Three nights before the Selian vigils[34] King Haco set sail for the German sea with all his fleet.  He had now been King of Norway six and forty winters.[35] He had a favourable breeze; the weather was fair and the armament beautiful to behold, as Sturlas relates.

     4.

The Abyss returned the flaming gleam of war, darted from the bright glittering concave shields of the Goddesses of battle.[36] This voyage, by the bands of the Troubler of peace, through the sea that streams around the world, was unwelcome to the foe—­they dreaded the exactor of rings.[37]

King Haco had a company, particularly selected for his own ship.  There were on the quarter-deck Thorlife abbot of Holm,[38] Sir Askatin,[39] four priests chaplains to the King, Andrew of Thissisey, Aslac Guss the King’s master of the Horse, Andrew Hawardson, Guthorm Gillason and Thorstein his brother, Eirek Scot Gautson, with many others.  There were on the main deck Aslack Dagson, Steinar Herka, Klomit Langi, Andrew Gums, Eirek Dugalson,[40] the father of King Dugal,[41] Einar Lang-bard, Arnbioern Suela, Sigvat Bodvarson,[42] Hoskuld Oddson, John Hoglif, Arni Stinkar.  On the fore-deck there were, Sigurd the son of Ivar Rofu, Ivar Helgason of Lofloc, Erlend Scolbein, Dag of Southeim, Briniolf Johnson, Gudleik Sneis, and most of the King’s Chamberlains, with Andrew Plytt the King’s treasurer.  There were in the fore-castle, Eirek Skifa, Thorfin Sigvald, Kari Endridson, Gudbrand Johnson and many of the Cup-bearers.  In general, there were four men on every half rowers’ seat.  With King Haco, Magnus Earl of Orkney left Bergen; and the King gave him a good galley.  These Barons were also with the King, Briniolf Johnson, Fin Gautson, Erling Alfson, Erlend Red, Bard of Hestby, Eilif of Naustadale, Andrew Pott, Ogmund Krekidants, Erling Ivarson, John Drotning.  Gaut of Meli, and Nicholas of Giska were behind with Prince Magnus at Bergen, as were several other sea officers who had not been ready.  Many approved commanders were however with King Haco, and of whom mention hath been made.

King Haco having got a gentle breeze, was two nights at sea, when he reached that Harbour of Shetland called Breydeyiar-sound, with a great part of his navy, as Sturlas sings.

     5.

The Leader of his people unmoored the ploughers of the Ocean,[43] and raised aloft the expanded wings[44] of his sky-blue doves.[45] Our Sovereign, rich in the spoils of the sea-snakes den,[46] viewed the retiring haven from the stern of his snorting steed[47] adorned with ruddy gold.

King Haco remained in Breydeyiar-sound near half a month, and from thence sailed to the Orkneys, and continued some time at Elidarwic which is near Kirkwall.[48] There he declared before his men, that he would divide his forces, and send one part south to the Firth of Forth[49] to plunder.  But he himself wished to remain in the Orkneys with the largest ships and greater part of the army.  The vassals and retainers, however, spoke against this scheme, and made it evident that they would go nowhere unless with the King himself; so this proposed expedition was dropt.