Battle on the Strind-sea. The Bagals put to flight [18^th June 1199]

159. Hallvard of Sasteads saw that the Birkibeins would over-take all their largest ships. He sprang therefore on the aftcastle and called to his men, and bade them turn back all their ships, pas the Birkibeins, and begin with those in the rear and clear them first. Hakon, the King's son, steered the ship that was rear-most; it was thinly manned, and therefore moved the slowest. When the Bagals would turn back, they cussedded with all their small ships, but their large ships did not run smoothly compared with those of the Birkibeins. Then the King spoke to Thord Finngeirs-brother, who steered his ship, and said “Do you see Hallvard's ship?” “How can I not see it, Sire,” he answered. They were so near that the forecastle-men on the King's ship were shooting at Hallvard's men; and the King's ship was far in advance of the other ships of the Birkibeins, not less than a bow-shot. “Your fortune,” said the King, “depends on your striking Hallavard's ship. Our place to-day is close to that ship; she is our match.” There is no difficulty, Sire” he answered; “our ship will follow her helm.” King Sverri, in giving a name to his ship, had called it Hugro. Hallvard had the ship called Skalp; Petr Steypi and Eyvind Priests-kin had the Orgnarbrand; Hakon, the King's son, the Vidsia, and Earl Philippus the Hiap. The sterring and the doubling laid the King's ship and Hallvard's alongside each other to larboard; but Eirik of Ha's cutter had run in between them, so that the Hugro did not lie her whole length alongside the other. Earl Philippus's ship came up soon after, but could not be turned so quickly as to get alongside; it ran forward across the bows of Hallvard's shop, and the Earl's forecastle men caught the figure-head with a grappling-hook. The Head came off, but the grappler held fast to the beak as the ship ran swiftly past. The head was painted, and the ship had a sorry look when it was knocked off. Then they were able to turn the Earl's ship and lay her along the starboard side of Hallvard's ship, from the prow as far aft as the pump-room. The other ships found place as they came. Six of the Bagals' large ships were then entirely surrounded, the Birkibeins' ships laying outside of them. The smaller ships of the Bagals all kept at a distance form the ships of the Birkibeins, for they had no desire to be dragged into close quarters, and they could thus move away wherever they wished. The Ognarbrand, which Petr and Eyvingd steered, did not at first row into the fight. When they wised to turn her, they could not do it quickly; though they backed the oars on one side, and all pulled forward on the other, she made so large a sweep they could not turn her. The cutters of the Bagals continually avoided the Orgnarbrand wherever she was, not wishing to be grappled, but they attacked her from a distance as long as the fight continued. The battle was severe and long, beginning before mid-day and lasting till Mid-eve; it was fought on the Strind-sea. Before it began, King Sverri had spoken to his men: “If it turns out that we conquer,” he said, “as I ween we shall, bear in mind how the Bagals starved you in Bergen Castle last summer; give quarter to no man, except those who come before me. For it is quite clear that in no other way than with the spear and sword shall we lay waste our foes. Today among the Bagals you will come across many an oath-breaker and traitor to his King, and now they shall all pay dearly.” The ship which the Bishop had been steering became free in the fight; and when the current separated the ships and gave it room to quit the Birkibeins, it towed away to land, and all the men that were not disabled, sprang on shore. King Sverri shot all day form a crossbow, and so also Earl Philippus. The Earl was struck in the arm under his mail-sleeve, but did not pluck the arrow out until evening. The Rausida, on which were the Bishop and the young King, came no nearer the battle than to see which side conquered, and as soon as they say that the Birkibeins were likely to win, they rowed down the Fiord to sea as hard as they could. Now when the crew of Hallvard's ship began to fall, the crews of the King's ship and the Earl's made ready to board her, and began to clear her. Hallvard had been driven from the aftcastle to the midships, and was slain under the high deck aft of the mast.

In the after part of Hallvard's ship there was a handsome man, who wore a steel-cap and a coat of mail, both of Gautish make. Early in the fight he had been struck with a javelin that had sorely wounded and fractured his nose, and when the ship was well-nigh cleared he had gone on the high deck beside the mast. One of King Sverri's Guards, named Askel, a strong man who wore a breast-plate, set about to attack him and went on the deck. They faced each other, and the man walked towards him. He had no arms except a shield, and a stone in his had; Askel had both sword and shield. A tent stood between them as they met and pointed their weapons at each other for a time. Askel smote hard at him, and the sword struck the tent-pole and remained fixed in it. Then man took advantage of this, and struck Askel with the stone, so that he fell off the deck. And now many in the hearing of the King said that the man was able to defend his cabin if he were one of them, and it would be a good thing to give him quarter; but the King behaved, as though he hear not. A palstave hurled form the King's ship next struck the man, and he fell from the deck; meanwhile Askel had risen up and seized an axe. Again they made at each other, and in the end Askel slew the Bagal, but was himself sore wounded.

