Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/155

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 147 to Numedal district he summoned the bonders to saga vn. a Thing, and at every Thing was accepted as king. He also made the laws to be read there as elsewhere, by which the people are commanded to observe Christianity ; and he threatened every man with loss of life, and limbs, and property, who would not sub- ject himself to Christian law. He inflicted severe punishments on many men, great as well as small, and left no district until the people had consented to adopt the holy faith. The most of the men of power and of the great bonders made feasts for the king, and so he proceeded all the way north to Halogaland. Harek of Thiotto also made a feast for the king, at which there was a great multitude of guests, and the feast was very splendid. Harek was made lenderman, and got the same privileges he had enjoyed under the the former chiefs of the country. There was a man called Grankel, or Granketil, Chapter CXII. who was a rich bonder, and at this time rather ad- of Aas-* vanced in age. In his youth he had been on viking e™„ kels- cruises, and had been a powerful fighter ; for he pos- son. sessed great readiness in all sorts of bodily exercises. His son Aasmund was equal to his father in all these, and in some, indeed, he excelled him. There were many who said that with respect to comeliness, strength, and bodily expertness, he might be con- sidered the third remarkably distinguished for these that Norway had ever produced. The first was Ha- kon Athelstan's foster-son; the second, Olaf Tryg- gvesson. Grankel invited King Olaf to a feast, which was very magnificent ; and at parting Grankel pre- sented the king with many honourable gifts and tokens of friendship. The king invited Aasmund, with many persuasions, to follow him ; and as Aas- mund could not decline the honours offered him, he got ready to travel with the king, became his man, and stood in high favour with him. The king re- l 2