sing punishment and hard conditions on all who
opposed him, the relatives appointed a meeting to take counsel with each
other, for they knew the king would come down upon them at once: and
they all resolved to appear in force at the Gula-Thing, there to hold a
conference with King Olaf Trygvason.

61. ROGALAND BAPTIZED.

When King Olaf came to Rogaland, he immediately summoned the people to a
Thing; and when the bondes received the message-token for a Thing, they
assembled in great numbers well armed. After they had come together,
they resolved to choose three men, the best speakers of the whole, who
should answer King Olaf, and argue with the king; and especially should
decline to accept of anything against the old law, even if the king
should require it of them. Now when the bondes came to the Thing, and
the Thing was formed, King Olaf arose, and at first spoke good-humoredly
to the people; but they observed he wanted them to accept Christianity,
with all his fine words: and in the conclusion he let them know that
those who should speak against him, and not submit to his proposal, must
expect his displeasure and punishment, and all the ill that it was in
his power to inflict. When he had ended his speech, one of the bondes
stood up, who was considered the most eloquent, and who had been chosen
as the first who should reply to King Olaf. But when he would begin to
speak such a cough seized him, and such a difficulty of breathing, that
he could not bring out a word, and had to sit down again. Then another
bonde stood up, resolved not to let an answer be wanting, although it
had gone so ill with the former: but he stammered so that he could not
get a word uttered, and all present set up a laughter, amid which
the bonde sat down again. And now the third stood up to make a speech
against King Olaf's; but when he began he became so hoarse and husky in
his throat, that nobody could hear a word he said, and he also had to
sit down. There was none of the bondes now to speak against the king,
and as nobody answered him there was no opposition; and it came to this,
that all agreed to what the king had proposed. All the people of the
Thing accordingly were baptized before the Thing was dissolved.

62. ERLING SKJALGSON'S WOOING.

King Olaf went with his men-at-arms to the Gula-Thing; for the bondes
had sent him word that they would reply there to his speech. When
both parties had come to the Thing, the king desired