Hallvard's ship was the first cleared; and then the five others that lay there were boarded one after another. The Bagals now took to flight; some drove their ships to land and sprang on shore, but the swift ships rowed down the Fiord to sea. The Birkibeins pursued them for a short distance; they captured all the ships that rowed to land, and in the fighting many men were slain, especially of the Bagals. The Birkibeins then rowed back to the town, and came into the river with the floodtide in the night-time. When the force came into the town, it was found that many captains of companies had given quarter to Bagals who were their kinsmen and friends. Some of the Birkibeins, remembering the King's charge, went into a sitting-room containing Bagals and slew them and the kinsmen who had given these men quarter went before the King and complained to him. The King answered that he saw a good remedy; let them find out if those who had slain their kinsmen had given quarter to any kinsmen of their own, and he bade them avenge themselves. After this, parties went through the town, each picking out the other's kinsmen until all the Bagals were slain. The next day the King held an Assembly on the Eyra and told his force how to arrange the division of booty. It should all be taken into the church yard of Postolakirk, and the King said he would set men to watch over it. Then he dispatched men north to Halogaland to follow those who had escaped thither; for he suspected that many of the yeomen had returned to their homes. They seized Biarni Mardarson, Bryniolf of Miola, and many other valiant fellows, and plundered their homestead thoroughly.

King Sverri sails to the Vik. Death of Earl Philippus, Slain by the Bagals at Oslo [1200]

160. There was a man named Erlend, a priest, who chanted the service at Kirosskirk; he was a very wise man, and held a prebend in Kristskirk. This priest had a fair young wife named Ingibiorg, who was beguiled by Earl Philippus. The King became aware of this, and bade the Earl, in kindly words, to cease what he was doing. The Earl promised well, but all went on as before. And now Elrend became aware of it, and was filled with anger against the King as well as the Earl, and was ready for treachery against every Birkibein, if he could bring it about. King Sverri and Priest Elrend had often striven hard with each other on the Archbishop's case.

After the battle, King Sverri made ready will all speed and sailed away with his host and large ships after the Bagals; but they ever pressed on ahead of him, until they came east to Vik, whence they turned south to Denmark, King Sverri still pursuing them. The King sailed all the way south to Hlesey, where he learnt that the Bagals had sailed over to Jotland; he then turned back to the Vik. Here he remained through the summer, and demanded fines form the yeomen on account of their treason, and collected war contributions. He had with him a very great force, and abode during the autumn in Oslo, where he prepared to pass the winter. In the autumn the Earl's leman, the priest's wife, arrived from the north, and the Earl at once received her. The King forbade it, and the Earl sent her a short distance off, to the homestead of Akr, and he often rode there secretly at night to sleep. The King constantly warned the Earl that his conduct was imprudent. “I fear, kinsman,” he said, “that it will do us much damage.” The Bagals sailed from the south, from Denmark, in the early part of Yule, with a fleet of cutter, one of which, steered by Audun Byleist, was shipwrecked on the voyage, not a child of man being saved. When the Bagals came to Oslofiord, they turned into it with fifteen cutters under the command of the young King and Hreidar Sendiman, and at Hofudey they held a conference. Hreidar Sendiman spoke. “I am of the opinion,” he said, “that the Birkibeins have as yet no information about us; and there will be a great crowd of them in the town, the whole host being drunk with ale. It would be a smart feat to make an onset on them, such as Sverri would plan if he were in our place; let us row up to the quays as silently as we can. I know too where there is a chance of game, Earl Philippus sleeps over at Akr, and had few men with him.” Then many answered, “That is a good plan, we will not let him escape.” Five cutters afterwards rowed away to Surprise the Earl, and others rowed up to the quays and listened; but finding all quiet and still in the town, they did not dare to land, and turned back to join their force. Now, those who landed at Akrs-hagi marched up to the homestead, and the Earl had no knowledge of them before the building was surrounded. He escaped by a secret door, barefoot, and dressed in his linen garments only. A frost had begun, the snow had gone, and the half-thawed ground was slippery. The Earl was very swift of foot. The Bagals upon the buildings saw in the dark a man rush out dressed in linen clothes, and called out to their men to seize him. These ran after him, and at that moment his feet slipped and he fell. A spear thrown at him gave him his death-blow. He was slain in some enclosed fields a short distance from the homestead, and two other men were slain also. He had a page-boy Eirik surnamed Svagi, who escaped and bore the tidings to the town. When he entered the Kings-court he was so exhausted that he could scarcely speak, but he called aloud and bade them get up. The King was the first man on foot, dressed, and out in the court-yard; and inquired what were the tidings. The boy answered, “The Earl is dead; the Bagals have slain him.” This is too near us,” said the King. He thought the Earl had slept in the town, at his rooms, and that the Bagals were come into the town; and he called to his trumpeter and bade him blow as loud as he could, and commanded the retainers near him to take their weapons. The troops then sprang to arms. Afterwards some one told the King that the Earl had fallen at Akr; and the whole force remained under arms all night until day. This was the night before the eleventh day of Yule.

