按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
er we have gained the whole kingdom in summer to give away the half of it now？ Give us some other counsel。〃
Then Sigurd Sigurdson answered； 〃It appears to me； sire； that your lendermen who in autumn asked your leave to return home will now sit at home and will not come to you。 At that time it was much against my advice that you dispersed so entirely the people we had collected； for I could well suppose that Harald would come back to Viken as soon as he heard that it was without a chief。 Now there is still another counsel； and it is but a poor one； but it may turn out useful to us。 Send out your pursuivants； and send other people with them； and let them go against the lendermen who will not join you in your necessity； and kill them； and bestow their property on others who will give you help although they may have been of small importance before。 Let them drive together the people； the bad as well as the good； and go with the men you can thus assemble against King Harald； and give him battle。〃
The king replies； 〃It would be unpopular to put to death people of distinction； and raise up inferior people who often break faith and law； and the country would be still worse off。 I would like to hear some other counsel still。〃
Sigurd replies； 〃It is difficult for me now to give advice； as you will neither make peace nor give battle。 Let us go north to Throndhjem； where the main strength of the country is most inclined to our side； and on the way let us gather all the men we can。 It may be that these Elfgrims will be tired of such a long stride after us。〃
The king replies； 〃We must not fly from those whom we beat in summer。 Give some better counsel still。〃
Then Sigurd stood up and said； while he was preparing to go out； 〃I will now give you the counsel which I see you will take； and which must have its course。 Sit here in Bergen until Harald comes with his troops； and then you will either suffer death or disgrace。〃
And Sigurd remained no longer at that meeting。
6。 OF HARALD'S FORCE。
King Harald came from the East along the coast with a great army； and this winter （A。D。 1135） is called on that account the Crowd…winter。 King Harald came to Bergen on Christmas eve； and landed with his fleet at Floruvagar； but would not fight on account of the sacred time。 But King Magnus prepared for defence in the town。 He erected a stone…slinging machine out on the holm； and had iron chains and wooden booms laid across over the passage from the king's house to Nordnes； and to the Monks bridge。 He had foot…traps made； and thrown into Saint John's field； and did not suspend these works except during the three sacred days of Christmas。 The last holyday of Yule； King Harald ordered his war…horns to sound the gathering of his men for going to the town； and； during the Yule holydays； his army had been increased by about 900 men。
7。 KING MAGNUS TAKEN PRISONER。
King Harald made a promise to King Olaf the Saint for victory； that he would build an Olaf's church in the town at his own expense。 King Magnus drew up his men in the Christ church yard； but King Harald laid his vessels first at Nordnes。 Now when King Magnus and his people saw that； they turned round towards the town； and to the end of the shore； but as they passed through the streets many of the burgesses ran into their houses and homes； and those who went across the fields fell into the foot…traps。 Then King Magnus and his men perceived that King Harald had rowed with all his men across to Hegravik； and landed there； and had gone from thence the upper road up the hill opposite the town。 Now Magnus returned back again through the streets； and then his men fled from him in all directions； some up to the mountains； some up to the neighbourhood of the convent of nuns； some to churches； or hid themselves as they best could。 King Magnus fled to his ship； but there was no possibility of getting away； for the iron chains outside prevented the passage of vessels。 He had also but few men with him； and therefore could do nothing。 Einar Skulason tells of this in the song of Harald：
〃For a whole week an iron chain Cut off all sailing to the main： Bergen's blue stable was locked fast； Her floating wains could not get past。〃
Soon after Harald's people came out to the ships； and then King Magnus was made prisoner。 He was sitting behind in the forecastle upon the chests of the high…seat； and at his side Hakon Fauk； his mother's brother； who was very popular but was not considered very wise； and Ivar Assurson。 They； and many others of King Magnus's friends； were taken； and some of them killed on the spot。
