said to the messengers -- `Now tell to King Harold these my
words: -- I will only agree to be his lawful wife upon the
condition that he shall first, for sake of me, put under him the
whole of Norway, so that he may bear sway over that kingdom as
freely and fully as King Eric over the realm of Sweden, or King
Gorm over Denmark; for only then, methinks, can he be called king
of a people.' Now his men came back to King Harold, bringing him
the words of the girl, and saying she was so bold and heedless
that she well deserved the king should send a greater troop of
people for her, and put her to some disgrace. Then answered the
king. `This maid has not spoken or done so much amiss that she
should be punished, but the rather should she be thanked for her
words. She has reminded me,' said he, `of somewhat that it seems
wonderful I did not think of before. And now,' added he, `I make
the solemn vow, and take who made me and rules over all things,
to witness that never shall I clip or comb my hair until I have
subdued all Norway with scatt, and duties, and lordships; or, if
not, have died in the seeking.' Guttorm gave great thanks to the
king for his oath, saying it was "royal work fulfilling royal
rede." The new and strange government that Harold tried to
enforce -- nothing less than the feudal system in a rough guise -
-- which made those who had hitherto been their own men save at
special times, the king's men at all times, and laid freemen
under tax, was withstood as long as might be by the sturdy
Norsemen. It was only by dint of hard fighting that he slowly
won his way, until at Hafrsfirth he finally crushed all effective
opposition. But the discontented, "and they were a great
multitude," fled oversea to the outlands, Iceland, the Faroes,
the Orkneys, and Ireland. The whole coast of Europe, even to
Greece and the shores of the Black Sea, the northern shores of