NGE.

On Saint Blasius' day (February 3, 1161), in the evening, King Inge's
spies brought him the news that King Hakon was coming towards the town.
Then King Inge ordered the war-horns to call together all the troops
up from the town; and when he drew them up he could reckon them to be
nearly 4000 men. The king let the array be long, but not more than five
men deep. Then some said that the king should not be himself in the
battle, as they thought the risk too great; but that his brother
Orm should be the leader of the army. The king replied, "I think if
Gregorius were alive and here now, and I had fallen and was to be
avenged, he would not lie concealed, but would be in the battle. Now,
although I, on account of my ill health, am not fit for the combat as he
was, yet will I show as good will as he would have had; and it is not to
be thought of that I should not be in the battle."

People say that Gunhild, who was married to Simon, King Hakon's
foster-brother, had a witch employed to sit out all night and procure
the victory for Hakon; and that the answer was obtained, that they
should fight King Inge by night, and never by day, and then the result
would be favourable. The witch who, as people say, sat out was called
Thordis Skeggia; but what truth there may be in the report I know not.

Simon Skalp had gone to the town, and was gone to sleep, when the
war-shouts awoke him. When the night was well advanced, King Inge's
spies came to him, and told him that King Hakon and his army were coming
over the ice; for the ice lay the whole way from the town to Hofud Isle.

17. KING INGE'S SPEECH.

Thereupon King Inge went with his army out on the ice, and he drew it up
in order of battle in front of the town. Simon Skalp was in that wing
of the array which was towards Thraelaberg; and on the other wing, which
was towards the Nunnery, was Gudrod, the king of the South Hebudes, a
son of Olaf Klining, and Jon, a son of Svein Bergthor Buk. When King
Hakon and his army came near to King Inge's array, both sides raised a
war-shout. Gudrod and Jon gave King Hakon and his men a sign, and let
them know where they were in the line; and as soon as Hakon's men in
consequence turned thither, Gudrod immediately fled with 1500 men; and
Jon, and a great body of men with him, ran over to King Hakon's army,
and assisted them in the fight. When this news was told to King Inge, he
said, "Such is the difference between my friends. Never woul