The farmers’ army.
Then the king said to Guthbrand’s son, “Go back to your father and tell him I shall be there soon.”
He returned thereupon and told his father the sorry news that they had met the king and fought with him, “and our force right away took to flight,” he said, “and I was captured. The king gave me quarter and bade me tell you that he will be here soon. Now we have here no more than two hundred men [240] of all the force we had before to do battle with him. So now I advise you, father, not to fight against this man.”
King Óláf addresses the farmers.
“[From your words],” said Guthbrand, “one can gather that all your courage has been beaten out of you. With little luck you left home, and this will be held up against you for a long time. And now you right away believe the wild fancies this man brings up; and he has [certainly] given you and your force a big discomfiture.”
The following night Guthbrand dreamed that a man approached him. There was a glory about him, and his appearance inspired fear, and he said to him, “Your son was not granted victory over King Óláf, but you will fare even more ingloriously if you mean to give battle to the king, and you yourself and all of your troops will fall, and wolves will drag you about, and all of you, and ravens will rive your corpses.”
He was greatly terrified by this awful vision and told his dream to Thórth Paunchbelly, who was a chieftain over the Dales people. And he said, “I had the same vision.”
In the morning they had the trumpets blown to summon the troops for an assembly and said it was advisable to negotiate with that man who came from the north with a new message, and find out how much truth there was in what he proclaimed. Then Guthbrand said to his son, “Now you, together with twelve men, are to go back to this king who gave you quarter,” and this was done. And they approached the king and told him their message, that the farmers desired to negotiate with him, so as to make peace between the king and the farmers. The king was pleased with that, and they confirmed the truce with special agreements for the time their meeting lasted. They returned after settling this and told Guthbrand and Thórth that a truce had been made.
Thereupon the king proceeded to the farm which is called Lithsstathir and remained there five days. Then the king went to meet the farmers and negotiated with them. There fell a hard rain that day. Now when the assembly met, the king arose and said that the people at Lesjar, Lóar, and Vági had accepted Christianity and had destroyed their heathen houses of worship, “and they now believe in the true God who created heaven and earth and is omniscient.” Then he sat down.
Guthbrand replied, “We know not of whom you speak. Do you call him God whom neither you nor anyone else can see? But we have a god whom one can see every day, but he is not outside today because it is raining, and he will look terrifying to you and awe inspiring when you see him. I expect you will be seized with fear if he comes to the meeting. But as you say that your god is so powerful, let him bring it about that the weather will be cloudy tomorrow but with no rain, and let us then meet here.”
Thereupon the king returned to his quarters, and Guthbrand’s son with him as hostage, against another man from the other part. In the evening the king asked the son of Guthbrand how their god was made up. He answered that he was made in the image of Thór, “and he has a hammer in his hand and is of great size and hollow inside, and he stands on a kind of pedestal when he is outside. There is a profusion of gold and silver upon him. He receives four loaves of bread every day and also fresh meat.”
They went to bed then, but the king stayed awake during the night, saying his prayers. And when day broke, the king went to mass, and then to table, and from there to the assembly. The weather was such as Guthbrand had wanted. Then the bishop arose. He wore the chasuble and had the mitre on his head and the crozier in his hand. He preached the faith to the farmers, relating many a miracle God had performed, and concluded his speech eloquently. Thereupon Thórth Paunchbelly made this reply: “Much does that horned man say who has a staff in his hand with a crook like a ram’s horn on top. Now since you claim that your god performs so many miracles, then speak with him to let it be clear weather tomorrow before sunrise, and sunny, and let us meet then and either agree about this matter or else [afterwards] fight it out.” With that they parted for the time.
Chapter 113. The King Destroys the Image of Thór
Kolbein the Strong was the name of one of the followers of King Óláf. His kinsmen lived in the Fjord District. He always went about armed, with a sword at his side and a big quarterstaff in his hand, of the kind called a club. The king told Kolbein to stay close by his side next morning. Then he bade his men, “Go down tonight to where the ships of the farmers are and bore holes in all, also ride off all the horses in the farms which you can find.” And so this was done. The king himself stayed awake with prayers all night, beseeching God to resolve this difficulty by His grace and mercy. And after he had heard mass, at break of day, he went to the assembly. And when he arrived there, some farmers had come. Then they saw a great crowd of farmers come up to the place of meeting who carried between them a big figure of a man all glistening with gold and silver. And when the farmers already at the place of meeting saw it, they all sprang up and bowed down before this idol. Then it was set down in the middle of the place of assembly. On one side of it sat the farmers, on the other the king and his troops.
Then Guthbrand of the Dales arose and spoke: “Where now is your god, king? I am thinking that he bears his chinbeard rather low, and it would seem to me that you boast less—and also that horned man whom you call bishop and who sits at your side—than you did yesterday; because now our god has come who rules over all and is looking at you with sharp eyes. And I see that you are filled with fear now and hardly dare raise your eyes to look at him. Now give up your idolatry and believe in our god who has all power over you.” And so he ended his speech.
The king said to Kolbein without the farmers observing it, “If so happens that they look away from their god while I speak, then you strike him with your club as hard as you can.”
