king gave Kjartan a whole set of new clothes, all cut out of scarlet
cloth, and they suited him well; for people said that King Olaf and
Kjartan were of an even height when they went under measure. King Olaf
sent the court priest, named Thangbrand, to Iceland. He brought his
ship to Swanfirth, and stayed with Side-Hall all the winter at
Wash-river, and set forth the faith to people both with fair words and
harsh punishments. Thangbrand slew two men who went most against him.
Hall received the faith in the spring, and was baptized on the
Saturday before Easter, with all his household; then Gizor the White
let himself be baptized, so did Hjalti Skeggjason and many other
chiefs, though there were many more who spoke against it; and then
dealings between heathen men and Christians became scarcely free of
danger. [Sidenote: Thangbrand returns from Iceland] Sundry chiefs even
took counsel together to slay Thangbrand, as well as such men who
should stand up for him. Because of this turmoil Thangbrand ran away
to Norway, and came to meet King Olaf, and told him the tidings of
what had befallen in his journey, and said he thought Christianity
would never thrive in Iceland. The king was very wroth at this, and
said that many Icelanders would rue the day unless they came round to
him. That summer Hjalti Skeggjason was made an outlaw at the Thing for
blaspheming the gods. Runolf Ulfson, who lived in Dale, under
Isles'-fells, the greatest of chieftains, upheld the lawsuit against
him. That summer Gizor left Iceland and Hjalti with him, and they came
to Norway, and went forthwith to find King Olaf. The king gave them a
good welcome, and said they had taken a wise counsel; he bade them
stay with him, and that offer they took with thanks. Sverling, son of
Runolf of Dale, had been in Norway that winter, and was bound for
Iceland in the summer. His ship was floating beside the landing stage
all ready, only waiting for a wind. The king forbade him to go away,
and said that no ships should go to Iceland that summer. Sverling went