Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/336

 324 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA XVI. Danisli king than the king who is now consecrated and crowned king of this country." The bonders replied thus to Erling's speech : " Never will we become the Danish king's men, as long as one of us Viken men is in life." And the whole assembly, with shouts and cries, called on Erling to keep the oath he had taken to defend his son's dominions, " should we even all follow thee to battle." And so the Thing was dissolved. The embassadors of the Danish king then returned home, and told the issue of their errand. The Danes abused Erling, and all Northmen, and declared that evil only proceeded from them ; and the report was spread, that in spring the Danish king would send out an army and lay waste Norway. Erling returned in autumn north to Bergen, staid there all winter, and gave their pay to his people. The same winter some Danish people came by land through the Uplands, saying they were to go, as was then the general practice, to the holy King Olaf's festival. But when they came to the Drontheim country, they went to many men of influence, and told their business ; which was, that the Danish king had sent them to desire their friendship, and consent, if he came to the country, promising them both power and money. With this verbal message came also the Danish king's letter and seal, and a message to the Drontheim people that they should send back their letters and seals to him. They did so, and the most of them received well the Danish king's message ; whereupon the messengers returned back towards Lent. Erling was in Bergen ; and towards spring Erling's friends told him the loose reports they had heard by some merchant vessels that had arrived from Drontheim, that the Drontheim people were in hostility openly against him; and had declared that if Erling came to Drontheim, he should never pass Agdanes Chapter XXV. Of the letters of the Dron- theim people.