1 8 2 Norway and the Norwegians 



to convert the country, definitely and finally, from the 

 old faith — from what we may call the discredited Odin- 

 worship of its old days. The licentious character of 

 the last earl and his miserable end mifjht serve as 

 warnings against adherence to Odin-wovship. 'No 

 other name,' says the Saga, ' was allowed to Earl Hakon 

 but Hakon the Bad ;' 'and yet,' adds the liberal Snorri, 

 ' he was in many ways fitted to be a leader : first, 

 because he was born of a good stock ; next, because he 

 had the wisdom and understanding to govern ; and he 

 was a brave man of war, and very fortunate in killing 

 his enemies.' But the same writer goes on to say: 'The 

 misfortunes of his later days came upon him because 

 the Odin religion was doomed.' People could no longer 

 tolerate the licence which an old heathen like Hakon 

 allowed himself. 



We find all through in reading these Sagas how 

 entirely conversion to a new creed takes its analogy 

 from the act of taking service with a new commander. 

 Once the king or the subject has allowed himself to be 

 baptized, he has practically taken an oath of fealty to 

 Christ, and he is bound to take part against the enemies 

 of his new creed. We saw how Harald of Denmark, 

 though he only accepted baptism under compulsion in 

 the first instance, became zealous to put the yoke of 

 the new faith on others. 



Olaf, therefore, knew that he might proceed with the 

 conversion of large batches of men. Let him persuade 

 the chiefs and their followers of one district, or the 

 people thereof assembled in the Thing, to follow him 

 in his change of faith, and he at once obtained zealous 

 adherents thereto, not indifferent converts only ; and if 



