Heimskringla

S >> Snorri Sturlson >> Heimskringla

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67

"East of the Fjord beyond the land,
Unnoticed by the pirate band,
Erling stole on them ere they knew,
And seized and killed all Keina's crew.
Keina, fast to an anchor bound,
Was thrown into the deep-blue Sound;
And Bjarne swung high on gallows-tree,
A sight all good men loved to see."

Onund and Ornolf, with the band that had escaped, fled to
Denmark; but were sometimes in Gautland, or in Viken.

21. CONFERENCE BETWEEN ERLING AND EYSTEIN.

Erling Skakke sailed after this to Tunsberg, and remained there
very long in spring (A.D. 1164); but when summer came he
proceeded north to Bergen, where at that time a great many people
were assembled. There was the legate from Rome, Stephanus; the
Archbishop Eystein, and other bishops of the country. There was
also Bishop Brand, who was consecrated bishop of Iceland, and Jon
Loptson, a daughter's son of King Magnus Barefoot; and on this
occasion King Magnus and Jon's other relations acknowledged the
relationship with him.

Archbishop Eystein and Erling Skakke often conversed together in
private; and, among other things, Erling asked one day, "Is it
true, sir, what people tell me, that you have raised the value of
the ore upon the people north in Throndhjem, in the law cases in
which money-fees are paid you ?"

"It is so," said the archbishop, "that the bondes have allowed me
an advance on the ore of law casualties; but they did it
willingly, and without any kind of compulsion, and have thereby
added to their honour for God and the income of the bishopric."

Erling replies, "Is this according to the law of the holy Olaf?
or have you gone to work more arbitrarily in this than is written
down in the lawbook?"

The archbishop replies, "King Olaf the Holy fixed the laws, to
which he received the consent and affirmative of the people; but
it will not be found in his laws that it is forbidden to increase
God's right."

Erling: "If you augment your right, you must assist us to augment
as much the king's right."

The archbishop: "Thou hast already augmented enough thy son's
power and dominion; and if I have exceeded the law in taking an
increase of the ore from the Throndhjem people, it is, I think, a
much greater breach of the law that one is king over the country
who is not a king's son, and which has neither any support in the
law, nor in any precedent here in the country."

Erling: "When Magnus was chosen king, it was done with your
knowledge and consent, and also of all the other bishops here in
the country."

Archbishop: "You promised then, Erling, that provided we gave our
consent to electing Magnus king, you would, on all occasions, and
with all your power, strengthen God's rights."

Erling: "I may well admit that I have promised to preserve and
strengthen God's commands and the laws of the land with all my
power, and with the king's strength; and now I consider it to be
much more advisable, instead of accusing each other of a breach
of our promises, to hold firmly by the agreement entered into
between us. Do you strengthen Magnus in his dominion, according
to what you have promised; and I will, on my part, strengthen
your power in all that can be of advantage or honour."

The conversation now took a more friendly turn; and Erling said,
"Although Magnus was not chosen king according to what has been
the old custom of this country, yet can you with your power give
him consecration as king, as God's law prescribes, by anointing
the king to sovereignty; and although I be neither a king, nor of
kingly race, yet most of the kings, within my recollection, have
not known the laws or the constitution of the country so well as
I do. Besides, the mother of King Magnus is the daughter of a
king and queen born in lawful wedlock, and Magnus is son of a
queen and a lawfully married wife. Now if you will give him
royal consecration, no man can take royalty from him. William
Bastard was not a king's son; but he was consecrated and crowned
king of England, and the royalty in England has ever since
remained with his race, and all have been crowned. Svein Ulfson
was not a king's son in Denmark, and still he was a crowned king,
and his sons likewise, and all his descendants have been crowned
kings. Now we have here in Norway an archiepiscopal seat, to the
glory and honour of the country; let us also have a crowned king,
as well as the Danes and Englishmen."

Erling and the archbishop afterwards talked often of this matter,
and they were quite agreed. Then the archbishop brought the
business before the legate, and got him easily persuaded to give
his consent. Thereafter the archbishop called together the
bishops, and other learned men, and explained the subject to
them. They all replied in the same terms, that they would follow
the counsels of the archbishop, and all were eager to promote the
consecration as soon as the archbishop pleased.

