The openers of gushing wounds, undaunted of soul, proceeded in the paths[68] of the famed Getis,[69] from the south round Kintire.  Our heroes, rousers of the thundering tempest of swords, glutted the swift, sable-clad birds of prey in Scotland.

The wind was not favourable, King Haco, however, made Andrew Pott go before him south to Bute, with some small vessels, to join those he had already sent thither.  News was soon received that they had won a fortress, the garrison of which had capitulated, and accepted terms of the Norwegians.  There was with the Norwegians a sea-officer, called Rudri.[70] He considered Bute as his Birthright; and because he had not received the Island of the Scotch he committed many ravages, and killed many people; and for that he was outlawed by the Scottish King.  He came to King Haco, and took the oaths to him; and with two of his brothers became his subjects.  As soon as the garrison, after having delivered up the strong-hold, were gone away from the Norwegians, Rudri killed nine of them, because he thought that he owed them no good will.  Afterwards King Haco reduced the island, as is here said.

     10.

The wide-extended Bute was won from the forlorn wearers[71] of rings by the renowned and invincible troops of the promoter of conquest,—­they wielded the two-edged sword—­the foes of our Ruler dropt, and the Raven from his fields of slaughter, winged his flight for the Hebrides.

The Norwegians who had been in Bute went to Scotland, where they burned many houses, and several towns.  Rudri, proceeding a great way, did all the mischief that he could, as is here described.

     11.

The habitations of men, the dwellings of the wretched, flamed.  Fire, the devourer of halls, glowed in their granaries.  The hapless throwers of the dart[72] fell near the swan-frequented plain,[73] while south from our floating pines[74] marched a host of warriors.

While King Haco was in the Hebrides, deputies came to him from Ireland intimating that the Irish[75] Ostmen would submit to his power, if he would secure them from the encroachments of the English, who possessed all the best towns along the sea-coast.  King Haco accordingly sent Sigurd the Hebridian, with some fast-sailing vessels, to examine on what terms the Irish invited him thither.

After this King Haco sailed south before the Mull of Kintire with all his fleet, and anchored for some time in Arran-sound.  Then, there came often Predicant, or Barefooted friars, from the Scottish Monarch, to King Haco, to sound him about a pacification between the two Sovereigns.  At this juncture also King Haco set King John at liberty; and bidding him go in peace, wherever he would, gave him several rich presents.  He promised King Haco, to do everything in his power to effectuate a peace between him and the Scottish King; and that he would immediately return