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led　past　it　to　the　north；　but　they　did　not　hear　of　them。

Earl　Erling　was　a　man　of　great　understanding　and　power；　an　excellent　leader　in　war；　and　an　able　and　prudent　ruler　of　the　country；　but　he　had　the　character　of　being　cruel　and　severe。　　The　cause　of　this　was　principally　that　he　never　allowed　his　enemies　to　remain　in　the　country；　even　when　they　prayed　to　him　for　mercy；　and　therefore　many　joined　the　bands　which　were　collected　against　him。　　Erling　was　a　tall　strong…made　man；　somewhat　short…necked　and　high…shouldered；　had　a　long　and　sharp　countenance　of　a　light　complexion；　and　his　hair　became　very　grey。　　He　bore　his　head　a　little　on　one　side；　was　free　and　agreeable　in　his　manners。　　He　wore　the　old　fashion　of　clothes；　　long　body…pieces　and　long　arms　to　his　coats；　foreign　cloak；　and　high　shoes。　　He　made　the　king　wear　the　same　kind　of　dress　in　his　youth；　but　when　he　grew　up；　and　acted　for　himself；　he　dressed　very　sumptuously。

King　Magnus　was　of　a　light　turn　of　mind；　full　of　jokes；　a　great　lover　of　mirth；　and　not　less　of　women。



38。　OF　NIKOLAS。

Nikolas　was　a　son　of　Sigurd　Hranason　and　of　Skialdvor；　a　daughter　of　Brynjolf　Ulfalde；　and　a　sister　of　Haldor　Brynjolfson　by　the　father's　side；　and　of　King　Magnus　Barefoot　by　the　mother's　side。　Nikolas　was　a　distinguished　chief；　who　had　a　farm　at　Ongul　in　Halogaland；　which　was　called　Steig。　　Nikolas　had　also　a　house　in　Nidaros；　below　Saint　Jon's　church；　where　Thorgeir　the　scribe　lately　dwelt。　　Nikolas　was　often　in　the　town；　and　was　president　of　the　townspeople。　　Skialdvor；　Nikolas's　daughter；　was　married　to　Eirik　Arnason；　who　was　also　a　lenderman。



39。　OF　EIRIK　AND　NIKOLAS。

As　the　people　of　the　town　were　coming　from　matins　the　last　day　of　Marymas　（September　8th）；　Eirik　came　up　to　Nikolas；　and　said；　〃Here　are　some　fishermen　come　from　the　sea；　who　report　that　some　long…ships　are　sailing　into　the　fjord；　and　people　conjecture　that　these　may　be　the　Birkebeins。　　It　would　be　advisable　to　call　the　townspeople　together　with　the　war…horns；　to　meet　under　arms　out　on　Eyrar。〃

Nikolas　replies；　〃I　don't　go　after　fishermen's　reports；　but　I　shall　send　out　spies　to　the　fjord；　and　in　the　meantime　hold　a　Thing　to…day。〃

Eirik　went　home；　but　when　they　were　ringing　to　high　mass；　and　Nikolas　was　going　to　church；　Eirik　came　to　hint　again；　and　said；　〃I　believe　the　news　to　be　true；　for　here　are　men　who　say　they　saw　them　under　sail；　and　I　think　it　would　be　most　advisable　to　ride　out　of　town；　and　gather　men　with　arms；　for　it　appears　to　me　the　townspeople　will　be　too　few。〃

Nikolas　replies；　〃Thou　art　mixing　everything　together；　let　us　first　hear　mass；　and　then　take　our　resolution。〃

Nikolas　then　went　into　the　church。　　When　the　mass　was　over　Eirik　went　to　Nikolas；　and　said；　〃My　horses　are　saddled；　I　will　ride　away。〃

Nikolas　replies；　〃Farewell；　then：　we　will　hold　a　Thing　to…day　on　the　Eyrar；　and　examine　what　force　of　men　there　may　be　in　the　town。〃