22. KING MAGNUS'S CONSECRATION.

Erling Skakke then had a great feast prepared in the king's
house. The large hall was covered with costly cloth and
tapestry, and adorned with great expense. The court-men and all
the attendants were there entertained, and there were numerous
guests, and many chiefs. Then King Magnus received the royal
consecration from the Archbishop Eystein; and at the consecration
there were five other bishops and the legate, besides a number of
other clergy. Erling Skakke, and with him twelve other
lendermen, administered to the king the oath of the law; and the
day of the consecration the king and Erling had the legate, the
archbishop, and all the other bishops as guests; and the feast
was exceedingly magnificent, and the father and son distributed
many great presents. King Magnus was then eight years of age,
and had been king for three years.

23. KING VALDEMAR'S EMBASSY.

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.

24. ERLING AND THE PEOPLE OF VIKEN.

Erling Skakke proceeded in autumn to Viken, and stayed in
Tunsberg, from whence he sent people to Sarpsborg to summon a
Thing (1) of four districts; and then Erling went there with his
people.

When the Thing was seated Erling made a speech in which he
explained the resolutions which had been settled upon between him
and the Danish king, the first time he collected troops against
his enemies. "I will," said Erling, "keep faithfully the
agreement which we then entered into with the king, if it be your
will and consent, bondes, rather to serve the Danish king than
the king who is now consecrated and crowned king of this
country."

The bondes replied thus to Erling's speech: "Never will we become
the Danish king's men, as long as one of us Viken men is in
life." And the whole assembly, with shouts and cries, called on
Erling to keep the oath he had taken to defend his son's
dominions, "should we even all follow thee to battle." And so
the Thing was dissolved.

The ambassadors of the Danish king then returned home, and told
the issue of their errand. The Danes abused Erling, and all
Northmen, and declared that evil only proceeded from them; and
the report was spread, that in Spring the Danish king would send
out an army and lay waste Norway. Erling returned in autumn
north to Bergen, stayed there all winter, and gave their pay to
his people.

ENDNOTES:
(1) This reference to a Thing of the people in the affairs of
the country is a striking example of the right of the Things
being recognised, in theory at least, as fully as the right
of our parliaments in later times. -- L.

25. LETTERS OF THE THRONDHJEM PEOPLE.

The same winter (A.D. 1165) some Danish people came by land
through the Uplands, saying they were to go, as was then the
general practice, to the holy King Olaf's festival. But when
they came to the Throndhjem country, they went to many men of
influence, and told their business; which was, that the Danish
king had sent them to desire their friendship, and consent, if he
came to the country, promising them both power and money. With
this verbal message came also the Danish king's letter and seal,
and a message to the Throndhjem people that they should send back
their letters and seals to him. They did so, and the most of
them received well the Danish king's message; whereupon the
messengers returned back towards Lent. Erling was in Bergen; and
towards spring Erling's friends told him the loose reports they
had heard by some merchant vessels that had arrived from
Throndhjem, that the Throndhjem people were in hostility openly
against him; and had declared that if Erling came to Throndhjem,
he should never pass Agdanes in life. Erling said this was mere
folly and idle talk. Erling now made it known that he would go
to Unarheim to the Gangdag-thing; and ordered a cutter of twenty
rowing benches to be fitted out, a boat of fifteen benches, and a
provision-ship. When the vessels were ready, there came a strong
southerly gale. On the Thursday of the Ascension week, Erling
called his people by sound of trumpet to their departure; but the
men were loath to leave the town, and were ill inclined to row
against the wind. Erling brought his vessels to Biskupshafn.
"Well," said Erling, "since ye are so unwilling to row against
the wind, raise the mast, hoist the sails, and let the ship go
north." They did so, and sailed northwards both day and night.
On Wednesday, in the evening, they sailed in past Agdanes, where
they found a fleet assembled of many merchant vessels, rowing
craft, and boats, all going towards the town to the celebration
of the festival, -- some before them, some behind them -- so that
the townspeople paid no attention to the long-ships coming.

