Northvegr - Sverri's Saga

103. In the following spring King Sverri sailed south from Throndham with a very great host, and arrived at Bergen about the Vigil-time. There was a great number of merchant-ships in the town, come from well nigh all lands. The Southmen had imported a large quantity of wine, so that wine in Bergen was then no dearer than ale. It happened on a time as men sat drinking wine, that they wished to be served with more, but the Southmen's boy would not fetch it, and they strove with him for not more than a single pot. They wrangled until the Northmen would go and break into the booth, but the Southmen defended themselves from the inside, and several men were wounded by sword-thrusts. This was told in the town. The townsmen and the Germans seized their weapons, and a fight took place; many fell, especially of the townsmen. The Southmen ran to their cogs, which they placed all together in the bay, and the townsmen prepared to set on them. But at last a truce was made. Many other disturbances arose that summer through drink. There was a man of the Birkibeins so witless through drink that he threw himself out between the hall and the king's sitting-room thinking he was leaping into the water to swim, and he was killed. Another leapt from the quay in the kings-court and was drowned. King Sverri was not then in the town; but one day soon after he arrived, two drunken men happened to quarrel, the one a Gest of the King, the other a House-carle. They were about to use to weapons to each other, when Throlof Rympil, the leader of the Gests, came out of the drinking-room. He had no weapon, but he took the steel cap from his head and struck the House-carle, who with his hand=axe returned the blow. Then the fight became general, every man using the weapon he had to hand, all being mad with ale. Thorolf Rympil tore himself loose from the fray, went to his force and blew the Gests' trumpet, and when the Gests were all come together, Thorolf bade them take their weapons. The House-carles also gathered, armed themselves, and went on board their ship, under their leader Asgeir Hamarskalli. When the Gests came down to the quays, Thorolf Rympil flung his sword on the House-carles' ship and himself leapt after it; having regained it he began immediately to fight. The Gests sprang on board after him. There was a great battle, and Thorolf and his men did not cease until they had cleared the ship. Many House-carles were slain, but most of them leapt overboard. When the King heard of the fray, he went to them and brought about a truce, and a meeting afterwards, at which peace was made.

King Sverri's speech about drinking to excess.

104. Shortly afterwards King Sverri held an Assembly in the town, at which he spoke, saying:-

“We desire to thank the Englishmen who have come here, bringing wheat and hone, flour and cloth. We desire to thank those who have brought here linen or flax, wax or caldrons. We desire next to make mention of those who have come from the Orkney, Shetland, The Færys or Iceland; all those who have brought here such things as make this land the richer, and we cannot do without. But there are Germans who have come here in great numbers, with large ships intending to carry away butter and dried fish, of which the exportation much impoverishes the land; and they bring wine instead, which people strive to purchase, both my men, townsmen, and merchants. From that purchase much evil and no good has arisen, for many have lost life through it, and some their limbs; some carry marks of disfigurement, to the end of their days; others suffer disgrace, being wounded or beaten. Overdrinking is the cause. To those South-men I feel much ill-will for their voyage here; and if they would preserve their lives or property, let them depart hence; their business has become harmful to us and to our realm. Call to mind what overdrinking means, what it produces, what it destroys. First, to mention its least evil, whoever takes to overdrinking ceases to make money, and the price of overdrinking is the waste and loss of his wealth, until he who was blessed with wealth becomes poor and wretched and needy, if he does not forsake his ways. As the second evil, overdrinking destroys the memory, and makes a man forget all that he is bound to keep in mind. In the third place, it makes a man lust to do all manner of unrighteous deeds; he is not afraid to lay hands wrongfully on money or women. As a fourth evil, overdrinking incites a man to bear with nothing, word or deed, but to return far more evil than is deserved; and beyond that, it incites him to finds means of slandering the innocent. Another evil follows overdrinking: a man strains his body to the utmost to endure labour, to keep awake until exhausted, to lose blood in every limb. And he will spill his blood until he is ill, and thus destroy all health. When all wealth, health, and reason, too, are destroyed by overdrinking, it incites a man to destroy what is not yet lost, his soul. It incites him to neglect all right conduct and right ordinances, to lust after sins, to forget God and all that is right, and to remember nothing He has done. Consider now, you men that overdrink: who will most likely seize the soul when your life and drinking-bouts come to an end at the same time; Call to mind how unlike your conduct to what it should be, for a clam restraint should accompany all things; Warriors in time of peace should be gentle as lambs, but in war dauntless as lions; merchants and yeomen should go about their business, acquiring wealth justly, yet with toil. Taking care of it wisely, and bestowing it with liberality. Those who are lowly should be grateful, and each one serve his master with good-will and according to his ability.” The King brought his speech to an end by bidding his men to be well behaved and peaceful towards the townsmen, yeomen, and merchants.

