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e to be conciliated； he resolved to practice his Christianity in private。 But he kept Sundays； and the Friday fasts； and some token of the greatest holy…days。 He made a law that the festival of Yule should begin at the same time as Christian people held it； and that every man； under penalty； should brew a meal of malt into ale； and therewith keep the Yule holy as long as it lasted。 Before him； the beginning of Yule； or the slaughter night； was the night of mid…winter （Dec。 14）； and Yule was kept for three days thereafter。 It was his intent； as soon as he had set himself fast in the land； and had subjected the whole to his power； to introduce Christianity。 He went to work first by enticing to Christianity the men who were dearest to him； and many； out of friendship to him； allowed themselves to be baptized； and some laid aside sacrifices。 He dwelt long in the Throndhjem district； for the strength of the country lay there； and when he thought that； by the support of some powerful people there； he could set up Christianity he sent a message to England for a bishop and other teachers； and when they arrived in Norway； Hakon made it known that he would proclaim Christianity over all the land。 The people of More and Raumsdal referred the matter to the people of Throndhjem。 King Hakon then had several churches consecrated； and put priests into them； and when he came to Throndhjem he summoned the bondes to a Thing； and invited them to accept Christianity。 They gave an answer to the effect that they would defer the matter until the Frosta…thing； at which there would be men from every district of the Throndhjem country； and then they would give their determination upon this difficult matter。
16。 ABOUT SACRIFICES。
Sigurd； earl of Hlader； was one of the greatest men for sacrifices； and so had Hakon his father been； and Sigurd always presided on account of the king at all the festivals of sacrifice in the Throndhjem country。 It was an old custom； that when there was to be sacrifice all the bondes should come to the spot where the temple stood and bring with them all that they required while the festival of the sacrifice lasted。 To this festival all the men brought ale with them； and all kinds of cattle； as well as horses； were slaughtered； and all the blood that came from them was called 〃hlaut〃； and the vessels in which it was collected were called hlaut…vessels。 Hlaut…staves were made； like sprinkling brushes； with which the whole of the altars and the temple walls； both outside and inside； were sprinkled over； and also the people were sprinkled with the blood； but the flesh was boiled into savoury meat for those present。 The fire was in the middle of the floor of the temple； and over it hung the kettles； and the full goblets were handed across the fire； and he who made the feast； and was a chief； blessed the full goblets； and all the meat of the sacrifice。 And first Odin's goblet was emptied for victory and power to his king； thereafter； Niord's and Freyja's goblets for peace and a good season。 Then it was the custom of many to empty the brage…goblet （1）； and then the guests emptied a goblet to the memory of departed friends； called the remembrance goblet。 Sigurd the earl was an open…handed man； who did what was very much celebrated； namely； he made a great sacrifice festival at Hlader of which he paid all the expenses。 Kormak Ogmundson sings of it in his ballad of Sigurd：
〃Of cup or platter need has none The guest who seeks the generous one； Sigurd the Generous； who can trace His lineage from the giant race； For Sigurd's hand is bounteous； free； The guardian of the temples he。 He loves the gods； his liberal hand Scatters his sword's gains o'er the land…〃
ENDNOTES： （1） The brage…goblet； over which vows were made。 L。
17。 THE FROSTA…THING。
King Hakon came to the Frosta…thing； at which a vast multitude of people were assembled。 And when the Thing was seated； the king spoke to the people； and began his speech with saying； it was his message and entreaty to the bondes and householding men； both great and small； and to the whole public in general； young and old； rich and poor； women as well as men； that they should all allow themselves to be baptized； and should believe in one God； and in Christ the son of Mary and refrain from all sacrifices and heathen gods； and should keep holy the seventh day； and abstain from all work on it； and keep a fast on the seventh day。 As soon as the king had proposed this to the bondes； great was the murmur and noise among the crowd。 They complained that the king wanted to take their labour and their old faith from them； and the land could not be cultivated in that way。 The labouring men and slaves thought that they could not work if they did not get meat； and they said it was the character of King Hakon； and his father； and all the family； to be generous enough with their money； but sparing with their diet。 Asbjorn of Medalhus in the Gaulardal stood up； and answered thus to the king's proposal：
〃We bondes； King Hakon； when we elected thee to be our king； and got back our udal rights at the Thing held in Throndhjem； thought we had got into heaven； but now we don't know whether we have really got back our freedom； or whether thou wishest to make vassa1s of us again by this extraordinary proposal that we should abandon the ancient faith which our fathers and forefathers have held from the oldest times； in the times when the dead were burnt； as well as since that they are laid under mounds； and which； although they were braver than the people of our days； has served us as a faith to the present time。 We have also held thee so dear； that we have allowed thee to rule and give law and right to all the country。 And even now we bondes will unanimously hold by the law which thou givest us here in the Frosta…thing； and to which we have also given our assent； and we will follow thee； and have thee for our king； as long as there is a living man among us bondes here in this Thing assembled。 But thou； king； must use some moderation towards us； and only require from us such things as we can obey thee in； and are not impossible for us。 If； however； thou wilt take up this matter with a high hand； and wilt try thy power and strength against us； we bondes have resolved among ourselves to part with thee； and to take to ourselves some other chief； who will so conduct himself towards us that we can freely and safely enjoy that faith that suits our own inclinations。 Now； king； thou must choose one or other of these conditions before the Thing is ended。〃
The bondes gave loud applause to this speech； and said it expressed their will； and they would stand or fall by what had been spoken。 When silence was again restored； Earl Sigurd said； 〃It is King Hakon's will to give way to you； the bondes； and never to separate himself from your friendship。〃 The bondes replied； that it was their desire that the king should offer a sacrifice for peace and a good year； as his father was want to do； and thereupon the noise and tumult ceased； and the Thing was concluded。 Earl Sigurd spoke to the king afterwards； and advised him not to refuse altogether to do as the people desired； saying there was nothing else for it but to give way to the will of the bondes； 〃for it is； as thou hast heard thyself； the will and earnest desire of the head…people； as well as of the multitude。 Hereafter we may find a good way to manage it。〃 And in this resolution the king and earl agreed （A。D。 950）。
18。 KING HAKON OFFERS SACRIFICES。
The harvest thereafter； towards the winter season； there was a festival of sacrifice at Hlader； and the king came to it。 It had always been his custom before； when he was present at a place where there was sacrifice； to take his meals in a little house by himself； or with some few of his men； but the bondes grumbled that he did not seat himself in his high…seat at these the most joyous of the meetings of the people。 The earl said that the king should do so this time。 The king accordingly sat upon his high…seat。 Now when the first full goblet was filled； Earl Sigurd spoke some words over it； blessed it in Odin's name； and drank to the king out of the horn； and the king then took it； and made the sign of the cross over it。 Then said Kar of Gryting； 〃What does the king mean by doing so？ Will he not sacrifice？〃 Earl Sigurd replies； 〃The king is doing what all of you do； who trust to your power and strength。 He is blessing the full goblet in the name of Thor； by making the sign of his hammer over it before he drinks it。〃 On this there was quietness for the evening。 The next day； when the people sat down to table； the bondes pressed the king strongly to eat of horse…flesh （1）； and as he would on no account do so； they wanted him to drink of the soup； and as he would not do this； they insisted he should at least taste the gravy； and on his refusal they were going to lay hands on him。 Earl Sigurd came and made peace among them； by asking the king to hold his mouth over the handle of the kettle； upon which the fat smoke of the boiled horse…flesh had settled itself； and the king first laid a linen cloth over the handle； and then gaped ove