able and prudent ruler of the country; but he
had the character of being cruel and severe. The cause of this was
principally that he never allowed his enemies to remain in the country,
even when they prayed to him for mercy; and therefore many joined the
bands which were collected against him. Erling was a tall strong-made
man, somewhat short-necked and high-shouldered; had a long and sharp
countenance of a light complexion, and his hair became very grey.
He bore his head a little on one side; was free and agreeable in his
manners. He wore the old fashion of clothes,--long body-pieces and long
arms to his coats, foreign cloak, and high shoes. He made the king wear
the same kind of dress in his youth; but when he grew up, and acted for
himself, he dressed very sumptuously.

King Magnus was of a light turn of mind, full of jokes; a great lover of
mirth, and not less of women.

38. OF NIKOLAS.

Nikolas was a son of Sigurd Hranason and of Skialdvor, a daughter of
Brynjolf Ulfalde, and a sister of Haldor Brynjolfson by the father's
side, and of King Magnus Barefoot by the mother's side. Nikolas was a
distinguished chief, who had a farm at Ongul in Halogaland, which was
called Steig. Nikolas had also a house in Nidaros, below Saint Jon's
church, where Thorgeir the scribe lately dwelt. Nikolas was often in
the town, and was president of the townspeople. Skialdvor, Nikolas's
daughter, was married to Eirik Arnason, who was also a lenderman.

39. OF EIRIK AND NIKOLAS.

As the people of the town were coming from matins the last day of
Marymas (September 8th), Eirik came up to Nikolas, and said, "Here are
some fishermen come from the sea, who report that some long-ships are
sailing into the fjord; and people conjecture that these may be the
Birkebeins. It would be advisable to call the townspeople together with
the war-horns, to meet under arms out on Eyrar."

Nikolas replies, "I don't go after fishermen's reports; but I shall send
out spies to the fjord, and in the meantime hold a Thing to-day."

Eirik went home; but when they were ringing to high mass, and Nikolas
was going to church, Eirik came to hint again, and said, "I believe the
news to be true; for here are men who say they saw them under sail; and
I think it would be most advisable to ride out of town, and gather men
with arms; for it appears to me the townspeople will be too few."

Nikolas replies, "Thou art mixing everything together; let us first he