26. ERLING AND THE PEOPLE OF THRONDHJEM.

Erling came to the town just as vespers was being sung in Christ
church. He and his men ran into the town, to where it was told
them that the lenderman, Alf Rode, a son of Ottar Birting, was
still sitting at table, and drinking with his men. Erling fell
upon them; and Alf was killed, with almost all his men. Few
other men were killed; for they had almost all gone to church, as
this was the night before Christ's Ascension-day. In the morning
early, Erling called all the people by sound of trumpet to a
Thing out upon Evrar. At the Thing Erling laid a charge against
the Throndhjem people, accusing them of intending to betray the
country, and take it from the king; and named Bard Standale, Pal
Andreason, and Razabard, who then presided over the town's
affairs, and many others. They, in their defence, denied the
accusation; but Erling's writer stood up, produced many letters
with seals, and asked if they acknowledged their seals which they
had sent to the Danish king; and thereupon the letters were read.
There was also a Danish man with Erling who had gone with the
letters in winter, and whom Erling for that purpose had taken
into his service. He told to these men the very words which each
of them had used. "And you, Razabard, spoke, striking your
breast; and the very words you used were, `Out of this breast are
all these counsels produced.'" Bard replied, "I was wrong in the
head, sirs, when I spoke so." There was now nothing to be done
but to submit the case entirely to the sentence Erling might give
upon it. He took great sums of money from many as fines, and
condemned all those who had been killed as lawless, and their
deeds as lawless; making their deaths thereby not subject to
mulct. Then Erling returned south to Bergen.

27. KING VALDEMAR'S EXPEDITION TO NORWAY.

The Danish king Valdemar assembled in spring (A.D. 1165) a great
army, and proceeded with it north to Viken. As soon as he
reached the dominions of the king of Norway, the bondes assembled
in a great multitude. The king advanced peacefully; but when
they came to the mainland, the people shot at them even when
there were only two or three together, from which the ill-will of
the country people towards them was evident. When they came to
Tunsberg, King Valdemar summoned a Hauga-thing; but nobody
attended it from the country parts. Then Valdemar spoke thus to
his troops: "It is evident that all the country-people are
against us; and now we have two things to choose: the one to go
through the country, sword in hand, sparing neither man nor
beast; the other is to go back without effecting our object. And
it is more my inclination to go with the army to the East against
the heathens, of whom we have enough before us in the East
country, than to kill Christian people here, although they have
well deserved it." All the others had a greater desire for a
foray; but the king ruled, and they all returned back to Denmark
without effecting their purpose. They pillaged, however, all
around in the distant islands, or where the king was not in the
neighbourhood. They then returned south to Denmark without doing
anything.

28. ERLING'S EXPEDITION TO JUTLAND.

As soon as Erling heard that a Danish force had come to Viken, he
ordered a levy through all the land, both of men and ships, so
that there was a great assemblage of men in arms; and with this
force he proceeded eastward along the coast. But when he came to
Lidandisnes, he heard that the Danish army had returned south to
Denmark, after plundering all around them in Viken. Then Erling
gave all the people of the levy permission to return home; but he
himself and some lendermen, with many vessels, sailed to Jutland
after the Danes. When they came to a place called Dyrsa, the
Danes who had returned from the expedition lay there with many
ships. Erling gave them battle, and there was a fight, in which
the Danes soon fled with the loss of many people; and Erling and
his men plundered the ships and the town, and made a great booty,
with which they returned to Norway. Thereafter, for a time,
there was hostility between Norway and Denmark.

29. ERLING'S EXPEDITION TO DENMARK.

The princess Krisfin went south in autumn (A.D. 1165) to Denmark,
to visit her relation King Valdemar, who was her cousin. The
king received her kindly, and gave her fiefs in his kingdom, so
that she could support her household well. She often conversed
with the king, who was remarkably kind towards her. In the
spring following (A.D. 1166) Kristin sent to Erling, and begged
him to pay a visit to the Danish king, and enter into a peace
with him. In summer Erling was in Viken, where he fitted out a
long-ship, manned it with his finest lads, and sailed (a single
ship) over to Jutland. When he heard that the Danish king
Valdemar was in Randaros, Erling sailed thither, and came to the
town just as the king sat at the dinner-table, and most of the
people were taking their meal. When his people had made
themselves ready according to Erling's orders, set up the
ship-tents, and made fast the ship, Erling landed with twelve
men, all in armour, with hats over their helmets, and swords
under their cloaks. They went to the king's lodging, where the
doors stood open, and the dishes were being carried in. Erling
and his people went in immediately, and drew up in front of the
high-seat. Erling said, "Peace and safe conduct we desire, king,
both here and to return home."

The king looked at him, and said, "Art thou here, Erling?"

He replies, "Here is Erling; and tell us, at once, if we shall
have peace and safe conduct."

There were eighty of the king's men in the room, but all unarmed.
The king replies, "Peace ye shall have, Erling, according to thy
desire; for I will not use force or villainy against a man who
comes to visit me."

