KINGS OF NORWAY. 235 proceeded to the Uplands, where he expected much saga xiv. help and strength, and which he obtained. He re- mained there the mnter and all the summer, and had many people with him; but King Inge proceeded against him mth all his forces, and they met at a place called Minne. There was a great battle, at which King Magnus had the most people. It is related that Thiostolf Aleson carried King Inge in his belt as long as the battle lasted, and stood under the banner ; but Thiodolf 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 Thorkel, Haldor Sigurdsson, Biorn Egilsson, Gunnar of Gimse, and a great number of his men, before he himself would take to his horse and fly. So says Kolli the Wise : — '^ Thy arrow-storm on Mynna's banks Fast thinn'd the foemen's strongest ranks ; Thy good sword hewed the raven's feast On Mynna'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 thonf, in war's quick death-game bred, Unpanzered, shieldless, on the i)lain His heavy steel-clad guards hadst slain.
- Magnus, having assumed the monk's garb, was considered as be-
longing to heaven. t This appears to be addressed to Thiostolf Aleson, who commanded in the battle; not to King Inge, an infant.