The Bagals surprise Nidaros, and flee on the approach Of a force of yeomen.

161. The Bagals now turned down the fiord to sea, and sailed north by the coast, first to Bergen, where they remained a short time; afterwards they proceeded north to Throndham, where they arrived quite unexpected. The Birkibeins present in Kaupang were Hallvard Skygna and his troop, and the Bagals slew the whole company. Hallvard was a brother of Archbishop Guthorm. The Bagals settled themselves in the town, four and a half hundred men. There was a great frost and thick ice at this time. King Sverri's Ballifs and the yeomen determined to march against them with a force and to fight with them. Dyri of Gimsa was over the men of Gaularade, Eyiof Aflasion over the men of Orkadale, and they had fifteen hundred men. The Bagals, who had no information of them until they marched upon the town, went out to the castle to meet them, and defended the castle, preventing their entrance. The day before, the Bagals had broken up the ice on the river all they way form the castle to the bridge. The two armies exchanged shots during the day; many on both sides were wounded, and Philippus of Veigin was hit with an arrow. The yeomen, having effected nothing, marched home the next day, leaving things as they found them. A few days later they made a second expedition to the town, but the Bagals would not wait for them; as soon as they saw the march of the yeomen over Steinbiorg they moved away. They sailed south Mœri, as far as Borgund, and some to Thingvoll, where they abode through the spring until Easter was nigh.

Insurrection of the yeomen on both sides of the Vik.

162. In the winter King Sverri demanded the war-tax from the yeomen, and that each district of the levy should provide a man, likewise a lad of meal and a meat. The King then gave the Thronds leave to return home, and collected a force from the districts. This levy caused much complaint in the VIk. Thereupon the yeomen formed a design which brought harm to many. They entered into a conspiracy against the King, which was kept with wonderful secrecy, though all were in on the one plot from Svina-sound in the east, over the Vestfold and the whole of Raumariki. On an appointed day the whole people rose is a mass, thane and thrall called together over the whole of these shires, and slew all the bailiffs round about, each in his own district. The chiefs of the insurrection were Simun the Lawman of Thufn, Amundi Burst, Throfid Blindi, Thord Ulfestsson, Thorlak Draffi, Jon Kuila, Grim of Grettisvik , Hallkel of Angr. They formed the design in Oslo, and held a meeting Hallvardskirk, where they bound their scheme together. This was because the tax which the King had laid upon them.

