The Bagals surprise Nidaros, and Thorstein Kugad surrenders the castle of Steinbiorg.

137. We have now to speak of the Bagals. After their flight the chiefs and main body of the force marched by land over the Uplands and so north to Throndham, and to Nidaros. When they reached the castle of Steinbiorg, they set their troops about it, and gave out that they would fix their tents there. Thrstein Kugad, Bialfi Steinstakk, and Asgaut were then in the castle, and they had about eighty men with them; they lacked neither weapons nor provisions, no yet drink. The Bagals could effect nothing. Then they held meetings with the townsmen, and an Assembly in Kristskirk yard, at which they required from the from the town a contribution of food, and demanded a levy from the yeomen of the district. They now followed the custom of the Birkibeins, and made men swear allegiance to them, and take oath not to serve in any band that opposed them or their King. After this they proceeded to the castle, and showed missiles at the men for a long time. Then they called to them. Bishop Nikolas spake to Thorstein: “It is unwise to you to hold the castle and to be under ban. You will suffer more in another place; for we shall send a force to Stein and Gudrekssteads, your estates, plunder everything there, then set fire to the buildings, and burn down the homestead.” Thereupon Thorstein summoned Bialfi Steinstakk, and said that it was unwise to hold the castle long, if the foe should besiege it. Their talk ended in an agreement to surrender the castle, but none of the other men knew of their intention. There was a secret door to the castle, and to this Thorstein went, that he might hold converse with the Bagals. Gudbrand Ungi went to meet him, and they formed a paln between them. Thorstein requested the Bagals to go into town first, and return in the evening when the men in the castle least expected. “I will then,” said he, “let this door be open to you.” Gudbrand, in return, promised on the part of the Bagals that all the garrison should receive quarter, and keep their weapons and clothes. So the Bagals marched down into the town, and in the evening back to the castle. Thorstein let the secret door be open, and the Bagals entered. This happened as the men sat at meat, and they perceived nothing till the castles was full of Bagals. Quarter was given to the garrison, and they kept the clothes they had on; but few were allowed the weapons, and none their money. Asgaut and Bialfi went away into the district, but Thorstein Kugad accepted service with the Bagals, and went with them. The Bagals seized all the property in the castle, and then they burnt every building of it. They took a dead man and cast into the well, and then filled it up with stones. Before they left the castle they called upon the townsmen to break down all the stone walls; and before they marched from the town they burnt all the King's long-ships. After this they returned to the Uplands, well pleased wit the booty they had gained in their journey.

King Sverri and the yeomen, at an Assembly near Godmar, in the Vik.

138. We have to tell of King Sverri that he sailed out of the fiord of Oslo, turned south to Godmar, and steered to a place called Fyrileif, on the south side of the fiord. Here the King summoned an Assembly of the yeomen, and laid to their charge that they had joined the gathering against him at Seims-fiord, and elected another King over his head. The King's speech was answered by a man named Helgi, who thus spoke: “That band was joined by few men from our districts, and even they were not eager. We see no trace of ourselves, Sire, in this. We are so old-our eye teeth are cut- that we can see before walking into a blind alley. Our acquaintance with law and the rights of men of rank in Norway, made us know where it was legal to choose a King, and we consider no man rightly chosen to rule the land except at the Eyra Assembly in Throndham. Now Sire, you may see in your wisdom, that we are not such simple men as to crowd without reflection into a band marked with no better stamp; one too, that was opposed to you, Sire.” He succeeded in pleasing the King greatly with his words. Several speeches were then made at the Assembly, all tending to peace.

King Sverri in the Vik. He leaves his brother Hidi in Tunsberg.

