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Elphegus； with due solemnity of apparatus； in presence of the king； at
Andover； baptized Olaf anew； and to him Olaf engaged that he would
never plunder in England any more； which promise； too； he kept。 In fact；
not long after； Svein's conquest of England being in an evidently forward
state； Tryggveson （having made； withal； a great English or Irish marriage；…
…a dowager Princess； who had voluntarily fallen in love with him；see
Snorro for this fine romantic fact！） mainly resided in our island for two or
three years； or else in Dublin； in the precincts of the Danish Court there in
the Sister Isle。 Accordingly it was in Dublin； as above noted； that Hakon's
spy found him； and from the Liffey that his squadron sailed； through the
Hebrides； through the Orkneys； plundering and baptizing in their strange
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way； towards such success as we have seen。
Tryggveson made a stout； and； in effect； victorious and glorious
struggle for himself as king。 Daily and hourly vigilant to do so； often
enough by soft and even merry methods； for he was a witty； jocund man；
and had a fine ringing laugh in him； and clear pregnant words ever ready；
or if soft methods would not serve； then by hard and even hardest he put
down a great deal of miscellaneous anarchy in Norway； was especially
busy against heathenism （devil…worship and its rites）： this； indeed； may be
called the focus and heart of all his royal endeavor in Norway； and of all
the troubles he now had with his people there。 For this was a serious； vital；
all…comprehending matter； devil…worship； a thing not to be tolerated one
moment longer than you could by any method help！ Olaf's success was
intermittent； of varying complexion； but his effort； swift or slow； was
strong and continual； and on the whole he did succeed。 Take a sample or
two of that wonderful conversion process：
At one of his first Things he found the Bonders all assembled in arms；
resolute to the death seemingly； against his proposal and him。 Tryggveson
said little； waited impassive； 〃What your reasons are； good men？〃 One
zealous Bonder started up in passionate parliamentary eloquence； but after
a sentence or two； broke down； one； and then another； and still another；
and remained all three staring in open…mouthed silence there！ The peasant…
proprietors accepted the phenomenon as ludicrous； perhaps partly as
miraculous withal； and consented to baptism this time。
On another occasion of a Thing； which had assembled near some
heathen temple to meet him；temple where Hakon Jarl had done much
repairing； and set up many idol figures and sumptuous ornaments；
regardless of expense； especially a very big and splendid Thor； with
massive gold collar round the neck of him； not the like of it in Norway；
King Olaf Tryggveson was clamorously invited by the Bonders to step in
there； enlighten his eyes； and partake of the sacred rites。 Instead of which
he rushed into the temple with his armed men； smashed down； with his
own battle…axe； the god Thor； prostrate on the ground at one stroke； to set
an example； and； in a few minutes； had the whole Hakon Pantheon
wrecked； packing up meanwhile all the gold and preciosities accumulated
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
there （not forgetting Thor's illustrious gold collar； of which we shall hear
again）； and victoriously took the plunder home with him for his own royal
uses and behoof of the state。 In other cases； though a friend to strong
measures； he had to hold in； and await the favorable moment。 Thus once；
in beginning a parliamentary address； so soon as he came to touch upon
Christianity； the Bonders rose in murmurs； in vociferations and jingling of
arms； which quite drowned the royal voice； declared； they had taken arms
against king Hakon the Good to compel him to desist from his Christian
proposals； and they did not think King Olaf a higher man than him （Hakon
the Good）。 The king then said； 〃He purposed coming to them next Yule to
their great sacrificial feast； to see for himself what their customs were；〃
which pacified the Bonders for this time。 The appointed place of meeting
was again a Hakon…Jarl Temple； not yet done to ruin； chief shrine in those
Trondhjem parts； I believe ： there should Tryggveson appear at Yule。 Well；
but before Yule came； Tryggveson made a great banquet in his palace at
Trondhjem； and invited far and wide； all manner of important persons out
of the district as guests there。 Banquet hardly done； Tryggveson gave some
slight signal； upon which armed men strode in； seized eleven of these
principal persons； and the king said： 〃Since he himself was to become a
heathen again； and do sacrifice； it was his purpose to do it in the highest
form； namely； that of Human Sacrifice； and this time not of slaves and
malefactors； but of the best men in the country！〃 In which stringent
circumstances the eleven seized persons； and company at large； gave
unanimous consent to baptism； straightway received the same； and abjured
their idols； but were not permitted to go home till they had left； in sons；
brothers； and other precious relatives； sufficient hostages in the king's
hands。
By unwearied industry of this and better kinds； Tryggveson had
trampled down idolatry； so far as form went；how far in substance may be
greatly doubted。 But it is to be remembered withal； that always on the
back of these compulsory adventures there followed English bishops；
priests and preachers； whereby to the open…minded； conviction； to all
degrees of it； was attainable； while silence and passivity became the duty
or necessity of the unconvinced party。
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In about two years Norway was all gone over with a rough harrow of
conversion。 Heathenism at least constrained to be silent and outwardly
conformable。 Tryggveson； next turned his attention to Iceland； sent one
Thangbrand； priest from Saxony； of wonderful qualities； military as well
as theological；