KINGS OF NORWAY. 319 account of the others. The Thing was long assembled ; «aga xvi. but at the close the bonders gave the case into Erling's own power, and he appointed a meeting in the town within one week, and named fifteen bonders who should appear there. When they came, he condemned them to pay a penalty of 300 head of cattle ; and the bonders returned home ill pleased at this sentence. Soon after the Gotha river was frozen, and Erling's ships were fast in the ice ; and the bonders kept back the mulct, and lay assembled for some time. Erling made a Yule feast in the town ; but the Rising people had joint-feasts with each other, and kept under arms during Yule. The night after the fifth day of Yule Erling went up to Rising, surrounded Ozur's house, and burnt him in it. Re killed one hundred men in all, burnt three houses, and then returned to Kong- helle. The bonders came then, according to agree- ment, to pay the mulct. Erling Skakke made ready to sail in spring as soon Chapter as he could get his ships afloat for ice, and sailed from of the * Konffhelle ; for he heard that those who had formerly ^^^^^ ^^ ® . . . '^ Fredenk been Marcus's friends were marauding in the north of Keinaand Yiken. Erling sent out spies to learn their doings, ^'^^"^• searched for them, and found them lying in a harbour. Onund Simunsson and Arnolf Skarpa escaped, but Erederik Keina and Biorne the Bad were taken, and many of their followers were killed. Erling had Ere- derik bound to an anchor and thrown overboard ; and for that deed Erling was much detested in the Dron- theim country, for the most powerful men there were relatives of Erederik. Erling ordered Biorne the Bad to be hanged ; and he uttered, according to his custom, many dreadful imprecations during his execution. Thorbiorn Skakke-scald tells of this business ; — " East of the Fiord beyond the land. Unnoticed by the pirate band, Erling stole on them ere they knew. And seized or killed all Ksene's crew.
