y had returned south to Denmark； after plundering all around them in Viken。 Then Erling gave all the people of the levy permission to return home； but he himself and some lendermen； with many vessels； sailed to Jutland after the Danes。 When they came to a place called Dyrsa； the Danes who had returned from the expedition lay there with many ships。 Erling gave them battle； and there was a fight； in which the Danes soon fled with the loss of many people； and Erling and his men plundered the ships and the town； and made a great booty； with which they returned to Norway。 Thereafter； for a time； there was hostility between Norway and Denmark。
29。 ERLING'S EXPEDITION TO DENMARK。
The princess Krisfin went south in autumn （A。D。 1165） to Denmark； to visit her relation King Valdemar； who was her cousin。 The king received her kindly； and gave her fiefs in his kingdom； so that she could support her household well。 She often conversed with the king； who was remarkably kind towards her。 In the spring following （A。D。 1166） Kristin sent to Erling； and begged him to pay a visit to the Danish king； and enter into a peace with him。 In summer Erling was in Viken； where he fitted out a long…ship； manned it with his finest lads； and sailed （a single ship） over to Jutland。 When he heard that the Danish king Valdemar was in Randaros； Erling sailed thither； and came to the town just as the king sat at the dinner…table； and most of the people were taking their meal。 When his people had made themselves ready according to Erling's orders； set up the ship…tents； and made fast the ship； Erling landed with twelve men； all in armour； with hats over their helmets； and swords under their cloaks。 They went to the king's lodging； where the doors stood open； and the dishes were being carried in。 Erling and his people went in immediately； and drew up in front of the high…seat。 Erling said； 〃Peace and safe conduct we desire； king； both here and to return home。〃
The king looked at him； and said； 〃Art thou here； Erling？〃
He replies； 〃Here is Erling； and tell us； at once； if we shall have peace and safe conduct。〃
There were eighty of the king's men in the room； but all unarmed。 The king replies； 〃Peace ye shall have； Erling； according to thy desire； for I will not use force or villainy against a man who comes to visit me。〃
Erling then kissed the king's hand； went out； and down to his ship。 Erling stayed at Randaros some time with the king； and they talked about terms of peace between them and between the countries。 They agreed that Erling should remain as hostage with the Danish king； and that Asbjorn Snara； Bishop Absalon's brother； should go to Norway as hostage on the other part。
30。 KING VALDEMAR AND ERLING。
In a conference which King Valdemar and Erling once had together。 Erling said； 〃Sire； it appears to me likely that it might lead to a peace between the countries if you got that part of Norway which was promised you in our agreement； but if it should be so； what chief would you place over it？ Would he be a Dane？〃
〃No；〃 replied the king； 〃no Danish chief would go to Norway； where he would have to manage an obstinate hard people； when he has it so easy here with me。〃
Erling： 〃It was on that very consideration that I came here； for I would not on any account in the world deprive myself of the advantage of your friendship。 In days of old other men； Hakon Ivarson and Fin Arnason； came also from Norway to Denmark； and your predecessor； King Svein； made them both earls。 Now I am not a man of less power in Norway than they were then； and my influence is not less than theirs； and the king gave them the province of Halland to rule over； which he himself had and owned before。 Now it appears to me； sire； that you； if I become your man and vassal； can allow me to hold of you the fief which my son Magnus will not deny me； by which I will be bound in duty； and ready； to undertake all the service belonging to that title。〃
Erling spoke such things； and much more in the same strain； until it came at last to this； that Erling became Valdemar's man and vassal； and the king led Erling to the earl's seat one day； and gave him the title of earl； and Viken as a fief under his rule。 Earl Erling went thereafter to Norway； and was earl afterwards as long as he lived； and also the peace with the Danish king was afterwards always preserved。 Earl Erling had four sons by his concubines。 The one was called Hreidar； the next Ogmund； and these by two different mothers： the third was called Fin； the fourth Sigurd： these were younger； and their mother was Asa the Fair。 The princess Kristin and Earl Erling had a daughter called Ragnhild； who was married to Jon Thorbergson of Randaberg。 Kristin went away from the country with a man called Grim Rusle； and they went to Constantinople； where they were for a time； and had some children。
