King Sverri sails to the Vik, and after a skirmish with King Magnus, Hastens back to Bergen, followed by King Magnus.

51. Shortly after Easter week King Sverri sailed coastwise east from Bergen, and all the people submitted to him wherever he went. Then he sailed east to Vik, and collected tribute and fines in every place, and whatever he demanded from the yeomen. He was informed that King Magnus and his force were in Denmark. King Sverri now advanced far east into the Vik and lay in Salteyiar-sound, in the Spior. One day when the king went on the island to his watchmen on a certain rock, they saw a fleet of many ships sailing towards them from the east. “Those must be warships,” said the King, and bade the trumpets call his whole force to land for a conference. And the King addressed his men and thus spoke: “King Magnus comes against us with his host. It appears to me as if we Birkibeins will again have to contend against overwhelming numbers. And though I have a force so large and sure in fight, yet we need to take counsel of the wise men among you, such as Havard Earls-son, Ulf of Laufness, Ulf Fly, and others of our company, whether we shall join battle with King Magnus or sail away north. There we shall have friends in the land, and here we have none. With God's will we will take good counsel, and take it quickly.” Then answered Havard Earls-son: “Quickly will I declare my wish. Let us go on board our ships, pull down the awnings, and row out of this winding creek; set up the masts, and sail away north. Don't let us fight here with King Magnus and his overwhelming force, if we lose our ships, we shall find the people of this land more evil-minded towards us than the worst of heathens; there is no hope of life for any one of us who comes into the power of Heklungs or Vikmen.” There was much applause at this speech, and they all liked the advice well. So they rowed out of the harbour. And when the BIrkibeins had hoisted sail, King Magnus's ships came upon them quickly form the south, out of the sound. The Heklungs' cutters first came within range, but their crews did not venture to attach them to the large ships of the Birkibeins. The Birkibeins fastened their cutters to their large ships, and the crews went on board the large ships, because it seemed likely that they would have to fight. Eyiolf Aflason steered a cutter called Refan, and he went on board Ulf Fly's ship to which he bound his cutter. On Ulf's ship was a son of Nikolas Kufung, Pal Flida, who was quite a child. The Birkibeins had taken him a little while before, and also his foster father. This man ran to the boy, seized him in his arms, and leapt with him to the cutter, Instantly he cut the cable between the ships, and the stream carried away the cutter, which was taken by King Magnus's men. Thus Nikolas Kufung recovered his son. Men were wounded on both sides by missles, and a few were slain/ The two fleets were rowed under sail, and King Magnus's large ships never came within range, but there was no lack of inciting shouts, and blowing of trumpets. King Sverri was on a cutter, and rowed alongside his ships, giving orders to his men; he bade them be quick and trip the sails, and turn the ships into a narrow sound between the islands. This they did. King Magnus's men kept the road along the middle of the sound, and did not observe that the Birkibeins had left it and turned between the islands, until their large ships had passed over it in full sail. King Magnus had a large ship called Skeggi, with twenty-six cabins for rowers; its crew were slow in taking down the sail, and slower still in rowing back against wind and stream. Others of his ships now rowed up, and [the chiefs] consulted together, and decided to go their own road. But King Magnus's cutters and other ships that turned after the Birkibeins two were captured. One was a smack, steered by a man named Andres; the other a cutter; and the Birkibeins slew every man on board the two. King Sverri sailed north over the Fold as rapidly as he could, keeping to the open sea, and arrived at Bergen the week before Whitsuntide. Here he remained for a while. King Magnus, also with great haste, sailed from the east over the Vik, and all were glad to see him. He arrived at Tunsberg, where he remained a short time; then he turned his course northwards, having with him an innumerable host. Night and day he sailed after King Sverri, and only took shelter in harbour when the winds were contrary.

King Sverri's speech to his men before the battle of Nordness.

