King Olaf proceeded with his men down into Orkadal, and advanced in
peace and with all gentleness; but when he came to Griotar he met the
assembled bondes, amounting to more than 700 men. Then the king arrayed
his army, for he thought the bondes were to give battle. When the bondes
saw this, they also began to put their men in order; but it went on
very slowly, for they had not agreed beforehand who among them should be
commander. Now when King Olaf saw there was confusion among the bondes,
he sent to them Thorer Gudbrandson; and when he came he told them King
Olaf did not want to fight them, but named twelve of the ablest men in
their flock of people, who were desired to come to King Olaf. The bondes
agreed to this; and the twelve men went over a rising ground which is
there, and came to the place where the king's army stood in array. The
king said to them, "Ye bondes have done well to give me an opportunity
to speak with you, for now I will explain to you my errand here to the
Throndhjem country. First I must tell you, what ye already must have
heard, that Earl Hakon and I met in summer; and the issue of our meeting
was, that he gave me the whole kingdom he possessed in the Throndhjem
country, which, as ye know, consists of Orkadal, Gaulardal, Strind, and
Eyna district. As a proof of this, I have here with me the very men who
were present, and saw the earl's and my own hands given upon it, and
heard the word and oath, and witnessed the agreement the earl made
with me. Now I offer you peace and law, the same as King Olaf Trygvason
offered before me."
The king spoke well, and long; and ended by proposing to the bondes two
conditions--either to go into his service and be subject to him, or to
fight him. Thereupon the twelve bondes went back to their people, and
told the issue of their errand, and considered with the people what they
should resolve upon. Although they discussed the matter backwards and
forwards for a while, they preferred at last to submit to the king; and
it was confirmed by the oath of the bondes. The king now proceeded on
his journey, and the bondes made feasts for him. The king then proceeded
to the sea-coast, and got ships; and among others he got a long-ship of
twenty benches of rowers from Gunnar of Gelmin; another ship of twenty
benches he got from Loden of Viggia; and three ships of twenty benches
from the farm of Angrar on the ness which farm Earl Hakon had possessed,
but a steward managed it for him, by name Bard White. The king had,
besides, four or five boats; and with these vessels he went in all haste
into the fjord of Throndhjem.