King Sverri defeats the Eyskeggs in the battle of Florwvoe [1194]

120. King Sverri caused a castle to erected in Bergen on the hill above the Bishop's court, and it held during the winter a strong company of Birkibeins under the command of Sigurd Borgar-Klett. The Eyskeggs made constant attacks on the men in the castle, but succeeded in doing little beyond shooting at them. The Birkibeins returned the shots, and the Eyskeggs usually had the worst of the encounter. IN the course of the winter many people crowded to the Eyskeggs and entered their ranks. Sigurd Earlsson, who was with the Birkibeins during the autumn in the Vik, had deserted to the Eyskeggs, and was now a chief man among them. He was considered a sagacious man. One holy day in the early part of Lent, Olaf earls-kin happened to be hearing mass at Olafskirk on the Banks, ad was standing outside close to the church during service with his hand resting on a pillar. One of the men in the castle drew a crossbow, and the bolt drove through the hand, and stood with its point fixed in the pillar; that was a grievous wound. The Eyskeggs dispatched troops into the bailiwicks to various places, because they did expect King Sverri before spring was well advanced. The King Passed the winter in Throndhan, and having called troops to his side form the districts, made continuous preparations, as if Eyskeggs were coming there and then from the south. His man lay at the Guidhalls all winter until Lent and spring, when the King set sail from the north. His ships ranged downwards from those that had twenty benches, none being larger. Then King sailed south to Bergen with all possible speed; and the Eyskeggs had no intelligence of his voyage before he was close to the town. On Saturday before Palm Sunday they held an Assembly at which Olaf Earlsson addressed his troops and said: “We have now learnt the truth about King Sverri's movements; he will soon be here to visit us, and we must decide whether we will await him here to fight him with such force as we have with us, or determine on another course because many of our men are away. Sigurd Earlsson is south in Stafangr with six ships; we could sail away south and endeavour to join him. Eystein Korp is in Sogn with three ships; his force can afford us no support.” Then answered Hallkel Jonsson: “In My opinion,” he said, “We are not short of troops at this time to fight King Sverri, if we don't vecome more shiftless, and great ill-luck does not befall us, then it is likely. Those who have been opposed to King Sverri seem to me to have failed mostly in counsel' and I expect that we shall conquer him if we don't proceed rashly. Against rashness we must be on our guard, for we are no less exposed to it than those who were overtaken by it aforetime.” So the more part were eager to fight; they went therefore to the ships and made ready, putting up the wal-bulwarks; and when the evening was far gone they sailed out to Floruvoe, where they lay at anchor during the night. The same evening after sunset King Sverri came near Bergen, and going on board a cutter, rowed to the town, while the rest of the fleet kept farther out and rowed south to Grafdale. The King now obtained full and accurate information of what the Eyskeggs had done, and he landed on Holm, and went up to Kristskirk. The death of Bishop Pal had occurred earlier that day, and his body then lay in the church. Afterwards the king went up to the castle and bade the defenders to give him help for the battle. The king stayed a short time in the town, and rowed south to the fleet; and then the Birkibeins brought their ships to anchor at Hvarfsness. The King next sailed forth in a boat to Floruvoe, to look into the watch of the Eyskeggs. He there heard their talk, and the whole purpose of Hallkel and his men to fight as soon as it was dawn. : My advice,” said Hallkel, “Is to lash our ships together; thus our men can best help one another. We will send a shower of stones on them as long as our supply lasts, then we must let go our missiles, and afterwards make a hand-to hand onset such as they will remember and that will soon decide the contest. Let each man do his best, and leave the result to God. After this King Sverri went to his men and told them all the intention of the Eyskeggs and their arrangements. “Me thinks,” he said, “it would be the better plan for us to fall on them quickly, rather than let them attack first; they will be unprepared to meet us. If we make the attack before light we will mark all our ships by knotting linen tape round their prows. We must be on our guard in the attack, for we have to fight against ships that are higher in the bulwarks than ours. Hold our ships unimpeded at first when the foe is most furious; look to yourselves and keep under cover at first while they throw their missiles. And take good care of your weapons and of the oars, for we shall need them whichever side wins.” King Sverri had twenty ships, rather small, and the Eyskeggs had fourteen, mostly large.

