King Eystein sent a verbal message to the most intelligent and powerful
of the men of Jamtaland, and invited them to him; received them all as
they came with great kindness; accompanied them part of the way home,
and gave them presents, and thus enticed them into a friendship with
him. Now as many of them became accustomed to visit him and receive
gifts from him, and he also sent gifts to some who did not come
themselves, he soon gained the favour of all the people who had most
influence in the country. Then he spoke to the Jamtaland people, and
told them they had done ill in turning away from the kings of Norway,
and withdrawing from them their taxes and allegiance. He began by
saying how the Jamtaland people had submitted to the reign of Hakon, the
foster-son of Athelstane, and had long afterwards been subjected to the
kings of Norway, and he represented to them how many useful things they
could get from Norway, and how inconvenient it was for them to apply
to the Swedish king for what they needed. By these speeches he brought
matters so far that the Jamtaland people of their own accord offered to
be subject to him, which they said was useful and necessary for them;
and thus, on both sides, it was agreed that the Jamtalanders should put
their whole country under King Eystein. The first beginning was with the
men of consequence, who persuaded the people to take an oath of fidelity
to King Eystein; and then they went to King Eystein and confirmed the
country to him by oath; and this arrangement has since continued for a
long time. King Eystein thus conquered Jamtaland by his wisdom, and not
by hostile inroads, as some of his forefathers had done.