ld of turf and wood, and dug a ditch around it. When the work
was finished, provisions and other necessaries that might be required
were brought to it. The king left in it 300 men, who were the chosen of
his forces, and Fin Skoptason and Sigurd Ulstreng as their commanders.
The king himself returned to Viken.

14. OF THE NORTHMEN.

When the Swedish king heard this he drew together people, and the report
came that he would ride against these Northmen; but there was delay
about his riding, and the Northmen made these lines:--

"The fat-hipped king, with heavy sides,
Finds he must mount before he rides."

But when the ice set in upon the Vener lake King Inge rode down, and had
near 300 men with him. He sent a message to the Northmen who sat in the
burgh that they might retire with all the booty they had taken, and go
to Norway. When the messengers brought this message, Sigurd Ulstreng
replied to it; saying that King Inge must take the trouble to come, if
he wished to drive them away like cattle out of a grass field, and said
he must come nearer if he wished them to remove. The messengers returned
with this answer to the king, who then rode out with all his army to
the island, and again sent a message to the Northmen that they might
go away, taking with them their weapons, clothes, and horses; but
must leave behind all their booty. This they refused. The king made an
assault upon them, and they shot at each other. Then the king ordered
timber and stones to be collected, and he filled up the ditch; and
then he fastened anchors to long spars which were brought up to the
timber-walls, and, by the strength of many hands, the walls were broken
down. Thereafter a large pile of wood was set on fire, and the lighted
brands were flung in among them. Then the Northmen asked for quarter.
The king ordered them to go out without weapons or cloaks. As they went
out each of them received a stroke with a whip, and then they set off
for Norway, and all the forest-men submitted again to King Inge. Sigurd
and his people went to King Magnus, and told him their misfortune.

15. KING MAGNUS AND GIPARDE.

When King Magnus was east in Viken, there came to him a foreigner called
Giparde. He gave himself out for a good knight, and offered his services
to King Magnus; for he understood that in the king's dominions there was
something to be done. The king received him well. At that time the
king was preparing to go to Gautl