n they heard for certain that the earl was
dead. and could not be expected back to Norway, turned all to obedience
to King Olaf. Many came from the interior of the Throndhjem country,
and became King Olaf's men; others sent word and tokens that they would
service him. Then, in autumn, he went into the interior of Throndhjem,
and held Things with the bondes, and was received as king in each
district. He returned to Nidaros, and brought there all the king's scat
and revenue, and had his winter-seat provided there (A.D. 1016).

55. OF KING OLAF'S HOUSEHOLD.

King Olaf built a king's house in Nidaros, and in it was a large room
for his court, with doors at both ends. The king's high-seat was in the
middle of the room; and within sat his court-bishop, Grimkel, and next
him his other priests; without them sat his counsellors; and in the
other high-seat opposite to the king sat his marshal, Bjorn, and next
to him his pursuivants. When people of importance came to him, they also
had a seat of honour. The ale was drunk by the fire-light. He divided
the service among his men after the fashion of other kings. He had in
his house sixty court-men and thirty pursuivants; and to them he gave
pay and certain regulations. He had also thirty house-servants to do
the needful work about the house, and procure what was required. He had,
besides, many slaves. At the house were many outbuildings, in which the
court-men slept. There was also a large room, in which the king held his
court-meetings.

56. OF KING OLAF'S HABITS.

It was King Olaf's custom to rise betimes in the morning, put on his
clothes, wash his hands, and then go to the church and hear the matins
and morning mass. Thereafter he went to the Thing-meeting, to bring
people to agreement with each other, or to talk of one or the other
matter that appeared to him necessary. He invited to him great and small
who were known to be men of understanding. He often made them recite to
him the laws which Hakon Athelstan's foster-son had made for Throndhjem;
and after considering them with those men of understanding, he ordered
laws adding to or taking from those established before. But Christian
privileges he settled according to the advice of Bishop Grimbel and
other learned priests; and bent his whole mind to uprooting heathenism,
and old customs which he thought contrary to Christianity. And he
succeeded so far that the bondes accepted of the laws which the king
proposed.