Eirik　rode　away；　and　Nikolas　went　to　his　house；　and　then　to　dinner。



40。　THE　FALL　OF　NIKOLAS。

The　meat　was　scarcely　put　on　the　table；　when　a　man　came　into　the　house　to　tell　Nikolas　that　the　Birkebeins　were　roving　up　the　river。　　Then　Nikolas　called　to　his　men　to　take　their　weapons。　When　they　were　armed　Nikolas　ordered　them　to　go　up　into　the　loft。　But　that　was　a　most　imprudent　step；　for　if　they　had　remained　in　the　yard；　the　townspeople　might　have　come　to　their　assistance；　but　now　the　Birkebeins　filled　the　whole　yard；　and　from　thence　scrambled　from　all　sides　up　to　the　loft。　　They　called　to　Nikolas；　and　offered　him　quarter；　but　he　refused　it。　　Then　they　attacked　the　loft。　　Nikolas　and　his　men　defended　themselves　with　bow…shot；　hand…shot；　and　stones　of　the　chimney；　but　the　Birkebeins　hewed　down　the　houses；　broke　up　the　loft；　and　returned　shot　for　shot　from　bow　or　hand。　　Nikolas　had　a　red　shield　in　which　were　gilt　nails；　and　about　it　was　a　border　of　stars。　　The　Birkebeins　shot　so　that　the　arrows　went　in　up　to　the　arrow　feather。　　Then　said　Nikolas；　〃My　shield　deceives　me。〃　　Nikolas　and　a　number　of　his　people　fell；　and　his　death　was　greatly　lamented。　　The　Birkebeins　gave　all　the　towns…people　their　lives。



41。　EYSTEIN　PROCLAIMED　KING。

Eystein　was　then　proclaimed　king；　and　all　the　people　submitted　to　him。　　He　stayed　a　while　in　the　town；　and　then　went　into　the　interior　of　the　Throndhjem　land；　where　many　joined　him；　and　among　them　Thorfin　Svarte　of　Snos　with　a　troop　of　people。　　When　the　Birkebeins；　in　the　beginning　of　winter　（A。D。　1177）；　came　again　into　the　town；　the　sons　of　Gudrun　from　Saltnes；　Jon　Ketling；　Sigurd；　and　William；　joined　them；　and　when　they　proceeded　afterwards　from　Nidaros　up　Orkadal；　they　could　number　nearly　2000　men。　　They　afterwards　went　to　the　Uplands；　and　on　to　Thoten　and　Hadaland；　and　from　thence　to　Ringerike；　and　subdued　the　country　wheresover　they　came。



