(172.)
539. From far and wide his war-band
wealthy Thórir gathered—
sorely men did suffer
soon from this—with Egil.
Heard I that overwhelming
hardships befell Skjálg’s friends, when
the king’s stewards stirred up
strife ’gainst the feeder-of-ravens.
Thórir and his men collected their forces in the Uppland districts and descended into Raums Dale and South Mœr. There they procured ships and then sailed north to Trondheim.
Chapter 5. Thórir Flees to Hálogaland, Pursued by King Magnús
Sigurth Woolstring was the name of a king’s steward. He was the son of Lothin Viggjarskalli. When hearing of the approach of Thórir and his band he gathered a force by means of sending around the war-arrows, and proceeded to Vigg with all the men he managed to get. But Svein and Thórir headed the same way with their force and gave battle to Sigurth. They were victorious, causing great slaughter, and Sigurth fled and sought out the king. But Thórir and his men proceeded to Kaupang, remaining in the fjord for a while, and many men joined them.
King Magnús learned of these happenings and at once summoned his troops and then proceeded to Trondheim. When he arrived at the Trond-heimfjord, and Thórir and his men learned that—they were anchored by Hefring Head, ready to sail out of the fjord—they rowed over to Vagnvíkastrands and there disembarked and went north to Thex Dale in the Selja District. Thórir was carried over the mountains on a stretcher. There they procured ships and sailed north to Hálogaland. But King Magnús pursued them, as soon as he had made his preparations in Trondheim. Thórir and his men sailed all the way north to Bjarkey. There, Jóan fled, together with his son Víthkun. Thórir’s band plundered there, taking all movable property and burning the farm and also a fine warship which belonged to Víthkun. When the ship burned and began to heel, Thórir said, “More to starboard, Víthkun!” Then someone composed this verse:
(173.)
540. Burns in middle Birch-Isle
the best of manors—little
good one ever gets from
grim Thórir—high blazing.
Needless to ask, at night, if
Jóan enough had of plunder—
high to heaven from buildings
whirls the smoke—or fire.
Chapter 6. Thórir and Egil Are Hanged
Jóan and Víthkun travelled day and night to join King Magnús. Svein and Thórir also came down from the north with their forces, plundering far and wide in Hálogaland. But when they were anchored in the fjord which is called Harm they saw the fleet of King Magnús approaching; and they did not consider they had a force to stand up against the king, and so took to flight by rowing. Thórir and Egil rowed to Hesjutún while Svein rowed out to sea; and a part of their fleet rowed into the fjord. King Magnús pursued Thórir, and when the ships began to engage each other in fight at the landing-place, Thórir stood forward in his ship. Then Sigurth Wool-string called out to him, “Are you hale, Thórir?”
Thórir replied,
(173a.)
541. “Hale in my hands,
but halt in my feet.”
Then all of Thórir’s men fled up on land, and Thórir was captured. Egil, too, was made captive, because he did not want to abandon his wife. King Magnús had both led to Vambarhólm Island. But as Thórir was brought upon the island he tottered on his legs. Then Víthkun said, “More to larboard, Thórir!” Thereupon Thórir was led up to the gallows. Then he spoke this verse:
(174.)
542. “Formerly were there four1 of us
fellows; one did the steering.”
And when he went up to the gallows he said, “Ill are evil counsels.” Thereupon he was hanged; and when the gallows-tree was raised, Thórir proved so heavy that his neck was torn from his body, which fell to the ground. Thórir was an enormously big man, and both tall and stout.
Egil was also led to the gallows; but when the king’s slaves were about to hang him, Egil said, “Not that every one of you didn’t better deserve to hang!” according to the verse:
Egil is hanged.
(175.)
543. In spite Egil spoke, on the
spur of the moment, sun-of-
gleaming-gold,2 about the
grovelling thralls of Magnús:
that higher than he should each be
hanging by rights, said he:
the fire-of-fray’s3-waster
far too much did suffer.
King Magnús sat near where they were hanged and was so furious that no one of his men dared to plead for their lives. When Egil kicked the gallows the king said, “Of little avail are your good kinsmen to you.” From these words it was inferred that the king wished that someone had pleaded for Egil’s life. Thus says Bjorn the Cripplehanded:
(176.)
544. Soon the Sogn men’s lord his
sword reddened on spoilers—
far and wide the wolf-brood
warm flesh got in Harmfjord.
Heard you have, how Magnús—
hanged was by him Thórir—
fast he fared against his
foes—punished the traitors.
Chapter 7. King Magnús Is Sole Ruler in Norway
Thereupon King Magnús returned to the Trondheim District, and sailing into the Trondheimfjord, visited strong retribution on the men who had been guilty of treason against him. Some he executed, and burned down the houses of others. As says Bjorn the Cripplehanded:
(177.)
545. Fear put the feeder-of-ravens
fierce into the hearts of
Thronders, when their thatch he
threatened to set fire to.
