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King Olaf was a good and very gentle man； of little speech； and open…handed although greedy of money。 Sigvat the skald； as before related； was in King Olaf's house； and several Iceland men。 The king asked particularly how Christianity was observed in Iceland； and it appeared to him to be very far from where it ought to be； for； as to observing Christian practices； it was told the king that it was permitted there to eat horse…flesh； to expose infants as heathens do； besides many other things contrary to Christianity。 They also told the king about many principal men who were then in Iceland。 Skapte Thorodson was then the lagman of the country。 He inquired also of those who were best acquainted with it about the state of people in other distant countries； and his inquiries turned principally on how Christianity was observed in the Orkney； Shetland； and Farey Islands： and； as far as he could learn； it was far from being as he could have wished。 Such conversation was usually carried on by him； or else he spoke about the laws and rights of the country。
57。 KING OLAF'S MESSENGERS。
The same winter （A。D。 1016） came messengers from the Swedish king； Olaf the Swede； out of Svithjod： and their leaders were two brothers； Thorgaut Skarde and Asgaut the bailiff； and they； had twenty…four men with them； when they came from the eastward； over the ridge of the country down into Veradal； they summoned a Thing of the bondes； talked to them； and demanded of them scat and duties upon account of the king of Sweden。 But the bondes； after consulting with each other； determined only to pay the scat which the Swedish king required in so far as King Olaf required none upon his account； but refused to pay scat to both。 The messengers proceeded farther down the valley； but received at every Thing they held the same answer； and no money。 They went forward to Skaun； held a Thing there； and demanded scat； but it went there as before。 Then they came to Stjoradal； and summoned a Thing； but the bondes would not come to it。 Now the messengers saw that their business was a failure； and Thorgaut proposed that they should turn about； and go eastward again。 〃I do not think；〃 says Asgaut； 〃that we have performed the king's errand unless we go to King Olaf the Thick； since the bondes refer the matter to him。〃 He was their commander； so they proceeded to the town （Nidaros）； and took lodging there。 The day after they presented themselves to the king； just as he was seated at table； saluted him； and said they came with a message of the Swedish king。 The king told them to come to him next day。 Next day the king； having heard mass； went to his Thing…house； ordered the messengers of the Swedish king to be called； and told them to produce their message。 Then Thorgaut spoke； and told first what his errand was； and next how the Throndhjem people of the interior had replied to it； and asked the king's decision on the business； that they might know what result their errand there was to have。 The king answers； 〃While the earls ruled over the country； it was not to be wondered at if the country people thought themselves bound to obey them； as they were at least of the royal race of the kingdom。 But it would have been more just if those earls had given assistance and service to the kings who had a right to the country； rather than to foreign kings； or to stir up opposition to their lawful kings； depriving them of their land and kingdom。 With regard to Olaf the Swede； who calls himself entitled to the kingdom of Norway； I； who in fact am so entitled； can see no ground for his claim； but well remember the skaith and damage we have suffered from him and his relations。〃
Then says Asgaut。 〃It is not wonderful that thou art called Olaf the Thick； seeing thou answerest so haughtily to such a prince's message； and canst not see clearly how heavy the king's wrath will be for thee to support； as many have experienced who had greater strength than thou appearest to have。 But if thou wishest to keep hold of thy kingdom； it will be best for thee to come to the king； and be his man； and we shall beg him to give thee this kingdom 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 wit