Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/198

 190 CHEONICLE OF THE Islands. saga vii. The same summer there came from the Faroe c^ E a Islands to Norway, on the king's invitation, Gille the cxxxvi. i agman? Leif Ossursson, Thoralf of Dimon, and many people of other bonders' sons. Thord of Gata made himself ready for the voyage; but just as he was setting out he got a stroke of palsy, and could not come, so he remained behind. Now when the people from the Faroe Isles arrived at King Olaf 's, he called them to him to a conference, and explained the purpose of the journey he had made them take ; namely, that he would have scatt from the Faroe Islands, and also that the people there should be subject" to the laws which the king should give them. In that meeting it appeared from the king's words that he would make the Faroe people who had come answerable, and would bind them by oath to conclude this union. He also oiFered to the men whom he thought the ablest to take them into his service, and bestow honour and friendship on them. These Faroe men understood the king's words so, that they must dread the turn the matter might take if they did not submit to all that the king de- sired. Although they held several meetings about the business before it ended, the king's desire at last prevailed. Leif Gille and Thoralf went into the king's service, and became his court-men ; and they, with all their travelling companions, swore the oath to King Olaf, that the law and land privilege which he set them should be observed in the Faroe Islands, and also the scatt be levied that he laid upon them. Thereafter the Faroe people prepared for their return home, and at their departure the king gave those who had entered into his service presents in testi- mony of his friendship, and they went their way. Now the king ordered a ship to be rigged, manned it, and sent men to the Faroe Islands to receive the scatt from the inhabitants which they should pay him. It was late before they were ready ; but they set off at