The king answered, “Of what use to you would be my doublet?”
“I wish to have it,” he said. “You have given me greater gifts.” The nature of the place was such that there were broad plains round about, so that Gauts and Norwegians were always in sight of one another. But there were also steeps and coppices, and there they were out of each others’ sight. Then the king gave Ogmund his doublet, and he put it on. Afterwards they rode on over the plain. Then Ogmund and his men turned abruptly to one side, and when the Gauts saw that they thought it was the king and pursued him in a body. But the king kept on till he boarded his ship, while Ogmund barely escaped, yet made it to the ships. Thereupon King Magnús rowed down the river and then north to Vík.
Chapter 15. Kings Magnús, Ingi, and Eirík Agree on Peace Terms
The summer after [these events], a meeting of kings was arranged, to take place at Konungahella in the [Gaut Elf] River. To this meeting came Magnús, king of Norway, Ingi, king of Sweden, and Eirík Sveinsson, king of Denmark. And this conference was safeguarded by mutual assurances. When it took place, the three kings came forward on the plain, away from their followers, and conferred together for a little while, then returned to their company. Then the agreement was made that each of them was to have possession of the realm his forefathers had had; and each of the kings was to make recompense to the other for the booty made by him, and for the destruction of life. And each of them was to make amends for the damages done by him. King Magnús was to obtain in marriage Margrét, the daughter of King Ingi—she was thereafter called Frithkolia [Peace Woman].
People said that never had there been seen more princely men than these three kings. King Ingi was the tallest in stature and the stoutest of them, and to all he seemed the most majestic in appearance. But King Magnús seemed the most striking and active, whereas Eirík was the handsomest. But all three of them were large men, handsome, distinguished-looking, and eloquent. They parted when these agreements had been made.
Chapter 16. Of the Costumes Worn by King Magnús and His Son
King Magnús obtained Queen Margaret in marriage. She was sent west from Sweden to Norway with a magnificent following. Now King Magnús had some children from before whose names are as follows. One son’s name was Eystein. His mother was of low birth. A second was called Sigurth, younger by one year, whose mother was Thóra. The third was Óláf, who was by a great deal the youngest. His mother was Sigríth, daughter of Saxi of Vík, a chieftain in the district of Trondheim. She was Magnús’ mistress.
It is told that when King Magnús returned from his expedition to the west he and many of his men for the most part had the manners and wore the clothes which were customary in the British Islands. They went barelegged in the Street [of Kaupaug] and had short kirtles and outer garments. Then people called him Magnús Barefoot or Barelegs; but some, Magnús the Tall, and still others Styrjaldar Magnús [Magnús of the turbulence, warfare]. He was exceedingly tall. A mark was made of his height in Saint Mary’s Church in the town, the one which King Harald had had built. There on the north door three crosses were chiseled, one showing Harald’s height, another, Óláf’s, and a third, that of Magnús. They were put where it was easiest for them to kiss. And highest was Harald’s cross; the lowest that of Magnús, and that of Óláf in the middle between them.
Chapter 17. Skopti Ogmundarson Falls Out with Magnús
Skopti, the son of Ogmund, had a falling out with King Magnús. They quarrelled about the inheritance of one deceased which Skopti had possession of, but which the king claimed for himself with such vehemence that there was danger of serious trouble between them. They [Skopti and his kinsmen] had many discussions [about this], and Skopti cautioned against himself and his sons ever putting themselves into the king’s power at one and the same time, and that this would best serve their purposes. Now when Skopti himself came before the king he pointed out that there was a close relationship between the king and himself, and also, that he, Skopti, always had been a close friend of the king and that their friendship never had been broken. He also said that men might know that he had sense enough—“not to quarrel about this matter with you, sir king, if I were in the wrong. But I take after my forefathers in this that I insist on my rights against everyone, and in this I make no distinction against whom.” The king did not change his mind, nor was it softened by such an appeal. Skopti returned home.