Then the king arose and spoke: “You have said much to us, this morning. You think it strange that you cannot see our god, but we expect that he will soon come to us. You terrify us with your god who is blind and deaf and cannot save either himself nor others and cannot budge unless he is carried, and I expect that ill will befall him soon. And now look ye to the east, there comes our God now with great light.” Then the sun rose, and all farmers looked at the sun. And at that moment Kolbein struck at their god so he fell to pieces, and out jumped mice as big as cats, and adders, and snakes. This so frightened the farmers that they fled, some to the ships; but when they shoved them into the lake, the water poured in and filled the boats so they could not board them. And those who ran for their horses could not find them.
Then the king had the farmers called to him, saying he would speak with them. So the farmers turned back and assembled together. The king arose and spoke as follows: “I don’t know what all this tumult and running of yours is about. But now you can see what power your god has whom you clad in gold and silver and whom you fed with meat and other provisions, and behold now what creatures were benefited by it—mice and snakes, adders and toads. Ill bestead are they who believe in that sort of thing and will not desist from their folly. Take your gold and finery which is scattered over the meadow and bring it home to your women folks, and do not hereafter hang it on sticks or stones. Now there are two alternatives for you: either you accept Christianity or else do battle with me today, and let them have the victory whom the God we believe in wishes to have it.”
Then arose Guthbrand and said, “Great damage have we suffered in our god. But, seeing that he was not able to help us, we shall now believe in the god you believe in.” And then all accepted the Christian faith. Then the bishop baptized Guthbrand and his son, and left priests there. And they parted as friends who before had been enemies. And Guthbrand had a church built i
n the Dales.
Chapter 114. Raumaríki and the Sóleyar District Are Converted
Thereafter, King Óláf proceeded to Heithmork, baptizing people there; for at the time he had taken the kings prisoner he did not trust himself to go about the country to any distance with but a small force. Hence but few people in Heithmork were Christians. But this time the king did not cease in his efforts till all Heithmork was Christian and consecrated churches were there and priests [to serve them]. Then he proceeded to Thótn and Hathaland, converting people to the true faith, and did not desist till all the people were baptized. From there he proceeded to Hringaríki, and all the people were converted there.
Now the Raumar heard that King Óláf intended to come to their district, and they collected a large army and said to each other that they had not forgotten the harsh treatment he had meted out to them before, and declared that he was not going to do that again. So when King Óláf advanced on Raumaríki, the gathered host of the farmers met him at the river called Nitja. They had a huge host of men. And when the two forces met, the farmers at once gave battle; but soon they had the worst of it. They fled right soon, and for their own good they were beaten and accepted Christianity. The king went all through that district, nor did he leave till all the people there had become Christians.
From there he proceeded east to the Sóleyar District and converted that settlement. The [skald] Óttar the Black came to him there and offered to become King Óláf’s man. Earlier that winter Óláf, the king of the Swedes had died, whereupon Onund Óláfsson became their king. King Óláf returned to Raumaríki when the winter was nearly ended. Then King Óláf summoned a well-attended assembly at the place which later was the location for the Heithsævis Assembly.1 He entered it into the laws that all men from the Uppland districts were to attend this assembly and that the laws enacted there were to apply to all the Uppland districts and as far in other places as has been the case since.
When spring approached he proceeded down to the sea, where he had his ships made ready, and then in spring sailed to Túnsberg. There he resided during the spring, while the town was most populous and wares were brought there from other countries. It had been a good season in all of Vík, and conditions were very favorable all the way to Cape Stath, but north from there famine conditions prevailed.
Chapter 115. The King and Einar Thambarskelfir Are Reconciled
In the spring King Óláf sent messages west through the District of Agthir, and all the way to Rogaland and Horthaland, that neither grain nor malt nor flour from these regions was to be sold abroad and that he would come there with his force in order to be entertained there as was the custom. This message went to all these districts, but the king remained in Vík during the summer and [in fact] proceeded east as far as the very boundary.
Einar Thambarskelfir had been at the court of Óláf, the king of Sweden, ever since his brother-in-law, Earl Svein, had died, and had become a vassal of the Swedish king, receiving large fiefs from him. But after the king’s death Einar was eager to come to terms with Óláf the Stout, and there had been messages between them during the spring. And when King Óláf had moored his ships in the [Gaut Elf] River, Einar Thambarskelfir came to him, accompanied by a few men. Then the king and he discussed terms of a reconciliation between them, and it was agreed that Einar was to go north to Trondheim and repossess himself of all his properties as well as of the lands which Bergljót had brought him as her dowry. So Einar journeyed north while the king remained in Vík, where he resided for a long time at Borg during the fall and toward winter.
Chapter 116. Erling Skjálgsson and Áslák
Erling Skjálgsson maintained his power, so that from the Sogn Sea in the north to Cape Lithandisness in the east [south] his word prevailed among the farmers; but he had far fewer revenues from the king. Nevertheless he was so greatly feared that no one dared to oppose him. To the king it appeared that Erling had too much power.
