ar
mass, and then take our resolution."

Nikolas then went into the church. When the mass was over Eirik went to
Nikolas, and said, "My horses are saddled; I will ride away."

Nikolas replies, "Farewell, then: we will hold a Thing to-day on the
Eyrar, and examine what force of men there may be in the town."

Eirik rode away, and Nikolas went to his house, and then to dinner.

40. THE FALL OF NIKOLAS.

The meat was scarcely put on the table, when a man came into the house
to tell Nikolas that the Birkebeins were roving up the river. Then
Nikolas called to his men to take their weapons. When they were armed
Nikolas ordered them to go up into the loft. But that was a most
imprudent step; for if they had remained in the yard, the townspeople
might have come to their assistance; but now the Birkebeins filled the
whole yard, and from thence scrambled from all sides up to the loft.
They called to Nikolas, and offered him quarter, but he refused it. Then
they attacked the loft. Nikolas and his men defended themselves with
bow-shot, hand-shot, and stones of the chimney; but the Birkebeins hewed
down the houses, broke up the loft, and returned shot for shot from bow
or hand. Nikolas had a red shield in which were gilt nails, and about it
was a border of stars. The Birkebeins shot so that the arrows went in
up to the arrow feather. Then said Nikolas, "My shield deceives me."
Nikolas and a number of his people fell, and his death was greatly
lamented. The Birkebeins gave all the towns-people their lives.

41. EYSTEIN PROCLAIMED KING.

Eystein was then proclaimed king, and all the people submitted to him.
He stayed a while in the town, and then went into the interior of the
Throndhjem land, where many joined him, and among them Thorfin Svarte
of Snos with a troop of people. When the Birkebeins, in the beginning
of winter (A.D. 1177), came again into the town, the sons of Gudrun from
Saltnes, Jon Ketling, Sigurd, and William, joined them; and when they
proceeded afterwards from Nidaros up Orkadal, they could number nearly
2000 men. They afterwards went to the Uplands, and on to Thoten
and Hadaland, and from thence to Ringerike, and subdued the country
wheresover they came.

42. THE FALL OF KING EYSTEIN.

King Magnus went eastward to Viken in autumn with a part of his men and
with him Orm, the king's brother; but Earl Erling remained behind in
Bergen to meet the Berkebeins in case they took the sea route. K