n travelled about the whole night seeking him without finding him。 He lay down in a cleft of the rocks； and as he was very cold he took off his trousers； cut a hole in the seat of them； and stuck his head through it； and put his arms in the legs of them。 He escaped with life this time； and the king's men returned； and could not conceal their unsuccessful adventure。
17。 TREACHERY TOWARDS KING HARALD。
Sigurd thought now that it would be of no use to seek any help from King Harald again； and he kept himself concealed all the autumn and the beginning of the winter。 He lay hid in Bergen； in the house of a priest。 King Harald was also in the town； and many great people with him。 Now Sigurd considered how； with his friends' help； he might take the king by surprise； and make an end of him。 Many men took part in this design； and among them some who were King Harald's court…men and chamberlains； but who had formerly been King Magnus's court…men。 They stood in great favour with the king； and some of them sat constantly at the king's table。 On Saint Lucia's day （December 13）； in the evening when they proposed to execute this treason； two men sat at the king's table talking together； and one of them said to the king； 〃Sire； we two table…companions submit our dispute to your judgment； having made a wager of a basket of honey to him who guesses right。 I say that you will sleep this night with your Queen Ingerid； and he says that you will sleep with Thora； Guthorm's daughter。〃
The king answered laughing； and without suspecting in the least that there lay treachery under the question； that he who had asked had lost his bet。
They knew thus where he was to be found that night； but the main guard was without the house in which most people thought the king would sleep； viz。； that which the queen was in。
18。 MURDER OF KING HARALD。
Sigurd Slembe； and some men who were in his design； came in the night to the lodging in which King Harald was sleeping； killed the watchman first； then broke open the door； and went in with drawn swords。 Ivar Kolbeinson made the first attack on King Harald； and as the king had been drunk when he went to bed he slept sound； and awoke only when the men were striking at him。 Then he said in his sleep； 〃Thou art treating me hardly； Thora。〃 She sprang up； saying； 〃They are treating thee hardly who love thee less than I do。〃 Harald was deprived of life。 Then Sigurd went out with his helpers； and ordered the men to be called to him who had promised him their support if he should get King Harald taken out of the way。 Sigurd and his men then went on； and took a boat； set themselves to the oars； and rowed out in front of the king's house； and then it was just beginning to be daylight。 Then Sigurd stood up； spoke to those who were standing on the king's pier； made known to them the murder of King Harald by his hand； and desired that they would take him； and choose him as chief according to his birth。 Now came many swarming down to the pier from the king's house； and all with one voice replied； that they would never give obedience or service to a man who had murdered his own brother。 〃And if thou are not his brother； thou hast no claim from descent to be king。〃 They clashed their weapons together； and adjudged all murderers to be banished and outlawed men。 Now the king's horn sounded； and all lendermen and courtmen were called together。 Sigurd and his companions saw it was best for them to get way； and he went northward to North Hordaland； where he held a Thing with the bondes； who submitted to him； and gave him the title of king。 From thence he went to Sogn； and held a Thing there with the bondes and was proclaimed king。 Then he went north across the fjords； and most people supported his cause。 So says Ivar Ingemundson：
〃On Harald's fall The bondes all； In Hord and Sogn； Took Magnus' son。 The Things swore too They would be true To this new head In Harald's stead。〃
King Harald was buried in the old Christ church。
SAGA OF SIGURD； INGE； AND EYSTEIN； THE SONS OF HARALD
PRELIMINARY REMARKS。
Sigurd died A。D。 1155； Eystein 1157； and Inge 1161。
Other literature is 〃Morkinskinna〃 and 〃Fagrskinna。〃
Sigurd Slembe is the subject of a drama by Bjornstjerne Bjornson； translated into English by William Morton Payne； and published by Houghton； Mifflin & Co。； Boston； 1888。
Skalds quoted are： Kolle； Einar Skulason； and Thorbjorn Skakkaskald。
1。 HISTORY OF KINGS SIGURD AND INGE。