52. Sunday after Whitunstide, King Sverri was in Bergen with his force, and his ships all lay ready in front of the quays with their war-bulwarks in position. The greater part of his men were sleeping on board; the rest were in the town. King Sverri rose just before sunrise, and walked up the Bakka to Olafskirk, and afterwards to his watchmen. Then off Nordness they saw a cutter rowing to the bay form the south; its crew steered it to the Holm, and hastened at once on shore. The King saw that they were his scouts, and moved down to meet them; and as soon as they greeted the King, the men told him their news, saying that they had seen King Magnus's shops, more than thirty of them, and they were now sailing form the south over the Hard-Sea. 'Rather too near us,” answered the King; and he called to his trumpeter and bade him blow hard. He went at once on board his own ship, ordered the awnings to be taken down, and the vessel to be rowed out towards the mouth of the bay. His men all did the like, and the ships were laid together in the bay. The King then addressed his force, and thus spoke:-

“King Magnus will soon be here with his host to met us, and he has with him, as you will have learnt, more than thirty ships; we have not more than sixteen/Now you will not think our prospect bright if we join battle with so great a host; but if we don't fight we shall have to flee to the north of the land. I wish now to take counsel with you, whether you would rather with such strength as we have, or flee away. The worst time, methinks, our force has experienced, was the time between our flight from the Hattarhamar and the victory we won at Hirtubru. We have just fled before King Magnus, east in the Vik, and I imagine that if we again avoid an encounter with him, there will be little dread of us left.” Sever then made answer, and said they would prefer to flee away, but begged the King, however, to decide; and then a great murmur arose among the troops that the odds were too great to contend against. Then King Sverri spoke in a loud voice: “With God's will, and that of King Olaf the Saint, make ready straightway, for I will fight King Magnus, and no longer be driven by him from place to place through the land. And although there is great difference in numbers between the forces, yet, for all that, we have large ships, and so well equipped are they in men and weapons that the Heklings, before we separate, shall have cause to remember how the Birkibeins can wield their swords. Let them have the same experience as before, and again betake them to their heels; they are always keen at the beginning, but fall short in all their efforts, while you are the surer and bolder as your peril is greater and more lasting. I may tell you this, too, that every second man in their host will surely shake with fear directly they see you turn to meet them, and will desire to run away rather than come within reach of your weapons. I am persuaded that we shall win a victory over them, and you have seldom found my predications falsified. Now as heretofore, our strength lies entirely in God and His Saints, and not in our numbers. And I make now my request to God, to King Olaf the Saint and to Saint Sunnifa, and I pray that this encounter between us, King Magnus and myself, may end according as our claims are known by God to be sound.” Loud applause followed the King's speech. “Well spoken! best of kings,” his men cried out; “never has your word proved false when you promised us victory! May the man be called dastard who will not rather fight and fall, sword in hand, than flee in cowardice and fear.” Then the King said, “May God give you thanks for this answer, as I do. Be undaunted now in the presence our foes; row forth to meet them, and the braver a man is, the more forward let him drive his ship. I will not have the ships fastened together.” After this they rowed out of the harbour, off Nordness, where they remained for a short time.

King Magnus's ships sailed off Havarfsness form the south, and were soon borne in towards the harbour his men then took in sails. And King Magnus gave the signal to lay the ships together, and confer with him. He then addressed his troops, and thus spoke:-

King Magnus's speech to his men before the battle of Nordness.

