King Sverri marches across country to Sogn, intending to go To Bergen.

18. King Sverri now made ready to march into Sogn, intending to proceed to Bergen. And inasmuch as Almighty God and Holy Maria have given King Sverri many a glorious victory, it is possible, if we speak only of his victories, that envious and foolish men will not believe our story, but will assert that we must be untruthful. We shall therefore check their incredulity and show the fairness of our narrative by telling both of good and evil fortune; for many a wretched road had Sverri to travel and his men to tramp, before he had avenged the many grievous sorrows which he had to requite the King and his father the Earl, and before he was able to win by the sword the inheritance of his fathers from his powerful opponents with the small force at his command. And though he always had much trouble and fatigue through his labour, yet he never was so tried by weariness and bad weather, by loss of sleep and want of food as in the journey that he now undertook.

He started on his march to Bergen, but when he reached Sogn his enemies had precede him with the news of his approach, and he was confronted with a large gathering. At the beginning of his descent from the mountains into Sogn with his troops, his road lay along a narrow path; on one side was a river so rapid as to be one constant waterfall, and not a living creature could cross it but a bird on the wing; the other side was a sheer precipice that might not be scaled in any way. So narrow was the path that it afforded passage for but one at a time. Above, on the crags in front, the yeomen sat in large numbers, having a store of logs an stones ready to cast down on the King's men as they passed under. When the King perceived them, he stratagem to meet stratagem, and thus addressed his force: “Stand under the shelter of the rock, and don't let these men have opportunity to hurt you; taunt them, nevertheless, as much as lies in your power, and I will see if I can make a stir in their troop.” Then with some of his men he found a way as he best could to the fells above, and came upon his foes quite unawares, in their rear. Straightway they took to flight, and some of them were slain. Afterwards he marched forwards with his men into the peopled district and entered Leradale. Next Morning Ozur Bilsi arrived by sea with six and twenty shops before they were aware of his coming. The Birkibeins seized their weapons and went to meet the foe; but though the ships' crew formed a numerous host, they did not venture to come on shore. There was danger ahead where they saw Birkibeins awaiting them on land quite close to the harbour and they stood aloof.

King Sverri marches from Leradale to Vors, and then turns back. The sufferings of his men.

19. The King now perceived, since intelligence of his approach had already preceded him, that he would be unable to obtain ships. He therefore proposed to march up to Vors¹, and thence down into Berge. This was journey full of danger at the beginning of winter, because large parts of the road lay over mountains where much snow was to be expected. But the resolution was made, because destiny had ordained a battle for the Birkibeins at that time. They marched up to Vors¹, where danger did not cease to await them in many forms, the chief one being a hostile gathering of all men of Vors, and many of Sogn, Hardangr, and South Hordaland, an irresistible host. All this force came upon the Birkibeins unawares on Simun's mass-day, as the King sat at meat before continuing his march. As soon as the Birkibeins became ware of their approach, they leapt up from the tables, out on their armour, and awaited the arrival of their comrades in arms, for they had not all passed the night in the same quarters. When their whole force was come together, the Birkibeins drew up in battle array, and the yeomen likewise. But though the Birkibeins were the smaller host, they were not the less eager to begin the attack, and so fierce was their first onset that the enemy's vanguard recoiled before them. The yeomen fled down a steep descent to a river, which they crossed; on the other side was a steep ascent, and as the chasm was narrow, both armies exchanged shots across it. Each host now proceeded up the river on its own side, the yeomen wishing to get ahead so as to be in the rear [when the Birkibeins turned]. The higher they marched, the broader became the chasm, which widened above into a lake; so that the farther the two hosts marched, the greater became the distance between them. Night came in and the lost sight of each other, so that nothing further might be done.

No advantage could be gained now by going on to Bergen, as the news of the King's approach would precede him all the way, and at Bergen there was a force so numerous and strong as to make the place unsafe for the Birkibeins. The King now wished to march back by the way he had come, and took with him five guides, men who had the most accurate knowledge of the ways. This was then needful, for the weather had become so stormy that the like had seldom been seen, and snow fell deep beyond experience. To tell of the march briefly, they lost more than one hundred and twenty horses with gilded saddles, and also precious chattels of different kinds, cloaks, weapons, and many other valuables. In addition to this trouble they lost knowledge of their way. They were without food, and unable even to obtain water; for eight days they tasted nothing but snow. They day before All Hallows' Mass the weather was so stormy-those who hear this story will deem it incredible-that the storm hurled one man to the ground with such violence that he was killed, his back being broken in three places. When the squalls passed over them they could only cast themselves down in the snow and hold their shields over them with all their strength. Their guides lost hope, for they knew not where they had come, and the darkness was so thick that they could not see before them. Hunger and weariness, and some case the cold, had crushed completely the whole force, and their strength was so exhausted that not a man would proceed farther. A soon as they could see just in front of them they found that they had arrived at some steep rocks. Thereupon an evil murmur ran through the King's host. Some declare that they would suffer no longer, but leap from the rocks and bring their severe torment to a speedy end. Others said, “We shall show more prowess in calling to mind the deeds of old time, and in following the courageous example of those who turned their weapons against one another, and met death at each other's hands rather than endure misery.”