31。 BEGINNING OF OLAF。
Olaf； a son of Gudbrand Skafhaug； and Maria； a daughter of King Eystein Magnuson； were brought up in the house of Sigurd Agnhot in the Uplands。 While Earl Erling was in Denmark （A。D。 1166）； Olaf and his foster…father gathered a troop together； and many Upland people joined them； and Olaf was chosen king by them。 They went with their bands through the Uplands； and sometimes down to Viken； and sometimes east to the forest settlements； but never came on board of ships。 Now when； Earl Erling got news of this troop； he hastened to Viken with his forces； and was there in summer in his ships； and in Oslo in autumn （A。D。 1167） and kept Yule there。 He had spies up the country after this troop； and went himself； along with Orm； the King…brother； up the country to follow them。 Now when they came to a lake called。。。。 。。。。 （1） they took all the vessels that were upon the lake。
ENDNOTES： （1） The name of the lake not given。
32。 OF ERLING。
The priest who performed divine service at a place called Rydiokul； close by the lake； invited the earl to a feast at Candlemas。 The earl promised to come； and thinking it would be good to hear mass there； he rowed with his attendants over the lake the night before Candlemas day。 But the priest had another plan on hand。 He sent men to bring Olaf news of Earl Erling's arrival。 The priest gave Erling strong drink in the evening； and let him have an excessive quantity of it。 When the earl wished to lie down and sleep； the beds were made ready in the drinking… room； but when they had slept a short time the earl awoke； and asked if it was not the hour for matins。 The priest replied； that only a small part of the night was gone； and told him to sleep in peace。 The earl replied； 〃I dream of many things to…night； and I sleep ill。〃 He slumbered again； but awoke soon； and told the priest to get up and sing mass。 The priest told the earl to sleep； and said it was but midnight。 Then the earl again lay down； slept a little while； and； springing out of bed； ordered his men to put on their clothes。 They did so； took their weapons； went to the church； and laid their arms outside while the priest was singing matins。
33。 BATTLE AT RYDIOKUL。
As Olaf got the message in the evening； they travelled in the night six miles； which people considered an extraordinarily long march。 They arrived at Rydiokul while the priest was still singing mass； and it was pitch…dark。 Olaf and his men went into the room； raised a war…shout； and killed some of the earl's men who had not gone to the early mass。 Now when Erling and his men heard the war…shout； they ran to their weapons； and hastened down to their ships。 Olaf and his men met them at a fence； at which there was a sharp conflict。 Erling and his men retreated along the fence； which protected them。 Erling had far fewer men； and many of them had fallen； and still more were wounded。 What helped Earl Erling and his men the most was； that Olaf's men could not distinguish them； it was so dark； and the earl's men were always drawing down to their ships。 Are Thorgeirson； father of Bishop Gudmund fell there； and many other of Erling's court… men。 Erling himself was wounded in the left side； but some say he did it himself in drawing his sword。 Orm the King…brother was also severely wounded； and with great difficulty they escaped to their ships； and instantly pushed off from land。 It was generally considered as a most unlucky meeting for Olaf's people； as Earl Erling was in a manner sold into their hands； if they had proceeded with common prudence。 He was afterwards called Olaf the Unlucky； but others called his people Hat…lads。 They went with their bands through the Uplands as before。 Erling again went down to Viken to his ships； and remained there all summer。 Olaf was in the Uplands； and sometimes east in the forest districts； where he and his troop remained all the next winter （A。D。 1168）。
34。 BATTLE AT STANGAR。
The following spring the Hat…lads went down to Viken； and raised the king's taxes all around； and remained there long in summer。 When Earl Erling heard this； he hastened with his troops to meet them in Viken； and fell in with them east of the Fjord； at a place called Stangar； where they had a great battle； in which Erling was victorious。 Sigurd Agnhot； and many others of Olaf's men； f