Erling then kissed the king's hand, went out, and down to his
ship. Erling stayed at Randaros some time with the king, and
they talked about terms of peace between them and between the
countries. They agreed that Erling should remain as hostage with
the Danish king; and that Asbjorn Snara, Bishop Absalon's
brother, should go to Norway as hostage on the other part.

30. KING VALDEMAR AND ERLING.

In a conference which King Valdemar and Erling once had together.
Erling said, "Sire, it appears to me likely that it might lead to
a peace between the countries if you got that part of Norway
which was promised you in our agreement; but if it should be so,
what chief would you place over it? Would he be a Dane?"

"No," replied the king; "no Danish chief would go to Norway,
where he would have to manage an obstinate hard people, when he
has it so easy here with me."

Erling: "It was on that very consideration that I came here; for
I would not on any account in the world deprive myself of the
advantage of your friendship. In days of old other men, Hakon
Ivarson and Fin Arnason, came also from Norway to Denmark, and
your predecessor, King Svein, made them both earls. Now I am not
a man of less power in Norway than they were then, and my
influence is not less than theirs; and the king gave them the
province of Halland to rule over, which he himself had and owned
before. Now it appears to me, sire, that you, if I become your
man and vassal, can allow me to hold of you the fief which my son
Magnus will not deny me, by which I will be bound in duty, and
ready, to undertake all the service belonging to that title."

Erling spoke such things, and much more in the same strain, until
it came at last to this, that Erling became Valdemar's man and
vassal; and the king led Erling to the earl's seat one day, and
gave him the title of earl, and Viken as a fief under his rule.
Earl Erling went thereafter to Norway, and was earl afterwards as
long as he lived; and also the peace with the Danish king was
afterwards always preserved. Earl Erling had four sons by his
concubines. The one was called Hreidar, the next Ogmund; and
these by two different mothers: the third was called Fin; the
fourth Sigurd: these were younger, and their mother was Asa the
Fair. The princess Kristin and Earl Erling had a daughter called
Ragnhild, who was married to Jon Thorbergson of Randaberg.
Kristin went away from the country with a man called Grim Rusle;
and they went to Constantinople, where they were for a time, and
had some children.

31. BEGINNING OF OLAF.

Olaf, a son of Gudbrand Skafhaug, and Maria, a daughter of King
Eystein Magnuson, were brought up in the house of Sigurd Agnhot
in the Uplands. While Earl Erling was in Denmark (A.D. 1166),
Olaf and his foster-father gathered a troop together, and many
Upland people joined them; and Olaf was chosen king by them.
They went with their bands through the Uplands, and sometimes
down to Viken, and sometimes east to the forest settlements; but
never came on board of ships. Now when, Earl Erling got news of
this troop, he hastened to Viken with his forces; and was there
in summer in his ships, and in Oslo in autumn (A.D. 1167) and
kept Yule there. He had spies up the country after this troop,
and went himself, along with Orm, the King-brother, up the
country to follow them. Now when they came to a lake called....
.... (1) they took all the vessels that were upon the lake.

ENDNOTES:
(1) The name of the lake not given.

32. OF ERLING.

The priest who performed divine service at a place called
Rydiokul, close by the lake, invited the earl to a feast at
Candlemas. The earl promised to come; and thinking it would be
good to hear mass there, he rowed with his attendants over the
lake the night before Candlemas day. But the priest had another
plan on hand. He sent men to bring Olaf news of Earl Erling's
arrival. The priest gave Erling strong drink in the evening, and
let him have an excessive quantity of it. When the earl wished
to lie down and sleep, the beds were made ready in the drinking-
room; but when they had slept a short time the earl awoke, and
asked if it was not the hour for matins. The priest replied,
that only a small part of the night was gone, and told him to
sleep in peace. The earl replied, "I dream of many things
to-night, and I sleep ill." He slumbered again, but awoke soon,
and told the priest to get up and sing mass. The priest told the
earl to sleep, and said it was but midnight. Then the earl again
lay down, slept a little while, and, springing out of bed,
ordered his men to put on their clothes. They did so; took their
weapons, went to the church, and laid their arms outside while
the priest was singing matins.

