Heimskringla

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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 Tunsberg, and paid the wages of the
men-at-arms at Candlemas.

11. OF ERLING.

Earl Sigurd went with his best troops down to Viken, where many
people were obliged to submit to his superior force, and many had
to pay money. He drove about thus widely higher up the country,
penetrating into different districts. But there were some in his
troop who desired privately to make peace with Erling; but they
got back the answer, that all who asked for their lives should
obtain quarter, but they only should get leave to remain in the
country who had not been guilty of any great offenses against
Erling. And when Sigurd's adherents heard that they would not
get leave to remain in the country, they held together in one
body; for there were many among them who knew for certain that
Erling would look upon them as guilty of offences against him.
Philip Gyrdson made terms with Erling, got his property back, and
went home to his farm; but soon after Sigurd's men came there,
and killed him. They committed many crimes against each other,
and many men were slain in their mutual persecution; but here
what was committed by the chiefs only is written down.

12. ERLING GETS NEWS OF EARL SIGURD.

It was in the beginning of Lent that news came to Erling that
Earl Sigurd intended to come upon him; and news of him came here
and there, sometimes nearer, sometimes farther off. Erling sent
out spies in all quarters around to discover where they were.
Every evening he assembled all the men-at-arms by the war-horn
out of the town; and for a long time in the winter they lay under
arms all night, ready to be drawn up in array. At last Erling
got intelligence that Sigurd and his followers were not far
distant, up at the farm Re. Erling then began his expedition out
of the town, and took with him all the towns-people who were able
to carry arms and had arms, and likewise all the merchants; and
left only twelve men behind to keep watch in the town. Erling
went out of the town on Thursday afternoon, in the second week of
Lent (February 19); and every man had two days' provisions with
him. They marched by night, and it was late before they got out
of the town with the men. Two men were with each shield and each
horse; and the people, when mustered, were about 1200 men. When
they met their spies, they were informed that Sigurd was at Re,
in a house called Rafnnes, and had 500 men. Then Erling called
together his people; told them the news he had received, and all
were eager to hasten their march, fall on them in the houses, or
engage them by night.

Erling replied to them thus: -- "It is probable that we and Earl
Sigurd shall soon meet. There are also many men in this band
whose handy-work remains in our memories; such as cutting down
King Inge, and so many more of our friends, that it would take
long to reckon them up. These deeds they did by the power of
Satan, by witchcraft, and by villainy; for it stands in our laws
and country rights, that however highly a man may have been
guilty, it shall be called villainy and cowardly murder to kill
him in the night. This band has had its luck hitherto by
following the counsel of men acquainted with witchcraft and
fighting by night, and not in the light of day; and by this
proceeding have they been victorious hitherto over the chiefs
whose heads they have laid low on the earth. Now we have often
seen, and proved, how unsuitable and improper it is to go into
battle in the nighttime; therefore let us rather have before our
eyes the example of chiefs better known to us, and who deserve
better to be imitated, and fight by open day in regular battle
array, and not steal upon sleeping men in the night. We have
people enough against them, so few as they are. Let us,
therefore, wait for day and daylight, and keep together in our
array in case they attack us."

Thereafter the whole army sat down. Some opened up bundles of
hay, and made a bed of it for themselves; some sat upon their
shields, and thus waited the daydawn. The weather was raw, and
there was a wet snowdrift.

13. OF EARL SIGURD'S BATTLE ARRAY.

Earl Sigurd got the first intelligence of Erling's army, when it
was already near to the house. His men got up, and armed
themselves; but not knowing how many men Erling had with him,
some were inclined to fly, but the most determined to stand.
Earl Sigurd was a man of understanding, and could talk well, but
certainly was not considered brave enough to take a strong
resolution; and indeed the earl showed a great inclination to
fly, for which he got many stinging words from his men-at-arms.
As day dawned, they began on both sides to draw up their battle
array. Earl Sigurd placed his men on the edge of a ridge between
the river and the house, at a place at which a little stream runs
into the river. Erling and his people placed their array on the
other side of the river; but at the back of his array were men on
horseback well armed, who had the king with them. When Earl
Sigurd's men saw that there was so great a want of men on their
side, they held a council, and were for taking to the forest.
But Earl Sigurd said, "Ye alleged that I had no courage, but it
will now be proved; and let each of you take care not to fail, or
fly, before I do so. We have a good battle-field. Let them
cross the bridge; but as soon as the banner comes over it let us
then rush down the hill upon them, and none desert his
neighbour."

