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！
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：
〃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 numero