in explained his business to him,
and asked their assistance. Both Earl Birger and his wife listened to
him in a friendly way, and promised him their confidence, and he stayed
with them a while. Earl Birger gave him some assistance of men, and a
good sum for travelling expenses; and both promised him their friendship
on his taking leave. Thereafter Eystein proceeded north into Norway
(A.D. 1174), and when he came down to Viken people flocked to him in
crowds; and Eystein was there proclaimed king, and he remained in Viken
in winter. As they were very poor in money, they robbed all around,
wherefore the lendermen and bondes raised men against them; and being
thus overpowered by numbers, they fled away to the forests and deserted
hill grounds, where they lived for a long time. Their clothes being worn
out, they wound the bark of the birch-tree about their legs, and thus
were called by the bondes Birkebeins. They often rushed down upon the
settled districts, pushed on here or there, and made an assault where
they did not find many people to oppose them. They had several battles
with the bondes with various success; and the Birkebeins held three
battles in regular array, and gained the victory in them all. At
Krokaskog they had nearly made an unlucky expedition, for a great number
of bondes and men-at-arms were assembled there against them; but the
Birkebeins felled brushwood across the roads, and retired into the
forest. They were two years (A.D. 1175-1176) in Viken before they showed
themselves in the northern parts of the country.

37. BIRKEBEINS, KING EYSTEIN, AND SKAKKE.

Magnus had been king for thirteen years when the Birkebeins first made
their appearance. They got themselves ships in the third summer (A.D.
1176), with which they sailed along the coast gathering goods and
men. They were first in Viken; but when summer advanced they proceeded
northwards, and so rapidly that no news preceded them until they came to
Throndhjem. The Birkebeins' troop consisted principally of hill-men and
Elfgrims, and many were from Thelemark; and all were well armed.
Their king, Eystein, was a handsome man, and with a little but good
countenance; and he was not of great stature, for his men called him
Eystein Meyla. King Magnus and Earl Erling were in Bergen when the
Birkebeins sailed past it to the north; but they did not hear of them.

Earl Erling was a man of great understanding and power, an excellent
leader in war, and an