Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway
Hakon, and, with the help of his friends and relations, oppose the enemy
there. He then one day called a meeting of the ship-masters, and gave
them and all the merchant ships and their steersmen leave to go where
they pleased. When the men who had charge of the cargoes, and were all
ready to sail away with their goods, some for trade, others on various
business, had got leave from Erling Skakke to depart, there was a
soft and favourable wind for sailing north along the coast. Before the
evening all who were ready had set sail, and hastened on as fast as they
could, according to the speed of their vessels, the one vying with the
other. When this fleet came north to More, Hakon's fleet had arrived
there before them: and he himself was there fully engaged in collecting
people, and summoning to him the lendermen, and all liable to serve in
the levy, without having for a long time heard any news from Bergen.
Now, however, they heard, as the latest news, that Erling Skakke had
laid his ships up in Bergen, and there they would find him; and also
that he had a large force with him. King Hakon sailed from thence to
Veey, and sent away Earl Sigurd and Onund Simonson to gather people, and
sent men also to both the More districts. After King Hakon had remained
a few days at the town he sailed farther, and proceeded to the South,
thinking that it would both promote his journey and enable new levies to
join him sooner.
Erling Skakke had given leave on Sunday to all the merchant vessels to
leave Bergen; and on Tuesday, as soon as the early mass was over, he
ordered the warhorns to sound, summoned to him the men-at-arms and the
townsmen, and let the ships which were laid up on shore be drawn down
into the water. Then Erling held a House-Thing with his men and the
people of the levy; told them his intentions; named ship commanders;
and had the names called over of the men who were to be on board of the
king's ship. This Thing ended with Erling's order to every man to make
himself ready in his berth wherever a place was appointed him; and
declared that he who remained in the town after the Baekisudin was
hauled out, should be punished by loss of life or limb. Orm, the king's
brother, laid his ships out in the harbour immediately that evening, and
many others, and the greater number were afloat before.
6. OF ERLING SKAKKE.
On Wednesday, before mass was sung in the town, Erling sailed from
Bergen with all his fleet, consisting of twenty-one ships; and there was
a fresh breeze for sailing northwards along the coast. Erling had his
son King Magnus with him, and there were many lendermen accompanied by
the finest men. When Erling came north, abreast of the Fjord district,
he sent a boat on shore to Jon Halkelson's farm, and took Nikolas, a son
of Simon Skalp and of Maria, Harald Gille's daughter, and brought him
out to the fleet, and put him on board the king's ship. On Friday,
immediately after matins, they sailed to Steinavag, and King Hakon,
with thirteen ships, was lying in the harbour in the neighbourhood. He
himself and his men were up at play upon the island, and the lendermen
were sitting on the hill, when they saw a boat rowing from the south
with two men in it, who were bending back deep towards the keel, and
taking hasty strokes with their oars. When they came to the shore they
did not belay the boat, but both ran from it. The great men seeing this,
said to each other, "These men must have some news to tell;" and got up
to meet them. When they met, Onund Simonson asked, "Have ye any news of
Erling Skakke, that ye are running so fast?"
They answered, as soon as they could get out the words, for they had
lost their breath, "Here comes Erling against you, sailing from the
south, with twenty-one ships, or thereabouts, of which many are great
enough; and now ye will soon see their sails."
Then said Eindride Unge, "Too near to the nose, said the peasant, when
his eye was knocked out."
They went in haste now to where the games were playing, and immediately
the war-horns resounded, and with the battle-call all the people were
gathered down to the ships in the greatest haste. It was just the time
of day when their meat was nearly cooked. All the men rushed to the
ships, and each ran on board the vessel that was nearest to him, so that
the ships were unequally manned. Some took to the oars; some raised the
masts, turned the heads of the vessels to the north, and steered for
Veey, where they expected much assistance from the towns.
7. FALL OF KING HAKON.
Soon after they saw the sails of Erling's fleet, and both fleets came in
sight of each other. Eindride Unge had a ship called Draglaun, which was
a large buss-like long-ship, but which had but a small crew; for
those who belonged to her had run on board of other ships, and she was
therefore the hindmost of Hakon's fleet. When Eindride came abreast of
the island Sek, the Baekisudin, which Erling Skakke himself commanded,
came up with her; and these two ships were bound fast together. King
Hakon and his followers had arrived close to Veey; but when they heard
the war-horn they turned again to assist Eindride. Now they began the
battle on both sides, as the vessels came up. Many of the sails lay
midships across the vessels; and the ships were not made fast to each
other, but they lay side by side. The conflict was not long before
there came disorder in Hakon's ship; and some fell, and others sprang
overboard. Hakon threw over him a grey cloak, and jumped on board
another ship; but when he had been there a short time he thought he had
got among his enemies; and when he looked about him he saw none of his
men nor of his ships near him. Then he went into the Baekisudin to the
forecastle-men, and begged his life. They took him in their keeping, and
gave him quarter. In this conflict there was a great loss of people,
but principally of Hakon's men. In the Baekisudin fell Nikolas,
Simon Skalp's son; and Erling's men are accused of having killed him
themselves. Then there was a pause in the battle, and the vessels
separated. It was now told to Erling that Hakon was on board of his
ship; that the forecastle-men had taken him, and threatened that they
would defend him with arms. Erling sent men forwards in the ship to
bring the forecastle-men his orders to guard Hakon well, so that he
should not get away. He at the same time let it be understood that he
had no objection to giving the king life and safety, if the other chiefs
were willing, and a peace could be established. All the forecastle-men
gave their chief great credit and honour for these words. Then Erling
ordered anew a blast of the war-horns, and that the ships should be
attacked which had not lost their men; saying that they would never
have such another opportunity of avenging King Inge. Thereupon they all
raised a war-shout, encouraged each other, and rushed to the assault.