Did the liege of life rob
leaders twain at one time—
hawks pounced on the hanged, and
had their fill witch-horses.1
Svein Haraldsson first fled out to sea, and then to Denmark, and lived there until he effected a conciliation with King Eystein, the son of Magnús. He pardoned Svein and made him his cup-bearer, befriending him and holding him in great honor.
Then King Magnús was sole ruler in Norway. He preserved peace in it, destroying all vikings and pirates. He was a vigorous man, warlike and active, and in every respect more like his grandfather Harald in disposition than his father.
Chapter 8. King Magnús’ Expedition to the Western Isles
King Magnús prepared for an expedition abroad, taking with him a force both large and well-equipped and a fine fleet. With this force he sailed west across the sea, first to the Orkneys. He made the earls Pál and Erlend captive and sent them both east to Norway, setting his son Sigurth as chieftain over the islands, and giving him a body of counsellors. Then King Magnús sailed to the Hebrides, and at once upon arrival there began to harry and burn the countryside, killing the men and despoiling them wherever the troops came. The inhabitants of the land fled and scattered in all directions. Some fled into the Scottish firths, some south to Saltire [Kintyre] or west to Ireland. Some were given quarter and swore him allegiance. Thus says Bjorn the Cripplehanded:
(178.)
546. Leapt the flames aloft on
Lewis nigh to heaven.
Far and wide all folk did
flee—burst fire from houses.
Over Uist Island
endlong went the Skjoldung—
life and wealth the lieges
lost—with reddened sword-blade.
(179.)
547. Harried on Skye he who
hungry ravens battens.
Their teeth on Tiree reddened
tawny wolves on corpses.
Grieved there Grenland’s1 ruler
girls in Shetland islands—
high up in Scotland harried
he who Mull’s people frightened.
Chapter 9. King Magnús Captures Lawman
King Magnús with his force came to Holy Isle [lona] and there assured men of peace and p
rotection and likewise everyone’s possessions. It is told that he wanted to open up Kolumba’s little cell,1 but did not enter into it, and immediately closed the door again, saying that no one should dare to enter that church; nor was that done in after time.
Then King Magnús sailed with his fleet south to Islay and harried and burned there. And after conquering that land he proceeded south past Sal-tire, harrying on both sides in Ireland and Scotland. He laid the land waste all the way south to Man, harrying there as elsewhere. As says Bjorn the Cripplehanded:
(180.)
548. Warlike Magnús widely
waste laid Sanday’s grasslands.
Smoke rose up on Islay
Isle as homesteads burned there.
South on Saltire bloody
swords felled many Scotsmen.
Manxmen many then by
Magnús’ host were laid low.
Lawman was the name of the son of Guthröth, king over the Hebrides. Lawman had been charged with the defence of the Northern Isles. But when King Magnús neared the Hebrides with his fleet, Lawman fled and hid among the islands; but finally King Magnús’ men captured him together with his crew as he was about to flee to Ireland. The king had him put in irons, with a guard set over him. As says Bjorn the Cripplehanded:
(181.)
549. Safe for sea-king Guthröth’s
scion was no refuge.
Won there lands the lord, to
Lawman barred forever.
Out at sea, where swords did
sing, the Egthirs’ ruler
bound the breaker-of-rings with
bonds and chains of iron.
Chapter 10. King Magnús Defeats Two Welsh Earls
Then King Magnús steered his fleet to Bretland [Wales]. And when he arrived at the Sound of Anglesey [Menai Strait] a fleet approached from Bretland, headed by two earls, Hugh the Proud and Hugh the Stout, and at once gave battle. It was a hard fight. King Magnús shot with his bow, but Hugh the Proud was clad in mail from head to foot, so that no spot was bare except the eyes. Both King Magnús and a man from Hálogaland who stood near the king aimed their arrows at him, and both shot at the same time. One arrow struck the visor of Hugh’s helmet, and was deflected to the side, but the other hit the earl’s eye and penetrated his head; and that shot was attributed to the king. Earl Hugh fell dead, and then the Welsh fled after losing many men.
As says Bjorn the Cripplehanded:
(182.)
550. Lifeless was left by the
liege where raged the battle—
whined and whizzed the arrows—
Hugh in Sound of Anglesey.
This verse also was spoken:
(183.)
551. Darts then drummed on byrnies,
doughtily hurled by war-lord.
Blood rose on helms. Bent his
bow of elm the atheling.
A hail of arrows hit the
hauberks—many fell there—
when the Horthar’s1 king in
hard fight slew Hugh Earl.
King Magnús was victorious in this battle. He took possession of Anglesey, as had done the kings of Norway who had dominion farthest south. Anglesey is one third the size of Bretland.
After this battle King Magnús turned back with his fleet and steered first to Scotland. Then men negotiated a peace between him and Malcolm, king of Scotland. According to their agreement King Magnús was to have possession of all the islands west of Scotland separated from the mainland by water so that a ship with fixed rudder could pass between them. Now when King Magnús approached Saltire from the south he had a small craft dragged over the neck of land between Saltire and the mainland, with tiller fixed. The king himself sat on the raised afterdeck, holding the steering post, and thus took possession of the land to larboard. Saltire is a large land, and better than the best island in the Hebrides excepting Man. There is a slender neck of land between it and the mainland of Scotland. Warships are often dragged across it.
