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ips； and King Eystein in the north； where he had forty…five； and among these the Great Dragon； which King Eystein Magnuson had built after the Long Serpent； and they had on both sides many and excellent troops。 King Inge lay with his ships south at Moster Isle； and King Eystein a little to the north in Graeningasund。 King Eystein sent the young Aslak Jonson； and Arne Sturla； a son of Snaebjorn； with one ship to meet King Inge； but when the king's men knew them； they assaulted them； killed many of their people； and took all that was in the ship belonging to them。 Aslak and Arne and a few more escaped to the land； went to King Eystein； and told him how King Inge had received them。 Thereupon King Eystein held a House…thing； and told his followers how ill King Inge had treated his men； and desired the troops to follow him。 〃I have；〃 said he； 〃so many； and such excellent men； that I have no intention to fly； if ye will follow me。〃 But this speech was not received with much favour。 Halkel Huk was there； but both his sons； Simon and Jon； were with King Inge。 Halkel replied； so loud that many heard him； 〃Let thy chests of gold follow thee； and let them defend thy land。〃
32。 KING EYSTEIN'S DEATH。
In the night many of King Eystein's ships rowed secretly away； some of them joining King Inge； some going to Bergen； or up into the fjords； so that when it was daylight in the morning the king was lying behind with only ten ships。 Then he left the Great Dragon； which was heavy to row； and several other vessels behind； and cut and destroyed the Dragon； started out the ale； and destroyed all that they could not take with them。 King Eystein went on board of the ship of Eindride； a son of Jon Morner； sailed north into Sogn； and then took the land…road eastwards to Viken。 King Inge took the vessels； and sailed with them outside of the isles to Viken。 King Eystein had then got east as far as Fold； and had with him 1200 men； but when they saw King Inge's force； they did not think themselves sufficiently strong to oppose him； and they retired to the forest。 Every one fled his own way； so that the king was left with but one man。 King Inge and his men observed King Eystein's flight； and also that he had but few people with him； and they went immediately to search for him。 Simon Skalp met the king just as he was coming out of a willow bush。 Simon saluted him。 〃God save you； sire；〃 said he。
The king replied； 〃I do not know if thou are not sire here。〃
Simon replied； 〃That is as it may happen。〃
The king begged him to conceal him； and said it was proper to do so。 〃For there was long friendship between us； although it has now gone differently。〃
Simon replied； it could not be。
Then the king begged that he might hear mass before he died； which accordingly took place。 Then Eystein laid himself down on his face on the grass； stretched out his hands on each side； and told them to cut the sign of the cross between his shoulders； and see whether he could not bear steel as King Inge's followers had asserted of him。 Simon told the man who had to put the king to death to do so immediately； for the king had been creeping about upon the grass long enough。 He was accordingly slain； and he appears to have suffered manfully。 His body was carried to Fors； and lay all night under the hill at the south side of the church。 King Eystein was buried in Fors church； and his grave is in the middle of the church…floor； where a fringed canopy is spread over it； and he is considered a saint。 Where he was executed； and his blood ran upon the ground； sprang up a fountain； and another under the hill where his body lay all night。 From both these waters many think they have received a cure of sickness and pain。 It is reported by the Viken people that many miracles were wrought at King Eystein's grave； until his enemies poured upon it soup made of boiled dog's flesh。 Simon Skalp was much hated for this deed； which was generally ascribed to him； but some said that when King Eystein was taken Simon sent a message to King Inge； and the king commanded that King Eystein should not come before his face。 So King Sverre has caused it to be written； but Einar Skulason tells of it thus：
〃Simon Skalp； the traitor bold； For deeds of murder known of old； His king betrayed； and ne'er will he God's blessed face hereafter see。〃
SAGA OF HAKON HERDEBREID （HAKON THE BROAD…SHOULDERED） （1）
PRELIMINARY REMARKS。
This saga describes the feud between Hakon Sigurdson and his uncle Inge。
The only skald quoted is Einar Skulason。
ENDNOTES： （1） The period is from A。D。 1157 to 1161。 L。
