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called Hella （the Flat Rock）； still known as 〃Hakon's Hella；〃 faint from
loss of blood； and crushed down as he had never before felt。 Having no
son and only one daughter； he appointed these invasive sons of Eric to be
sent for； and if he died to become king； but to 〃spare his friends and
kindred。〃 〃If a longer life be granted me；〃 he said； 〃I will go out of this
land to Christian men； and do penance for what I have committed against
God。 But if I die in the country of the heathen； let me have such burial as
you yourselves think fittest。〃 These are his last recorded words。 And in
heathen fashion he was buried； and besung by Eyvind and the Skalds；
though himself a zealously Christian king。 Hakon the _Good_； so one still
finds him worthy of being called。 The sorrow on Hakon's death； Snorro
tells us； was so great and universal； 〃that he was lamented both by friends
and enemies； and they said that never again would Norway see such a
king。〃
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
CHAPTER IV。
HARALD GREYFELL AND BROTHERS。
Eric's sons； four or five of them； with a Harald at the top； now at once
got Norway in hand； all of it but Trondhjem； as king and under…kings； and
made a severe time of it for those who had been； or seemed to be； their
enemies。 Excellent Jarl Sigurd； always so useful to Hakon and his country；
was killed by them； and they came to repent that before very long。 The
slain Sigurd left a son； Hakon； as Jarl； who became famous in the northern
world by and by。 This Hakon； and him only； would the Trondhjemers
accept as sovereign。 〃Death to him； then；〃 said the sons of Eric； but only in
secret； till they had got their hands free and were ready； which was not yet
for some years。 Nay； Hakon； when actually attacked； made good resistance；
and threatened to cause trouble。 Nor did he by any means get his death
from these sons of Eric at this time； or till long afterwards at all； from one
of their kin； as it chanced。 On the contrary； he fled to Denmark now； and
by and by managed to come back； to their cost。
Among their other chief victims were two cousins of their own；
Tryggve and Gudrod； who had been honest under…kings to the late head…
king； Hakon the Good； but were now become suspect； and had to fight for
their lives； and lose them in a tragic manner。 Tryggve had a son； whom we
shall hear of。 Gudrod； son of worthy Bjorn the Chapman； was grandfather
of Saint Olaf； whom all men have heard of；who has a church in
Southwark even； and another in Old Jewry； to this hour。 In all these
violences； Gunhild； widow of the late king Eric； was understood to have a
principal hand。 She had come back to Norway with her sons； and naturally
passed for the secret adviser and Maternal President in whatever of
violence went on； always reckoned a fell； vehement； relentless personage
where her own interests were concerned。 Probably as things settled； her
influence on affairs grew less。 At least one hopes so； and； in the Sagas；
hears less and less of her； and before long nothing。
Harald； the head…king in this Eric fraternity； does not seem to have
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
been a bad man；the contrary indeed； but his position was untowardly；
full of difficulty and contradictions。 Whatever Harald could accomplish
for behoof of Christianity； or real benefit to Norway； in these cross
circumstances； he seems to have done in a modest and honest manner。 He
got the name of _Greyfell_ from his people on a very trivial account； but
seemingly with perfect good humor on their part。 Some Iceland trader had
brought a cargo of furs to Trondhjem （Lade） for sale； sale being slacker
than the Icelander wished； he presented a chosen specimen； cloak； doublet；
or whatever it was； to Harald； who wore it with acceptance in public； and
rapidly brought disposal of the Icelander's stock； and the surname of
_Greyfell_ to himself。 His under…kings and he were certainly not popular；
though I almost think Greyfell himself； in absence of his mother and the
under…kings； might have been so。 But here they all were； and had wrought
great trouble in Norway。 〃Too many of them；〃 said everybody； 〃too many
of these courts and court people； eating up any substance that there is。〃 For
the seasons withal； two or three of them in succession； were bad for grass；
much more for grain； no _herring_ came either； very cleanness of teeth
was like to come in Eyvind Skaldaspillir's opinion。 This scarcity became at
last their share of the great Famine Of A。D。 975； which desolated Western
Europe （see the poem in the Saxon Chronicle）。 And all this by Eyvind
Skaldaspillir； and the heathen Norse in general； was ascribed to anger of
the heathen gods。 Discontent in Norway； and especially in Eyvind
Skaldaspillir； seems to have been very great。
Whereupon exile Hakon； Jarl Sigurd's son； bestirs himself in Denmark；
backed by old King Blue…tooth； and begins invading and encroaching in a
miscellaneous way； especially intriguing and contriving plots all round
him。 An unfathomably cunning kind of fellow； as well as an audacious and
strong…handed！ Intriguing in Trondhjem； where he gets the under…king；
Greyfell's brother； fallen upon and murdered； intriguing with Gold Harald；
a distinguished cousin or nephew of King Blue…tooth's； who had done fine
viking work； and gained； such wealth that he got the epithet of 〃Gold；〃 and
who now was infinitely desirous of a share in Blue…tooth's kingdom as the
proper finish to these sea…rovings。 He even ventured one day to make
publicly a distinct proposal that way to King Harald Blue…tooth himself；
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
who flew into thunder and lightning at the mere mention of it； so that none
durst speak to him for several days afterwards。 Of both these Haralds
Hakon was confidential friend； and needed all his skill to walk without
immediate annihilation between such a pair of dragons； and work out
Norway for himself withal。 In the end