139. After this the King Sailed away and anchored in Nauta-sound; and he sent his men on a journey through a certain wood, where they met with the Bagals, who attacked them and slew twelve men. Afterwards the King sailed to Svanhals, and thence to the Elf; but the people all took refuge in the woods. The King sent a message to the yeomen that they should come to him if safety, for he wished to make peace with them, and he summoned an Assembly; but they, conscious of their crimes against the King. Tarried and delayed a long time. The delay was displeasing to the troops, and they held a secret meeting and planned to break up the levy. A man named Olaf Beitstokk, a House-carle of the King was the chief instigator. But as soon as the King heard of this, he had Olaf seized and put to death, and the others lost all their eagerness for the plan. The King once more summoned the yeomen to an Assembly, threatening to burn up all their districts if they did not come. The yeomen now came and held an Assembly with the king, and finally bound themselves to pay fines to the King for their treason. The following day war contributions, levied tax, and fines came in, many hundred cattle and much money besides. After that, the king sailed north to the Vik, and turned into Oslo, for he now heard that the Bagals had returned from Throndham and were coming to Oslo. The King marched to meet them; but when he came upon the Giolluras, he learnt they had moved south by the upper road as soon as they heard the King was in the town. King Sverri returned to Oslo, and afterwards sailed to Tunsberg, whence he dispatched Earl Philippus, son of Birgi Brosa, to the lake Miors, where the Earl was to remain if he could there make onslaughts on the Bagals. The King intended that his own brother Hidi should go there too, but he was not ready. The King sailed from Tunsberg to go to Bergen; he had a favourable wind when he set out, and Hidi was left behind with his company. The King sailed north into Helga-s0und; and he here learnt that Sigurd Earlsson, from the north, must have sailed past him, and he deemed that the Earl's voyage would be a danger to Hidi. Earl in the morning, therefore, he summoned a council, and thus spoke: “Our men left behind are in an unhopeful state, I fear. My brother Hidi will have a narrow escape. He will think that as I sail north with the whole host the look-out will be well kept, and he will be off his guard. I fear we have not made the harbours sure.” So the King took all the cutters and swift ships, manning them with the best; and he himself went with them, purposing to seek Sigurd.

Sigurd Earlsson slay Hidi and other Birkibeins at Tunsberg.

140. Sigurd had used foresight, and sailed out of the usual track. He lay at anchor among the islands called the Sveina, whence he watched the King's host as it sailed along the inner main road. In the night he sailed up to the town, and arrived quite unexpected by Hidi and his company. The Bagals rushed into the town, and soon found the Birkibeins, who were in Asleifshard at their drink, in the south sitting-room. Nearly all sprang out of doors without weapons, and were immediately slain on the spot. The churches we all locked and afforded them no refuge. Hidi ran south from the sitting-room to the brew-houses, and climbed up under the boards of a shed between the buildings, not daring to flee out of the town because the Bagals kept watch all around it. In the morning when it was light the Bagals ransacked the town, slaying the Birkibeins wherever they found them. A scout of the Bagals named Hviting discovered Hidi, and Hidi begged the man not to betray him, giving him a gold ring. The youth made him a fair promise, but at once told the Bagals when he met them and Hidi was taken and slain. Sigurd sailed away straightway the same day about the time of the morning meal. From forty to fifty men were slain with Hidi, many of them being Guardsmen.

King Sverri, after a vain pursuit of Sigurd Earlsson, passes the winter at Bergen.

141. King Sverri rowed first to Tunsberg, and there learnt the tidings that had occurred. Then he told his men that he would go after Sigurd and endeavour to overtake him. He sailed away at once, then east across the Fold, and learnt that Sigurd had sailed in haste east into the Vik, and the King followed him. Where there was but a short distance between them, Sigurd learnt of the King's movements, and turned through Lana0sound and sailed up into Befia. Shortly after King Sverri came and instantly made towards them. Sigurd's men pulled down the awnings and sent forth a shower of missiles; but before the King's ships ran against them, almost all the men had gone one land, and as soon as the Birkibeins sprang on shore they fled, Sigurd hastening over the bridge. When the Birkibeins were come on shore they ran forward in array to the bridge. By this time most of Sigurd's men had passed over, and a few were slain there. The Bagals broke down the bridge and fled up the country. The Birkibeins seized their ships and all that was on them; some of the cutters they took away, some they burnt. The King now turned back northwards and went straight to Bergen, where he abode during the winter.

