King Olaf sent spies out to trace the earl's doings (A.D. 1015); and
when he found that the earl had left the country he sailed out west, and
to Viken, where many people came to him. At the Thing there he was taken
as king, and so he proceeded all the way to the Naze; and when he heard
that Erling Skialgson had gathered a large force, he did not tarry
in North Agder, but sailed with a steady fair wind to the Throndhjem
country; for there it appeared to him was the greatest strength of the
land, if he could subdue it for himself while the earl was abroad. When
Olaf came to Throndhjem there was no opposition, and he was elected
there to be king. In harvest (A.D. 1015) he took his seat in the town
of Nidaros, and collected the needful winter provision (A.D. 1016). He
built a king's house, and raised Clement's church on the spot on which
it now stands. He parcelled out building ground, which he gave to
bondes, merchants, or others who he thought would build. There he sat
down with many men-at-arms around him; for he put no great confidence
in the Throndhjem people, if the earl should return to the country. The
people of the interior of the Throndhjem country showed this clearly,
for he got no land-scat from them.