Now when Fin Arnason had been a short time with King Olaf, the king
called him to a conference, along with some other persons he usually
held consultation with; and in this conference the king spoke to this
effect:--"The decision remains fixed in my mind that in spring I should
raise the whole country to a levy both of men and ships, and then
proceed, with all the force I can muster, against King Canute the Great:
for I know for certain that he does not intend to treat as a jest the
claim he has awakened upon my kingdom. Now I let thee know my will, Fin
Arnason, that thou proceed on my errand to Halogaland, and raise the
people there to an expedition, men and ships, and summon that force
to meet me at Agdanes." Then the king named other men whom he sent to
Throndhjem, and some southwards in the country, and he commanded that
this order should be circulated through the whole land. Of Fin's voyage
we have to relate that he had with him a ship with about thirty men,
and when he was ready for sea he prosecuted his journey until he came
to Halogaland. There he summoned the bondes to a Thing, laid before them
his errand, and craved a levy. The bondes in that district had large
vessels, suited to a levy expedition, and they obeyed the king's
message, and rigged their ships. Now when Fin came farther north in
Halogaland he held a Thing again, and sent some of his men from him to
crave a levy where he thought it necessary. He sent also men to Bjarkey
Island to Thorer Hund, and there, as elsewhere, craved the quota to the
levy. When the message came to Thorer he made himself ready, and manned
with his house-servants the same vessel he had sailed with on his cruise
to Bjarmaland, and which he equipped at his own expense. Fin summoned
all the people of Halogaland who were to the north to meet at Vagar.
There came a great fleet together in spring, and they waited there until
Fin returned from the North. Thorer Hund had also come there. When Fin
arrived he ordered the signal to sound for all the people of the levy to
attend a House-Thing; and at it all the men produced their weapons, and
also the fighting men from each ship-district were mustered. When that
was all finished Fin said, "I have also to bring thee a salutation,
Thorer Hund, from King Olaf, and to ask thee what thou wilt offer him
for the murder of his court-man Karle, or for the robbery in taking the
king's goods north in Lengjuvik. I have the king's orders to settle that
business, and I wait thy answer to it."
Thorer looked about him, and saw standing on both sides many fully armed
men, among whom were Gunstein and others of Karle's kindred. Then said
Thorer, "My proposal is soon made. I will refer altogether to the king's
pleasure the matter he thinks he has against me."
Fin replies, "Thou must put up with a less honour; for thou must refer
the matter altogether to my decision, if any agreement is to take
place."
Thorer replies, "And even then I think it will stand well with my case,
and therefore I will not decline referring it to thee."
Thereupon Thorer came forward, and confirmed what he said by giving his
hand upon it; and Fin repeated first all the words he should say.
Fin now pronounced his decision upon the agreement,--that Thorer should
pay to the king ten marks of gold, and to Gunstein and the other kindred
ten marks, and for the robbery and loss of goods ten marks more; and all
which should be paid immediately.