Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway
escaped to the land, went to King Eystein, and told him how King Inge
had received them. Thereupon King Eystein held a House-thing, and told
his followers how ill King Inge had treated his men, and desired the
troops to follow him. "I have," said he, "so many, and such excellent
men, that I have no intention to fly, if ye will follow me." But this
speech was not received with much favour. Halkel Huk was there; but both
his sons, Simon and Jon, were with King Inge. Halkel replied, so loud
that many heard him, "Let thy chests of gold follow thee, and let them
defend thy land."
32. KING EYSTEIN'S DEATH.
In the night many of King Eystein's ships rowed secretly away, some of
them joining King Inge, some going to Bergen, or up into the fjords; so
that when it was daylight in the morning the king was lying behind with
only ten ships. Then he left the Great Dragon, which was heavy to row,
and several other vessels behind; and cut and destroyed the Dragon,
started out the ale, and destroyed all that they could not take with
them. King Eystein went on board of the ship of Eindride, a son of Jon
Morner, sailed north into Sogn, and then took the land-road eastwards to
Viken. King Inge took the vessels, and sailed with them outside of the
isles to Viken. King Eystein had then got east as far as Fold, and had
with him 1200 men; but when they saw King Inge's force, they did not
think themselves sufficiently strong to oppose him, and they retired to
the forest. Every one fled his own way, so that the king was left with
but one man. King Inge and his men observed King Eystein's flight, and
also that he had but few people with him, and they went immediately to
search for him. Simon Skalp met the king just as he was coming out of a
willow bush. Simon saluted him. "God save you, sire," said he.
The king replied, "I do not know if thou are not sire here."
Simon replied, "That is as it may happen."
The king begged him to conceal him, and said it was proper to do so.
"For there was long friendship between us, although it has now gone
differently."
Simon replied, it could not be.
Then the king begged that he might hear mass before he died, which
accordingly took place. Then Eystein laid himself down on his face on
the grass, stretched out his hands on each side, and told them to cut
the sign of the cross between his shoulders, and see whether he could
not bear steel as King Inge's followers had asserted of him. Simon told
the man who had to put the king to death to do so immediately, for
the king had been creeping about upon the grass long enough. He was
accordingly slain, and he appears to have suffered manfully. His body
was carried to Fors, and lay all night under the hill at the south side
of the church. King Eystein was buried in Fors church, and his grave is
in the middle of the church-floor, where a fringed canopy is spread over
it, and he is considered a saint. Where he was executed, and his blood
ran upon the ground, sprang up a fountain, and another under the hill
where his body lay all night. From both these waters many think they
have received a cure of sickness and pain. It is reported by the Viken
people that many miracles were wrought at King Eystein's grave, until
his enemies poured upon it soup made of boiled dog's flesh. Simon Skalp
was much hated for this deed, which was generally ascribed to him; but
some said that when King Eystein was taken Simon sent a message to King
Inge, and the king commanded that King Eystein should not come before
his face. So King Sverre has caused it to be written; but Einar Skulason
tells of it thus:--
"Simon Skalp, the traitor bold,
For deeds of murder known of old,
His king betrayed; and ne'er will he
God's blessed face hereafter see."
SAGA OF HAKON HERDEBREID (HAKON THE BROAD-SHOULDERED) (1)
PRELIMINARY REMARKS.
This saga describes the feud between Hakon Sigurdson and his uncle Inge.
The only skald quoted is Einar Skulason.
ENDNOTES: (1) The period is from A.D. 1157 to 1161.--L.
1. BEGINNING OF HAKON HERDEBREID.
Hakon, King Sigurd's son, was chosen chief of the troop which had
followed King Eystein, and his adherents gave him the title of king. He
was ten years old. At that time he had with him Sigurd, a son of
Halvard Hauld of Reyr, and Andreas and Onund, the sons of Simon, his
foster-brothers, and many chiefs, friends of King Sigurd and King
Eystein; and they went first up to Gautland. King Inge took possession
of all the estates they had left behind, and declared them banished.
Thereafter King Inge went to Viken, and was sometimes also in the north
of the country. Gregorius Dagson was in Konungahella, where the danger
was greatest, and had beside him a strong and handsome body of men, with
which he defended the country.
2. OF GREGORIUS DAGSON.
The summer after (A.D. 1158) Hakon came with his men, and proceeded to
Konungahella with a numerous and handsome troop. Gregorius was then in
the town, and summoned the bondes and townspeople to a great Thing, at
which he desired their aid; but he thought the people did not hear him
with much favour, so he did not much trust them. Gregorius set off with
two ships to Viken, and was very much cast down. He expected to meet
King Inge there, having heard he was coming with a great army to Viken.
Now when Gregorius had come but a short way north he met Simon Skalp,
Haldor Brynjolfson, and Gyrd Amundason, King Inge's foster-brothers.
