Erling Skjalgson held his dominion so, that all north from Sogn Lake,
and east to the Naze, the bondes stood under him; and although he had
much smaller royal fiefs than formerly, still so great a dread of him
prevailed that nobody dared to do anything against his will, so that
the king thought his power too great. There was a man called Aslak
Fitiaskalle, who was powerful and of high birth. Erling's father Skjalg,
and Aslak's father Askel, were brother's sons. Aslak was a great friend
of King Olaf, and the king settled him in South Hordaland, where he gave
him a great fief, and great income, and ordered him in no respect to
give way to Erling. But this came to nothing when the king was not in
the neighbourhood; for then Erling would reign as he used to do, and was
not more humble because Aslak would thrust himself forward as his equal.
At last the strife went so far that Aslak could not keep his place, but
hastened to King Olaf, and told him the circumstances between him and
Erling. The king told Aslak to remain with him until he should meet
Erling; and sent a message to Erling that he should come to him in
spring at Tunsberg. When they all arrived there they held a meeting at
which the king said to him, "It is told me concerning thy government,
Erling, that no man from Sogn Lake to the Naze can enjoy his freedom for
thee; although there are many men there who consider themselves born
to udal rights, and have their privileges like others born as they are.
Now, here is your relation Aslak, who appears to have suffered great
inconvenience from your conduct; and I do not know whether he himself is
in fault, or whether he suffers because I have placed him to defend what
is mine; and although I name him, there are many others who have brought
the same complaint before us, both among those who are placed in office
in our districts, and among the bailiffs who have our farms to manage,
and are obliged to entertain me and my people."
Erling replies to this, "I will answer at once. I deny altogether that I
have ever injured Aslak, or any one else, for being in your service; but
this I will not deny, that it is now, as it has long been, that each of
us relations will willingly be greater than the other: and, moreover,
I freely acknowledge that I am ready to bow my neck to thee, King Olaf;
but it is more difficult for me to stoop before one who is of slave
descent in all his generation, although he is now your bailiff, or
before others who are but equal to him in descent, although you bestow
honours on them."
Now the friends of both interfered, and entreated that they would be
reconciled; saying, that the king never could have such powerful aid as
from Erling, "if he was your friend entirely." On the other hand, they
represent to Erling that he should give up to the king; for if he was
in friendship with the king, it would be easy to do with all the others
what he pleased. The meeting accordingly ended so that Erling should
retain the fiefs he formerly had, and every complaint the king had
against Erling should be dropped; but Skjalg, Erling's son, should
come to the king, and remain in his power. Then Aslak returned to his
dominions, and the two were in some sort reconciled. Erling returned
home also to his domains, and followed his own way of ruling them.