Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 1.djvu/442

 also that of his relation Harald Grsenske, accepted of Christianity; and during that summer and the following winter all Viken was made Christian.

Early in spring King Olaf set out from Viken with a great force northwards to Agder, and proclaimed that every man should be baptized. And thus the people received Christianity, for nobody dared oppose the king's will, wheresoever he came. In Hordaland, however, were many bold and great men of Horde-Kaari's race. He, namely, had left four sons,—the first Thorleif Spaake; the second, Ogmund father of Thorolf Skialg, who was father of Erling of Sole; the third was Thord, father of the Herse Klyp who killed King Sieve Gunhild's son; and lastly, Olmod father of Askel, whose son was Aslak Fitiaskalle; and that family branch was the greatest and most considered in Hordaland. Now when this family heard the bad tidings, that the king was coming along the country from the eastward with a great force, and was breaking the ancient law of the people, and imposing punishment and hard conditions on all who opposed him, the relatives appointed a meeting to take counsel with each other, for they knew the king would come down upon them at once; and they all resolved to appear in force at the Gula Thing, there to hold a conference with King Olaf Tryggvesson.

When King Olaf came to Rogaland, he immediately summoned the people to a Thing; and when the bonders received the message-token for a Thing, they assembled in great numbers well armed. After they had come together, they resolved to choose three men, the best speakers of the whole, who should answer King Olaf, and argue with the king; and especially should decline to accept of any thing against the old law, even if the king should require it of them. Now when the bonders came to the Thing:, and the Thing was formed, King Olaf arose, and at first spoke good-humouredly to the people; but they observed