Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/65

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 57 swept away at once among the common people: for saga vn, the earls had kept well the old laws and rights of the country ; but with respect to keeping Christianity, they had allowed every man to do as he liked. It was thus come so far that the people were baptized in the most places on the sea coast, but the most of them were ignorant of Christian law. In the upper ends of the valleys, and in the habitations among the Fielde, the greater part of the people were heathen ; for when the common man is left to himself, the faith he has been taught in his childhood is that which has the strongest hold over his inclination. But the king threatened the most violent proceedings against great or small, who, after the king's message, would not adopt Christianity. In the mean time Olaf was pro- claimed king in every Law Thing in the country, and no man spoke against him. While he lay in Kormt- sound messengers went between him and Erling Skialgsson, who endeavoured to make peace between them ; and the meeting was appointed in Whitings Isle. When they met they spoke with each other about agreement together; but Erling found some- thing else than he expected in the conversation : for when he insisted on having all the fiefs which Olaf Tryggvesson, and afterwards the earls Swend and Hakon had given him, and on that condition would be his man and dutiful friend, the king answered, " It appears to me, Erling, that it would be no bad bargain for thee to get as great fiefs from me for thy aid and friendship as thou hadst from Earl Eric, a man who had done thee the greatest injury by the bloodshed of thy men ; but even if I let thee remain the greatest lenderman in Norway, I will bestow my fiefs according to my own will, and not act as if ye lendermen had udal right to my ancestors' heritage, and I was obliged to buy your services with manifold rewards." Erling had no disposition to sue for even the smallest thing;