This speech was highly approved by all wise men. In the autumn King Sverri sailed north to Kaupang, where he abode during the winter; nearly all his chiefs were with him. Kuflungs were in the Vik.

The Kuflungs Plunder Nidaros.

King Sverri in the Castle of Steingbiorg.

105. The same summer the Kuflungs made preparations to sail north to attack King Sverri; but they delayed and it was autumn before they set out. When they came north beyond Stad a strong wind bore them to Agdaness. And Nefari recited this verse:-

Then a light north-east wind blew, and at evening time they rowed into the Fiord, reaching Kaupang in the first part of the night. No news of their approach preceded them. King Sverri was staying in the castle on Steinbiorg, and few men were with him. His chiefs and nearly all the body-guard were in the town, and had no warning of the Kulings before the town was taken. Many Birkibeins and brave fellows were slain, but most of the Birkibeins took refuge in the churches. Bryniolf Rognvaldsson was slain, and Ottar Knerra, Sigurd Dotafinn, Andress Krista, and Andres Biurgi. John Kulfung gave quarter to all the Birkibeins taken alive, and said they must become his men; but when they would accept him as their liege-lord, Kuflung remitted the oaths, saying they were doubtless brave fellow who would keep their work no less than their oath. As soon as evening was come, the Birkibeins took their weapons, and, in groups of two or three, and sometimes five or more, went up to the castle to King Sverri. By morning they had all slipped away from the Kuflungs; and they told King Sverri how the Kuflungs had given them quarter; and King Sverri said that Jon Kuflung had shown clearly by his action that he knew not how to be a chief. The Kuflungs seized all King Sverri's ships; some they took with them, some they burnt. And one night after darkness set in, they sailed away from the town, being afraid of some onslaught or other form the King; but the King abode all this time in the castle deeming that he had not sufficient force for a battle with them. Jon Kuflung now sailed south to Bergen, and King Sverri remained behind in Kaupang.

The Kuflungs' wont of success on other voyages north. [1187]

106. The Next spring Jon Kuflung sailed a second time north to Kaupang with a large force,a nd anchored near Holm for several nights. In the winter King Sverri had set up palisades along the road by the sea and above the town. Messages were now sent from one to the other, and King Sverri offered the Kuflungs to fight on the shore, and he would permit them to land; but nothing came of this. The Kuflungs sailed back to Bergen without more ado. The same summer Jon Kuflung again sailed north with many cutters, hoping to surprise King Sverri, but the King sailed with a large force from the north to meet him. Then Blakk recited this verse:-

Death of Archbishop Eystein [Jan. 1188]

107. The following winter a great even happened in Throndham. At the beginning of autumn Archbishop Eystein fell sick, and lay ill during the winter until after Yule. When his strength was passing away he sent word to King Sverri to come to him. The King did so, and they talked together of many things in which they had aforetime been engaged; and at their parting the Archbishop begged the King to forgive him for God's sake and all the wrongs he had done him while the strife lasted between King Magnus and King Sverri. They were then reconciled anew, and forgave one another all that had caused dissension between them. Archbishop Eystein died the night after Pal's Mass and a grave was prepared for him in the vestry of Kiristskirk. Shortly afterwards King Sverri made a speech to the choir in Kristskirk, and related what had happened in his conversation with the Archbishop the last time; and said that the Archbishop had admitted that in his opposition to the King he had gone beyond what he knew to be right before God, and that other things had not weighed against his feeling that he could not withdraw his support from King Magnus. The Kuflungs abode this winter in Vik.

