按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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。