Chapter 11. Sigurth, the Son of Magnús, Marries Bjathmynja
King Magnús remained in the Hebrides during the winter. At that time his men went west about all the firths of Scotland behind the islands, both inhabited and uninhabited, and took possession of all of them for the king. King Magnús married his son Sigurth to Bjathmynja, the daughter of King Mýrjartak Thjálbason,1 king over the Irish. He ruled over Connaught. In the summer after, King Magnús with his fleet returned east to Norway.
Earl Erlend died of a sickness in Nitharós and is buried there; but Pál, in Bergen.
Skopti, the son of Ogmund Thorbergsson, was a steward of the king, an excellent man. He resided in Gizki in South Mœr. He was married to Guthrún, the daughter of Thórth Fólason. Their children were Ogmund, Finn, Thórth; and his daughter Thóra became the wife of Ásólf Skúlason. When young the sons of Skopti gave rise to much promise.
Chapter 12. Magnús Constructs a Fort in Lake Vœneren
Steinkel, the king of Sweden, died about the time of the death of the [two] Haralds. Hákon was the name of the king who succeeded Steinkel in Sweden. After him Ingi, the son of Steinkel, was king—a good and powerful king, a man of great size and strength. He ruled in Sweden at the same time as Magnús in Norway.
King Magnús maintained that in the olden times the Gaut Elf River had been the boundary between the realms of the Swedish and the Norwegian kings, and from there, Lake Vænir up to Vermaland. King Magnús laid claim to all the districts west of Vænir. These comprise Sunn Dale and North Dale, Véar and Varthynjar, and all the forested parts neighboring to them. All these had for a long time been subject to the Swedish kings, and paid tribute as parts of West Gautland. And the people of the Forest Settlements wanted to be under the Swedish king as before.
King Magnús proceeded from Vík and into Gautland with a large and well-equipped army. And when he came to the Forest Settlements he harried and burned, and dealt so with all districts. The people swore him allegiance and fealty. But when he came to Lake Vænir, fall was approaching. Then the king’s men rowed out to the island of Kvalthinsey and there constructed a fort of turf and timbers and dug a ditch around it. And when this fortification was completed they brought into it victuals and other necessaries. The king placed a garrison of three hundred [360] men there. They were under the command of Finn Skoptason and Sigurth Woolstring. It was a picked band. Then the king returned to Vík.
Chapter 13. King Ingi Treats the Garrison of the Fort with Ignominy
But when the Swedish king learned about these events he summoned troops; and it was reported that he would move down to those parts. However, there was a delay. Then the Norwegians spoke this ditty:
(184.)
552. Long does loin-broad Ingi
linger before coming.
But when the ice formed on Lake Vænir, King Ingi rode down with nearly thirty hundred [3600] men. He sent a message to the Norwegians in the fortification, asking them to depart with the booty they had made, and to return to Norway. But when the messengers had delivered the king’s message, Sigurth Woolstring replied that Ingi should think of some other plan than to turn them out like a herd into the pasture—that he would have to come nearer first. The messengers returned to the king with that answer.
Thereupon King Ingi proceeded to the island with all his army. Then he sent his men to the Norwegians a second time and asked them to depart with their weapons, clothes, and horses, but to leave behind their booty. They refused to do so. Thereupon an attack was made and they shot upon one another. Following that the king had stones and wood brought up to fill the moat. Then he had anchors fastened to long timbers and had those thrown up on the wooden wall. Many men took hold and pulled the wall apart. Still further great fires [with glowing embers] were kindled and flaming brands tossed at them. Thereupon the Norwegians asked for quarter, but the king then commanded them to leave weaponless and without their outer garments; and when they issued, every one of them was lashed with a switch. They left in this wise and went
back home to Norway. But the men of the Forest Districts returned to their allegiance to King Ingi. Sigurth and his companions rejoined King Magnús and told him about their misadventure.
Chapter 14. King Magnús Is Defeated and Pursued
As soon as the ice broke up in the spring, King Magnús proceeded east to the [Gaut Elf] River with a large army. He rowed up the eastern [southern] branch and harried everywhere in the Swedish realm. And when he [and his forces] arrived at Foxerni they went on land from their ships. As they passed over a certain river an army of Gauts met them. There was a battle, and the Norwegians were overpowered and took to flight. Many of them were slain near a certain waterfall. King Magnús fled, with the Gauts pursuing and killing all they could.
King Magnús was easily recognizable, being of unusual height. He wore a red doublet over his coat of mail, and his long hair, as pale as silk, fell down over his shoulders. Ogmund, the son of Skopti, rode by the side of the king. He too was exceedingly tall and handsome. He said, “Give me your doublet, king!”
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