53. “We can now see the ships of the Birkibeins, and the good time has arrived when we shall be able to fight with them, though they have long evaded us. What shall I say to rouse men to the attack- the men, should there be any among us, who will neither remember now the loss of their kinsmen slain by the Birkibeins nor the insults we have borne from them. There seems a fair prospect now that they will suffer the same harm from us that aforetime suffered from them. And yet an encounter with them is no honour. We bring to the fight men of high position and brave gentlemen; they have only thieves and highwaymen and robbers, the kin of thralls and beggars, whom may God confound. Our honourable kinsmen would not be any the more avenged should we slay every Birkibein, but we should free ourselves from reproach by doing it. Let none of my men presume to give quarter to one of them. Our force is abundantly large and fine; let our first onset be such that they will not need a second. They have a small force, and God be praised that the last day of their life is come. Place our ships around the Olafssud, as close a s there is room; by the time she is cleared, the crews of the others, I trust, will have lost heart. Let out cutters and light ships surround them, so that not a vessel escape.” Then Orm Kings-brother spoke: “I would advise that we prepare for this encounter as one in which the Birkibeins will me us face to face, and offer fierce resistance, though their force is smaller than ours; and there will be abundant need for every man to do his best. This then is m y counsel-to disable first all the smallest of their ships; for, I imagine they will not row their large ships out of our reach.” Now, though this was Orm's advice, yet the plan of the King prevailed. King Magnus commanded the Kieggi, Orm Kings-brother the Gragas, Narfi of Sasteads and his kinsman Steinfinn the Hofdabuza. These three ships with seven others attacked the Olafssud. King Mangus had on board with him Asbiorn JOnsson of Thiorm, Nikolas Kufung, Pal Smattauga, Jon and Munan, sons of Gaut of Aeness, and many other noble men. His fleet consisted of thirty-two ships. After this they pulled to the attack, and the Birkibeins rowed towards them from the entrance of the bay, and the two fleets met north of Nordness.

Battle of Nordness [31^st May 1181]

54. These were the barons with king Sverri: Ulf of Laufness, Ulf Fly, Havard Earls-son, Bard Guthormsson, Ivar Silki, and Gudlaug Vali. The Olafssud, which King Sverri Commanded, contained twenty-five rowers' cabins, and was fully manned; the Gorn, Gudlaug Vali's ship, had also twenty-five; the Harknif, manned by King Sverri's Gests, had twenty-three, and was steered by Audbiorn, the Fiarkakolla, manned by the House-Carles, was steered by Asgeir Hamarskalli. The Birkibeins had many large ships.

As they rowed to the fight the oladssud held the outmost place, and on its seaward side it was attacked by nine large ships. This fight was long and stern. King Magnus's' men pressed the Olafssud hard with stones and bolts and spears; but there was no close fighting, for the prows of the ships were turned to the Olafssud. But the shower of missiles was so thick; that of three men in a half-cabin on the Oladssud but one remained standing, and in some half-cabins not one. When King Magnus's men became short of stones and missiles, and prepared to board the Olafssud, the Birkibeins grasped their weapons and incited one another to the defense. Many a man struck to the ground by stones and missiles now rose to his feet, every one prepared to do the best he could and they made a stern fight. King Sverri sprang on the high deck and strongly encouraged his men. He was clothed in a white cowl richly embroidered underneath, and carried a red shield. As he turned to look at the larboard side of the Olafssud, where lay the ship of his marshal Gudlaug, he saw that it reached no farther alongside than the aft pump-room; and he called out to Gudlaug, “May the man never prosper who pushes a twenty-five cabined vessel so little forward.” Gudlaug answered that he could not mend matters. The King then took a palstave and thrust it against the bow of Gudlaug's ship, and bade his own men push the ship forward. This was done until it reached the fore pump-room; and soon there was not a man on Gudlaug's ship in front of the mast that was not wounded, so long, fierce, and bloody was the fight. Audbiorn, the captain of the Gests, drove his ship alongside that of King Magnus's Gests. The daring shown in the encounter has a place among deeds of renown, for no man could tell which ship would prove the better.

Battles of Nordness. Exploit of Hallvard Gœla.

55. Hallvard Gœla was the name of a Vik-man who was a bowman of the best. Once he shot an arrow to King Magnus's ship, and it flew over it; then a second, that struck the ships side low down; and a third, that passed under the keel. And one said, “You shot straighter last summer when prizes were offered, and silvered money for the best shot; you showed your skill then, and won the silver; yet there is more need now of a good shot for there is the King's life to defend.” And Hallvard replied “Do you think I have not shot straight?” “There is no man on our ship,” answered the man, “who can shoot farther from the mark.” Hallvard then took up a dozen arrows, and every one he shot struck a man on board King Magnus's ship, until the arrows were all used. When the twelve were shot, he placed the bow under his foot and broke it in two. The King then said, “Why deal thus with your bow?” We have the same need of help as before.” And Hallvard answered, “My hands have done their duty in shooting, and I now defend my cabin like another man.” So he took sword and shield and went forward to the ship's side, and fought as well as the best.

