Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 1.djvu/330

 mark, and Gndrod Westfold; but as they were young, and in the years of childhood, he appointed able men to rule the land for them. He gave them the country on the same conditions as it had been given before,— that they should have half of the scatt and revenues with him. Towards spring King Hakon returned north, over the Uplands, to Drontheim.

King Hakon, early in spring, collected a great army at Drontheim, and fitted out ships. The people of Yiken had also a great force on foot, and intended to join Hakon. King Eric also levied people in the middle of the country; but it went badly with him to gather people, for the leading men left him, and went over to Hakon. As he saw himself not nearly strong enough to oppose Hakon, he sailed out to the West sea with such men as would follow him. He first sailed to Orkney, and took many people with him from that country; and then went south towards England, plundering in Scotland, and in the north parts of England, wherever he could land. Athelstan, the king of England, sent a message to Eric, offering him dominions under him in England; saying that King Harald his father was a good friend of King Athelstan, and therefore he would do kindly towards his sons. Messengers passed between the two kings; and it came to an agreement that King Eric should take Northumberland as a fief from King Athelstan, and which land he should defend against the Danes or other vikings. Eric should let himself be baptized, together with his wife and children, and all the people who had followed him. Eric accepted this offer, and was baptized, and adopted the right faith. Northumberland is called a fifth part of England. Eric had his residence at York, where Lodbrolds sons, it was said, had formerly been, and Northumberland was principally inhabited by Northmen. Since Lodbrolds sons had taken the country, Danes and Northmen