Eirik, Bishop of Stafangr, chosen Archbisop. Thorstein Kugad surrenders the castle of Steinbiorg to the Kuflungs.

108. The following spring King Sverri made ready his host, and with a large force sailed south to Berge, where he abode much of the summer. A meeting of bishops and other men or rank was held there to discuss the choosing of an Archbisop, and Eirik of Stafangr was most favoured, because he had been specially recommended by Archbishop Eystein. King Sverri rather objected, asserting that Eirik was not well fitted to have the management of money, for he was an open-handed man. He was answered by many that they ought to choose one to be Archbishop who was bountiful with his wealth, and they added that the see did not lack money. In the end it was resolved to elect Bishop Eirik, and he went abroad the same summer.

King Sverri sailed with his force east to the Vik. On the voyage he lost a ship, which was steered on the rocks of Agdi and there wrecked. The king ordered the hull to be burnt, and afterwards proceeded on his course. The ship was called the Hrein. The Kuflungs were at Tunsberg with a great host, but a small supply of ships. And as King Sverri came near the town they had news of him, and moved their ships, of which they had sixteen, out to Hrafnabiorg. When King Sverri arrived he anchored his ships opposite the island [Niotarey] near Smiorberg. The King had thirty ships, and he caused five of them to row to the town and anchor near the quays. Thus they lay for three nights. The King would not begin the attack, because the Kuflungs had a large force of the rock, and he considered it unwise to bring his ships where they would be exposed to great showers of stones. The Kuflungs also did not dare to attack the King; but on the fourth night they moved their ships silently towards the quays before which lay the five ships of the Birkibeins. The Night was so dark that neither force could see the other until the moving ships ran into those at rest, and then a fight began at once. And when King Sverri became aware of the fight, he suspected his men might be in evil case, and rowed to them as speedily as possible, but the Kuflungs would not wait, and went on shore, many men on both sides being left dead.

The Kuflungs now marched north by land to Kaupand, and arrived there shortly before Michalmas. Ivar Clementsson was present in the town with his ship's crew of about eighty men. All the troops, both Ivar's men and the townsmen, were now summoned to march to the castle and defend it. The Kulfungs had eight hundred men, and made a fierce attack on the castle; the townsmen defended it. The battle was fierce but not long, for the Kuflungs broke into the wooden castle, and on their entrance, the townsmen fled. Ivar Clementsson and nearly all his company were slain, and the Kuflungs took the town. Afterwards an Assembly was held on the Eyra, at which Biorn Elringsson gave the name of King to Jon. Thorstein Kugad had charge of the castle of Sion,²⁰in which there was no lack of stone for the defence. The Kuflungs marched up to the castle and shots were exchanged, but the Kuflungs could effect nothing. Seeing this, they fetched Nikolas Sultan, King Sverri's uncle by the mother's side, whom they had taken in Kristskirk. They brought him to the castle and raised a gallows, saying they were about to hang him there. “You Thorstein, and the men in the castle,” they said, “are to blame.” We will give quarter to Nikolas and all of you if you give up the castle; but if not, Nikolas must die. King Sverri will hand you for it; no one will be worse off than you, and you will deserve it. You may expect also the like from us as soon as we have the power.” Thorstein was now afraid, and thought they spoke truth, and that he would be the sufferer into whose-ever hands he fell if Nikolas were hanged. He resolved therefore to surrender the castle. The Kulflungs spared Throstein and let him keep his property; to all the men in the castle they gave safety of life and limb, but the Kuflungs took all their property; then they set fire to the castle and destroyed it. The Kufungs seized many valuable possessions of King Sverri and divided much booty when they went to the town. The Kuflungs laid a heavy fine on the town, saying they would set fire to it if the money were not paid, and make a return to the townsmen for their resistance in force. The townsmen preferred to pay the money. The Kuflungs remained there a short time and procured ships for themselves, and the townsmen did not hinder them, but bade them farewell, with an eager desire that they would fare ill. The Kuflungs hastily prepared the cutter. When they were ready a rumour and a report reached the town that a force was marching over the Gaularas, and men thought King Sverri might be there. The Kuflungs hear the rumour, and ran to their ships, pulled down the awnings, struck the oars into the water, and rowed in a crowd out of the river, the townsmen begging them never to come again. The Kuflungs sailed down the Fiord. They behaved with much violence at every place they touched, and plundered the ships of burden that came their way. One merchant-ship which they seized was an Icelandic trader, called the Stangarfoli; it had been driven back by contrary winds, and they robbed it of every penny. After that, they sailed south to Bergen, arriving there shortly before Yule.