33. BATTLE AT RYDIOKUL.

As Olaf got the message in the evening, they travelled in the
night six miles, which people considered an extraordinarily long
march. They arrived at Rydiokul while the priest was still
singing mass, and it was pitch-dark. Olaf and his men went into
the room, raised a war-shout, and killed some of the earl's men
who had not gone to the early mass. Now when Erling and his men
heard the war-shout, they ran to their weapons, and hastened down
to their ships. Olaf and his men met them at a fence, at which
there was a sharp conflict. Erling and his men retreated along
the fence, which protected them. Erling had far fewer men, and
many of them had fallen, and still more were wounded. What
helped Earl Erling and his men the most was, that Olaf's men
could not distinguish them, it was so dark; and the earl's men
were always drawing down to their ships. Are Thorgeirson, father
of Bishop Gudmund fell there, and many other of Erling's court-
men. Erling himself was wounded in the left side; but some say
he did it himself in drawing his sword. Orm the King-brother was
also severely wounded; and with great difficulty they escaped to
their ships, and instantly pushed off from land. It was
generally considered as a most unlucky meeting for Olaf's people,
as Earl Erling was in a manner sold into their hands, if they had
proceeded with common prudence. He was afterwards called Olaf
the Unlucky; but others called his people Hat-lads. They went
with their bands through the Uplands as before. Erling again
went down to Viken to his ships, and remained there all summer.
Olaf was in the Uplands, and sometimes east in the forest
districts, where he and his troop remained all the next winter
(A.D. 1168).

34. BATTLE AT STANGAR.

The following spring the Hat-lads went down to Viken, and raised
the king's taxes all around, and remained there long in summer.
When Earl Erling heard this, he hastened with his troops to meet
them in Viken, and fell in with them east of the Fjord, at a
place called Stangar; where they had a great battle, in which
Erling was victorious. Sigurd Agnhot, and many others of Olaf's
men, fell there; but Olaf escaped by flight, went south to
Denmark, and was all winter (A.D. 1169) in Alaborg in Jutland.
The following spring Olaf fell into an illness which ended in
death, and he was buried in the Maria church; and the Danes call
him a saint.

35. HARALD'S DEATH.

King Magnus had a lenderman called Nikolas Kufung, who was a son
of Pal Skaptason. He took Harald prisoner, who called himself a
son of King Sigurd Haraldson and the princess Kristin, and a
brother of King Magnus by the mother's side. Nikolas brought
Harald to Bergen, and delivered him into Earl Erling's hands. It
was Erling's custom when his enemies came before him, that he
either said nothing to them, or very little, and that in all
gentleness, when he had determined to put them to death; or rose
with furious words against them, when he intended to spare their
lives. Erling spoke but little to Harald, and many, therefore,
suspected his intentions; and some begged King Magnus to put in a
good word for Harald with the earl; and the king did so. The
earl replies, "Thy friends advise thee badly. Thou wouldst
govern this kingdom but a short time in peace and safety, if thou
wert to follow the counsels of the heart only." Earl Erling
ordered Harald to be taken to Nordnes, where he was beheaded.

36. EYSTEIN EYSTEINSON AND THE BIRKEBEINS.

There was a man called Eystein, who gave himself out for a son of
King Eystein Haraldson. He was at this time young, and not full
grown. It is told of him that he one summer appeared in
Svithjod, and went to Earl Birger Brosa, who was then married to
Brigida, Eystein's aunt, a daughter of King Harald Gille.
Eystein explained his business to him, and asked their
assistance. Both Earl Birger and his wife listened to him in a
friendly way, and promised him their confidence, and he stayed
with them a while. Earl Birger gave him some assistance of men,
and a good sum for travelling expenses; and both promised him
their friendship on his taking leave. Thereafter Eystein
proceeded north into Norway (A.D. 1174), and when he came down to
Viken people flocked to him in crowds; and Eystein was there
proclaimed king, and he remained in Viken in winter. As they
were very poor in money, they robbed all around, wherefore the
lendermen and bondes raised men against them; and being thus
overpowered by numbers, they fled away to the forests and
deserted hill grounds, where they lived for a long time. Their
clothes being worn out, they wound the bark of the birch-tree
about their legs, and thus were called by the bondes Birkebeins.
They often rushed down upon the settled districts, pushed on here
or there, and made an assault where they did not find many people
to oppose them. They had several battles with the bondes with
various success; and the Birkebeins held three battles in regular
array, and gained the victory in them all. At Krokaskog they had
nearly made an unlucky expedition, for a great number of bondes
and men-at-arms were assembled there against them; but the
Birkebeins felled brushwood across the roads, and retired into
the forest. They were two years (A.D. 1175-1176) in Viken before
they showed themselves in the northern parts of the country.