At dawn the next morning the Eyskeggs were lying Floruvoe, without awnings to the ships. The next loosed the shore cables and rowed out of the bay; ropes were laid from ship to ship both fore and aft, and the ships were all rowed forward abreast to seek for King Sverri. But as it was dark, they did see King Sverri's hips before he was close upon them, and both fleets at once raised the war-cry. The Eyskeggs seized the ropes furiously to drag their ships together, and the glided forward uder bare poles; but as each ship came against another the oears were broken. The ships were now all tied fast together and glided on against those of the Birkibeins. The battle began immediately; the Eyskeggs made a fierce onset, and the Birkibeins held their shields over their heads so close together that they were nowhere uncovered. They let their ships hover about and made an occasional feint to attack; it was easy to see that they were used such labour, so warily the acted. And when the Eyskeggs began to tire and the fierce storm of missiles to grow less severe, King Sverri urged the Birkibeins and said “Stand up and use your weapons; be Birkibeins, and let it be seen how your weapons bite.” On this the Birkibeins rose from under their shields and began a second battle storm; some cast stones, some used their bows, and they drove their ships so close that some used spears and swords. The Eyskeggs withstood them most bravely, reaping then the advantage of their loftier bulwards. They fixed their grappling-hooks on the King's Ship, slew the forecastle men and captured the standard, and almost cleared the fore part of the ship as far as the mast. But when they began to board her the King urged his men, and the Birkibeins advanced so stoutly that the Eyskeggs recoiled; some of them were slain, some fell back to their own ships. The Birkibeins now freed their ships from the grappling-hooks. All those that had approached so close to the large ships that the Eyskeggs were able to grapple them, suffered in the same way, and some were disabled; the shock had been most fatal, and the slaughter of the King's men much the greatest. Then the Birkibeins drew their ships away. And King Sverri said, “Take heart, my good fellows, they will not make many such attacks on us; let us bear our losses bravely; they must be no less tooth-sore than we.” When the Eyskeggs saw the Birkibeins retire, they thought they meant to flee. And Olaf Earls-kin, said, “Do your best now, for they are losing heart; thus it fares with all I see, that strive against superior force. Let us follow up our victory; cut the tie ropes and chase them now manfully.” All were eager for this, and it was done. But when the ships were loosed asunder, and the men would take to rowing, they lacked the oars, and the ships were driven by the current, each its own way. The Birkibeins rowed up to them and laid two or three ships alongside one. At this moment the defenders of the castle came up from the town in a long-ship; ninety men were on board, all armored with coats of ring-mail. This force was of great help, and now they cleared the ships of the Eyskeggs; and as each large ship was stripped of its crew, the Birkibeins went on it, leaving their small cutters. The Eyskeggs had fized King Sverri's standard, the Sigrfluga, on the prow of their leader's ship; the Birkibeins saw well where to find it, and they pressed hard and ceased not till they had won it. Then they boarded the ship and stripped it from stem to stern. Sigurd Kingsson sprang overboard and was slain in the water. Lodin, son of Pal Smattauga, and Hallvard Bratti, rowed away on different ships. Olaf Earls-kin leapt overboard when his ship was cleared, and seam towards land; but the Birkibeins waded into the water to meet him, and slew him before he came to the shore.Hallke's ship was the last to be cleared, for it was the best manned and had the highest bulwarks. Hallkel himself and almost all his crew were slain on board. In the fight nearly all of the troops of the Eyskeggs fell, except those that received quarter. The King had commanded that mass should not be sung in the town until he came back from the battle, unless it were long past time.And now he rowed to the town and had all the ships taken with him. The battle had lasted so ling that when the King returned it was the time of High mass; and mass was then immediately sung. Shortly after the battle Bard Guthormsson died, and Benedikt Litli, and yet more of the body-guard. In a little while the bodies of Sigurd and Olaf were found; and King Sverri caused the body of Sigurd to be shown to a large multitude, and told them it was the body of the leader whom that band had served. Then he caused the body to be buried south of the choir in Mariukirk yard. A large grave was made, in which were laid the bodies of the Eyskeggs, that of Olaf Earls-kin being placed on top.