Gregorius was much delighted at this meeting, and turned back with them,
being all in one body, with eleven ships. As they were rowing up to
Konungahella, Hakon, with his followers, was holding a Thing without the
town, and saw their approach; and Sigurd of Reyr said, "Gregorius must
be fey to be throwing himself with so few men into our hands." Gregorius
landed opposite the town to wait for King Inge, for he was expected,
but he did not come. King Hakon put himself in order in the town, and
appointed Thorliot Skaufaskalle, who was a viking and a robber, to be
captain of the men in the merchant ships that were afloat in the river;
and King Hakon and Sigurd were within the town, and drew up the men on
the piers, for all the townspeople had submitted to King Hakon.
3. KING HAKON'S FLIGHT.
Gregorius rowed up the river, and let the ship drive down with the
stream against Thorliot. They shot at each other a while, until Thorliot
and his comrades jumped overboard; and some of them were killed, some
escaped to the land. Then Gregorius rowed to the piers, and let a
gangway be cast on shore at the very feet of Hakon's men. There the man
who carried his banner was slain, just as he was going to step on shore.
Gregorius ordered Hal, a son of Audun Halson, to take up the banner,
which he did, and bore the banner up to the pier. Gregorius followed
close after him, held his shield over his head, and protected him as
well as himself. As soon as Gregorius came upon the pier, and Hakon's
men knew him, they gave way, and made room for him on every side.
Afterwards more people landed from the ships, and then Gregorius made a
severe assault with his men; and Hakon's men first moved back, and then
ran up into the town. Gregorius pursued them eagerly, drove them twice
from the town, and killed many of them. By the report of all men, never
was there so glorious an affair as this of Gregorius; for Hakon had more
than 4000 men, and Gregorius not full 400. After the battle, Gregorius
said to Hal Audunson, "Many men, in my opinion, are more agile in battle
than ye Icelanders are, for ye are not so exercised as we Norwegians;
but none, I think, are so bold under arms as ye are." King Inge came up
soon after, and killed many of the men who had taken part with Hakon;
made some pay heavy fines, burnt the houses of some, and some he drove
out of the country, or treated otherwise very ill. Hakon fled at first
up to Gautland with all his men; but the winter after (A.D. 1159), he
proceeded by the upper road to Throndhjem, and came there before Easter.
The Throndhjem people received him well, for they had always served
under that shield. It is said that the Throndhjem people took Hakon
as king, on the terms that he should have from Inge the third part of
Norway as his paternal heritage. King Inge and Gregorius were in Viken,
and Gregorius wanted to make an expedition against the party in the
north; but it came to nothing that winter, as many dissuaded from it.
4. FALL OF GYRD AND HAVARD.
King Hakon left Throndhjem in spring with thirty ships nearly; and some
of his men sailed before the rest with seven ships, and plundered in
North and South More. No man could remember that there ever before had
been plundering between the two towns (Bergen and Nidaros). Jon the son
of Halkel Huk collected the bondes in arms, and proceeded against them;
took Kolbein Ode prisoner, killed every woman's son of them in his ship.
Then they searched for the others, found them all assembled in seven
ships, and fought with them; but his father Halkel not coming to his
assistance as he had promised, many good bondes were killed, and Jon
himself was wounded. Hakon proceeded south to Bergen with his forces;
but when he came to Stiornvelta, he heard that King Inge and Gregorius
had arrived a few nights before from the east at Bergen, and therefore
he did not venture to steer thither. They sailed the outer course
southwards past Bergen, and met three ships of King Inge's fleet, which
had been outsailed on the voyage from the east. On board of them were
Gyrd Amundason, King Inge's foster-brother, who was married to Gyrid
a sister of Gregorius, and also lagman Gyrd Gunhildson, and Havard
Klining. King Hakon had Gyrd Amundason and Havard Klining put to death;
but took lagman Gyrd southwards, and then proceeded east to Viken.
5. OF THE CONSULTATIONS OF KING INGE.
When King Inge heard of this he sailed east after them, and they met
east in the Gaut river. King Inge went up the north arm of the river,
and sent out spies to get news of Hakon and his fleet; but he himself
landed at Hising, and waited for his spies. Now when the spies came back
they went to the king, and said that they had seen King Hakon's forces,
and all his ships which lay at the stakes in the river, and Hakon's
men had bound the stems of their vessels to them. They had two great
East-country trading vessels, which they had laid outside of the fleet,
and on both these were built high wooded stages (castles). When King
Inge heard the preparations they had made, he ordered a trumpet to call
a House-thing of all the men; and when the Thing was seated he asked
his men for counsel, and applied particularly to Gregorius Dagson, his
brother-in-law Erling Skakke, and other lendermen and ship-commanders,
to whom he related the preparations of Hakon and his men.
Then Gregorius Dagson replied first, and made known his mind in the
following words:--"Sometimes we and Hakon have met, and generally they
had the most people; but, notwithstanding, they fell short in battle
against us. Now, on the other hand, we have by far the greatest force;
and it will appear probable to the men who a short time ago lost gallant
relations by them, that this will be a good occasion to get vengeance,
for they have fled before us the greater part of the summer; and we have
often said that if they waited for us, as appears now to be the case, we
would have a brush with them. Now I will tell my opinion, which is, that
I will engage them, if it be agreeable to the king's pleasure; for I
think it will go now as formerly, that they must give way before us if
we attack them bravely; and I shall always attack where others may think
it most difficult."
The speech was received with much applause, and all declared they were