King Sverri encourages his men under their sufferings.

20. The King now began to address them, and having called for a hearing, spoke thus, as God taught him:-

“I have considered your design,” he said; “it seems a hopeless one, and your purpose will not help you in the least. To leap from the cliffs and kill yourselves is the expedient of madmen who are unable to guide their own steps. And as to your wish to turn your weapons against one another, that is a custom of the heathen who know not God. We are Christians, the children of Christians, and know that whosoever inflicts death upon himself has no hope in God. The suggestion is an instigation of the Fiend, and we must not do his will. Turn we now to the mercy of God, and let this sink into our minds, that though His chastisement seems sever, He will not inflict much where little is merited. Let us repent of our sins, and recognize that we are chastised by God for our evil lives, and not from cruelty on His part. We must therefore submit ourselves to Him, in meekness and lowliness, as He himself has taught us. 'Learn of Me,' He said; 'for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.' Now everyone may see that is better to submit to God's mercy and make vows than to fall by evil deeds into the power of the Fiend. I desire your promise, therefore, the promise of you all. To join heartily with me in what I wish to take in hand. We will all with one consent appeal to God's mercy, to the blessed Maria, and to King Olaf the Saint, and make holy vows.”

At the close of the King's speech they bound themselves straightway, by joining hands and clashing weapons, to perform the solemn vow the King should make. And such was the fierce violence of the storm when the king began to utter it, that those who stood nearest hear him with difficulty; but as soon as he had given utterance to the vow, God granted them His gracious mercy so speedily that no one at the moment could say from what quarter the wind then blew; sunshine, bright weather, and a balmy air, as if the time were midsummer, broke suddenly over them. They no perceived where they had come and they had marched in a direction quite athwart their proper course; and so weary and exhausted were they that twenty of them fell down dead within a short space. But the troop took courage, and though their progress was slow and difficult, they reached some mountain sheds, where they cast themselves down and found repose. After this they sought to kindle a fire for themselves if they possibly could, for there was great need of it and midnight was at hand. So utterly worn out were the men that not one was capable of kindling the fire. And now, and in other straits, there was one place to look to, through God's mercy; life depended on their obtaining fire, and he who brought the greatest good fortune to that troop and guided all their undertakings, King Sverri himself, kindled it for them. He struck a flint and lighted a wax-candle, which he handed to his men, and with its help they made a large fire and dried themselves. There was a small house a short way off, and the King went to the yeomen who lived there and passed the night, while some of his force went to the main homestead. When the King saw that his troops were refreshed, he went himself to keep watch, taking with him, those that seemed most capable; for the approach was by a single narrow path, and if that was well guarded, all were safe. Three days the King kept watch, and then he wished to go forward to a more thickly peopled part. To pass between the two was very difficult; he must either march a long journey across the fells, or over steep rocky slopes that were very dangerous. The King's men did not wish to go across the fells, for they would have encountered the same stormy weather as in coming where they were.

King Sverri marches through Valdres into Gudbrandsdales, And suprises Thorgrim, one of King Magnus's men.

21. King Sverri next marched up into Valdres and was entertained on the royal estates. Thence he passed into Gudbrandsdales, where a month's entertainment was prepared for him and all his force at the King's estate of Steig. After this it was not possible for him to remain in quiet. There were twelve yeomen of Heidmork who had met and agreed that each of them should raise a hundred men. These twelve were King Magnus's men from Hamar-Kaupang. When the King was informed of these tidings, he prepared to depart from the Dales, not wishing to be shut in, if his foes should beset the main entrance. The ring-leader and head of the gathering was a yeoman named Thorgrim. Now the King marched in haste, as he wished to carry the news of his journey himself rather than let others tell of it. And one night he left his force, not wishing the whole it to be delayed on the business he had in hand. Taking five men with him he went to seek Thorgrim, whom he found at home with eight men, and their meeting was of another kind than Thorgrim had expected. For God so ordered between them that the nobler man had the upper hand: they yeoman was bound prisoner and his House-carles were beaten. The affair ended by the King taking much wealth from Thorgrim; and over and above, Thorgrim paid King Sverri half a mark of gold, glad, however, that he was able to do it and be free. Upon this they separated.

King Sverri's further marches. He passes Yule in the Eystridales.

