew the truth of the matter better than it was now represented。 He ordered the bondes to return home。 〃I shall some time or other；〃 said he； 〃come to the truth of what you are now concealing； and in such a way that ye shall not be able to contradict it。 But； however； that may be； do not try such things again。〃 The bondes returned home； and told the result of their journey； and that the king was altogether enraged。
115。 MURDER OF OLVER OF EGGJA。
At Easter （A。D。 1021） the king held a feast； to which he had invited many of the townspeople as well as bondes。 After Easter he ordered his ships to be launched into the water； oars and tackle to be put on board； decks to be laid in the ships； and tilts （1） and rigging to be set up； and to be laid ready for sea at the piers。 Immediately after Easter he sent men into Veradal。 There was a man called Thoralde； who was the king's bailiff； and who managed the king's farm there at Haug； and to him the king sent a message to come to him as quickly as possible。 Thoralde did not decline the journey； but went immediately to the town with the messenger。 The king called him in and in a private conversation asked him what truth there was in what had been told him of the principles and living of the people of the interior of Throndhjem； and if it really was so that they practised sacrifices to heathen gods。 〃I will；〃 says the king； 〃that thou declare to me the things as they are； and as thou knowest to be true； for it is thy duty to tell me the truth； as thou art my man。〃
Thoralde replies； 〃Sire； I will first tell you that I have brought here to the town my two children； my wife； and all my loose property that I could take with me； and if thou desirest to know the truth it shall be told according to thy command； but if I declare it； thou must take care of me and mine。〃
The king replies； 〃Say only what is true on what I ask thee； and I will take care that no evil befall thee。〃
Then said Thoralde； 〃If I must say the truth； king； as it is； I must declare that in the interior of the Throndhjem land almost all the people are heathen in faith； although some of them are baptized。 It is their custom to offer sacrifice in autumn for a good winter； a second at mid…winter； and a third in summer。 In this the people of Eyna； Sparby； Veradal； and Skaun partake。 There are twelve men who preside over these sacrifice…feasts； and in spring it is Olver who has to get the feast in order； and he is now busy transporting to Maerin everything needful for it。〃 Now when the king had got to the truth with a certainty； he ordered the signal to be sounded for his men to assemble； and for the men…at…arms to go on board ship。 He appointed men to steer the ships； and leaders for the people； and ordered how the people should be divided among the vessels。 All was got ready in haste； and with five ships and 300 men he steered up the fjord。 The wind was favourable； the ships sailed briskly before it； and nobody could have thought that the king would be so soon there。 The king came in the night time to Maerin； and immediately surrounded the house with a ring of armed men。 Olver was taken； and the king ordered him to be put to death； and many other men besides。 Then the king took all the provision for the feast； and had it brought to his ships； and also all the goods； both furniture； clothes； and valuables； which the people had brought there； and divided the booty among his men。 The king also let all the bondes he thought had the greatest part in the business be plundered by his men…at…arms。 Some were taken prisoners and laid in irons； some ran away； and many were robbed of their goods。 Thereafter the bondes were summoned to a Thing； but because he had taken many powerful men prisoners； and held them in his power； their friends and relations resolved to promise obedience to the king； so that there was no insurrection against the king on this occasion。 He thus brought the whole people back to the right faith； gave them teachers； and built and consecrated churches。 The king let Olver lie without fine paid for his bloodshed； and all that he possessed was adjudged to the king； and of the men he judged the most guilty； some he ordered to be executed； some he maimed； some he drove out of the country； and took fines from others。 The king then returned to Nidaros。
ENDNOTES： （1） The ships appear to have been decked fore and aft only； and in the middle； where the rowers sat； to have had tilts or tents set up at night to sleep under。 L。
116。 OF THE SONS OF ARNE。
