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arl Ragnvald and Erling Skakke fell in with a large ship of burden at sea called a dromund； and gave battle to it with nine ships。 At last they laid their cutters close under the dromund； but the heathens threw both weapons and stones； and pots full of pitch and boiling oil。 Erling laid his ship so close under the dromund； that the missiles of the heathens fell without his ship。 Then Erling and his men cut a hole in the dromund； some working below and some above the water…mark； and so they boarded the vessel through it。 So says Thorbjorn Skakkaskald； in his poem on Erling：
〃The axes of the Northmen bold A door into the huge ships' hold Hewed through her high and curved side； As snug beneath her bulge they ride。 Their spears bring down the astonished foe； Who cannot see from whence the blow。 The eagle's prey； they； man by man； Fall by the Northmen's daring plan。〃
Audunraude； Erling's forecastle…man； was the first man who got into the dromund。 Then they carried her； killing an immense number of people； making an extraordinarily valuable booty； and gaining a famous victory。 Earl Ragnvald and Erling Skakke came to Palestine in the course of their expedition； and all the way to the river Jordan。 From thence they went first to Constantinople； where they left their ships； travelled northwards by land； and arrived in safety in Norway； where their journey was highly praised。 Erling Skakke appeared now a much greater man than before； both on account of his journey and of his marriage； besides he was a prudent sensible man； rich； of great family； eloquent； and devoted to King Inge by the strictest friendship more than to the other royal brothers。
18。 BIRTH OF HAKON HERDEBREID。
King Sigurd went to a feast east in Viken along with his court； and rode past a house belonging to a great bonde called Simon。 While the king was riding past the house； he heard within such beautiful singing that he was quite enchanted with it； and rode up to the house； and saw a lovely girl standing at the handmill and grinding。 The king got off his horse； and went to the girl and courted her。 When the king went away； the bonde Simon came to know what the object of the king's visit had been。 The girl was called Thora； and she was Simon the bonde's servant…girl。 Simon took good care of her afterwards； and the girl brought forth a male child （A。D。 1047）； who was called Hakon； and was considered King Sigurd's son。 Hakon was brought up by Simon Thorbergson and his wife Gunhild。 Their own sons also； Onund and Andreas； were brought up with Hakon； and were so dear to him that death only could have parted them。
19。 EYSTEIN AND THE PEASANTS OF HISING ISLE。
While King Eystein Haraldson was in Viken； he fell into disputes with the bondes of Reine and the inhabitants of Hising Isle； who assembled to oppose him； but he gave them battle at a place called Leikberg； and afterwards burnt and destroyed all around in Hising； so that the bondes submitted to his will； paid great fines to the king； and he took hostages from them。 So says Einar Skulason：
〃The Viken men Won't strive again； With words or blows； The king to oppose。 None safety found On Viken's ground； Till all； afraid； Pledge and scat paid。〃
And further：
〃The king came near； He who is dear To all good men Came down the glen； By Leikberg hill。 They who do ill； The Reine folk； fly Or quarter cry。〃
20。 WAR EXPEDITION OF KING HARALDSON。
Soon after King Eystein began his journey out of the country over sea to the West （A。D。 1153）； and sailed first to Caithness。 Here he heard that Earl Harald Maddad's son was in Thursa； to which he sailed directly in three small boats。 The earl had a ship of thirty banks of oars； and nearly eighty men in her。 But they were not prepared to make resistance； so that King Eystein was able to board the ship with his men； and he took the earl prisoner； and carried him to his own ship； but the earl ransomed himself with three marks of gold： and thus they parted。 Einar Skulason tells of it thus：
〃Earl Harald in his stout ship lay On the bright sand in Thursa bay； With fourscore men he had no fear； Nor thought the Norse king was so near； He who provides the eagle's meals In three small boats along…shore steals； And Maddad's son must ransom pay For his bad outlook that fair day。〃
From thence King Eystein sailed south along the east side of Scotland； and brought up at a merchant…town in Scotland called Aberdeen； where he killed many people； and plundered the town。 So says Einar Skulason：
〃At Aberdeen； too； I am told； Fell many by our Norsemen bold； Peace was disturbed； and blue swords broke With many a hard and bloody stroke。〃
The next battle was at Hartlepool in the south； with a party of horsemen。 The king put them to flight； and seized some ships there。 So says Einar：
〃At Hartlepool； in rank and row； The king's court…men attack the foe。 The king's sharp sword in blood was red； Blood dropped from every Norse spear…head。 Ravens rejoice o'er the warm food Of English slain； each where he stood； And in the ships their thirst was quenched： The decks were in the foe's blood drenched。〃
Then he went southwards to England； and had his third battle at Whitby； and gained the victory； and burnt the town。 So says Einar：
〃The ring of swords； the clash of shields； Were loud in Whitby's peaceful fields； For here the king stirred up the strife。 Man against man； for death or life。 O'er roof and tower； rose on high The red wrath…fire in the sky； House after house the red fiend burns； By blackened walls the poor man mourns。〃
Thereafter he plundered wide around in England； where Stephen was then the king。 After this King Eystein fought with some cavalry at Skarpasker。 So says Einar：
〃At Skarpasker the English horse Retire before the Norse king's force： The arrow…shower like snow…drift flew； And the shield…covered foemen slew。〃
He fought next at Pilavik； and gained the victory。 So says Einar：
〃At Pilavik the wild wolf feeds； Well furnished by the king's brave deeds He poured upon the grass…green plain A red shower from the Perthmen slain。 On westwards in the sea he urges； With fire and sword the country purges： Langtown he burns； the country rang； For sword on shield incessant clang。〃
Here they burnt Langatun； a large village； and people say that the town has never since risen to its former condition。 After this King Eystein left England in autumn； and returned to Norway。 People spoke in various ways about this expedition。
21。 OF HARALD'S SONS。
There was good peace maintained in Norway in the first years of the government of Harald's sons； and as long as their old counsellors were alive； there was some kind of unanimity among them。 While Inge and Sigurd were in their childhood； they had a court together； but Eystein； who was come to age of discretion； had a court for himself。 But when Ing