On Wednesday of ember days in Lent they slew Benedikt, the bailiff in Tunsberg, with all his company, Olaf Smirokoll in Vari, Petr Lucas-brother in Amud and eight men with him, and the other bailiffs wherever found, and then set watchmen on all the ways that led to the town [Oslo]. The following Friday a rumour reached the King that the yeomen had gathered together, but it seemed to him incredible; then he had a muster of the levies, and discovered that the men form the nearest districts were absent. The King sent after them; but so it was, that they came not, either Saturday or Sunday. Sunday, a yeoman came from the country to the King and told him that a host had gathered against him and would soon come; he bade him be on his guard, for it would be there not later than that very night or early morning; and he declared that he had seen the yeomen's host. When the King heard these tidings he straightway summoned the whole force, his own and the townsmen's as also the merchants. He informed them all of the tidings he had heard, and begged the hold of the townsmen and merchants, saying that they would have to defend their property and freedom. His speech was received with applause, and the whole force was divided into companies. The King bade them go and take their evening meal; after which, he said he would again summon all the force together. This was done. Then the townsmen and merchants removed into the churches all they could of their property. The King dispatched mounted watchmen along all the ways. Late in the evening he summoned, the second time, the whole of the force out on the ice in front of the town, and led them over to Akrs-hagi, where they passed the night. The King rode with a few men to Solangr, and leaving the horses on the slope, went down to the the lake. On the ice of the lake was an immense host of yeomen discussing their plans. The King having listened to what was said, went away to his horses, rode down to the ice, and thence outside the Akrs-hagit to his ships. Here he remained for a time, and then returned to his men. Day was now at hand. The King then summoned his force to the ice between Snælda and the mainland, and having called for silence, thus addressed them: “A great force is here come together, and we need, of necessity, that the one Almighty God watch over us. An army has gathered against is, Thilir and Markamen, but I hope they have now turned back. Are these all our men, or have some of the yeomen come over here?” The King was told that they were all his own force. “Then,” he said, “we must watch over our ships, and must get our men to cut out a passage for them through the ice,” Just at this moment a man arrived to say that a force had come from the east over Langamoss, and were then on the Ryginaberg; Skeynir and Eynir, Foldungar, Heggnir. The King Answered, “Then our plans must be changed.” He was on horseback, and riding up to the townsmen's force, he spoke so that he could be heard by his own men as well. “There are two courses before us: we may either flee before the yeomen for quarter is bad, there are lighter blows to be had, methinks, in facing them than in turning our backs to them.” His men bade him decide again, as of old, saying that would be the best course. He next asked the townsmen if they were willing to give him help, or should he and they manage their own affairs. “We Birkibeins,” he said, “would repeat the old saying to you, 'A friend is for use in time of need.'” The yeomen and townsmen answered that they were willing to give the King such help as they could.

Insurrection of the yeomen. Battles at Oslo [6^th March 1200]

163. King Sverri addressed his force and thus spoke: “It is my advice that, before the yeomen's host attacks us on all sides, we go and encounter the force that lies near, on the Ryginaberg, a gathering come all the way from Svina-sound, in the east. We will march north of Nunnusetr; let no man enter the town. Pal Belti and a company of Uplanders shall take snow-skates and implements for traveling on snow, climb the rock, and get above their force, and then see how numerous it is.” So the Uplanders did. They took their snow-skates and climbed up the rock to the east near the yeomen. There was much snow on te ground and show-skating was easy; but walking was bad, because a deep snow-drift was near as soon as the road was left. Daylight was coming on and the weather was bright. Pal and his men came to the top of the tock, and way that all they way form the Giolluras above, done to the Frysia. And right out to Akrs-hagi, the whole land swarmed with men. As quick as possible they went back to the King to tell him. By this time the King had come to Mortustokka, and he halted to hear the tidings. But his standard and the van of his army were marching up the dale and mounting the rock. Some kept to the cart-road in their ascent; others climbed up the slope, which was so steep that a man might easily put the knee of one leg to the ground and stand upright on the other leg. The yeomen raised the war-cry and sprang forwards to the verge of the rock, throwing their spears, which was easy to do on foes below their feet. Those who stood to the west on the rock, to right of the Birkibeins, shot at them in their rear. The broad was no broader than would admit four or five, walking abreast, and steep withal. Many Birkibeins were wounded and some were slain. No progress was made in the ascent, the standard-bearer fell, and there was a hard struggle before the Birkibeins saved the banner. The Birkibeins, seeing they could not resist, fled; those highest up the rock ran down, treading on the heels if those that stood below, and so down to bottom, where the fugitives fell on atop of another. The yeomen did not pursue them, for they saw the main body of the Birkibeins then ascending the rock. King Sverri now came and said: “Fie upon you, running away so that one falls atop of another. Don't you see that no one pursues you?” Then he gave the signal for the whole force to fall back to Mortustokka. Seventeen men of the Birkibeins were slain on the Ryginaberg, all Guardsmen and many were wounded. Then the King said: “Bear up boldly, my gallant fellows. Though we have suffered a slight defeat. 'Happens often so at sea,' as the seal said when he was shot in the eye. The yeomen have all the victory they will get. The dream is now fulfilled that came to me in the night. I dreamt that I owned a book, so large that it covered much of the land; but it was all loose, and one sheet was stolen out of it. That sheet is the men whom the yeomen have taken. But have no fear of their host; the more of them there are, the worse they will fare on their journey. King Sverri spoke again and said: “Let us turn along the way to the rock east of them, which lies way up the rock, they beheld, all the way north and down to the sea, a host of yeomen as if they looked on a forest. Then the King said: “Do you Sigurd Lavard and Hakon, my sons, with your companies, set up your standard and remain at Mortustokka, to oppose the yeomen here on the rock, lest they attack us in the rear; I will go north to meet the force that comes that way.”