Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 1.djvu/289

 should pay him land dues for their possessions. Over every district he set an earl to judge according to the law of the land and to justice, and also to collect the land dues and the fines; and for this each earl received a third part of the dues, and services, and fines, for the support of his table and other expenses. Each earl had under him four or more hersers, each of whom had an estate of twenty merks yearly income bestowed on him and was bound to support twenty men-at-arms, and the earl sixty men, at their own expenses. The king had increased the land dues and burdens so much, that each of his earls had greater power and income than the kings had before; and when that became known at Drontheim, many great men joined the king, and took his service.

It is told that Earl Hakon Griotgardsson came to King Harald from Orland, and brought a great crowd of men to his service. Then King Harald went into Gaulerdal, and had a great battle, in which he slew two kings, and conquered their dominions; and these were Gaulerdal district and Strind district. He gave Earl Hakon Strind district to rule over as earl. King Harald then proceeded to Stordal, and had a third battle, in which he gained the victory, and took that district also. Thereupon the Drontheim people assembled, and four kings met together with their troops. The one ruled over Værdal, the second over Skogn, the third over Sparbu, and the fourth over Inderoen; and this latter had also Eyna district. These four kings marched with their men against King Harald, but he won the battle; and some of these kings fell, and some fled. In all, King Harald fought at the least eight battles, and slew eight kings,