The Birkibeins at Nidaros. The Bagals again capture The town the following year[1198]

142. When the King left his men in Helga-sound in the autumn they sailed away straightway with the large ships north to Bergen, thence to Throndham. The first to come north were Eyiolf Aflason, Eirik of Ha, and Arni Skadared, with three ships, and they learnt that the bagels were in the town and had done injury to many. They arrived at Holm about break of day, and Eirik with two ships rowed into the river, while Eyiolf steered to the sands under the castle, and his men made their way outside the town to the bridge. The Bagals were unaware of the BIrkibeins before they were already in the town and the trumpets were blowing; then they fled, some to the churches, some to the bridge, where there were men ready to attend upon them. Some fled hither and thither and escaped, some were slain, some received quarter. This was three days before Andres' mass-day. The Birkibeins then dragged their ships to shore on the Eyra, and took the town in charge, as also the bailiwicks of the district.

In the winter, after Yule, the Bagals slew Jon Magri in this manner. They sent a force to attack him in his house. A man named Solvi went up to the door and bade Hon come forward and unlock it, and Jon, recognizing his voice, came to the door. Solvi then said, “Open the door, I have tidings to tell you.” “They ought to be good,” said on, and he undid the lock and opened the door. Solvi ran his sword instantly through him, so that the point came out at his back. Hon seized him round the neck immediately and forced him prostrate to the ground, himself upon him. He tried to reach the sword that hung beside his bed, but swooned away and died there.

The Bagals had now so numerous a following that all over the Vik, and the Uplands were large bands belonging to their force. Hallvard of Sasteads had charge of their young King. They were then in the Uplands, and after Yule marched north over the fell. They came down past the wood of Updale and Rennabu, where they slew Ivar Arman and Thorleif Styria. Then they passed into Orkadale; there they slew Einar Skitinbeini; and at Eggia, in Skaun, they slew Skeggi, and afterwards proceed to the town. Gunnar Galin and Eindridi Rakki had escaped them and brought the tidings to the town. Gunnar went to the Eyra and set the long-ships on fire, for he would for he would rather burn them than let the Bagals use them. But the ships were slow to catch fire, and the Bagals came upon him before he was aware, and slew him, Eindridi with him. This took place two days before Brettifa's mass-day. The Bagals then captured the town, but many of the Birkibeins had fled, having had timely notice of the approach of the Bagals. They met with met with no reistance in the town, and gtave quarter to many who submitted to them and asked for it. Here they abode during the spring, and then called a levy over all Throndham, pushed the ships to the water's edge, and prepared to defend themselves to the best of their power. The Birkibeins dwelt in the woods and forests, having wretched shelter, as may be supposed, and waited for King Sverri to come and deliver his men out of their great misery. The name of King was now given to Ingi, and Bard was name of the man who conferred it. The Bagals took both war contributions men, appointed bailiffs over the districts, and manned their ships. Their host was both numerous and well equipped, and when spring was drawing to a close they moved their fleet over the Fiord to Raudabiorg. It was the week before Hallvard's mass-day that they encounter occurred.

Drawn battle between King Sverri and the Bagals at Thorsbiorg.

143. King Sverri made ready his cutters and swift ships, and sailed from Bergen with all speed by way of the Sounds, hoping to surprise the Bagals, as he had ever suprised his enemies aforetime. His voyage sped well, and when he came up the Fiord beyond Agdanes he met with a ship of the Bagals in the haven called Solvi. The BIrkibeins rowed up to them and slew almost all the men on the ship; those who escaped got on shore. When the Birkibeins sailed farther up the Fiord beyond Hornbiori, they came upon a cutter of the Bagals; this crew rowed to land and leapt ashore, but some were slain. The Birkibeins then rowed across the Fiord to Rein, where the Bagals were with a twenty-benched ship. The Birkibeins slew well-nigh all the crew, but some leapt ashore. The Birkibeins seized all the property. Some wished to take the ship with them, but the King thought it would be unable to keep pace with their cutters in the towing, and they left it behind but soon repented. The rowing of the Birkibeins now brought them within sight of the Bagals, who straightway took down the awnings, placed their ships side by side, and fastened them together. They had seven ships, all of great size, and they lay of Thorsbiorg. There was a light breeze blowing from the north-east over the Fiord, and the Bagals ships scudded before under bare poles.

