was a
soft and favourable wind for sailing north along the coast. Before the
evening all who were ready had set sail, and hastened on as fast as they
could, according to the speed of their vessels, the one vying with the
other. When this fleet came north to More, Hakon's fleet had arrived
there before them: and he himself was there fully engaged in collecting
people, and summoning to him the lendermen, and all liable to serve in
the levy, without having for a long time heard any news from Bergen.
Now, however, they heard, as the latest news, that Erling Skakke had
laid his ships up in Bergen, and there they would find him; and also
that he had a large force with him. King Hakon sailed from thence to
Veey, and sent away Earl Sigurd and Onund Simonson to gather people, and
sent men also to both the More districts. After King Hakon had remained
a few days at the town he sailed farther, and proceeded to the South,
thinking that it would both promote his journey and enable new levies to
join him sooner.

Erling Skakke had given leave on Sunday to all the merchant vessels to
leave Bergen; and on Tuesday, as soon as the early mass was over, he
ordered the warhorns to sound, summoned to him the men-at-arms and the
townsmen, and let the ships which were laid up on shore be drawn down
into the water. Then Erling held a House-Thing with his men and the
people of the levy; told them his intentions; named ship commanders;
and had the names called over of the men who were to be on board of the
king's ship. This Thing ended with Erling's order to every man to make
himself ready in his berth wherever a place was appointed him; and
declared that he who remained in the town after the Baekisudin was
hauled out, should be punished by loss of life or limb. Orm, the king's
brother, laid his ships out in the harbour immediately that evening, and
many others, and the greater number were afloat before.

6. OF ERLING SKAKKE.

On Wednesday, before mass was sung in the town, Erling sailed from
Bergen with all his fleet, consisting of twenty-one ships; and there was
a fresh breeze for sailing northwards along the coast. Erling had his
son King Magnus with him, and there were many lendermen accompanied by
the finest men. When Erling came north, abreast of the Fjord district,
he sent a boat on shore to Jon Halkelson's farm, and took Nikolas, a son
of Simon Skalp and of Maria, Harald Gille's daughter, and brought him
out to the fleet, and put