isfaction; but now I intend rather to
put my faith, sire, in thee."

The king replies, "If thou wilt put faith in me thou must also put faith
in what I will teach thee. Thou must believe that Jesus Christ has made
heaven and earth, and all mankind, and to him shall all those who are
good and rightly believing go after death."

Arnljot answers, "I have indeed heard of the white Christ, but neither
know what he proposes, nor what he rules over; but now I will believe
all that thou sayest to me, and lay down my lot in your hands."

Thereupon Arnljot was baptized. The king taught him so much of the holy
faith as appeared to him needful, and placed him in the front rank of
the order of battle, in advance of his banner, where also Gauka-Thorer
and Afrafaste, with their men, were.

228. CONCERNING THE ARMY COLLECTED IN NORWAY.

Now shall we relate what we have left behind in our tale,--that the
lendermen and bondes had collected a vast host as soon as it was
reported that King Olaf was come from Russia, and had arrived in
Svithjod; but when they heard that he had come to Jamtaland, and
intended to proceed westwards over the keel-ridge to Veradal, they
brought their forces into the Throndhjem country, where they gathered
together the whole people, free and unfree, and proceeded towards
Veradal with so great a body of men that there was nobody in Norway at
that time who had seen so large a force assembled. But the force, as
it usually happens in so great a multitude, consisted of many different
sorts of people. There were many lendermen, and a great many powerful
bondes; but the great mass consisted of labourers and cottars. The chief
strength of this army lay in the Throndhjem land, and it was the most
warm in enmity and opposition to the king.

229. OF BISHOP SIGURD.

When King Canute had, as before related, laid all Norway under his
power, he set Earl Hakon to manage it, and gave the earl a court-bishop,
by name Sigurd, who was of Danish descent, and had been long with
King Canute. This bishop was of a very hot temper, and particularly
obstinate, and haughty in his speech; but supported King Canute all he
could in conversation, and was a great enemy of King Olaf. He was now
also in the bondes' army, spoke often before the people, and urged them
much to insurrection against King Olaf.

230. BISHOP SIGURD'S SPEECH.

At a House-thing, at which a great many people were assembled, the
bishop desired to