When the Danish king Valdemar heard the news from Norway that Magnus
was become king of the whole country, and all the other parties in the
country were rooted out, he sent his men with a letter to King Magnus
and Erling, and reminded them of the agreement which Erling had entered
into, under oath, with King Valdemar, of which we have spoken before;
namely, that Viken from the east to Rygiarbit should be ceded to King
Valdemar, if Magnus became the sole king of Norway. When the ambassadors
came forward and showed Erling the letter of the Danish king, and he
heard the Danish king's demand upon Norway, he laid it before the other
chiefs by whose counsels he usually covered his acts. All, as one
man, replied that the Danes should never hold the slightest portion of
Norway; for never had things been worse in the land than when the Danes
had power in it. The ambassadors of the Danish king were urgent with
Erling for an answer, and desired to have it decided; but Erling begged
them to proceed with him east to Viken, and said he would give his final
answer when he had met with the men of most understanding and influence
in Viken.