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king demands His royal birthright; half the lands; Magnus will not the kingdom break; The whole or nothing he will take。〃
2。 HAKON'S DEATH。
King Magnus proceeded north to the merchant town (Nidaros); and on his arrival went straight to the king's house; and there took up his abode。 He remained here the first part of the winter (A。D。 1094); and kept seven longships in the open water of the river Nid; abreast of the king's house。 Now when King Hakon heard that King Magnus was come to Throndhjem; he came from the East over the Dovrefield; and thence down from Throndhjem to the merchant town; where he took up his abode in the house of Skule; opposite to Clement's church; which had formerly been the king's house。 King Magnus was ill pleased with the great gifts which Hakon had given to the bondes to gain their favour; and thought it was so much given out of his own property。 This irritated his mind; and he thought he had suffered injustice from his relative in this respect; that he must now put up with less income than his father and his predecessors before him had enjoyed; and he gave Thorer the blame。 When King Hakon and Thorer observed this; they were alarmed for what Magnus might do; and they thought it suspicious that Magnus kept long…ships afloat rigged out; and with tents。 The following spring; after Candlemas; King Magnus left the town in the night with his ships; the tents up; and lights burning in the tents。 They brought up at Hefring; remained there all night; and kindled a fire on the land。 Then Hakon and the men in the town thought some treachery was on foot; and he let the trumpets call all the men together out on the Eyrar; where the whole people of the town came to him; and the people were gathering together the whole night。 When it was light in the morning; King Magnus saw the people from all districts gathered together on the Eyrar; and he sailed out of the fjord; and proceeded south to where the Gulathing is held。 Hakon thanked the people for their support which they had given him; and got ready to travel east to Viken。 But he first held a meeting in the town; where; in a speech; he asked the people for their friendship; promising them his; and added; that he had some suspicions of his relation; King Magnus's intentions。 Then King Hakon mounted his horse; and was ready to travel。 All men promised him their good…will and support whenever he required them; and the people followed him out to the foot of Steinbjorg。 From thence King Hakon proceeded up the Dovrefield; but as he was going over the mountains he rode all day after a ptarmigan; which flew up beside him; and in this chase a sickness overfell him; which ended in his death; and he died on the mountains。 His body was carried north; and came to the merchant town just half a month after he left it。 The whole townspeople went to meet the body; sorrowing; and the most of them weeping; for all people loved him with sincere affection。 King Hakon's body was interred in Christ church; and Hakon and Magnus had ruled the country for two years。 Hakon was a man full twenty…five years old; and was one of the chiefs the most beloved by all the people。 He had made a journey to Bjarmaland; where he had given battle and gained a victory。
3。 OF A FORAY IN HALLAND。
King Magnus sailed in winter (A。D。 1095) eastward to Viken; but when spring approached he went southwards to Halland; and plundered far and wide。 He laid waste Viskardal and many other districts; and returned with a great booty back to his own kingdom。 So says Bjorn Krephende in his song on Magnus:
〃Through Halland wide around The clang and shriek resound; The houses burn; The people mourn; Through Halland wide around。 The Norse king strides in flame; Through Viskardal he came; The fire sweeps; The widow weeps; The Norse king strides in flame。〃
Here it is told that King Magnus made the greatest devastation through Halland。
4。 OF THORER OF STEIG。
〃There was a man called Svein; a son of Harald Fietter。 He was a Danish man by family; a great viking and champion; and a very clever man; and of high birth in his own country。 He had been some time with King Hakon Magnuson; and was very dear to him; but after King Hakon's decease Thorer of Steig; his foster…father; had no great confidence in any treaty or friendship with King Magnus; if the whole country came into his power; on account of the position in which Thorer had stood to King Magnus; and the opposition he had made to him。 Thereupon Thorer and Svein took counsel with each other; which they afterwards carried into effect; to raise; with Thorer's assistance; and his men; a troop against Magnus。 But as Thorer was old and heavy; Svein took the command; and name of leader of the troop。 In this design several chiefs took part; among whom the principal was Egil Aslakson of Aurland。 Egil was a lenderman; and married to Ingebjorg; a daughter of Ogmund Thorbergson; a sister of Skopte of Giske。 The rich and powerful man; Skjalg Erlingson; also joined their party。 Thorkel Hamarskald speaks of this in his ballad of Magnus:
〃Thorer and Egil were not wise; They aimed too high to win a prize: There was no reason in their plan; And it hurt many a udalman。 The stone; too great for them to throw; Fell back; and hurt them with the blow; And now the udalmen must rue That to their friends they were so true。〃
Thorer and Svein collected a troop in the Uplands; and went down through Raumsdal into Sunmore; and there collected vessels; with which they afterwards sailed north to Throndhjem。
5。 OF THORER'S ADVENTURES。
The lenderman Sigurd Ulstreng; a son of Lodin Viggiarskalle; collected men by sending round the war…token; as soon as he heard of Thorer and the troop which followed him; and had a rendezvous with all the men he could raise at Viggia。 Svein and Thorer also met there with their people; fought with Sigurd; and gained the victory after giving him a great defeat; and Sigurd fled; and joined King Magnus。 Thorer and his followers proceeded to the town (Nidaros); and remained there some time in the fjord; where many people joined them。 King Magnus hearing this news immediately collected an army; and proceeded north to Throndhjem。 And when he came into the fjord Thorer and his party heard of it while they lay at Herring; and they were ready to leave the fjord; and they rowed their ships to the strand at Vagnvik; and left them; and came into Theksdal in Seliuhverfe; and Thorer was carried in a litter over the mountains。 Then they got hold of ships and sailed north to Halogaland。 As soon as King Magnus was ready for sea; he sailed from Throndhjem in pursuit of them。 Thorer and his party went north all the way to Bjarkey; and Jon; with his son Vidkun; fled from thence。 Thorer and his men robbed all the movable goods; and burnt the house; and a good long…ship that belonged to Vidkun。 While the hull was burning the vessel keeled to one side; and Thorer called out; 〃Hard to starboard; Vidkun!〃 Some verses were made about this burning in Bjarkey:
〃The sweetest farm that I have se