22. After this King Sverri marched to Hamar-Kaupang, where he took Harald Gudbrandsson prisoner. Harald was a kinsman to the King, and many persons begged that he might not be slain. He paid to the King Twelve ounces of gold. Others of King Magnus's men escaped by flight, forsaking much wealth in property of all kinds. The King next marched into Eystridales, where he arrived five days before Yule. The yeomen, supposing that the troops of the Birkibeins intended to live during Yule at their cost, adopted means of prevention, and not one them prepared either ale or other stores for the Yule banquets. The King, perceiving their design, laid his own plans to meet theirs, for he and his men need Yule fare non the less though the yeomen should fail in affording them hospitality. He therefore turned away elsewhere, pretending a march east into Vermaland, and came as far as Eidaskog on the right way. Arrived there, he divided his force, and sent one hundred men through the forest to Vermaland, where they were well received. The King himself, with two hundred men, then turned back to the Dales, for he suspected that as soon as he had left the yeomen they would hold their Yule banquets. The King's foresight proved true on this occasion, as on many others. He reached the district at Yuletide and his men all made themselves at home, regardless of 'Sheafbeard's' pleasure. So the King had the best of entertainment the whole of Yule.

Earl Erling's attempt to surprise King Sverri [1178]

23. At this time Earl Erling was staying east in the Vik, and heard of these proceedings. Immediately after Yule he summoned a levy, thinking to make a din at the door of the Birkibeins, and shut them up in the Dales, like sheep in pens ready for slaughter. But craft met craft, for King Sverri soon espied the snare in which they intended to take him. He had made his plans so that the places where he was first entertained lay in the northern parts of the Dales. As Yule passed on he drew south towards the main entrance, and before the Earl could reach that spot he was away east in Vermanland, leaving his pursuers to whistle in his rear. The Earl now resolved to follow him east into Vermland; but the Verms opposed his passage, cut down trees before him on his march through the wood, saying that this march should be the worst he ever made. Thereupon he turned right back again.

King Sverri assaults the house of Simun Skirksvik. He defeats Simun in a pitched battle.

24. King Sverri now gathered together all his force, and rode with five hundred men down into the Vik to Simun's homestead in Skriksvik, which they seized. They burnt his house, all his long-ships, and a new ship built for trading in the Baltic, and drove off forty cattle into Vermaland. When Simun heard of this loss he sent the war-arrow round about summoning thane and thrall to join him in a march against the Birkibeins. Simun was a great and mighty chief, whose bidding to man dared withstand, and in a short time he had collected a large force, one of four hundred and twenty men. Meanwhile the King had passed right away east to the Elf, and reached the boundary of the land. Simun therefore marched up along the Gaut-Elf. Now the King way staying by the river in a small village, and his men were dispersed in quarters a short distance off, because the village was small; besides, the King knew not that danger was so swiftly overtaking him. But his friends sent him word during the night from Gautland that Simun was coming with an overwhelming host, and would quickly be upon him if he were not on his guard. As soon as King Sverri heard this he hasted to dress and take his weapons; and then sent to call together all his men, which was not a matter done quickly, for they were scattered here and there. He then went into a wood known as the wood of Hufuness, where he waited for them. And when they were come, he took counsel with them what plan they should adopt. “It will be difficult for us to fight against King Magnus and Earl Erling,” he said, “if we flee before barons, evcen thought in our ignorance of their numbers we should find a large force against us.” His men all said they would fight against Simun rather than flee, not supposing Simun's force so great as it was. They marched, therefore, against Simnun, and the two armies met before day in such pitchy darkness that no man saw foe till his standard was waving over them. Fighting began at once; the battle was fierce, but not long, and in the end God gave the King a glorious victory. There fell a hundred and forty of Simun's men, and seven of the King's. Simun and his men fled, but the king did not venture to pursue the fugitives on account of their numbers and the darkness.

King Sverri in the Vik, He avoids King Magnus, and Marches to Vermaland, and thence northwards.

25. After this battle King Sverri set out for the Konungahella, where he obtained much wealth, the property of those who fled on his approach. HE also laid a tribute on the town, twenty marks [of silver] by weight. But he stayed no longer than two days, for he considered that a force so large as the one that had fled under Simun would probably return. He passed on therefore to Liodhus, where he abode several days. Meanwhile King Magnus and Earl Elring, with all the barons of the Vik, collected a large force, and the two armies marched by chance towards one another, yet without knowing it. For King Sverri was then planning to gain some further advantage in the Vik, if opportunity offered. At one time the two armies were quartered for the night not more than a mile apart, and yet neither knew of the other. The next morning they marched towards one another, till only the fourth of a mile separated them. And now King Sverri became aware of the presence of the hostile force under King Magnus and the Earl his father. He turned back instantly until he came east to Vermaland. Here he held a meeting with all the most powerful men and the wisest, and inquired whether they would form a compact with hem and he should become their protector, or would they reject his offer. To this they answered that they would gladly bargain to help him in battle as if he were their King. The men of Sunndale said they would make an unpleasant rear attack on those who came against him there in the east. When King Magnus and Earl Erling heard of these things they turned away without more ado. But they despatched Orm Kings-brother into the Uplands, a country where his kinsmen dwelt in great force, and bade him lie in wait against Sverri, should he again come there from Vermaland.