There was a certain man called Áslák Fitjaskalli, high-born and powerful. Skjálg, Erling’s father, and Áskel, Áslák’s father, were cousins. Áslák was a great friend of King Óláf, and the king had established him in South Horthaland, had given him a large fief and big revenues, and had told him to hold his own against Erling. But it did not go according to his wishes, as soon as the king was not near; for then Erling did what he pleased between them. He was in no way more pliable when Áslák tried to assert himself as his equal. And it went so far that Áslák could not maintain himself in his district. He went to see the king and told him about his dealings with Erling. The king requested Áslák to remain with him “until I meet Erling.”
The king sent word to Erling to come to Túnsberg in the spring to see him. When they met, they had a conference, and the king said, “I am told that your power is so great, Erling, that there is no man from the Sogn Sea in the north to Cape Lithandisness who can be sure of his liberty from you. Many people live there who consider themselves entitled to their rights as against persons of no higher birth than they are. Now there is Áslák for example, your kinsman, who considers he has suffered indignities in his dealings with you. Now I do not know whether he himself is to blame for this or whether he is to suffer for it that I have placed him there to take care of my interests. But though I mention him particularly, many others make similar complaints to me, both the men who are my stewards and those who administer my estates and are to entertain me and my following.”
Erling replied, “I shall quickly answer these charges,” he said, “and deny that I have anything against Áslák or others because they stand in your service. But this I will admit that now, as has been the case for a long time, every one of my kinsmen wants to have more to say than the others. And I shall also acknowledge that I gladly submit to you, King Óláf, but that I find it hard to bow my head to Seal-Thórir, who is thrall-born on all sides, or to the likes of him as to extraction, even though you set so much store by them.”
At this point, friends of both went between them, praying them to be reconciled. They said that no man lent greater support to the king than Erling, “if you let him be your sincere friend.” On the other hand they admonished Erling to yield to the king, and that if he maintained his friendship with him it would be easy for him to do with the others whatever he pleased. Their conference ended with Erling retaining the same revenues he had before, and with all the accusations the king had raised against Erling being dropped. Also Skjálg, Erling’s son, was to be with the king. Thereupon Áslák returned to his estates, reconciled in a fashion with Erling. The latter also returned to his estates and maintained the same power as he had before.
Chapter 117. Ásbjorn Sails South to Buy Grain
There was a man called Sigurth Thórisson. He was the brother of Thórir Hound on Bjarkey Island. Sigurth was married to Sigríth, who was the daughter of Skjálg, and thus was Erling’s sister. Their son bore the name of Ásbjorn. He was considered a man of very great promise in his youth. Sigurth had his residence at Thrándarness on the island of Omth.1 He was exceedingly wealthy, a man of weight. He had not become a retainer of the king, for which reason Thórir Hound was considered the more eminent of the two brothers, for he was a landed-man of the king. But at home on his estate Sigurth was in no way a man of less importance. While heathendom still prevailed he was accustomed to have three sacrifices made every year, one at the beginning of winter, one in midwinter, and the third at the beginning of summer. And when he had adopted Christianity he still persisted in this way of holding feasts. So he had a great banquet in fall for friends, then a Yule feast in winter to which he invited a great many people; and at Easter too he had numerous guests. And in this way he continued as long as he lived. Sigurth died of a sickness. At that time Ásbjorn was eighteen. He inherited his father’s estate and continued having three entertainments every year, like his father.
It was but a short time after Ásbjorn had entered into his inheritance when the seasons grew poorer and the harvest failed. Still Ásbjorn cont
inued with his entertainments. It stood him in good stead that [at his place] there was a supply of grain and other provisions from earlier years which he could draw on. But when that year passed, the crops in the next year were in no wise better. Then Sigríth wished that the entertainments were discontinued, either some or all; but Ásbjorn would not. In fall he travelled to visit his friends and bought grain wherever he could obtain it, and was successful in some places. So he continued with his entertainments during the following year. But in the next spring little grain was sown because no seed corn was available. Sigríth spoke about diminishing the number of men-servants. That, Ásbjorn did not want to do, and he continued in all respects the same way that summer. It did not look promising for a good crop, that year either. In addition, the news came from the south that King Óláf had forbidden grain, malt, and flour to be exported from the south to northern portions of the land.
Then it appeared difficult to Ásbjorn to provision his farm. So he hit upon the plan to set out a cargo boat he owned and which was a seagoing ship in size. It was a good vessel, with all its tackle shipshape. It was equipped with a striped sail. Ásbjorn made ready for the journey, and twenty men went with him. They sailed south in summer, and we are not told of anything happening on their journey until they arrived in the Kormt Sound one day in the evening and cast anchor at Ogvaldsness. There, on the Island of Kormt, not far from the sea, there stands a large farm which [also] is called Ogvaldsness. That was a royal estate, an excellent farm, and it was run by Thórir Seal, the royal steward. Thórir was of low birth, but had become quite a man. He was a good worker, ready of speech, a very showy person, ambitious and headstrong, and he got along well since he had the king’s support. He was rash in his speech and outspoken.
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