Chapter 18. Finn Skoptason Pleads with the King
Then Finn [Skoptason] went to see the king, and spoke to him, asking him to let his father and his kin have what they were by rights entitled to. The king answered curtly and gruffly. Thereupon Finn said, “A different treatment, sir king, I expected to get from you than to be cheated out of my lawful rights by you, considering the time I stationed myself on the island of Kvalthinsey, which few of your other friends would consent to do, because they said—and that proved to be the truth—that those who were stationed there were delivered up and would have been condemned to death if King Ingi had not shown greater chieftainly qualities than you have shown us; and yet it would appear to many that even so we suffered great humiliation there—if that has any weight [with you].” The king was not moved by such arguments, and Finn returned home.
Chapter 19. Ogmund Skoptason Urges his Cause before the King
Thereupon Ogmund Skoptason went to speak with the king, and when he appeared before him he pleaded his case, praying the king to proceed with justice toward his father and brothers. The king said that the right was on his side and that they were most impudent. Then Ogmund said, “You are likely, sir king, to succeed in wronging us, because of your power. Thus is proved true that, as the saying goes, most people show little or no gratitude, even if you save their lives. But I shall want it understood that never again shall I join your service, nor any of our kin, if I have my way.” Thereupon Ogmund returned home, nor did King Magnús or they ever meet again.
Chapter 20. Skopti and his Sons Die Abroad
In the spring following, Skopti Ogmundarson outfitted to leave the land. He had five warships, all well equipped. His sons, Ogmund, Finn, and Thórth all joined company with him. They got off to a rather late start, and in the fall sailed to Flamland [Flanders] and stayed there during the winter. Early the following spring they sailed west to Valland [France], and in the summer they sailed through Norva Sound [the Straits of Gibraltar], and in fall, to Rome. There Skopti died, and all his sons died on that expedition. Thórth lived longest of them. He died in Sikiley [Sicily]. It is said that Skopti was the first Norwegian to sail through Norva Sound, and this journey was famed widely.
Chapter 21. Saint Óláf Saves his Church from Burning
It happened in Kaupang, where King Saint Óláf is interred, that fire broke out in a house in the town and spread widely. Then the shrine of King Óláf was borne out of the church and set against the conflagration. Then a certain rash and witless man ran up to it, beat upon the shrine, and uttered threats against the saint, saying that all, both the churches and other buildings, would go up in flames unless he prevented it by his prayers. Now Almighty God kept the church from burning, but to this witless man he sent a pain in the eye that very night, and he lay there until Holy King Óláf interceded for him with God Almighty and he was healed in that same church.
Chapter 22. Saint Óláf Heals a Crippled Woman
Still further it happened in Kaupang that a woman was brought to the place in the town where King Óláf is interred. She was so misshapen that she was all shrunk together and both feet were bent up against her thighs. And when she lay there, constantly praying and weeping, and had called on him, he healed her of her great infirmity, so that her feet and legs and other limbs were straightened from their bent position and each limb and joint afterwards served its proper purpose. Before, she could not even creep to that spot, but now she walked from there hale and rejoicing to her home.
Chapter 23. King Magnús Sails to Ireland
King Magnús prepared an expedition abroad with
a large army. At that time he had been king over Norway for nine years. Then he sailed west across the sea with the best equipped army that ever left Norway. In his company were all the chieftains in the country: Sigurth Hranason, Víthkun Jóansson, Dag Eilífsson, Serk of Sogn, Eyvind Elbow, the marshal of the king, Úlf Hranason, the brother of Sigurth, and many other chieftains. With all this force the king sailed west to the Orkneys and from there took with him Magnús and Erling, the sons of Earl Erlend. Then he sailed to the Hebrides; and when he was anchored beside the Scottish coast, Magnús Erlendsson at night jumped overboard from the king’s ship and swam to land. Then he hid in the forest and finally came to the court of the king of Scotland. Afterwards King Magnús sailed to Ireland and harried there. Then King Mýrjartak joined him, and together they won much of the land, Dublin and the Shire of Dublin; and in the winter following, King Magnús dwelt in Connaught with King Mýrjartak, putting his men to the defence of the land he had won. But when spring came the kings with their army marched west to Ulster and there had many battles and subdued the land, winning the greater part of Ulster. Thereupon Mýrjartak returned to Connaught.
