266 CHRONICLE of the SAGA xiv. little later, and was not nearly so strong in men. Sio-urd and Inge had then been nineteen years kings of Norway. King Eystein came later still from the south than the other two from the north. Then King Inge ordered the Thing to be called together on the holm by sound of trumpet ; and Sigurd and Inge came to it with a great many people. Gregorius had two long-ships, and at the least ninety men, whom he kept in provisions. He kept his house-men better than other lendermen ; for he never took part in any entertainment where each guest brings his liquor, without having all his house-men to drink with him. He went now to the Thing in a gold-mounted helmet, and all his men had helmets on. Then King Inge stood up, and told the assembly what he had heard ; how his brothers were going to use him, and depose him from his kingdom; and asked for their assistance. The assembled people made a good return to his speech, and declared they would follow him. Chapter Tlicu KiuQ; Sififurd stood UD and said, it was a false ofGre- accusation that King Inge had made against him and ^f""*^ his brother, and insisted that Gre2:orius had invented it ; and nismuated that it would not be long, it he had his will, before they should meet so that the golden helmet should be doffed ; and ended his speecli by hinting that they could not both live. Gregorius replied, that Sigurd need not long so much for this, as he was ready now, if it must be so. A few days after, one of Gregorius' s house-men was killed out upon the street, and it Avas Sigurd's house-men who killed him. Gregorius would then have fallen upon King Sigurd and his people ; but King Inge, and many others, kept him back. But one evening, just as Queen Ingigerd, lung Inge's mother, was coming from vespers, she came past where Sigurd Skrudhyrne, a court-man of King Inge, . ^^ murdered. He was then an old man, and had servea nany kings. King Sigurd's court-