42。　THE　FALL　OF　KING　EYSTEIN。

King　Magnus　went　eastward　to　Viken　in　autumn　with　a　part　of　his　men　and　with　him　Orm；　the　king's　brother；　but　Earl　Erling　remained　behind　in　Bergen　to　meet　the　Berkebeins　in　case　they　took　the　sea　route。　　King　Magnus　went　to　Tunsberg；　where　he　and　Orm　held　their　Yule　（A。D。　1177）。　　When　King　Magnus　heard　that　the　Birkebeins　were　up　in　Re；　the　king　and　Orm　proceeded　thither　with　their　men。　　There　was　much　snow；　and　it　was　dreadfully　cold。　　When　they　came　to　the　farm　they　left　the　beaten　track　on　the　road；　and　drew　up　their　array　outside　of　the　fence；　and　trod　a　path　through　the　snow　with　their　men；　who　were　not　quite　1500　in　number。　　The　Birkebeins　were　dispersed　here　and　there　in　other　farms；　a　few　men　in　each　house。　　When　they　perceived　King　Magnus's　army　they　assembled；　and　drew　up　in　regular　order；　and　as　they　thought　their　force　was　larger　than　his；　which　it　actually　was；　they　resolved　to　fight；　but　when　they　hurried　forward　to　the　road　only　a　few　could　advance　at　a　time；　which　broke　their　array；　and　the　men　fell　who　first　advanced　upon　the　beaten　way。　　Then　the　Birkebeins'　banner　was　cut　down；　those　who　were　nearest　gave　way　and　some　took　to　flight。　　King　Magnus's　men　pursued　them；　and　killed　one　after　the　other　as　they　came　up　with　them。　　Thus　the　Birkebeins　could　never　form　themselves　in　array；　and　being　exposed　to　the　weapons　of　the　enemy　singly；　many　of　them　fell；　and　many　fled。　　It　happened　here；　as　it　often　does；　that　although　men　be　brave　and　gallant；　if　they　have　once　been　defeated　and　driven　to　flight；　they　will　not　easily　be　brought　to　turn　round。　　Now　the　main　body　of　the　Birkebeins　began　to　fly；　and　many　fell；　because　Magnus's　men　killed　all　they　could　lay　hold　of；　and　not　one　of　them　got　quarter。　　The　whole　body　became　scattered　far　and　wide。　　Eystein　in　his　flight　ran　into　a　house；　and　begged　for　his　life；　and　that　the　bonde　would　conceal　him；　but　the　bonde　killed　him；　and　then　went　to　King　Magnus；　whom　he　found　at　Rafnnes；　where　the　king　was　in　a　room　warming　himself　by　the　fire　along　with　many　people。　　Some　went　for　the　corpse；　and　bore　it　into　the　room；　where　the　king　told　the　people　to　come　and　inspect　the　body。　　A　man　was　sitting　on　a　bench　in　the　corner；　and　he　was　a　Birkebein；　but　nobody　had　observed　him；　and　when　he　saw　and　recognised　his　chief's　body　he　sprang　up　suddenly　and　actively；　rushed　out　upon　the　floor；　and　with　an　axe　he　had　in　his　hands　made　a　blow　at　King　Magnus's　neck　between　the　shoulders。　　A　man　saw　the　axe　swinging；　and　pulled　the　king　to　a　side；　by　which　the　axe　struck　lower　in　the　shoulder；　and　made　a　large　wound。　　He　then　raised　the　axe　again；　and　made　a　blow　at　Orm；　the　King…brother；　who　was　lying　on　a　bench；　and　the　blow　was　directed　at　both　legs；　but　Orm　seeing　the　man　about　to　kill　him；　drew　in　his　feet　instantly；　threw　them　over　his　head；　and　the　blow　fell　on　the　bench；　in　which　the　axe　stuck　fast；　and　then　the　blows　at　the　Birkebein　came　so　thick　that　he　could　scarcely　fall　to　the　ground。　　It　was　discovered　that　he　had　dragged　his　entrails　after　him　over　the　floor；　and　this　man's　bravery　was　highly　praised。　　King　Magnus's　men　followed　the　fugitives；　and　killed　so　many　that　they　were　tired　of　it。　　Thorfin　of　Snos；　and　a　very　great　number　of　Throndhjem　people；　fell　there。



43。　OF　THE　BIRKEBEINS。

The　faction　which　called　itself　the　Birkebeins　had　gathered　together　in　great　numbers。　　They　were　a　hardy　people；　and　the　boldest　of　men　under　arms；　but　wild；　and　going　forward　madly　when　they　had　a　strong　force。　　They　had　few　men　in　their　faction　who　were　good　counsellors；　or　accustomed　to　rule　a　country　by　law；　or　to　head　an　army；　and　if　there　were　such　men　among　them　who　had　more　knowledge；　yet　the　many　would　only　allow　of　those　measures　which　they　liked；　trusting　always　to　their　numbers　and　courage。　Of　the　men　who　escaped　many　were　wounded；　and　had　lost　both　their　clothes　and　their　arms；　and　were　altogether　destitute　of　money。　Some　went　east　to　the　borders；　some　went　all　the　way　east　to　Svithjod；　but　the　most　of　them　went　to　Thelemark；　where　they　had　their　families。　　All　took　flight；　as　they　had　no　hope　of　getting　their　lives　from　King　Magnus　or　Earl　Erling。



44。　OF　KING　MAGNUS　ERLINGSON。

King　Magnus　then　returned　to　Tunsberg；　and　got　great　renown　by　this　victory；　for　it　had　been　an　expression　in　the　mouths　of　all；　that　Earl　Erling　was　the　shield　and　support　of　his　son　and　himself。　　But　after　gaining　a　victory　over　so　strong　and　numerous　a　force　with　fewer　troops；　King　Magnus　was　considered　by　all　as　surpassing　other　leaders；　and　that　he　would　become　a　warrior　as　much　greater　than　his　father；　Earl　Erling；　as　he　was　younger。




End