When King Sverri saw where the Bagals were, he made the trumpets sound a war-blast, and set up his standard, and called on his men to attack. The Birkibeins rowed up to them and shot at them for a while. They rowed their cutters around the ships of the Bagals, keeping to windward, for they could be where they wished, near or far. The difference in the height of the bulwarks seemed very great to the Birkibeins; and so it was, for the prows of their cutters reached no higher than the war-bulwarks of the Bagals. The shower of missiles was heavy and long. The Birkibeins did not drive their ships so near that the Bagals could fix their grappling-hooks on them. There was slaughter on both sides, and many were wounded. When the King perceived that no progress was made in this way, he bade his men withdraw the cutter; they did so, and brought them together out of range. Then the King spoke: “The Birkibeins are not such as they were aforetime. The Old Birkibeins did not go into the fight as you do, with trailing kirtles. Their kirtles were shorter and tighter, and their hearts stouter. Why do we lie here now? Let us row to the town; or else be valiant, and so set on them that you may know whether your swords or theirs bite the keener.” But before the kIng had finished speaking, the Birkibeins raised a shout, one urging the other; and so hard at first, did they pull that the long-ships grappled the cutter. The Birkibeins made so stern and fierce an onset with spear thrusts and sword blows, that the Bagals recoiled and went under shelter. Solmund Systrung and his men, five together, boarded the ship of Gudbrand Ungi. Then Gudbrand called on his men to drive them back, and the Bagals made a hard onslaught, so that the Birkibeins fell back and some were slain. The Bagals then pressed hard after the,, hurling both weapons and stones, and having the advantage of their high bulwarks. They threw down on them masses of stone that nothing could resist,a nd so heavy was the shower of weapons that the BIrkibeins were scarcely able to to stand it. Many of them fell. The Bagals fixed their grappling-hooks on the ships of the Birkibeins and held them fast. The Birkibeins all adopted one plan, which no man needed to learn from another. They pushed their punting-poles against the large ships, and freed themselves the best they could. The crew of the King's ship succeeded in getting rid of the grappling hooks, and also Nikolas of Vestness. Solmund Systrung fell and all his company, and other cutter of of the Birkibeins was stripped, but the Birkibeins got both ships. Nikolas of Vestness was wounded, struck by a bolt which pierced the front of his steel cap, but the wound did not look dangerous. Then King Sverri said, “We are no match for them in battle at this time; let us leave them alone and row to the town.” The Birkibeins then withdrew.

Birkibeins and Bagals leave Nidaros for Bergen.

144. A man named Ogmund, who was called Vagapung, had been a bailiff of the Bagals. He was of an Upland family, and had a bailiwick in Orkadale. He had command of the ship that Eyiolf brought in the autumn. The ship was lying close to Ingardale, under a cliff called Hrafnas, and as Ogmund looked across the Fiord he saw the fight between the Birkibeins and Bagals. His crew wrangled about what should be done; some wished to help their fellows, others preferred to go ashore. So this ship afforded no aid to the Bagals at this time. King Sverri steered up the Fiord, and between the mouth of the Thina and Thraungvi he met with a ship of the Bagals and chased its crew to land. He next steered across the Fiord to Fladkafiord, where he drove two ships to shore near Kleppstead; then he sailed to the town and stayed there. The Bagals started to follow him, assured in their hearts that nothing could prevent their taking King Sverri in the town, for his men were few and disabled; many of his force had fallen off Thorsbiorg during the day, valiant warriors, and many were so wounded that they could not bear arms even if they attempted. But the Bagals did not venture to steer their ships to Eyra when they came to the town, for they feared that if they landed with the men they had got in Throndham, these would not be true to them, and would either join King Sverri or march off home as soon as they put foot on land. Therefore no attack was made, and the Bagals lay at sea under Holm. King Sverri was on the Eyra ready to resist them if they landed there.