It was the general opinion that no other battle than this of Floruvoe has been won by a force under such a great disadvantage in the height of their ship's bulwarks. The sagacity shown by the two sides were very different: the Birkibeins were aided most of all by their experience in fighting; and the Eyskeggs were valiant with their weapons, but rather heedless in protecting themselves.

When Sigurd Earlsson heard these tidings, he sailed south coastwise as far east as Vik, and thence south to Denmark. Some of the Eyskeggs' force accompanied him, others were scattered in various directions, and many obtained quarter. Eystein Korp sailed west oversea.

Archbishops Eirik and Absalon send a letter to the Pope about King Sverri. The Pope's ban.

121. Archbishop Eirik and Archbishop Absalon sent messengers south to Rome with a letter to the Pope.²⁴ In this letter there was written all about King Sverri, according to the testimony of Archbishop Eirik and his men; also about all the dealings they had with one another before the Archbishop went away form his see. The Archbishops obtained from the Pope the answer which they requested: the Pope pronounced King Sverri excommunicate if he did not allow the Archbishop to have all he asked and claimed. This letter was read aloud in Denmark by order of the Archbishop, and every Sunday the ban upon King Sverri was proclaimed in the chancel. When King Sverri heard of this, he spoke often about the affair in Assemblies, saying that it was an invention of the Danes, and not a message from the Pope, and that he did not suppose Eirik Blindi would put an end to his rule with les. “The ban and curse,” he said, “which he ahs uttered against me have fallen upon his own eyes, and he is now blind through the,. Those who do the work of banning will fall under ban. I am a King's son, and lawfully chosen to this land and realm. I suffered many troubles and worries before I acquired this kingdom, and I will not loose my hold of it because of this ban. Let Eirik return to his see, though he is blind, if he is willing to keep the law of the land, as it is bound here to hold, But if both his eyes were whole, as surely as he is now blind of both, and blind also in judgment to recognize what is right, yet would I not for his sake violate the law of King Olaf the Saint, through he should ban and curse for ever.”

King Sverri orders the Pope's Legate to leave Norway.

122. Shortly after Easter, King Sverri sailed east after Sigurd Earlsson, for he would scatter the band that held together. He sailed all the way to Konungabella in the springs, and a messenger from the Pope came there, a Legate, and his companions. King Sverri invited them to stay with him, and entertained the Legate for several days. They discussed together of many things, and the King Sought form the Legate that he would consecrate him King and crown him. The Legate received the request favourably; but when the other clergy became aware pf the design, they informed the Legate that the King was at enmity with the Archbishop. Who has gone away from his see, and they said that the Legate should not consent to consecrate him. They laid these charges against the King; that he had been ordained priest formerly; that he had taken to himself a wife, having already legally married one who was still alive; and they brought up many other matters to slander the King. The next time that King Sverri and the Legate talked of the matter, the Legate refused to consecrate him King, and bade him make peace with the Archbishop. Who ought then to consecrate him. The King answered: “I see on what errand you have come to this land: 'tis to act like many others-deceivers. They hasten hither from other lands to get money for themselves, and when they have gone away they turn our kingdom to ridicule. I desire that you leave this land, for I don't wish you to cheat my lieges of their money here in my land.” After that, the Legate went away.

Bishop Nikolas makes peace with King Sverri. The coronation of the King.

