The Norwegian account of Hacos expedition against Scotland, A.D. MCCLXIII | Page 5

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, Arnbiörn 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.
After St Olave's wake[50] King Haco, leaving Elidarwic, sailed south
before the Mull[51] of Ronaldsha with all his navy. At this place King
Haco was joined by Ronald from the Orkneys, with the ships that had
followed him. King Haco next led the whole armament into Ronaldsvo,
and lay there for some space. He then sent men over to Cathness[52] to
levy contribution. He, on the one hand, proposed peace if the
inhabitants would yield, but otherwise heavy punishment. The
Cathnesians submitted to the tax, and King Haco appointed collectors
to receive it, as is here intimated.
6.
First our wise Sovereign, the Bestower of peace, and Defender of the
Northern Thrones, imposed tribute, the ransom of life, on the dwellers
of the Ness.[53] All its tribes were terrified by the steel-clad exactor of
rings,[54] and panic-struck at his mighty power.
While King Haco lay in Ronaldsvo a great darkness drew over the sun,
so that only a little ring was bright round the sun, and it continued so
for some hours.[55]
On the day of St Laurence's wake[56] King Haco, having ordered the
Orkney-men to follow him as soon as they were ready, sailed over
Pentland-Firth,[57] Earl Magnus, however, staid behind. He was here
informed that John Drotning,[58] and Kolbein Aslacson, with the ships
expected from the east, but which had been accidentally detained, were
arrived in the Islands. King Haco then sailed with all his forces to a
haven that is called Asleifarvic,[59] from that to Lewes, so on to Raasa,

and, from thence to that place, in Sky-sound, which is called
Callach-stane.[60]
Here he was joined by Magnus King of Man, and the relations Erling
Ivarson, Andrew Nicolson, and Halward. He next proceeded to the
Sound of Mull,[61] and then to Kiararey where King Dugal and the
other Hebridians were assembled with all their troops. King Haco had
now above an hundred vessels, for the most part large, and all