but declared, at the same time, that he knew it would be taken very ill by the king to propose that he should give way in anything to the Swedish king. The same summer [1017] Hialte Skeggiason came over to Norway from Iceland, according to the message sent him by King Olaf, and went directly to the king. He was well received by the king, who told him to lodge in his house, and gave him a seat beside Biorn the marshal, and Hialte became his comrade at table. There was good-fellowship immediately between them.

Once, when King Olaf had assembled the people and bondes to consult upon the good of the country, Biorn the marshal said, "What think you, king, of the strife that is between the Swedish king and you? Many people have fallen on both sides, without its being at all more determined than before what each of you shall have of the kingdom. You have now been sitting in Viken one winter and two summers, and the whole country to the north is lying behind your back unseen; and the men who have property or udal rights in the north are weary of sitting here. Now it is the wish of the lendermen, of your other people, and of the bondes that this should come to an end. There is now a truce, agreement, and peace with the earl, and the West Gautland people who are nearest to us; and it appears to the people it would be best that you sent messengers to the Swedish king to offer a reconciliation on your side; and, without doubt, many who are about the Swedish king will support the proposal, for it is a common

gain for those who dwell in both countries, both here and there." This speech of Biorn's received great applause.

Then the king said, "It is fair, Biorn, that the advice thou hast given should be carried out by thyself. Thou shalt undertake this embassy thyself, and enjoy the good of it, if thou hast advised well; and if it involve any man in danger, thou hast involved thyself in it. Moreover, it belongs to thy office to declare to the multitude what I wish to have told." Then the king stood up, went to the church, and had high mass sung before him; and thereafter went to table.

The following day Hialte said to Biorn, "Why art thou so melancholy, man? Art thou sick, or art thou angry at any one?" Biorn tells Hialte his conversation with the king, dangerous errand.

and says it is a very

Hialte says, "It is their lot who follow kings that they enjoy high honours, and are more respected than other men, but stand often in danger of their lives : and they must understand how to bear both parts of their lot. The king's luck is great; and much honour will be gained by this business, if it succeed."

Biorn answered, "Since thou makest so light of this business in thy speech, wilt thou go with me? The king has promised that I shall have companions with me on the journey."

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Certainly," says Hialte; "I will follow thee, if thou wilt for never again shall I fall in with such a comrade if we part."

CHAPTER LXVIII.-The Journey of Biorn the Marshal.

A few days afterwards, when the king was at a Thing-meeting, Biorn came with eleven others. He says to the king that they were now ready to proceed on their mission, and that their horses stood saddled at the door. "And now," says he, "I would know with what errand I am to go, or what orders thou givest us."

"The king replies, "Ye shall carry these my words to the Swedish king-that I will establish peace between our countries up to the frontier which Olaf Trygveson had before me; and each shall bind himself faithfully not to trespass over it. But with regard to the loss of people, no man must mention it if peace there is to be; for the Swedish king cannot with money pay for the men the Swedes have deprived us of." Thereupon the king rose, and went out with Biorn and his followers; and he took a gold-mounted sword and a gold ring, and said, in handing over the sword to Biorn, "This I give thee it was given to me in summer by Earl Ragnvald. To him ye shall go; and bring him word from me to advance your errand with his counsel and strength. This thy errand I will think well fulfilled if thou hearest the Swedish king's own words, be they yea or nay: and this gold ring thou shalt give Earl Ragnvald. These are tokens he must know well."

*

* Before writing was a common accomplishment in courts, the only way of accrediting a special messenger between kings and great men was by giving the messenger a token; that is, some article well known by the person receiving the message to be the property of and valued by

Hialte went up to the king, saluted him, and said, "We need much, king, that thy luck attend us; and wished that they might meet again in good health.

The king asked where Hialte was going.

"With Biorn," said he.

The king said, "It will assist much to the good success of the journey that thou goest too, for thy good fortune has often been proved; and be assured that I shall wish that all my luck, if that be of any weight, may attend thee and thy company."

Biorn and his followers rode their way, and came to Earl Ragnvald's court, where they were well received. Biorn was a celebrated and generally known man,-known by sight and speech to all who had ever seen King Olaf; for at every Thing, Biorn stood up and told the king's message. Ingibjorg, the earl's wife, went up to Hialte and looked at him. She recognised him, for she was living with her brother Olaf Trygveson when Hialte was there : and she knew how to reckon up the relationship between King Olaf and Vilborg, the wife of Hialte; for Eirik Biodaskalle father of Astrid, King Olaf Trygveson's mother, and Bodvar father of Olaf, mother of Gissur White the father of Vilborg, were

the person sending it. The exchange of tokens of friendship, and of presents of rings and jewels, was not merely an expression of the sentiments of friendship, but the means of confidential communications in business-the credentials of the persons sent with them as being messengers to be confided in, and having a real message to convey. Others, as well as the translator, may remember when, in remote parishes of the north of Scotland, it was no unusual circumstance to give a beggar the key of the girnal to carry to the house, as a token to the housewife that he was to get half a stone of meal by order of the gudeman.-L.

brother's sons of the lenderman Vikingakare of Vors.

They enjoyed here good entertainment.

One day

Biorn entered into conversation with the earl and Ingibjorg, in which he set forth his errand, and produced to the earl his tokens.

The earl replies, "What hast thou done, Biorn, that the king wishes thy death? For, so far from thy errand having any success, I do not think a man can be found who could speak these words to the Swedish king without incurring wrath and punishment. King Olaf, king of Sweden, is too proud for any man to speak to him on anything he is angry at."

Then Biorn says, "Nothing has happened to me that King Olaf is offended at; but many of his disposition act, both for themselves and others, in a way that only men who are daring can succeed in.

But as yet all his plans have had good success, and I think this will turn out well too; so I assure you, earl, that I will actually travel to the Swedish king, and not turn back before I have brought to his ears every word that King Olaf told me to say to him, unless death prevent me, or that I am in bonds, and cannot perform my errand; and this I must do, whether you give any aid or no aid to me in fulfilling the king's wishes."

Then said Ingibjorg, "I will soon declare my opinion. I think, earl, thou must turn all thy attention to supporting King Olaf the king of Norway's desire that this message be laid before the Swedish