sk a blow;
And well they knew the chief could stain
The wolves' mouths on a battle-plain.
But the town champion rather fears
The sharp bright glance of levelled spears;
Their steel-clad warrior loves no fight
Where bowstring twangs, or fire flies bright."

King Hakon then took the land-road northwards to Throndhjem. When Earl
Sigurd heard of this, he proceeded with all the ships he could get the
seaway north-wards, to meet King Hakon there.

4. OF ERLING AND HAKON.

Erling Skakke took all the ships in Tunsberg belonging to King Hakon,
and there he also took the Baekisudin which had belonged to King Inge.
Then Erling proceeded, and reduced the whole of Viken in obedience to
King Magnus, and also the whole country north wheresoever he appeared up
to Bergen, where he remained all winter. There Erling killed Ingebjorn
Sipil, King Hakon's lenderman of the north part of the Fjord district.
In winter (A.D. 1162) King Hakon was in Throndhjem; but in the following
spring he ordered a levy, and prepared to go against Erling. He had with
him Earl Sigurd, Jon Sveinson, Eindride Unge, Onund Simonson, Philip
Peterson, Philip Gyrdson, Ragnvald Kunta, Sigurd Kapa, Sigurd Hiupa,
Frirek Keina, Asbjorn of Forland, Thorbjorn, a son of Gunnar the
treasurer, and Stradbjarne.

5. OF ERLING'S PEOPLE.

Erling was in Bergen with a great armament, and resolved to lay a
sailing prohibition on all the merchant vessels which were going north
to Nidaros; for he knew that King Hakon would soon get tidings of him,
if ships were sailing between the towns. Besides, he gave out that it
was better for Bergen to get the goods, even if the owners were obliged
to sell them cheaper than they wished than that they should fall into
the hands of enemies and thereby strengthen them. And now a great many
vessels were assembled at Bergen, for many arrived every day, and none
were allowed to go away. Then Erling let some of the lightest of his
vessels be laid ashore, and spread the report that he would wait for
Hakon, and, with the help of his friends and relations, oppose the enemy
there. He then one day called a meeting of the ship-masters, and gave
them and all the merchant ships and their steersmen leave to go where
they pleased. When the men who had charge of the cargoes, and were all
ready to sail away with their goods, some for trade, others on various
business, had got leave from Erling Skakke to depart, there