At sunrise Magnús and his men go on land.
Chapter 24. King Magnús Goes Inland in Ulster
Then King Magnús outfitted his ships, intending to return to Norway. He stationed his men in Dublin to guard it. He lay with all of his ships by the Ulster coast, ready for sailing. They thought they needed provisioning, and King Magnús sent his men to King Mýrjartak, asking him to send provisions and mentioning the day they were to be brought—the day 1103 before Bartholomew Mass [August 24th], if his messengers got through with a whole skin. But on the evening before the day they had not arrived. On the day of the Mass, when the sun rose, King Magnús debarked with the greater part of his force and went up on land, meaning to look for his men and provisions. The weather was calm and the sun shone. The way lay over swamps and fens. A corduroy road was made over them, and there were thickets on both sides. As they proceeded they came to a very high hill. From there they had a wide view. Inland they saw a great cloud of dust arising from a body of horsemen. They wondered whether that might be the army of the Irish, but some said that these probably were the men with the provisions. They took a position there. Then Eyvind Elbow spoke. “Sir king,” he said, “what do you think this body of men is? Your men think you are proceeding without due caution. You know that the Irish are treacherous. Lay down some plan for your troops to follow.”
Then the king said, “Let us draw up our force in battle array, to be prepared in case this is treachery.” This they did. The king and Eyvind went in front of their lines. King Magnús had a helmet on his head and a red shield before him on which a lion was embossed in gold. He was girt with the sword which was called Legbiter, whose hilt was carved of walrus-tooth and whose haft was wound with gold—an excellent weapon. In his hand he carried a halberd. Over his kirtle he wore a red silken jacket with a lion sewed on front and back with yellow silk. It was said that a man of more imposing stature and more gallant bearing had never been seen. Eyvind, too, had a red silk jacket, just like that of the king. And he also was a tall man, handsome, and of martial bearing.
Chapter 25. King Magnús and His Army Are Overcome by the Irish
But when the cloud of dust approached they recognized their own men, who came with a great amount of provisions which the king of the Irish had sent them. He kept all the promises he had made to King Magnús. Then they started on their way back to the ships, and that was about noontime. But when they came out on the fens they were slow in passing over them. Then the army of the Irish rushed out upon them from every corner of the woods and at once began to give battle; but the Norwegians were travelling in open formation, and many of them fell quickly.
Then Eyvind spoke. “Sir king,” he said, “our troops are faring badly. Let us quickly hit on a good plan.”
The king said, “Let a blast of trumpets call all the troops under their banners; but let all those who are here form a rampart of shields, and then let us beat a retreat over the moors. Once we are on even ground there will be no more danger.” The Irish shot [their arrows] boldly, yet they fell thickly. However, where one had fallen, another filled his place. And when the king had got to the next ditch—it was difficult going there, with only few places where one could get over—a great many Norwegians fell.
Then the king called Thorgrím Furcap, one of his stewards—he was from the Upplands—and ordered him to pass over the ditch with his troop, “but meanwhile we shall keep them away,” he said, “so that they won’t harm you. Then get on the knoll over there and shoot at them while we pass over the ditch—you are good shots.” But as soon as Thorgrím and his men had got over the ditch they threw their shields on their backs and ran down to the ships. When the king saw that he called out: “Shamefully you part with your king. A fool I was to make you my steward but outlawed Sigurth the Hound1—he would never have behaved so!”
