Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/42

 34 CHRONICLE OF THE saga vii. who has best deserved his friendship. At present he has in no respect greater power than any of us ; nay, indeed, he has less ; as we have lands and kingdoms to rule over, and he has nothing, and we are equally entitled by the udal right to the kingdom as he is himself. Now, if we will be his men, give him our aid, allow him to take the highest dignity in the country, and stand by him with our strength, how should he not reward us well, and hold it in remem- brance to our great advantage, if he be the honour- able man I believe him to be, and all say he is ? Therefore let us join the adventure, say I, and bind ourselves in friendship with him." Then the others, one after the other, stood up and spoke ; and the conclusion was, that the most of them determined to enter into a league with King Olaf. He promised them his perfect friendship, and that he would hold by and improve the country's laws and rights, if he became supreme king of Nor- way. This league was confirmed by oath. Chapter Thereafter the kings summoned a Thins:* and olaf gets' there King Olaf set forth this determination to all the the title of people, and his demand on the kingly power. He the Thing, desires that the bonders should receive him as king; and promises, on the other hand, to allow them to retain their ancient laws, and to defend the land from foreign masters and chiefs. On this point he spoke well, and long ; and he got great praise for his speech. Then the kings rose and spoke, the one after the other, and supported his cause, and this message to the people. At last it came to this, that King Olaf was proclaimed king over the whole country, and the kingdom adjudged to him according to law in the Uplands. withstanding the concurrence of the small kings.
 * The reference to a Thing appears to have been indispensable, not-