Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/194

 186 SAGA VII. Chapter CXXXIII. Of King Olaf. Chapter CXXXIV. King Olaf's message to Iceland, and the counsels of the Ice- landers. CHRONICLE OF THE took notice of the words, and they reached Thorer Hund's ears. When spring was advanced King Olaf rigged out his ships, and sailed southwards in summer along the land. He held Things with the bonders on the way, settled the law business of the people, put to rights the faith of the country, and collected the king's taxes wherever he came. In autumn he proceeded south to the frontier of the country ; and King Olaf had now made the people Christians in all the great districts, and every where, by laws, had introduced order into the country. He had also, as before related, brought the Orkney Islands under his power, and by messages had made many friends in Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands. King Olaf had sent timber for build- ing a church to Iceland, of which a church was built upon the Thing-field where the General Thing is held, and had sent a bell for it, which is still there. This was after the Iceland people had altered their laws, and introduced Christianity, according to the word King Olaf had sent them. After that time, many considerable persons came from Iceland, ond entered into King Olaf's service; as Thorkel Eyolfs- son, and Thorleif Bollason, Thord Kolbeinsson, Thord Bakarson, Thorgeir Haavardson, Thormod Kalbrunar the scald. King Olaf had sent many friendly presents to chief people in Iceland; and they in return sent him such things as they had which they thought most acceptable. Under this show of friendship which the king gave Iceland were concealed many things which afterwards appeared. King Olaf this summer sent Thorarin Nefiolfsson to Iceland on his errands; and Thorarin went out of Drontheim fiord along with the king, and followed him south to More. From thence Thorarin went out to sea, and got such a favourable breeze that after four days' sail he landed at the Westmann Isles, in