Battle of Nordness. King Magnus is wounded And the Heklungs flee.

56. When the battle was yet at its height, and men were uncertain how it would turn, King Sverri went forward on the deck, laid down his weapons, and fell upon his knees; then he stretched for his hands towards heaven, and sang the sequence Alma Chorus Dei to the end, all the while being unprotected.¹⁰

After this came to pass that King Magnus moved forwards on his ship to the fore-cabin, where he fought with the utmost vehemence; and he sprang so close to the Birkibeins, that with one foot on the gunwhale, he was about to strike a man with his sword. The Birkibeins recognized him by his arms and dress, and assailed him with a storm of weapons. One man cast a sword at him, which struck his instep and passed through his foot. The King turned sharply to save himself, but his foot slipped on the planking, which was covered in blood, and he fell backwards. The Birkibeins saw it, and raised a shout of victory. Then Orm Kings-brother asked his men what the shout meant, and ond one said in a loud voice, “King Magnus is fallen there.” “The country's fate is decided, “ said ORm; “cut the ropes, and row away as hard as you can.” And so they did. Asbiorn Jonsson fled the next, and then the rest, one after another. But King Magnus sprang up quickly and shouted, bidding them “not to flee, for he had received no hurt.” But no acted as if he heard. SO they loosed the Skeggi from the Oladssud and rowed away. But the Birkibeins let their grappling-hooks fall on the Hodabuza, and cleared her from stem to stern. The last man standing on her was Steinfinn, who defended himself with the utmost bravery. The Birkibeins could not overcome him until they took a beam from the prow of the vessel and struck him with it, and he fell there with great glory. Many ships were bleared by the Birkibeins, who made great slaughter among the crews. King Magnus while host fled with him.

Escape of Orm Kings-brother.

57. Orm Kings-brother landed over in Grafdale, for his ship was large, and heavy under oars. He and all his men went up the fell, and the Birkibeins seized the ship and all that was in it. Some followed after Orm, who was infirm, and led by two of his men. And when the Birkibeins pursues him closely, Orm ungirded himself of a heavy purse, and let the silver dribble out. Foremost after him were some Gests of the Birkibiens; these picked up the silver, and were delayed for a time, so that Orm got away among the fells, and they saw him no more. King Sverri rebuked them severely for letting Orm escape while they crept about among the brushwood for a few silver pennies. The Birkibiens had no strength to pursue the fleeing host far, so wounded and wearied were they. Altogether they captured eighteen of King Magnus's ships, which they brought into the town; there was abundant spoil in them for division, for King Magnus at that time was plentifully supplied with money. King Sverri remained for a while in the town. He appointed captains to the ships taken from King Magnus, and caused watch to be kept over King Magnus's movements.

King Magnus at stafangr. His expedition to Bergen, and King Sverri's hasty flight to Nidaros. The Birkibeins' Difficulty in obtaining intelligence.

