The same winter (A.D. 1016) came messengers from the Swedish king,
Olaf the Swede, out of Svithjod: and their leaders were two brothers,
Thorgaut Skarde and Asgaut the bailiff; and they, had twenty-four men
with them, when they came from the eastward, over the ridge of the
country down into Veradal, they summoned a Thing of the bondes, talked
to them, and demanded of them scat and duties upon account of the king
of Sweden. But the bondes, after consulting with each other, determined
only to pay the scat which the Swedish king required in so far as King
Olaf required none upon his account, but refused to pay scat to both.
The messengers proceeded farther down the valley; but received at every
Thing they held the same answer, and no money. They went forward to
Skaun, held a Thing there, and demanded scat; but it went there as
before. Then they came to Stjoradal, and summoned a Thing, but the
bondes would not come to it. Now the messengers saw that their business
was a failure; and Thorgaut proposed that they should turn about, and go
eastward again. "I do not think," says Asgaut, "that we have performed
the king's errand unless we go to King Olaf the Thick, since the bondes
refer the matter to him." He was their commander; so they proceeded to
the town (Nidaros), and took lodging there. The day after they presented
themselves to the king, just as he was seated at table, saluted him, and
said they came with a message of the Swedish king. The king told them to
come to him next day. Next day the king, having heard mass, went to his
Thing-house, ordered the messengers of the Swedish king to be called,
and told them to produce their message. Then Thorgaut spoke, and told
first what his errand was, and next how the Throndhjem people of
the interior had replied to it; and asked the king's decision on the
business, that they might know what result their errand there was to
have. The king answers, "While the earls ruled over the country, it was
not to be wondered at if the country people thought themselves bound to
obey them, as they were at least of the royal race of the kingdom. But
it would have been more just if those earls had given assistance and
service to the kings who had a right to the country, rather than to
foreign kings, or to stir up opposition to their lawful kings, depriving
them of their land and kingdom. With regard to Olaf the Swede, who
calls himself entitled to the kingdom of Norway, I, who in fact am so
entitled, can see no ground for his claim; but well remember the skaith
and damage we have suffered from him and his relations."
Then says Asgaut. "It is not wonderful that thou art called Olaf the
Thick, seeing thou answerest so haughtily to such a prince's message,
and canst not see clearly how heavy the king's wrath will be for thee
to support, as many have experienced who had greater strength than thou
appearest to have. But if thou wishest to keep hold of thy kingdom, it
will be best for thee to come to the king, and be his man; and we shall
beg him to give thee this kingdom in fief under him."
The king replies with all gentleness, "I will give thee an advice,
Asgaut, in return. Go back to the east again to thy king, and tell him
that early in spring I will make myself ready, and will proceed eastward
to the ancient frontier that divided formerly the kingdom of the kings
of Norway from Sweden. There he may come if he likes, that we may
conclude a peace with each other; and each of us will retain the kingdom
to which he is born."
Now the messengers turned back to their lodging, and prepared for their
departure, and the king went to table. The messengers came back soon
after to the king's house; but the doorkeepers saw it, and reported it
to the king, who told them not to let the messengers in. "I will not
speak with them," said he. Then the messengers went off, and Thorgaut
said he would now return home with his men; but Asgaut insisted still
that he would go forward with the king's errand: so they separated.
Thorgaut proceeded accordingly through Strind; but Asgaut went into
Gaulardal and Orkadal, and intended proceeding southwards to More, to
deliver his king's message. When King Olaf came to the knowledge of this
he sent out his pursuivants after them, who found them at the ness in
Stein, bound their hands behind their backs, and led them down to the
point called Gaularas, where they raised a gallows, and hanged them so
that they could be seen by those who travelled the usual sea-way out of
the fjord. Thorgaut heard this news before he had travelled far on his
way home through the Throndhjem country; and he hastened on his journey
until he came to the Swedish king, and told him how it had gone with
them. The king was highly enraged when he heard the account of it; and
he had no lack of high words.