roceeded with common
prudence. He was afterwards called Olaf the Unlucky; but others called
his people Hat-lads. They went with their bands through the Uplands as
before. Erling again went down to Viken to his ships, and remained there
all summer. Olaf was in the Uplands, and sometimes east in the forest
districts, where he and his troop remained all the next winter (A.D.
1168).

34. BATTLE AT STANGAR.

The following spring the Hat-lads went down to Viken, and raised the
king's taxes all around, and remained there long in summer. When Earl
Erling heard this, he hastened with his troops to meet them in Viken,
and fell in with them east of the Fjord, at a place called Stangar;
where they had a great battle, in which Erling was victorious. Sigurd
Agnhot, and many others of Olaf's men, fell there; but Olaf escaped by
flight, went south to Denmark, and was all winter (A.D. 1169) in Alaborg
in Jutland. The following spring Olaf fell into an illness which ended
in death, and he was buried in the Maria church; and the Danes call him
a saint.

35. HARALD'S DEATH.

King Magnus had a lenderman called Nikolas Kufung, who was a son of Pal
Skaptason. He took Harald prisoner, who called himself a son of King
Sigurd Haraldson and the princess Kristin, and a brother of King Magnus
by the mother's side. Nikolas brought Harald to Bergen, and delivered
him into Earl Erling's hands. It was Erling's custom when his enemies
came before him, that he either said nothing to them, or very little,
and that in all gentleness, when he had determined to put them to death;
or rose with furious words against them, when he intended to spare their
lives. Erling spoke but little to Harald, and many, therefore, suspected
his intentions; and some begged King Magnus to put in a good word
for Harald with the earl; and the king did so. The earl replies, "Thy
friends advise thee badly. Thou wouldst govern this kingdom but a short
time in peace and safety, if thou wert to follow the counsels of the
heart only." Earl Erling ordered Harald to be taken to Nordnes, where he
was beheaded.

36. EYSTEIN EYSTEINSON AND THE BIRKEBEINS.

There was a man called Eystein, who gave himself out for a son of King
Eystein Haraldson. He was at this time young, and not full grown. It is
told of him that he one summer appeared in Svithjod, and went to
Earl Birger Brosa, who was then married to Brigida, Eystein's aunt, a
daughter of King Harald Gille. Eyste