When spring (A.D. 1024) was advanced King Olaf rigged out his ships,
and sailed southwards in summer along the land. He held Things with the
bondes on the way, settled the law business of the people, put to rights
the faith of the country, and collected the king's taxes wherever he
came. In autumn he proceeded south to the frontier of the country; and
King Olaf had now made the people Christians in all the great districts,
and everywhere, by laws, had introduced order into the country. He had
also, as before related, brought the Orkney Islands under his power, and
by messages had made many friends in Iceland, Greenland, and the Farey
Islands. King Olaf had sent timber for building a church to Iceland, of
which a church was built upon the Thing-field where the General Thing is
held, and had sent a bell for it, which is still there. This was after
the Iceland people had altered their laws, and introduced Christianity,
according to the word King Olaf had sent them. After that time, many
considerable persons came from Iceland, and entered into King Olaf's
service; as Thorkel Eyjolfson, and Thorleif Bollason, Thord Kolbeinson,
Thord Barkarson, Thorgeir Havarson, Thormod Kalbrunar-skald. King Olaf
had sent many friendly presents to chief people in Iceland; and they
in return sent him such things as they had which they thought most
acceptable. Under this show of friendship which the king gave Iceland
were concealed many things which afterwards appeared.