Jon Kuflung is slain by the Birkibeins at Bergen. He is shown to have been an Impostor.

109. The Kuflungs held an assembly in the town, and demanded a contribution for the townsmen towards the Yule feast, saying that if it were not paid they would burn down the whole town. The townsmen asked to be excused from the payment and begged for delay, but the Kuflungs threatened them with stern measures. So the the matter stood for a time. One morning at daybreak, just before Yule, thirteen large long-ships were seen of Hvarfsness sailing to the town from the south. When the Kuflungs became aware of them they seized their weapons, and the most of them ran out of the town to the fell or into Olafskirk. Jon Kuflung summoned his men to their ships. He and his company sprang on board and rowed down the bay to meet the enemy; but seeing that they were not joined by their force they crossed over towards Monks-quay. Close to the other side, they rowed their ship on a rock, and it stuck fast. At that instant the ships of the birkibeins came swiftly on them, and the Kuflungs leapt over-board and swam to land, but some perished. Jon Kulfung did not leap overboard, but awaited the Birkibeins on his ship, and was slain with one other man. The Birkibeins stripped the bodies. When King Sverri heard these tidings he had the bodies removed to the town and taken to Marukirk, where they were laid on the ground under the south wall and covered with a cloth. The Kuflungs now hastened down from the fell to Olafskirk, where they drew up in array, raised a war-cry against the birkibeins, and incited them to fight. But the King bade his men have nothing to do with them. “We must not fight,” he said, “With leaderless men. Tell them their chief lies here by Mariukirk. They meanly abandoned him, though he was not a good chief to guard.” The Kuflungs did not go into the town, and there was no battle; they turned away, and so the armies separated.

There was a man in the town named Petr, the father, as the Birkibeins declared, of a man named Orm, whose mother was Astrid Steik. This, Orm the Birkibeins saild, was the man whom the Kuflungs called their King, Jon Ingason, and he it was who then lay there by Mariukirk. Petr was bidden to go there and acknowledge his son, mentioning, before he saw the body, any marks on it. Petr spoke thus of marks: “If he is my son Orm, “ he said, “There will be a mark on him, for when he was a boy he leapt upon a scythe and was severely cut on the sole of the right foot. If there is no mark of this, he certainly not my son; but if there is, I will not disavow him.” Then the King caused him to be taken where the body lay, from which the shoe and hose were now removed, and Peter declared that he recognized the mark which his son bore. King Sverri now made known, both to the townsmen and his own men, that this is Jon, whom the Kuflungs had called their King, was named Orm, and was the son of Petr and Astrid, and that Petr was present and recognized the body of his son. “It must be known to you townsmen,” he said, “if Petr and Astrid have such a pedigree, that their son should be King over Norway. You may see now the imposture under which that band of highwaymen has marched.” Then the body of Jon Kuflung was laid in earth at Marukirk. This was the first time that King Sverri and his force came to Bergen, and the whole people was glad to see him. King Sverri was now sole ruler over Norway. After these things he remained for a time.

20. The Castle which King Sverri built on Steinbiorg (see c. 73). The other, which is called indifferently castle and wooden castle, was the wooden fort on the isthmus formed by the Nid near the fields of Ila (see map at the end).