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reconciliation； for otherwise I expect we shall never meet again。〃 Erling was then as red as blood in the face。
Now Bishop Sigurd came forward to the king and said； 〃Sire； I entreat you on God Almighty's account to be reconciled with Erling according to his offer； that the man shall retain life and limb； but that thou shalt determine according to thy pleasure all the other conditions。〃
The king replies； 〃You will determine。〃
Then said the bishop； 〃Erling； do thou give security for Asbjorn； such as the king thinks sufficient； and then leave the conditions to the mercy of the king； and leave all in his power。〃
Erling gave a surety to the king on his part； which he accepted。
Thereupon Asbjorn received his life and safety； and delivered himself into the king's power； and kissed his hand。
Erling then withdrew with his forces； without exchanging salutation with the king； and the king went into the hall； followed by Asbjorn。 The king thereafter made known the terms of reconciliation to be these： 〃In the first place； Asbjorn； thou must submit to the law of the land； which commands that the man who kills a servant of the king must undertake his service； if the king will。 Now I will that thou shalt undertake the office of bailiff which Thorer Sel had； and manage my estate here in Augvaldsnes。〃 Asbjorn replies； that it should be according to the king's will； 〃but I must first go home to my farm； and put things in order there。〃 The king was satisfied with this； and proceeded to another guest…quarter。 Asbjorn made himself ready with his comrades； who all kept themselves concealed in a quiet creek during the time Asbjorn was away from them。 They had had their spies out to learn how it went with him； and would not depart without having some certain news of him。
128。 OF THORER HUND AND ASBJORN SELSBANE。
Asbjorn then set out on his voyage； and about spring （A。D。 1023） got home to his farm。 After this exploit he was always called Asbjorn Selsbane。 Asbjorn had not been long at home before he and his relation Thorer met and conversed together； and Thorer asked Asbjorn particularly all about his journey； and about all the circumstances which had happened on the course of it。 Asbjorn told everything as it had taken place。
Then said Thorer； 〃Thou thinkest that thou hast well rubbed out the disgrace of having been plundered in last harvest。〃
〃I think so；〃 replies Asbjorn； 〃and what is thy opinion； cousin？〃
〃That I will soon tell thee；〃 said Thorer。 〃Thy first expedition to the south of the country was indeed very disgraceful； and that disgrace has been redeemed； but this expedition is both a disgrace to thee and to thy family； if it end in thy becoming the king's slave； and being put on a footing with that worst of men； Thorer Sel。 Show that thou art manly enough to sit here on thy own property； and we thy relations shall so support thee that thou wilt never more come into such trouble。〃
Asbjorn found this advice much to his mind； and before they parted it was firmly； determined that Asbjorn should remain on his farm； and not go back to the king or enter into his service。 And he did so； and sat quietly at home on his farm。
129。 KING OLAF BAPTIZES IN VORS AND VALDERS。
After King Olaf and Erling Skjalgson had this meeting at Augvaldsnes； new differences arose between them； and increased so much that they ended in perfect enmity。 In spring （A。D。 1023） the king proceeded to guest…quarters in Hordaland； and went up also to Vors； because he heard there was but little of the true faith among the people there。 He held a Thing with the bondes at a place called Vang； and a number of bondes came to it fully armed。 The king ordered them to adopt Christianity； but they challenged him to battle； and it proceeded so far that the men were drawn up on both sides。 But when it came to the point such a fear entered into the blood of the bondes that none would advance or command； and they chose the part which was most to their advantage； namely； to obey the king and receive Christianity； and before the king left them they were all baptized。 One day it happened that the king was riding on his way a singing of psalms； and when he came right opposite some hills he halted and said； 〃Man after man shall relate these my words； that I think it not advisable for any king of Norway to travel hereafter between these hills。〃 And it is a saying among the people that the most kings since that time have avoided it。 The king proceeded to Ostrarfjord； and came to his ships； with which he went north to Sogn； and had his living in guest…quarters there in summer （A。D。 1023）； when autumn approached he turned in towards the Fjord district； and went from thence to Valders； where the people were still heathen。 The king hastened up to the lake in Valders； came unexpectedly on the bondes； seized their vessels； and went on board of them with all his men。 He then sent out message…tokens； and appointed a Thing so near the lake that he could use the vessels if he found he required them。 The bondes resorted to the Thing in a great and well…armed host； and when he commanded them to accept Christianity the bondes shouted against him； told him to be silent； and made a great uproar and clashing of weapons。 But when the king saw that they would not listen to what he would teach them； and also that they had too great a force to contend with； he turned his discourse； and asked if there were people at the Thing who had disputes with each other which they wished him to settle。 It was soon found by the conversation of the bondes that they had many quarrels among themselves； although they had all joined in speaking against Christianity。 When the bondes began to set forth their own cases； each endeavored to get some upon his side to support him； and this lasted the whole day long until evening； when the Thing was concluded。 When the bondes had heard that the king had travelled to Valders； and was come into their neighborhood； they had sent out message…tokens summoning the free and the unfree to meet in arms； and with this force they had advanced against the king； so that the neighbourhood all around was left without people。 When the Thing was concluded the bondes still remained assembled； and when the king observed this he went on board his ships； rowed in the night right across the water； landed in the country there； and began to plunder and burn。 The day after the king's men rowed from one point of land to another； and over all the king ordered the habitations to be set on fire。 Now when the bondes who were assembled saw what the king was doing； namely； plundering and burning； and saw the smoke and flame of their houses； they dispersed； and each hastened to his own home to see if he could find those he had left。 As soon as there came a dispersion among the crowd； the one slipped away after the other； until the whole multitude was dissolved。 Then the king rowed across the lake again； burning also on that side of the country。 Now came the bondes to him begging for mercy； and offering to submit to him。 He gave every man who came to him peace if he desired it； and restored to him his goods； and nobody refused to adopt Christianity。 T