Earl Sigurd had on a red-brown kirtle, and a red cloak, of which
the corners were tied and turned back; shoes on his feet; and a
shield and sword called Bastard. The earl said, "God knows that
I would rather get at Erling Skakke with a stroke of Bastard,
than receive much gold."

14. EARL SIGURD'S FALL.

Erling Skakke's army wished to go on to the bridge; but Erling
told them to go up along the river, which was small, and not
difficult to cross, as its banks were flat; and they did so.
Earl Sigurd's array proceeded up along the ridge right opposite
to them; but as the ridge ended, and the ground was good and
level over the river, Erling told his men to sing a Paternoster,
and beg God to give them the victory who best deserved it. Then
they all sang aloud "Kyrie Eleison", and struck with their
weapons on their shields. But with this singing 300 men of
Erling's people slipped away and fled. Then Erling and his
people went across the river, and the earl's men raised the
war-shout; but there was no assault from the ridge down upon
Erling's array, but the battle began upon the hill itself. They
first used spears then edge weapons; and the earl's banner soon
retired so far back, that Erling and his men scaled the ridge.
The battle lasted but a short time before the earl's men fled to
the forest, which they had close behind them. This was told Earl
Sigurd, and his men bade him fly; but he replied, "Let us on
while we can." And his men went bravely on, and cut down on all
sides. In this tumult fell Earl Sigurd and Jon Sveinson, and
nearly sixty men. Erling lost few men, and pursued the fugitives
to the forest. There Erling halted his troops, and turned back.
He came just as the king's slaves were about stripping the
clothes off Earl Sigurd, who was not quite lifeless. He had put
his sword in the sheath, and it lay by his side. Erling took it,
struck the slaves with it, and drove them away. Then Erling,
with his troops, returned, and sat down in Tunsberg. Seven days
after Earl Sigurd's fall Erling's men took Eindride Unge
prisoner, and killed him, with all his ship's crew.

15. MARKUS OF SKOG, AND SIGURD SIGURDSON.

Markus of Skog, and King Sigurd, his foster-son, rode down to
Viken towards spring, and there got a ship; but when Erling heard
it he went eastwards against them, and they met at Konungahella.
Markus fled with his followers to the island Hising; and there
the country people of Hising came down in swarms, and placed
themselves in Markus's and Sigurd's array. Erling and his men
rowed to the shore; but Markus's men shot at them. Then Erling
said to his people, "Let us take their ships, but not go up to
fight with a land force. The Hisingers are a bad set to quarrel
with, -- hard, and without understanding. They will keep this
troop but a little while among them, for Hising is but a small
spot." This was done: they took the ships, and brought them over
to Konungahella. Markus and his men went up to the forest
district, from which they intended to make assaults, and they had
spies out on both sides. Erling had many men-at-arms with him,
whom he brought from other districts, and they made attacks on
each other in turn.

16. BEGINNING OF ARCHBISHOP EYSTEIN.

Eystein, a son of Erlend Himaide, was selected to be archbishop,
after Archbishop Jon's death; and he was consecrated the same
year King Inge was killed. Now when Archbishop Eystein came to
his see, he made himself beloved by all the country, as an
excellent active man of high birth. The Throndhjem people, in
particular, received him with pleasure; for most of the great
people in the Throndhjem district were connected with the
archbishop by relationship or other connection, and all were his
friends. The archbishop brought forward a request to the bondes
in a speech, in which he set forth the great want of money for
the see, and also how much greater improvement of the revenues
would be necessary to maintain it suitably, as it was now of much
more importance than formerly when the bishop's see was first
established. He requested of the bondes that they should give
him, for determining law-suits, an ore of silver value, instead
of what they had before paid, which was an ore of judgment money,
of that kind which was paid to the king in judging cases; and the
difference between the two kinds of ore was, that the ore he
desired was a half greater than the other. By help of the
archbishop's relations and friends, and his own activity, this
was carried; and it was fixed by law in all the Throndhjem
district, and in all the districts belonging to his
archbishopric.