1。 BEGINNING OF HAKON HERDEBREID。
Hakon； King Sigurd's son； was chosen chief of the troop which had followed King Eystein； and his adherents gave him the title of king。 He was ten years old。 At that time he had with him Sigurd； a son of Halvard Hauld of Reyr； and Andreas and Onund； the sons of Simon； his foster…brothers； and many chiefs； friends of King Sigurd and King Eystein； and they went first up to Gautland。 King Inge took possession of all the estates they had left behind； and declared them banished。 Thereafter King Inge went to Viken； and was sometimes also in the north of the country。 Gregorius Dagson was in Konungahella； where the danger was greatest； and had beside him a strong and handsome body of men； with which he defended the country。
2。 OF GREGORIUS DAGSON。
The summer after （A。D。 1158） Hakon came with his men； and proceeded to Konungahella with a numerous and handsome troop。 Gregorius was then in the town； and summoned the bondes and townspeople to a great Thing； at which he desired their aid； but he thought the people did not hear him with much favour； so he did not much trust them。 Gregorius set off with two ships to Viken； and was very much cast down。 He expected to meet King Inge there； having heard he was coming with a great army to Viken。 Now when Gregorius had come but a short way north he met Simon Skalp； Haldor Brynjolfson； and Gyrd Amundason； King Inge's foster…brothers。 Gregorius was much delighted at this meeting； and turned back with them； being all in one body； with eleven ships。 As they were rowing up to Konungahella； Hakon； with his followers； was holding a Thing without the town； and saw their approach； and Sigurd of Reyr said； 〃Gregorius must be fey to be throwing himself with so few men into our hands。〃 Gregorius landed opposite the town to wait for King Inge； for he was expected； but he did not come。 King Hakon put himself in order in the town； and appointed Thorliot Skaufaskalle； who was a viking and a robber； to be captain of the men in the merchant ships that were afloat in the river； and King Hakon and Sigurd were within the town； and drew up the men on the piers； for all the townspeople had submitted to King Hakon。
3。 KING HAKON'S FLIGHT。
Gregorius rowed up the river； and let the ship drive down with the stream against Thorliot。 They shot at each other a while； until Thorliot and his comrades jumped overboard； and some of them were killed； some escaped to the land。 Then Gregorius rowed to the piers； and let a gangway be cast on shore at the very feet of Hakon's men。 There the man who carried his banner was slain； just as he was going to step on shore。 Gregorius ordered Hal； a son of Audun Halson； to take up the banner； which he did； and bore the banner up to the pier。 Gregorius followed close after him； held his shield over his head； and protected him as well as himself。 As soon as Gregorius came upon the pier； and Hakon's men knew him； they gave way； and made room for him on every side。 Afterwards more people landed from the ships； and then Gregorius made a severe assault with his men； and Hakon's men first moved back； and then ran up into the town。 Gregorius pursued them eagerly； drove them twice from the town； and killed many of them。 By the report of all men； never was there so glorious an affair as this of Gregorius； for Hakon had more than 4000 men； and Gregorius not full 400。 After the battle； Gregorius said to Hal Audunson； 〃Many men； in my opinion； are more agile in battle than ye Icelanders are； for ye are not so exercised as we Norwegians； but none； I think； are so bold under arms as ye are。〃 King Inge came up soon after； and killed many of the men who had taken part with Hakon； made some pay heavy fines； burnt the houses of some； and some he drove out of the country； or treated otherwise very ill。 Hakon fled at first up to Gautland with all his men； but the winter after （A。D。 1159）； he proceeded by the upper road to Throndhjem； and came there before Easter。 The Throndhjem people received him well； for they had always served under that shield。 It is said that the Throndhjem people took Hakon as king； on the terms that he should have from Inge the third part of Norway as his paternal heritage。 King Inge and Gregorius were in Viken； and Gregorius wanted to make an expedition against the party in the north； but it came to nothing that winter； as many dissuaded from it。
4。 FALL OF GYRD AND HAVARD。
King Hakon left Throndhjem in spring with thirty ships nearly； and some of his men sailed before the rest with seven ships； and plundered in North an