The Bagals now took counsel, and it seemed their wisest plan to sail south to Bergen, to reduce the land everywhere to subjection, and to give no heed were where Sverri should go with his cutters; they thought he would have no strength under him should they meet him anywhere and there be need to fight at sea. Nikolas of Vestness gave to care to his wound, thinking it a small matter, and went to the bath; then the wound festered, and he lay but a short time before he died. His loss was great. Afterwards the Bagals sailed south coastwise with all their force, keeping well to gether, for they had ever a dread of King Sverri, his schemes more than the number of his ships, and feared that if they separated they would suffer some blow from him. The Bagals lay in the harbour of Angr, north of Stad. King Sverri sailed away south from Kaupang after them. He rowed past the day after he left the Hereys, and sailed beyond Stad on his way south. The Bagals saw him, pulled down their awnings, and declared they would row ahead of him. But it came to nothing. King Sverri gave no heed to them, but proceeded on his voyage south, and they followed him soon afterwards.

Attempt of Sigurd Earlsson to burn the castle of Bergen. He retires on the approach of King Sverri.

145. Sigurd Earlsson had sailed from the east, out of Vik, and learnt that King Sverri had gone north from Bergen. He brought his ships therefore to Bergen, where he met with no resistance; he took King Sverri's ships and burnt the Sygnabrand and the others that he got. Buildings belonging to the Guardsmen were taken down and carried to the castle, on the windward side of which a great pile was made, where it seemed likely that a fire would do most harm to the people in the castle, When the garrison saw these thing they told Queen Margret; she was then in the castle, and with her Aura-Pal who was in command. The tidings put her and many other women in great fear; and the Birkibeins in the castle deemed it needful to use precautions. Aura-Pal devised a scheme. They took a barrel, which they filled with chips, birch-bark, and tar. Then they set fire to it, and slung to the pile of wood, in the face of the Bagals, before it was completed and put together. SO great a flame arose that the Bagals were unable to slake it before all the wood was scattered which they had brought together. This cause great delay; but they tried a second time and gathered wood together. And now the Queen begged the garrison for God's sake to give up the castle, and make terms to leave it, rather than fire and flame should reach the,; the worst plan was to let all perish together, men and goods. Outside, over the castle gate, was a room that had formerly been a prison, and Plan advised that all the women should go there, saying they would shortly have a chance to leave the castle. Thither the women went, glad in this hope, and when they were come into the room he slammed the door and fixed a bar in front. There was no lack of food for them.

There was a man named Asgut who was a shepherd. He took an empty butter-chest, cut holes all over it, and filled it with birch-bark, tow, and brimstone. Then he set fire to it and sling it to the pile, which had been so built as to be hollow in the inside. When the fire caught it, it blazed up into so great a flame that the Bagals were unable to slake it, and the whole pile was burnt up before them. After this, they moved away to the town, and Pal went to the Queen and asked what she would give him if he found a plan to make the Bagals withdraw. He would win much wealth, she answered, and she bade him do it if he knew the way. And Pal asked her to entrust her seal to him, which she did. Then he wrote a letter, which he signed with the Queen's seal and directed to priests Anti and Jordan Skinnpeta. “We suppose,” so ran the letter, “that you will have the highest regard for what touches the King, though now you lean somewhat to the Bagals. We have, however, a secret matter to tell you, important tidings which the King has sent us. He has met his foes north and Throndham, and happily the end is the same as of old: the King has conquered them, although he has lost brave men, Nikolas of Vestness, Solmund Systrung, and many others. And now the King begs you, of your good faith, to delay the departure of the Bagals from the town. He himself will come in the morning either early or late.” In the castle there was a Vik-boy, an acquaintance of the Bagals. Him Pal hired to deliver the letter into the priests' hands; men from the castle accompanied him and left him at a certain rock. The Bagals on the watch saw what went on, and thinking that very likely some one was attempting to desert the garrison, stole noiselessly to the rock, and found the boy lying there and took him prisoner, and as they knew him they gave him quarter. They inquired what he meant to do. “I am carrying a letter to priests Anti and Jordan,” he answered, “but I don't know what is in it.” The Bagals took the letter and carried it to Sigurd Earlsson, who, seeing what was in it, suspected an immediate attack. At dawn the next morning, therefore, he gave his men the signal to depart; and they took much wealth from the priests Anti and Jordan, believing them to be unfaithful. After that, they sailed away south. As the Bagals rowed out of the bay, Pal told the Queen, and she went out on the castle to see, and gave many thanks to Pal for his device.