17. OF MARKUS AND KING SIGURD.

When Sigurd and Markus lost their ships in the Gaut river, and
saw they could get no hold on Erling, they went to the Uplands,
and proceeded by land north to Throndhjem. Sigurd was received
there joyfully, and chosen king at an Eyra-thing; and many
gallant men, with their sons, attached themselves to his party.
They fitted out ships, rigged them for a voyage, and proceeded
when summer came southwards to More, and took up all the royal
revenues wheresoever they came. At this time the following
lendermen were appointed in Bergen for the defence of the
country: -- Nikolas Sigurdson, Nokve Palson, and several military
leaders; as Thorolf Dryl, Thorbjorn Gjaldkere, and many others.
As Markus and Sigurd sailed south, they heard that Erling's men
were numerous in Bergen; and therefore they sailed outside the
coast-rocks, and southwards past Bergen. It was generally
remarked, that Markus's men always got a fair wind, wherever they
wished to sail to.

18. MARKUS AND KING SIGURD KILLED.

As soon as Erling Skakke heard that Sigurd and Markus had sailed
southwards, he hastened to Viken, and drew together an armed
force; and he soon had a great many men, and many stout ships.
But when he came farther in Viken, he met with a strong contrary
wind, which kept him there in port the whole summer. Now when
Sigurd and Markus came east to Lister, they heard that Erling had
a great force in Viken; so they turned to the north again. But
when they reached Hordaland, with the intention of sailing to
Bergen, and came opposite the town, Nikolas and his men rowed out
against them, with more men and larger ships than they had.
Sigurd and Markus saw no other way of escaping but to row away
southwards. Some of them went out to sea, others got south to
the sound, and some got into the Fjords. Markus, and some people
with him, sprang upon an isle called Skarpa. Nikolas and his men
took their ships, gave Jon Halkelson and a few others quarter,
but killed the most of them they could get hold of. Some days
after Eindride Heidafylja found Sigurd and Markus, and they were
brought to Bergen. Sigurd was beheaded outside of Grafdal, and
Markus and another man were hanged at Hvarfsnes. This took place
on Michaelmas day (September 29, 1163), and the band which had
followed them was dispersed.

19. ERLING AND THE PEOPLE OF HISING ISLE.

Frirek Keina and Bjarne the Bad, Onund Simonson and Ornolf Skorpa
had rowed out to sea with some ships, and sailed outside along
the land to the east. Wheresoever they came to the land they
plundered, and killed Erling's friends. Now when Erling heard
that Sigurd and Markus were killed, he gave leave to the
lendermen and people of the levy to return home; but he himself,
with his men, set his course eastward across the Folden fjord,
for he heard of Markus's men there. Erling sailed to
Konungahella, where he remained the autumn; and in the first week
of winter Erling went out to the island Hising with his men, and
called the bondes to a Thing. When the Hising people came to the
Thing, Erling laid his law-suit against them for having joined
the bands of Sigurd and Markus, and having raised men against
him. Assur was the name of one of the greatest of the bondes on
the island, and he answered Erling on account of the others. The
Thing was long assembled; but at the close the bondes gave the
case into Erling's own power, and he appointed a meeting in the
town within one week, and named fifteen bondes who should appear
there. When they came, he condemned them to pay a penalty of 300
head of cattle; and the bondes returned home ill pleased at this
sentence. Soon after the Gaut river was frozen, and Erling's
ships were fast in the ice; and the bondes kept back the mulct,
and lay assembled for some time. Erling made a Yule feast in the
town; but the Hising people had joint-feasts with each other, and
kept under arms during Yule. The night after the fifth day of
Yule Erling went up to Hising, surrounded Assur's house, and
burnt him in it. He killed one hundred men in all, burnt three
houses, and then returned to Konungahella. The bondes came then,
according to agreement, to pay the mulct.

20. DEATH OF FRIREK KEINA AND BJARNE.

Erling Skakke made ready to sail in spring as soon as he could
get his ships afloat for ice, and sailed from Konungahella; for
he heard that those who had formerly been Markus's friends were
marauding in the north of Viken. Erling sent out spies to learn
their doings, searched for them, and found them lying in a
harbour. Onund Simonson and Ornolf Skorpa escaped, but Frirek
Keina and Bjarne the Bad were taken, and many of their followers
were killed. Erling had Frirek bound to an anchor and thrown
overboard; and for that deed Erling was much detested in the
Throndhjem country, for the most powerful men there were
relatives of Frirek. Erling ordered Bjarne the Bad to be hanged;
and he uttered, according to his custom, many dreadful
imprecations during his execution. Thorbjorn Skakkaskald tells
of this business: --