In this tumult King Hakon received his death-wound. When his men knew he
had fallen they rowed with all their might against the enemy, threw away
their shields, slashed with both hands, and cared not for life. This
heat and recklessness, however, proved soon a great loss to them; for
Erling's men saw the unprotected parts of their bodies, and where their
blows would have effect. The greater part of Hakon's men who remained
fell here; and it was principally owing to the want of numbers, as they
were not enough to defend themselves. They could not get quarter, also
excepting those whom the chiefs took under their protection and bound
themselves to pay ransom for. The following of Hakon's people fell:
Sigurd Kapa, Sigurd Hiupa, and Ragnvald Kunta; but some ships crews got
away, rowed into the fjords, and thus saved their lives. Hakon's body
was carried to Raumsdal, and buried there; but afterwards his brother,
King Sverre, had the body transported north to the merchant town
Nidaros, and laid in the stone wall of Christ church south of the choir.
8. FLIGHT OF THE CHIEFS OF HAKON'S MEN.
Earl Sigurd, Eindride Unge, Onund Simonson, Frirek Keina, and other
chiefs kept the troop together, left the ships in Raumsdal, and went
up to the Uplands. King Magnus and his father Erling sailed with their
troops north to Nidaros in Throndhjem, and subdued the country as they
went along. Erling called together an Eyra-thing, at which King Magnus
was proclaimed king of all Norway. Erling, however, remained there but a
short time; for he thought the Throndhjem people were not well affected
towards him and his son. King Magnus was then called king of the whole
country.
King Hakon had been a handsome man in appearance, well grown, tall and
thin; but rather broad-shouldered, on which account his men called him
Herdebreid. As he was young in years, his lendermen ruled for him. He
was cheerful and friendly in conversation, playful and youthful in his
ways, and was much liked by the people.
9. OF KING SIGURD'S BEGINNING.
There was an Upland man called Markus of Skog, who was a relation of
Earl Sigurd. Markus brought up a son of King Sigurd Mun, who was also
called Sigurd. This Sigurd was chosen king (A.D. 1162) by the Upland
people, by the advice of Earl Sigurd and the other chiefs who had
followed King Hakon. They had now a great army, and the troops were
divided in two bodies; so that Markus and the king were less exposed
where there was anything to do, and Earl Sigurd and his troop, along
with the lendermen, were most in the way of danger. They went with their
troops mostly through the Uplands, and sometimes eastwards to Viken.
Erling Skakke had his son King Magnus always with him, and he had also
the whole fleet and the land defence under him. He was a while in Bergen
in autumn; but went from thence eastward to Viken, where he settled in
Tunsberg for his winter quarters (A.D. 1163), and collected in Viken all
the taxes and revenues that belonged to Magnus as king; and he had
many and very fine troops. As Earl Sigurd had but a small part of the
country, and kept many men on foot, he soon was in want of money; and
where there was no chief in the neighbourhood he had to seek money by
unlawful ways,--sometimes by unfounded accusations and fines, sometimes
by open robbery.
10. EARL SIGURD'S CONDEMNATION.
At that time the realm of Norway was in great prosperity. The bondes
were rich and powerful, unaccustomed to hostilities or violence, and the
oppression of roving troops; so that there was soon a great noise and
scandal when they were despoiled and robbed. The people of Viken were
very friendly to Erling and King Magnus, principally from the popularity
of the late King Inge Haraldson; for the Viken people had always served
under his banner. Erling kept a guard in the town, and twelve men were
on watch every night. Erling had Things regularly with the bondes, at
which the misdeeds of Sigurd's people were often talked over; and by
the representations of Erling and his adherents, the bondes were brought
unanimously to consider that it would be a great good fortune if these
bands should be rooted out. Arne, the king's relation, spoke well and
long on this subject, and at last severely; and required that all
who were at the Thing,--men-at-arms, bondes, towns-men, and
merchants,--should come to the resolution to sentence according to law
Earl Sigurd and all his troop, and deliver them to Satan, both living
and dead. From the animosity and hatred of the people, this was agreed
to by all; and thus the unheard-of deed was adopted and confirmed by
oath, as if a judgment in the case was delivered there by the Thing
according to law. The priest Hroald the Long-winded, who was a very
eloquent man, spoke in the case; but his speech was to the same purpose
as that of others who had spoken before. Erling gave a feast at Yule in