invasive sons of Eric to be sent for, and if he died to become king;
but to "spare his friends and kindred." "If a longer life be granted
me," he said, "I will go out of this land to Christian men, and do
penance for what I have committed against God. But if I die in the
country of the heathen, let me have such burial as you yourselves
think fittest." These are his last recorded words. And in heathen
fashion he was buried, and besung by Eyvind and the Skalds, though
himself a zealously Christian king. Hakon the _Good_; so one still
finds him worthy of being called. The sorrow on Hakon's death, Snorro
tells us, was so great and universal, "that he was lamented both by
friends and enemies; and they said that never again would Norway see
such a king."



CHAPTER IV.

HARALD GREYFELL AND BROTHERS.

Eric's sons, four or five of them, with a Harald at the top, now at
once got Norway in hand, all of it but Trondhjem, as king and
under-kings; and made a severe time of it for those who had been, or
seemed to be, their enemies. Excellent Jarl Sigurd, always so useful
to Hakon and his country, was killed by them; and they came to repent
that before very long. The slain Sigurd left a son, Hakon, as Jarl,
who became famous in the northern world by and by. This Hakon, and
him only, would the Trondhjemers accept as sovereign. "Death to him,
then," said the sons of Eric, but only in secret, till they had got
their hands free and were ready; which was not yet for some years.
Nay, Hakon, when actually attacked, made good resistance, and