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.