w their property on others who will give you help
although they may have been of small importance before. Let them drive
together the people, the bad as well as the good; and go with the men
you can thus assemble against King Harald, and give him battle."

The king replies, "It would be unpopular to put to death people of
distinction, and raise up inferior people who often break faith and
law, and the country would be still worse off. I would like to hear some
other counsel still."

Sigurd replies, "It is difficult for me now to give advice, as you will
neither make peace nor give battle. Let us go north to Throndhjem, where
the main strength of the country is most inclined to our side; and on
the way let us gather all the men we can. It may be that these Elfgrims
will be tired of such a long stride after us."

The king replies, "We must not fly from those whom we beat in summer.
Give some better counsel still."

Then Sigurd stood up and said, while he was preparing to go out, "I will
now give you the counsel which I see you will take, and which must have
its course. Sit here in Bergen until Harald comes with his troops, and
then you will either suffer death or disgrace."

And Sigurd remained no longer at that meeting.

6. OF HARALD'S FORCE.

King Harald came from the East along the coast with a great army, and
this winter (A.D. 1135) is called on that account the Crowd-winter. King
Harald came to Bergen on Christmas eve, and landed with his fleet at
Floruvagar; but would not fight on account of the sacred time. But King
Magnus prepared for defence in the town. He erected a stone-slinging
machine out on the holm, and had iron chains and wooden booms laid
across over the passage from the king's house to Nordnes, and to the
Monks bridge. He had foot-traps made, and thrown into Saint John's
field, and did not suspend these works except during the three sacred
days of Christmas. The last holyday of Yule, King Harald ordered his
war-horns to sound the gathering of his men for going to the town; and,
during the Yule holydays, his army had been increased by about 900 men.

7. KING MAGNUS TAKEN PRISONER.

King Harald made a promise to King Olaf the Saint for victory, that he
would build an Olaf's church in the town at his own expense. King Magnus
drew up his men in the Christ church yard; but King Harald laid his
vessels first at Nordnes. Now when King Magnus and his people saw that,
they turned round towa