King Magnús was wounded by a spear passing through both his thighs above the knee. He grasped the shaft between his legs and broke it, and said: “Thus break we every leg-spar, men!” King Magnús received a blow with a battle-axe on his neck, and that was his death-wound. Then 1103 those fled who were still left. Vithkun Jóansson carried the sword Legbiter and the standard of the king to the ships. These were the last to take to flight: he, and Sigurth Hranason, and Dag Eilífsson. Together with King Magnús there fell Eyvind Elbow, Úlf Hranason, and many other chieftains. Many Norwegians fell, yet many more Irishmen.
The Norwegians who escaped, at once left [Ireland] in the fall. Erling, the son of Earl Erlend, fell in Ireland with King Magnús. But when the force that had fled from Ireland arrived in the Orkneys and Sigurth learned of the death of his father Magnús he joined them at once, and that [same] fall returned to Norway.
Chapter 26. Of King Magnús Barelegs’ Character
King Magnús had ruled Norway for ten years, and in his days there was good peace within the land; but people had much labor and expense from his expeditions abroad. By his followers King Magnús was greatly beloved, but the farmers considered him stern. It is recalled that when his friends told him that he often proceeded incautiously on his expeditions abroad he replied, “for glorious deeds one should have a king, not for a long life.” King Magnús was approaching thirty years of age when he fell. Víthkun slew that man in the battle who had given King Magnús his death-blow, whereupon he fled, having received three wounds. For this reason he was in great favor with the sons of King Magnús.
The Saga of the Sons of Magnús
Chapter 1. King Sigurth Heads an Expedition to Miklagarth
After the fall of King Magnús Barelegs his sons, Eystein, Sigurth, and Óláf succeeded to the kingdom of Norway. Eystein ruled in the northern part of the country, Sigurth, in the southern part. King Óláf was four or five years old, and the third of the land which fell to his share was in the keeping of his two older brothers. Sigurth was chosen king when he was thirteen or fourteen years old, but Eystein was a year older. King Sigurth left the daughter of the Irish king behind in the west.
When the sons of Magnús succeeded to the throne, the men who had gone abroad with Skopti Ogmundarson returned from Palestine, and some, from Miklagarth [Byzantium]. They had acquired great fame and could tell of many events; and this news whetted the desire of a great many in Norway to undertake a like journey. It was said that in Miklagarth Norwegians who wanted to take service as mercenaries could acquire great wealth. The request was made of the kings that one of them, whether Eystein or Sigurth, should head a fleet which was being outfitted for such an expedition abroad. The kings assented and equipped this expedition at the expense of both. Many chieftains joined it, both such as held lands from the king and rich farmers. And when they were ready it was decided that Sigurth was to head this enterprise, and that Eystein was to govern the country for both kings.
Chapter 2. Hákon Is Made Earl of the Orkneys
One y
ear or two after the fall of Magnús Barelegs, Hákon, the son of Earl Pál, came east from the Orkneys; and the kings bestowed on him the earlship and authority over the Orkneys, the same as Earls Pál, his father, or Erlend, his paternal uncle, had had before him; whereupon Hákon sailed west back to the Orkneys.
Chapter 3. King Sigurth Sails to England
Four years after the death of King Magnús, King Sigurth and 1107 his expedition left Norway. He had with him sixty ships. As says Thórarin Stuttfeld:1
(185.)
553. So great a fleet
together came
for prudent prince,
picked and faithful,
that sixty ships
sailed, gaily planked,
hence by holy
heavens’ decree.
In the fall King Sigurth sailed to England. At that time Henry, the son of William the Bastard was king. King Sigurth remained there during the winter. As says Einar Skúlason:2
(186.)
554. Strongest fleet was steered by
stout-hearted king westward.
Leapt toward English lands the
liege-of-Norway’s sea-steed.
Gave the ruler rest to
roller-horses weary
winter-long—alighted
lord ne’er better from gangplank.
Chapter 4. King Sigurth Proceeds Along the Coast of Spain
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