Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/323

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 311 unaccustomed to hostilities or violence, and the op- saga xvi. pression of roving troops ; so that there was soon a gurd-s con- great noise and scandal when they were despoiled ^^™"«ti«"- and robbed. The people of Yiken were very friendly to Erling and King Magnus, principally from the popularity of the late King Inge Haraldsson ; for the Viken people had always served under his banner. Erling kept a guard in the town, and twelve men were on watch every night. Erling had Things regularly with the bonders, at which the misdeeds of Sigurd's people were often talked over; and by the representations of Erling and his adherents, the bonders were brought unanimouvsly to consider that it would be a great good fortune if these bands should be rooted out. Arne the king's relation spoke well and long on this subject, and at last severely; and required that all who were at the Thing, — men-at-arms, bonders, townsmen, and merchants, — should come to the reso- lution to sentence according to law Earl Sigurd and all his troop, and deliver them to Satan, both living and dead. From the animosity and hatred of the people, this was agreed to by all; and thus the un- heard-of deed was adopted and confirmed by oath, as if a judgment in the case was delivered there by the Thing according to law. The priest Harald the Long- winded, who was a very eloquent man, spoke in the case ; but his speech was to the same purpose as that of others Avho had spoken before. Erling gave a feast at Yule in Tunsberg, and paid the wages of the men- at-arms at Candlemas. Earl Sigurd went with his best troops down to Chapter Yiken, where many people were obliged to submit to of Eriing. his superior force, and many had to pay money. He drove about thus widely higher up the country, pene- tratins: into different districts. But there were some in his troop who desired privately to make peace with Erling ; but they got back the answer, that all wdio X 4