334 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA XVI. Chapter XXXVII. Of the Birke- beiners, King Eys- tein, and Erling Skakke. expedition, for a great number of bonders and men- at-arms were assembled there against them; but the Birkebeiners felled brushwood across the roads, and retired into the forest. They were two years in Yiken before they showed themselves in the northern parts of the country. Magnus had been king for thirteen years when the Birkebeiners first made their appearance. They got themselves ships in the third summer, with which they sailed along the coast gathering goods and men. They were first in Viken ; but when summer advanced they proceeded northwards, and so rapidly that no news preceded them until they came to Drontheim. The Birkebeiners' troop consisted principally of hill- men and river-borderers, and manv were from Thele- mark ; and all were well armed. Their king, Eystein, was a handsome man, with a little but good counte- nance ; and he was not of great stature, for his men called him Eystein the Small. King Magnus and Earl Erling were in Bergen when the Birkebeiners sailed past it to the north ; but they did not hear of them. Earl Erling was a man of great understanding and power, an excellent leader in war, and an able and prudent ruler of the country ; but he had the charac- ter of being cruel and severe. The cause of this was principally that he never allowed his enemies to remaiiz. in the country, even when they prayed to him for mercy ; and therefore many joined the bands which were collected against him. Erling was a tall, strong- made man, somewhat short-necked and high-shoulder- ed ; had a long and sharp countenance of a light com- plexion, and his hair became very grey. He bore his head a little on one side ; was free and agreeable in his manners. He wore the old fashion of clothes, — long body-pieces and long arms to his coats, foreign cloak, and high shoes. He made the king wear the
