On Saint Blasius' day (February 3, 1161), in the evening, King Inge's
spies brought him the news that King Hakon was coming towards the town.
Then King Inge ordered the war-horns to call together all the troops
up from the town; and when he drew them up he could reckon them to be
nearly 4000 men. The king let the array be long, but not more than five
men deep. Then some said that the king should not be himself in the
battle, as they thought the risk too great; but that his brother
Orm should be the leader of the army. The king replied, "I think if
Gregorius were alive and here now, and I had fallen and was to be
avenged, he would not lie concealed, but would be in the battle. Now,
although I, on account of my ill health, am not fit for the combat as he
was, yet will I show as good will as he would have had; and it is not to
be thought of that I should not be in the battle."
People say that Gunhild, who was married to Simon, King Hakon's
foster-brother, had a witch employed to sit out all night and procure
the victory for Hakon; and that the answer was obtained, that they
should fight King Inge by night, and never by day, and then the result
would be favourable. The witch who, as people say, sat out was called
Thordis Skeggia; but what truth there may be in the report I know not.
Simon Skalp had gone to the town, and was gone to sleep, when the
war-shouts awoke him. When the night was well advanced, King Inge's
spies came to him, and told him that King Hakon and his army were coming
over the ice; for the ice lay the whole way from the town to Hofud Isle.