heimskringla-第147章
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at King Hakon would soon get tidings of him； if ships were sailing between the towns。 Besides； he gave out that it was better for Bergen to get the goods； even if the owners were obliged to sell them cheaper than they wished than that they should fall into the hands of enemies and thereby strengthen them。 And now a great many vessels were assembled at Bergen； for many arrived every day； and none were allowed to go away。 Then Erling let some of the lightest of his vessels be laid ashore； and spread the report that he would wait for 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 t
