1 84 Norway and the N^orivegians 



state their case to the best advantage. But when tlie 

 first of the three spokesmen got up he \\'as seized with 

 such a cough and sucli a difficulty of breathing that he 

 could not bring out a word. The second one got up ; 

 but he became so confused that he could not find a word 

 to say, and had to sit down again. Then the third 

 tried ; but he again was so hoarse that though he spoke 

 no one could hear what he said. And as after tliat no 

 one could be found to take up their case, the bonders 

 could make no further objection, but received baptism 

 as King Olaf desired. Such is the story which the saga 

 tells, a story handed down probably by some of the 

 Christian priests. 



This was but a beginning. Of far more importance 

 was it to get the assent of the Gula Thing, the great 

 Thing for the fjord district. At that Olaf was met 

 by a curious counter-proposal from some of the chief 

 men of the country : If the king would promote one of 

 their number, a certain Hersi Erling, by marrying him 

 to Olaf's sister Astrid, they would do what he wished 

 in the matter of a change of faith ; and this arrange- 

 ment was carried out. This Erling Skjalgsson becan)e 

 one of the most powerful men in Norway during the 

 reign of Olaf Tryggvason, during the interregnum which 

 followed it, and during a great portion of the reign of 

 Olaf the Saint. 



At the Thing held in the Throndhjem country the 

 bonders were more difficult to persuade. They remem- 

 bered how Hakon the Good had tried to convert their 

 forefathers, but had ended by being obliged himself to 

 assist at the sacrifices to Thor and Odin. And they 

 summoned Olaf to meet them at Mara and do the same 



