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,