123. King Sverri turned back north into the Vik. Afterwards he dispatched men to bring Bishop Nikolas, and when the Bishop arrived, the King demanded a private conversation with him. He told the Bishop that he had come to know that all the treasonous plot, which Hallkel and others had devised against the King had its origin under the roots of the Bishop's tongue, and he supported the charge against the Bishop with proofs. The Bishop denied and protested, but the King said the denial would avail nothing; he had known the whole truth before, he said; and he threatened the Bishop with harsh measures, calling him a traitor to his lord and his country. The Bishop prayed the King for mercy, promised him fealty, and offered to confirm his promise by oath; he declared that he would make such amends for all his offences as the king himself required. The Bishop at this time was most meek; and King Sverri took him north to Bergen with him. The King sent word to Bishop Thori of Hamar to come as soon as possible to Bergen, and he did so. Bishop Nial also came from Stafangr, and they discussed who should be chosen to the See of Bergen, in place of Bishop Pal. A man named Martein was chosen, King Sverri's Chaplain; he was English in all his kin, and a good clerk. They consecrated him Bishop by direction of King Sverri; the Bishops present being Bishop Nikolas, Bishop Thori, Bishop Nial. Bishop Nikolas was now in close intimacy with King Sverri, and active mover with the King all plans which the King desire to further. A grand banquet was then held in the Kings-court, at which it was determined that these Bishops should consecrate King Sverri and crown him. So it came to pass that they consecrated him King of the day of the Apostles Petr and Pal; he then took the crown, and Bishop Nikolas was the chief man at the consecration. The King gave good gifts to all, and they separated with much affection.

Meeting of Bishops in Bergen, and letter to Pope Celestinus [1195]

124. Bishop Thorlak the Saint had died in Iceland the previous winter, and in the summer Pal Jonsson, son of Jon Lotsson, came from Iceland and passed the inter in Norway, north at Nidaros. The following spring he made a journey overland east to Vik, and met with King Sverri at Oslo, where the king had stayed during the winter. Pal then sailed south to Denmark, and was consecrated Bishop by Bishop Absalon; and in the summer he sailed back to Norway, and so north to Bergen. King Sverri sailed in the spring north to Bergen where a meeting was summoned at which all the Bishops in Norway were to be present to advise the King , because Archbishop Eirik had sent a letter north to Norway and summoned all the Bishops of the land to go to him. All the Bishops came to Bergen, and Bishop Pal came there also. The past summer King Sverri had it much in mind to send a force west to the Orkneys to requite the men or Orkney their treason. When this was told west in the islands, Earl Harald and Bishop Biarni formed a plan to aid them; the Earl sailed form the west with Bishop Biarni and all the chief men of the Orkneys, and reached Norway at the time of this visit of the Bishops to Bergen. The chiefs then held meetings together and formed plans; and it was determined to send messengers with a letter to the Pope. To this letter were set the seals of king Sverri and all the Bishops who have been named. Bishop Thori offered himself for the journey, and Rikard, a Dominican Master, with him; and they set out to see Pope Celestinus on this business.

Earl Harald of the Orkneys makes his submission to King Sverri.

