lf that it would
almost be my death to serve King Hakon; and however dangerous it may
be, I will rather venture to adopt your advice, and take upon me to lead
this force, if that be the will, counsel, and desire of you all, and if
you will all bind yourselves to this agreement by oath."

To this they all agreed; and in this meeting it was determined to take
Erling's son Magnus to be king. They afterwards held a Thing in the
town; and at this Thing Magnus Erlingson, then five years old, was
elected king of the whole country. All who had been servants of King
Inge went into his service, and each of them retained the office and
dignity he had held under King Inge (A.D. 1161).

2. KING MAGNUS GOES TO DENMARK.

Erling Skakke made himself ready to travel, fitted out ships, and had
with him King Magnus, together with the household-men who were on the
spot. In this expedition were the king's relatives,--Arne; Ingerid, King
Inge's mother, with her two sons; besides Jon Kutiza, a son of Sigurd
Stork, and Erling's house-men, as well as those who had been Gregorius's
house-men; and they had in all ten ships. They went south to Denmark to
King Valdemar and Buriz Heinrekson, King Inge's brother. King Valdemar
was King Magnus's blood-relation; for Ingebjorg, mother of King
Valdemar, and Malmfrid, mother of Kristin, King Magnus's mother, were
cousins. The Danish king received them hospitably, and he and Erling
had private meetings and consultations: and so much was known of their
counsels, that King Valdemar was to aid King Magnus with such help as
might be required from his kingdom to win and retain Norway. On the
other hand, King Valdemar should get that domain in Norway which his
ancestors Harald Gormson and Svein Forked-beard had possessed; namely,
the whole of Viken as far north as Rygiarbit. This agreement was
confirmed by oath and a fixed treaty. Then Erling and King Magnus made
themselves ready to leave Denmark, and they sailed out of Vendilskage.

3. BATTLE OF TUNSBERG.

King Hakon went in spring, after the Easter week, north to Throndhjem,
and had with him the whole fleet that had belonged to King Inge. He held
a Thing there in the merchant-town, and was chosen king of the whole
country. Then he made Sigurd of Reyr an earl, and gave him an earldom,
and afterwards proceeded southwards with his followers all the way
to Viken. The king went to Tunsberg; but sent Earl Sigurd east to
Konungahella, to defend the co