58. King Magnus sailed at once south to Stafangr, and the large force that remained after the battle came together there. It was computed that no less than three hundred of each force had fallen at Nordness. Bishop Eirik welcomed King Magnus in Stafangr, and strongly urged him to go back to Bergen; he declared that there was good ground for supposing the Birkibeins could not be well prepared for battle. The advice pleased the King, and Bishop Eirik procured him all the assistance he could, and manned a ship of war with his House-carles. He himself went with King Magnus, and the King obtained much help from the districts around. After a dew days they sailed north for Bergen, making the voyage with all possible speed. Eyiolf Aflason was on the look-out but the crew of his cutter gained no intelligence of King Magnus's fleet before it faced them in the sound where they were; and they said to one another that they had rowed into a dangerous spot. Then Eyiolf said, “We must row forward up the sound, and act as if were Heklungs; steer straight King Magnus's ship as if we had tidings to tell him.” The Heklungs saw them coming straight towards them, and took them for their own men who had tidings for the King, but when the cutter came near they found they were not their own men. The pulled down the awnings, therefore, and rowed up to attack them. But the Birkibiens plied their oars vigorously, and rowed away south, out of the sound. The Heklungs followed after them, Bishop Eirik's ship being foremost in the chase. His ship had many priest on board, and was unable to come up with the Birkibeins. And when Bishop Eirik saw that he made little progress in the pursuit, he bade his men turn the ship to land with speed, and lighten it by putting the clergy on shore. “They would then overtake the fugitives, “ he said. This was done; but meanwhile the Birkibeins pulled hard away, and the Bishop's men could not overtake them. The Birkibeins rowed into the open sea, and so back to Bergen, outside the islands. And they told King Sverri of their look-out, and of the tidings they had fully learnt. Directly it became known to the Birkibeins that king Magnus would be upon them speedily, King Sverri held a conference with his force, and took counsel with them how he should act. And now they were all even more unwilling to fight than before, and preferred to sail away north. They were not well fitted for battle, they said, many being grievously wounded, and all exhausted, for only a few days ago, they had fought against great odds. Many said, too that at Nordness they had been put to such distress they would have fled gladly, if they had been free, in the battle. So they ended the conference, quite resolved to get ready as quickly as they could and sail away to the north. The men were now distributed among the ships, so that these might be able to make the voyage in one way or another. The King set Eyiolf Aflason over the Hofdabuza, the ship that had been Narfi's; it was a large ship and nearly without rigging. It was late in the evening when Eyiolf Aflason brought his tidings to the town, and the sun had only just risen the next morning when King Sverri was on his way from the town with his whole force, but the ships were so poorly manned that men were taken by boat from ship to ship to setup the masts and hoist the sails. The same day about the hour of Nones, Eyiolf left the town and by the time his men had hoisted sail they saw King Magnus's fleet of Hvarfsness, on their way form the south. When the Heklungs saw Eyiolf's ship they felt sure that the Birkibeins were on board. Five ships sailed after him, and chased him all the way north to Furu-sound.

All the time the contest lasted between Kings Magnus and Sverri, the Birkibiens had the greatest difficulty south of Stad in gaining intelligence. Whether they me with yeomen or lands-folk, merchants or fishermen, it happened constantly that they never received information about King Magnus or his men- yea, though a single headland separated them at sea, or hill when they were on land. But if King Magnus had the more numerous force, everyone told his men where the Birkibiens were to be found, and this difference was a cause of much danger and loss of life to the Birkibeins. Friends and does alike agreed that the scouts of Birkibeins were exceedingly daring, and constantly escaped, when non one though they had a chance of life- yea, and often turned to confront the enemy when on one believed there was any prospect of their gaining victory.

Off Nordness, Sindri Sæbiarnarson fell, and Narfi Guthormsson, and many men of King Sverri's force. It is a general opinion that King Sverri and his men were never engaged in a fiercer conflict than this of Nordness, in which it was uncertain what the end would be until fate ordained victory. King Magnus's men fought in no timid way right up to the moment of flight; and at the beginning of the battle they considered they had victory in their grasp, especially as they did not believe the Birkibeins could fight well at sea; for once before, when there had been a battle with them on ships in the north, off Gualaras, the Birkibeins had fled.

King Sverri went on his way north, in great haste, and came to Throndham, and then to Nidaros, where he was well received. He caused his ships to be drawn on shore within the town, and fenced around. The wooden castle which Archbishop Eystein built outside the town, near the fields of Ila, was put in good condition, and King Sverri now caused palisades to be set up from the castle to the sea and along the shore, but the work was not all done this summer.