Now when the king who at that time ruled in Raumarike heard of this, he
thought it was a very bad affair; for every day came men to him, both
great and small, who told him what was doing. Therefore this king
resolved to go up to Hedemark, and consult King Hrorek, who was the
most eminent for understanding of the kings who at that time were in the
country. Now when these kings spoke with each other, they agreed to
send a message to Gudrod, the valley-king north in the Gudbrandsdal,
and likewise to the king who was in Hadaland, and bid them to come to
Hedemark, to meet Hrorek and the other kings there. They did not spare
their travelling; for five kings met in Hedemark, at a place called
Ringsaker. Ring, King Hrorek's brother, was the fifth of these kings.
The kings had first a private conference together, in which he who
came from Raumarike first took up the word, and told of King Olaf's
proceedings, and of the disturbance he was causing both by killing and
mutilating people. Some he drove out of the country, some he deprived
of their offices or property if they spoke anything against him; and,
besides, he was travelling over the country with a great army, not
with the number of people fixed by law for a royal progress in
guest-quarters. He added, that he had fled hither upon account of this
disturbance, and many powerful people with him had fled from their udal
properties in Raumarike. "But although as yet the evil is nearest to
us, it will be but a short time before ye will also be exposed to it;
therefore it is best that we all consider together what resolution we
shall take." When he had ended his speech, Hrorek was desired to speak;
and he said, "Now is the day come that I foretold when we had had our
meeting at Hadaland, and ye were all so eager to raise Olaf over our
heads; namely, that as soon as he was the supreme master of the country
we would find it hard to hold him by the horns. We have but two things
now to do: the one is, to go all of us to him, and let him do with us as
he likes, which I think is the best thing we can do; or the other is,
to rise against him before he has gone farther through the country.
Although he has 300 or 400 men, that is not too great a force for us to
meet, if we are only all in movement together: but, in general, there is
less success and advantage to be gained when several of equal strength
are joined together, than when one alone stands at the head of his own
force; therefore it is my advice, that we do not venture to try our luck
against Olaf Haraldson."
Thereafter each of the kings spoke according to his own mind some
dissuading from going out against King Olaf, others urging it; and no
determination was come to, as each had his own reasons to produce.
Then Gudrod, the valley-king, took up the word, and spoke:--"It appears
wonderful to me, that ye make such a long roundabout in coming to a
resolution; and probably ye are frightened for him. We are here five
kings, and none of less high birth than Olaf. We gave him the strength
to fight with Earl Svein, and with our forces he has brought the country
under his power. But if he grudges each of us the little kingdom he had
before, and threatens us with tortures, or gives us ill words, then, say
I for myself, that I will withdraw myself from the king's slavery; and I
do not call him a man among you who is afraid to cut him off, if he come
into your hands here up in Hedemark. And this I can tell you, that we
shall never bear our heads in safety while Olaf is in life." After this
encouragement they all agreed to his determination.
Then said Hrorek, "With regard to this determination, it appears to me
necessary to make our agreement so strong that no one shall fail in his
promise to the other. Therefore, if ye determine upon attacking Olaf at
a fixed time, when he comes here to Hedemark, I will not trust much to
you if some are north in the valleys, others up in Hedemark; but if
our resolution is to come to anything, we must remain here assembled
together day and night."
This the kings agreed to, and kept themselves there all assembled,
ordering a feast to be provided for them at Ringsaker, and drank there a
cup to success; sending out spies to Raumarike, and when one set came
in sending out others, so that day and night they had intelligence of
Olaf's proceedings, and of the numbers of his men. King Olaf went
about in Raumarike in guest-quarters, and altogether in the way before
related; but as the provision of the guest-quarter was not always
sufficient, upon account of his numerous followers, he laid it upon the
bondes to give additional contributions wherever he found it necessary
to stay. In some places he stayed longer, in others, shorter than was
fixed; and his journey down to the lake Miosen was shorter than had
been fixed on. The kings, after taking their resolution, sent out
message-tokens, and summoned all the lendermen and powerful bondes from
all the districts thereabout; and when they had assembled the kings had
a private meeting with them, and made their determination known, setting
a day for gathering together and carrying it into effect; and it was
settled among them that each of the kings should have 300 (1) men. Then
they sent away the lendermen to gather the people, and meet all at the
appointed place. The most approved of the measure; but it happened
here, as it usually does, that every one has some friend even among his
enemies.
ENDNOTES: (1) I.e., 360.