at Maerin & make a great blood-offering.

But if I am to turn to sacrificing with you, then will I cause to be
made the greatest sacrifice that can be, namely, the sacrifice of men.
Nor will I choose as gifts for the gods thralls and evil-doers, but the
noblest men, and by this token name I Orm Lygra of Medalhus, Styrkar of
Gimsar, Kar of Gryting, Asbiorn Thorbergson of Varnes, Orm of Lyxa, and
Haldor of Skerdingsted.' Added to these named he five other men who were
of the noblest there; all these, said he, should be sacrificed for peace
and a good year, & he commanded that they should be seized forthwith.

Then the peasants seeing that they were not numerous enough to withstand
the King begged for grace and gave the whole matter into his hands,
whereupon it was agreed that all those who were come thither should let
themselves be baptized, & swear an oath unto the King to hold fast the
true Faith, and have naught further to do with sacrificing.

All these men kept the King at his feast until they gave their sons or
brothers or other near kin to be hostages.

|| Then fared King Olaf with all his men in to Throndhjem; and when he
was come to Maerin found he there assembled all the chiefs that were of
Throndhjem; those who were most zealous to withstand the Christian
faith. With them were all the wealthy yeomen who had hitherto upheld
blood-offerings in this place, a right goodly gathering of men, even as
it had been aforetime at the Frosta-Thing.

The King having required that the Thing should meet, both sides betook
themselves to it, and they were fully armed. Then when the Thing was
established the King spake and offered the men Christianity, &
Iron-Beard answered on behalf of the peasants and said that now even as
before would they not suffer the King to break their laws: 'We desire,
King, that thou makest sacrifice, even as other kings in the land have
done before thee.' Greatly was this speaking applauded by the peasants,
& they shouted that everything must be according unto the words of
Skeggi. Then made the King answer that he would go to the temple and
witness their worship when they were sacrificing, and at this were the
peasants well pleased, and both sides betook themselves thither
accordingly.

|| Now with King Olaf when he entered into the temple were a certain few
of his men & a certain few of the peasants. When the King was come unto
the place of the gods where sat Thor, all adorned with gold and s