125. After this, King Sverri and Earl Harald debated the charge against the Earl. An Assembly was then summoned in Kristskirk yard, at which the Guardsmen were drawn up close around the King's seat, and some sat in front of him. On the outside of the Assembly there also stood a crowd of men, and here was the Earl. He began to speak, and said: “There is now assembled here a large number of good men, and I may need in my speech much encouragement from the people, I am now an old man, as you can see from my beard. I have drawn near the knees of many Kings, sometimes with affection, and often in difficult circumstances. Now there is a new difficulty on my hands, the anger of my lord, King Sverr. Less blame is mine in this business than is imputed to me. I did not plan the rising of that band. It is true I did not fight against it, for I could not be hostile to all the people in the land as long as I should be Earl over it. The men of Orkney do not always act as I wish; many leave the Orkneys to plunder Ireland and Scotland, to pillage merchants, and all contrary to my wish. And yet people say that I am not slow to punish. But there is no need here to speak long, as the thing has been done; I commit all into God's hands and yours sire.: With these words the Earl went forward among the men and fell at the King's feet. The King looked round and slowly began to speak, saying: “Great ravage you caused in Norway when you raised so strong a force as the Eyskeggs to make war in the land; and it was done to the great displeasure of me and my men. But the Earl has now come here as you ma y see; he repents of the offence he committed against us, and begs for mercy. Mercy I will grant him, for I shall need from God greater mercy than I have deserved. Stand up, Lord Earl, and receive God's pardon and mine; I will declare the terms of peace between us at greater leisure. : King Sverri put in writing all the conditions of the peace which he made with Earl Harald; and he set down in a scroll all the estates and possessions in the Orkneys and Shetland which had fallen to the King's treasury, the property of those who perished at Floruvoe. He fixed a limit of three years in which the kinsmen of the dead might ransom the estates with money, and if they were not then ransomed they all fell to the King's treasury for ever. King Sverri took Shetland under his own control for tax and tribute; and he set Earl Harald over the Orkneys, with the stipulation that the King Should receive half of all the fines, and he appointed bailiffs there. Earl Harald swore oaths of fealty to the King before they parted.

King Sverri dismisses the Bishops to their sees.

126. Then King Sverri had a conversation with the Bishops before their departure, and he said: “It is my advice to you, good chiefs, that you guard with wisdom the rule which God has entrusted to you; bear ever in mind that it is not you patrimony nor inheritance. So also, if Eirik Blindi drives you from your rule, he will procure little good in its place, since, indeed, he procures none for himself; he has now not more than nine or ten men with him, and even these are all at another's charges. But if you hold fast your league with me, then shall I undertake the guidance of our common cause.” They all promised him heartily not to forsake the King and his cause.

Hreidar Sendiman brings a message to King Sverri from the King of the Greeks.

127. Hreidar was the name of a Vik-man, who had long been absent form the land, and had traveled far and wide. He came this summer to Norway, bringing a letter and a seal, called the Golden Bull Scroll; this seal was sent by Kirialax,²⁵ King of the Greeks, to King Sverri, and in the letter it was written that King Sverri should send him ten hundred good warriors. The King of the Greeks had sent a man named Petr, who was called Petr Ilska, with a similar message into Denmark to King Knut, and he had sent a third man to the King of the Swedes. Hreidar Sendiman often spoke to the King of his message, and the King at first took kindly to it, saying that he would think of it; and Hreidar stayed with the King the following winter. In the autumn King Knut of Sweden died, and Sorkvi Karlsson came to the rule and kingdom after him.

Bishop Nikolas is reconciled to Archbishop Eirik. The Pope's reply to King Sverri's Letter.

128. The same autumn Bishop Nikolas sailed south to Denmark to meet the Archbishops Absalon and Eirik, and made peace with them.

The following winter Bishop Thori and Mastar Rikard came from the south, from Rome, to Denmark, and with them a Cardinal from Rome; but they were all seized with sudden illness and died there. No tidings of what happened on their journey came quickly to Norway. But some time afterwards, Danes arrived, who brought to King Sverri the letter and seal of the Pope, and said that Bishop Thori and Master Rikard had pledged this letter; and they asserted also that the Bishop and his companion had received money form them on loan. They brought the letter to the King, and he gave them as much money as he thought fit. King Sverri caused the letter to be read aloud to the choir, and showed the Pope;s seal with the letter. There stood in the letter that as soon as the Pope knew for certain that the King spoke more truthfully than the Archbishop. That Pope freed the King and his whole realm from all excommunication. The King said he had been certainly informed that the Cardinal and Bishop Thori and his companion had accepted the hospitality of a priest, and that poison was mixed with their drink during the evening and they all died.