should be restored, and continued as of old. So it is said in the Vellekla : "Hakon the earl, so good and wise, Let all the ancient temples rise ;- The shield-bearer in Loke's game * The earl has conquered with strong hand In battle storm, and iron rain, Hakon spreads wide his sword's domain." The first winter that Hakon ruled over Norway the herrings set in everywhere through the fiords to the land, and the seasons ripened to a good crop all that had been sown. The people, therefore, laid in seed for the next year, and got their lands sowed, and had hope of good times. CHAPTER XVII.-Earl Hakon's Battle with Ragnfred. King Ragnfred and King Gudrod, both sons of Gunhild and Eirik, were now the only sons of Gunhild remaining in life. So says Glum Geirason in Grayskin's lay : Half of my fortunes with him fell: Ragnfred began his course in the spring after he had been a year in the Orkney Islands. He sailed from thence to Norway, and had with him fine troops and large ships. When he came to Norway he learnt that Earl Hakon was in Throndhjem; therefore he steered northwards around Stad, and plundered in South More. Some people submitted to him; for it often happens, when parties of armed men scour over a country, that those who are nearest the danger seek help where they think it may be expected. As soon as Earl Hakon heard the news of disturbance in More, he fitted out ships, sent the war-token through the land, made ready in all haste, and proceeded out of the fiord. He had no difficulty in assembling men. Ragnfred and Earl Hakon met at the north corner of More; and Hakon, who had most men, but fewer ships, began the battle. The combat was severe, but heaviest on Hakon's side; and, as the custom then was, they fought bow to bow, and there was a current in the sound which drove all the ships in upon the land. The earl ordered to row with the oars to the land where landing seemed easiest. When the ships were all grounded, the earl with all his men left them, and drew them up so far that the enemy might not launch them down again, and then drew up his men on a grass field, and challenged Ragnfred to land. Ragnfred and his men laid their vessels in along the land, and they shot at each other a long time; but upon the land Ragnfred would not venture : and so they separated. Ragnfred sailed with his fleet southwards around Stad; for he was much afraid the whole forces of the country would swarm around Hakon. Hakon, on his part, was not inclined to try again a battle, for he thought the difference between their ships in size was too great; so in harvest he went north to Throndhjem, and stayed there all winter [971] King Ragnfred consequently had all the country south of Stad at his mercy; namely, Fiord district, Hordaland, Sogn, Rogaland; and he had many people about him all winter. When spring approached he ordered out the people and collected a large force. By going about the districts he got many men, ships, and warlike stores sent as he required. CHAPTER XVIII.-Another Battle between Earl Hakon and Ragnfred in Sogn. Towards spring Earl Hakon ordered out all the men north in the country, and got many people from Halogaland and Naumudal; so that from Byrda * to Stad he had men from all the sea-coast. People flocked to him from all the Throndhjem district and from Raumsdal. It was said for certain that he had men from four great districts, and that seven * Byrda, now Boro, in the parish of Biorn Isles, on the coast, near the mouth of the Namsen river, or Naumudal.-L. earls followed him, and a matchless number of men. So it is said in the Vellekla : "Hakon, defender of the land, Armed in the North his warrior-band ; His wide domain from foes to save. With shining keels seven kings sailed on When the clash came, the stunning sound Was heard in Norway's farthest bound; And sea-borne corpses, floating far, Brought round the Naze news from the war." Earl Hakon sailed then with his fleet southwards around Stad; and when he heard that King Ragnfred with his army had gone towards Sogn, he turned there also with his men to meet him: and there Ragnfred and Hakon met. Hakon came to the land with his ships, marked out a battle-field with hazel branches for King Ragnfred, and took ground for his own men in it. So it is told in the Vellekla : "In the fierce battle Ragnfred then * Sogn fiord.-L. This marking out a champ clos for battle appears to have been common among the Northmen.-L. Earl Hakon, from his victories over them, is called the foe of the Vindland men.-L. § Narve was the son of Loke; and the sword was called Narve's weapon.-L. There was a great battle; but Earl Hakon, having by far the most people, gained the victory. It took place on the Thing-nes,* where Sogn and Hordaland meet.t King Ragnfred fled to his ships, after 300‡ of his men had fallen. So it is said in the Vellekla :— Sharp was the battle-strife, I ween,- O'er piled-up heaps of foemen dead." After this battle King Ragnfred fled from Norway; but Earl Hakon restored peace to the country, and allowed the great army which had followed him in summer to return home to the north country, and he himself remained in the south that harvest and winter [972]. CHAPTER XIX.-Earl Hakon's Marriage. Earl Hakon married a girl called Thora, a daughter of the powerful Skage Skoptason, and very beautiful she was. They had two sons, Svein and Heming, and a daughter called Bergliot who was afterwards married to Einar Tambaskielver. Earl Hakon was much addicted to women, and had many children; among others a daughter Ragnhild, whom he * Now called Dingenæs (in Snorre Thinganes). Things were generally held on nesses or tongues accessible by water, as roads were not formed.-L. + That is, 320. |