King Sverri, seeing it hard to face them, set out to march as far as the Eystrasalt, having with him not more than two hundred men. When he reach Jarnberaland he was opposed by a great gathering, that cut down trees in his way, saying they were not used to royal visits, and, moreover, did not want them. The King rode forward and conversed with them; and at the end of the parley they allowed him to go on with his journey, and furthered it in every way they could.

Having passed through Jarnberaland and Helsingialand, King Sverri conquers the Jamts.

26. From Jarnberaland King Sverri marched into Helsingialand, and when he reached Alpta he was met by a great crowd collected to oppose him, not less than thirty hundred men, all prepared for battle, and one hundred of them were clad in mail. All this force had decreed to declare every man a traitor who should give quarter [to the Birkibeins] or let them march forward, and had all ratified it by a clash of weapons. Moreover, they suffered none of King Sverri's men to come to their Assembly or speak a word there; but at length leave was given to all the King's men to attend and listen to what was said. Then King Sverri spoke to his men that they should from in warlike order be prepared for what this people should attempt. And when the men of the land saw this, their courage failed them, so that they sent to say the King might attend the Assembly, but should not himself be allowed to speak, though his men might speak for him. The men of Helsingialand now declared that the king must not go forward, and they offered him no course but to return by the way he came. At length, however, the King was allowed to make on speech, and he thus began: “We know not what charges you can lay against us; but you consider this, that we all acknowledge on God and call Him our Father. There is then a great need- yea, it is our bounden duty-that we be at peace one with another, and care for one another as for ourselves. My men have never done you wrong. Consider, too, how small are the benefits for which you are indebted to King Magnus and Earl Erling.” Then having commanded two houses to brought forward that they might be slain for food, he said that if they were so sparing of their food, the story would be told in every land how Christian men, to preserve life, were compelled to ear hose-flesh in their country. When he ceased speaking, one of the yeomen offered to entertain him and seventy of his men. This was he who had made the proposal to declare every man a traitor from whom Sverri should obtain aid. And after him the yeomen offered entertainment to the King and all his men.

The Jamts, having learnt what had occurred among the Helsings, gave King Sverri and his men a good reception, and he passed from the east over their land, receiving entertainment. Coming to the north of it, he showed great confidence in the friendly promises of the Jamts, and so arranged his night-quarters that his men were dispersed about the neighbourhood, and he kept with him no larger a force than one hundred. On one occasion, about the middle of the night, a man came to him with information that th eJanmts had collected a force in the east of the land and were marching after him, purposing to slay him and all his men; all the barons were in the plot. King Sverri arose instantly and had his men roused, bidding them to put their armour on. He told them what tidings he had learnt, and said he feared very greatly that his men, scattered of the district, were slain. Straightway, the same night, he marched with force he had with him, towards the place where heard the Jamts were. Now they had advanced in three divisions, that each might approach the King from a different side and so surround him; and as King Sverri was passing over a creek of the lake between the Underseys and the mainland, the host of the Jamts came upon him and surrounded him. The host was twelve hundred men. Then the King charged his men: “Make use of the same password and encourage one another in the phrases that you here the Jamts use; and as soon as possible withdraw from their host and pass over to the islands. But first let us make a fierce attack on them and try if they will give way.” The Birkibeins now raised the war-cry and ran forward boldly as the Jamts came upon them from all sides. A great battle followed, with sharp fighting, but the night was do dark that no man could see to recognize another. When the sharp attack was over, the Birkibeins withdrew from among the crowd of yeomen. These did perceive the stratagem at once, and fought against each other for a long time, until near dawn. When they ceased fighting, having discovered that they were slaying one another, the Birkibeins set upon them with such fierceness that the yeomen recoiled before them; and seeing the ill luck of their force, they fled, followed hard by the Birkibeins, who slew as many as they wished. Nearly one hundred of the Jamts were slain, and a great number were wounded. King Sverri had a hundred men, and the Jamts twelve hundred. In the morning the King sent for his other men, and all came. The Jamts now begged for peace, and brought hostages to the King, and were reconciled to him. He laid a heavy tribute on them. They agreed to become his subjects, and he appointed bailiffs to collect fines and other dues. The Jamts confirmed the agreement with many oaths, and when the tribute was paid, the King departed from them without more ado.