Heimskringla | Page 9

"it is wonderful that no king here in

Norway will make the whole country subject to him, in the same way
as Gorm the Old did in Denmark, or Eirik at Upsala." The messengers
thought her answer was dreadfully haughty, and asked what she
thought would come of such an answer; for Harald was so mighty a
man, that his invitation was good enough for her. But although she had
replied to their errand differently from what they wished, they saw no
chance, on this occasion, of taking her with them against her will; so
they prepared to return. When they were ready, and the people followed
them out, Gyda said to the messengers, "Now tell to King Harald these
my words. I will only agree to be his 1awful wife upon the condition
that he shall first, for my sake, subject to himself the whole of Norway,
so that he may rule over that kingdom as freely and fully as King Eirik
over the Swedish dominions, or King Gorm over Denmark; for only
then, methinks, can he be called the king of a people."

4. KING HARALD'S VOW.
Now came the messengers back to King Harald, bringing him the
words of the girl, and saying she was so bold and foolish that she well
deserved that the king should send a greater troop of people for her, and
inflict on her some disgrace. Then answered the king, "This girl has not
spoken or done so much amiss that she should be punished, but rather
she should be thanked for her words. She has reminded me," said he,
"of something which it appears to me wonderful I did not think of
before. And now," added he, "I make the solemn vow, and take God to
witness, who made me and rules over all things, that never shall I clip
or comb my hair until I have subdued the whole of Norway, with scat
(1), and duties, and domains; or if not, have died in the attempt."
Guthorm thanked the king warmly for his vow; adding, that it was
royal work to fulfil royal words.
ENDNOTES: (1) Scat was a land-tax, paid to the king in money, malt,
meal, or flesh-meat, from all lands, and was adjudged by the Thing to
each king upon his accession, and being proposed and accepted as king.

5. THE BATTLE IN ORKADAL.
After this the two relations gather together a great force, and prepare
for an expedition to the Uplands, and northwards up the valley

(Gudbrandsdal), and north over Dovrefjeld; and when the king came
down to the inhabited land he ordered all the men to be killed, and
everything wide around to be delivered to the flames. And when the
people came to know this, they fled every one where he could; some
down the country to Orkadal, some to Gaulardal, some to the forests.
But some begged for peace, and obtained it, on condition of joining the
king and becoming his men. He met no opposition until he came to
Orkadal. There a crowd of people had assembled, and he had his first
battle with a king called Gryting. Harald won the victory, and King
Gryting was made prisoner, and most of his people killed. He took
service himself under the king, and swore fidelity to him. Thereafer all
the people in Orkadal district went under King Harald, and became his
men.

6. KING HARALD S LAWS FOR LAND PROPERTY.
King Harald made this law over all the lands he conquered, that all the
udal property should belong to him; and that the bondes, both great and
small, should pay him land dues for their possessions. Over every
district he set an earl to judge according to the law of the land and to
justice, and also to collect the land dues and the fines; and for this each
earl received a third part of the dues, and services, and fines, for the
support of his table and other expenses. Each earl had under him four
or more herses, each of whom had an estate of twenty marks yearly
income bestowed on him and was bound to support twenty
men-at-arms, and the earl sixty men, at their own expenses. The king
had increased the land dues and burdens so much, that each of his earls
had greater power and income than the kings had before; and when that
became known at Throndhjem, many great men joined the king and
took his service.

7. BATTLE IN GAULARDAL.
It is told that Earl Hakon Grjotgardson came to King Harald from Yrjar,
and brought a great crowd of men to his service. Then King Harald
went into Gaulardal, and had a great battle, in which he slew two kings,
and conquered their dominions; and