There was a man called Arne Arnmodson； who was married to Thora； Thorstein Galge's daughter。 Their children were Kalf； Fin； Thorberg； Amunde； Kolbjorn； Arnbjorn； and Arne。 Their daughter； who was called Ragnhild； was married to Harek of Thjotta。 Arne was a lenderman； powerful； and of ability； and a great friend of King Olaf。 At that time his sons Kalf and Fin were with the king； and in great favour。 The wife whom Olver of Eggja had left was young and handsome； of great family； and rich； so that he who got her might be considered to have made an excellent marriage； and her land was in the gift of the king。 She and Olver had two sons； who were still in infancy。 Kalf Arneson begged of the king that he would give him to wife the widow of Olver； and out of friendship the king agreed to it； and with her he got all the property Olver had possessed。 The king at the same time made him his lenderman； and gave him an office in the interior of the Throndhjem country。 Kalf became a great chief； and was a man of very great understanding。
117。 KING OLAF'S JOURNEY TO THE UPLANDS。
When King Olaf had been seven years （A。D。 1015…1021） in Norway the earls Thorfin and Bruse came to him； as before related； in the summer； from Orkney； and he became master of their land。 The same summer Olaf went to North and South More； and in autumn to Raumsdal。 He left his ships there； and came to the Uplands； and to Lesjar。 Here he laid hold of all the best men； and forced them； both at Lesjar and Dovre； either to receive Christianity or suffer death； if they were not so lucky as to escape。 After they received Christianity； the king took their sons in his hands as hostages for their fidelity。 The king stayed several nights at a farm in Lesjar called Boar； where he placed priests。 Then he proceeded over Orkadal and Lorodal； and came down from the Uplands at a place called Stafabrekka。 There a river runs along the valley； called the Otta； and a beautiful hamlet； by name Loar； lies on both sides of the river； and the king could see far down over the whole neighbourhood。 〃A pity it is；〃 said the king； 〃so beautiful a hamlet should be burnt。〃 And he proceeded down the valley with his people； and was all night on a farm called Nes。 The king took his lodging in a loft； where he slept himself； and it stands to the present day； without anything in it having been altered since。 The king was five days there； and summoned by message…token the people to a Thing； both for the districts of Vagar； Lear； and Hedal； and gave out the message along with the token； that they must either receive Christianity and give their sons as hostages； or see their habitations burnt。 They came before the king； and submitted to his pleasure； but some fled south down the valley。
118。 THE STORY OF DALE…GUDBRAND。
There was a man called Dale…Gudbrand； who was like a king in the valley （Gudbrandsdal）； but was only herse in title。 Sigvat the skald compared him for wealth and landed property to Erling Skjalgson。 Sigvat sang thus concerning Erling：
〃I know but one who can compare With Erling for broad lands and gear Gudbrand is he； whose wide domains Are most like where some small king reigns。 These two great bondes； I would say； Equal each other every way。 He lies who says that he can find One by the other left behind。〃
Gudbrand had a son； who is here spoken of。 Now when Gudbrand received the tidings that King Olaf was come to Lear； and obliged people to accept Christianity； he sent out a message…token； and summoned all the men in the valley to meet him at a farm called Hundthorp。 All came； so that the number could not be told； for there is a lake in the neighbourhood called Laugen； so that people could come to the place both by land and by water。 There Gudbrand held a Thing with them； and said； 〃A man is come to Loar who is called Olaf； and will force upon us another faith than what we had before； and will break in pieces all our gods。 He says that he has a much greater and more powerful god； and it is wonderful that the earth does not burst asunder under him； or that our god lets him go about unpunished when he dares to talk such things。 I know this for certain； that if we carry Thor； who has always stood by us； out of our temple that is standing upon this farm； Olaf's god will melt away； and he and his men be made nothing so soon as Thor looks upon them。〃 Then the bondes all shouted as one person that Olaf should never get away with life if he came to them； and they thought he would never dare to come farther south through the valley。 They chose out 700 men to go northwards to Breida； to watch his movements。 The leader of this band was Gudbrand's son； eighteen years of age； and with him were many other men of importance。 When they came to a farm called Hof they heard of the king； and they remained three nights there。 People streamed to them from all parts； from Lesjar； Loar； and Vagar； who did not wish to receive Christianity。 The king and Bishop Sigurd fixed teachers in Loaf and in Vagar。 From thence they went round Vagarost； and came down into the valley at Sil； where they stayed all night； and heard the news that a great force of men were assembled against them。 The bondes who were in Breida heard also of the king's arrival； and prepared for battle。 As soon as the king arose in the morning he put on his armour； and went southwards over the Sil plains； and did not halt until he came to Breida； where he saw a great a