Page:The Early Kings of Norway.djvu/47

 CHAPTER y. HAKON JARL. Hakon Jarl, such the style he took, had engaged to pay some kind of tribute to King Blue-tooth, ' if he could;' but he never did pay any, pleading always the necessity of his own affairs ; with which excuse, joined to Hakon's readiness in things less important, King Blue-tooth managed to content himself, Hakon being always his good neighbour, at least, and the two mutually dependent. In Norway, Hakon, without the title of king, did in a strong-handed, steadfast, and at length successful way, the office of one; governed Norway (some count) for above twenty years ; and, both at home and abroad, had much consideration through most of that time; specially amongst the heathen orthodox, for Hakon Jarl him- self was a zealous heathen, fixed in his mind against these chimerical Christian innovations and unsalutary