Queen Ingerid； and with her the lendermen and the court which had been with King Harald； resolved to send a fast…sailing vessel to Throndhjem to make known King Harald's death； and also to desire the Throndhjem people to take King Harald's son Sigurd for king。 He was then in the north； and was fostered by Sadagyrd Bardson。 Queen Ingerid herself proceeded eastward immediately to Viken。 Inge was the name of her son by King Harald； and he was then fostered by Amunde Gyrdson； a grandson of Logberse。 When they came to Viken a Borgar…thing was immediately called together； at which Inge； who was in the second year of his age； was chosen king。 This resolution was supported by Amunde and Thjostolf Alason； together with many other great chiefs。 Now when the tidings came north to Throndhjem that King Harald was murdered； the Throndhjem people took Sigurd； King Harald's son； to be the king； and this resolution was supported by Ottar Birting； Peter Saudaulfson； the brothers Guthorm of Reine； and Ottar Balle； sons of Asolf and many other great chiefs。 Afterwards the whole nation almost submitted to the brothers； and principally because their father was considered holy； and the country took the oath to them； that the kingly power should not go to any other man as long as any of King Harald's sons were alive。
2。 OF SIGURD SLEMBIDJAKN。
Sigurd Slembe sailed north around Stad； and when he came to North More； he found that letters and full powers had arrived before him from the leaders who had given in their allegiance to Harald's sons； so that there he got no welcome or help。 As Sigurd himself had but few people with him； he resolved to go with them to Throndhjem； and seek out Magnus the Blind； for he had already sent a message before him to Magnus's friends。 Now when they came to the town； they rowed up the river Nid to meet King Magnus； and fastened their land…ropes on the shore at the king's house； but were obliged to set off immediately； for all the people rose against them。 They then landed at Monkholm； and took Magnus the Blind out of the cloister against the will of the monks； for he had been consecrated a monk。 It is said by some that Magnus willingly went with them； although it was differently reported； in order to make his cause appear better。 Sigurd； immediately after Yule （January； A。D。 1137）； went forth with his suite； expecting aid from his relations and Magnus's friends； and which they also got。 Sigurd sailed with his men out of the fjord； and was joined afterwards by Bjorn Egilson； Gunnar of Gimsar； Haldor Sigurdson； Aslak Hakonson； the brothers Bendikt and Eirik； and also the court which had before been with King Magnus； and many others。 With this troop they went south to More； and down to the mouth of Raumsdal fjord。 Here Sigurd and Magnus divided their forces； and Sigurd went immediately westwards across the sea。 King Magnus again proceeded to the Uplands； where he expected much help and strength； and which he obtained。 He remained there the winter and all the summer （A。D。 1137）； and had many people with him； but King Inge proceeded against him with all his forces； and they met at a place called Mynne。 There was a great battle； at which King Magnus had the most people。 It is related that Thjostolf Alason carried King Inge in his belt as long as the battle lasted； and stood under the banner； but Thjostolf was hard pressed by fatigue and fighting； and it is commonly said that King Inge got his ill health there； and which he retained as long as he lived； so that his back was knotted into a hump； and the one foot was shorter than the other； and he was besides so infirm that he could scarcely walk as long as he lived。 The defeat began to turn upon Magnus and his men； and in the front rank of his array fell Haldor Sigurdson； Bjorn Egilson； Gunnar of Gimsar； and a great number of his men； before he himself would take to his horse and fly。 So says Kolle：
〃Thy arrow…storm on Mynne's banks Fast thinn'd the foemen's strongest ranks； Thy good sword hewed the raven's feast On Mynne's banks up in the East。 Shield clashed on shield； and bucklers broke Under thy battle…axe's stroke； While thou； uncovered； urged the fray； Thy shield and mail…coat thrown away。〃
And also this：
〃The king to heaven belonging fled； When thou； in war's quick death…game bred； Unpanzered； shieldless on the plain His heavy steel…clad guards hadst slain。 The painted shield； and steel…plate mail； Before thy fierce attack soon fail； To Magnus who belongs to heaven；
Was no such fame in battle given。〃
Magnus fled eastward to Gautland； and then to Denmark。 At that time there was in Gautland an earl； Karl Sonason； who was a great and ambitious man。 Magnus the Blind and his men said； wherever they happened to meet with chiefs； that Norway lay quite open to any great chieftain who would attack it； for it might well be said there was no king in the country； and the kingdom was only ruled by lendermen； and； among those who had most sway； there was； from mutual jealousy； most discord。 Now Karl； being ambitious of power； listens willingly to such speeches； collects men； and rides west to Viken； where many people； out of fear； submit to him。 When Thjostolf Alason and Amunde heard of this； they went with the men they could get together； and took King Inge with them。 They met Earl Karl and the Gautland army eastward in Krokaskog； where there was a great battle and a great defeat； King Inge gaining the victory。 Munan Ogmundson； Earl Karl's mother's brother； fell there。 Ogmund； the father of Munan； was a son of Earl Orm Eilifson； and Sigrid； a daughter of Earl Fin Arnason。 Astrid； Ogrnund's daugh