8。 KING MAGNUS MUTILATED。
Thereafter King Harald had a meeting of his counsellors； and desired their counsel； and in this meeting the judgment was given that Magnus should be deposed from his dominions； and should no longer be called king。 Then he was delivered to the king's slaves； who mutilated him； picked out both his eyes； cut off one foot； and at last castrated him。 Ivar Assurson was blinded； and Hakon Fauk killed。 The whole country then was reduced to obedience under King Harald。 Afterwards it was diligently examined who were King Magnus's best friends； or who knew most of his concealments of treasure or valuables。 The holy cross King Magnus had kept beside him since the battle of Fyrileif； but would not tell where it was deposited for preservation。 Bishop Reinald of Stavanger； who was an Englishman； was considered very greedy of money。 He was a great friend of King Magnus； and it was thought likely that great treasure and valuables had been given into his keeping。 Men were sent for him accordingly； and he came to Bergen； where it was insisted against him that he had some knowledge of such treasure； but he denied it altogether； would not admit it； and offered to clear himself by ordeal。 King Harald would not have this； but laid on the bishop a money fine of fifteen marks of gold； which he should pay to the king。 The bishop declared he would not thus impoverish his bishop's see； but would rather offer his life。 On this they hanged the bishop out on the holm； beside the sling machine。 As he was going to the gallows he threw the sock from his foot； and said with an oath； 〃I know no more about King Magnus's treasure than what is in this sock；〃 and in it there was a gold ring。 Bishop Reinald was buried at Nordnes in Michael's church； and this deed was much blamed。 After this Harald Gille was sole king of Norway as long as he lived。
9。 WONDERFUL OMENS IN KONUNGAHELLA。
Five years after King Sigurd's death remarkable occurrences took place in Konungahella （A。D。 1135）。 Guthorm； a son of Harald Fletter； and Saemund Husfreyja； were at that time the king's officers there。 Saemund was married to Ingebjorg； a daughter of the priest Andres Brunson。 Their sons were Paul Flip and Gunne Fis。 Saemund's natural son was called Asmund。 Andres Brunson was a very remarkable man； who carried on divine service in the Cross church。 His wife （1） was called Solveig。 Jon Loptson； who was then eleven years old； was in their house to be fostered and educated。 The priest Lopt Saemundson； Jon's father； was also in the town at that time。 The priest Andres and Solveig had a daughter by name Helga； who was Einar's wife。 It happened now in Konungahella； the next Sunday night after Easter week； that there was a great noise in the streets through the whole town as if the king was going through with all his court…men。 The dogs were so affected that nobody could hold them； but they slipped loose； and when they came out they ran mad； biting all that came in their way； people and cattle。 All who were bitten by them till the blood came turned raging mad； and pregnant women were taken in labour prematurely； and became mad。 From Easter to Ascension…day； these portentous circumstances took place almost every night。 People were dreadfully alarmed at these wonders； and many made themselves ready to remove； sold their houses； and went out to the country districts； or to other towns。 The most intelligent men looked upon it as something extremely remarkable； were in dread of it； and said； as it proved to be； that it was an omen of important events which had not yet taken place。 And the priest Andres； on Whit Sunday； made a long and excellent speech； and turned the conclusion of it to the distressing situation of the townspeople； telling them to muster courage； and not lay waste their excellent town by deserting it； but rather to take the utmost care in all things； and use the greatest foresight against all dangers； as of fire or the enemy； and to pray to God to have mercy on them。
ENDNOTES： （1） The Catholic priests appear to have had wives at that time in Norway； and celibacy to have been confined to the monks。 L。
10。 THE RISE OF WAR IN KONUNGAHELLA。
Thirteen loaded merchant ships made ready to leave the town； intending to proceed to Bergen； but eleven of them were lost； men and goods； and all that was in them； the twelfth was lost also； but the people were saved； although the cargo went to the bottom。 At that time the priest Lopt went north to Bergen； with all that belonged to him； and arrived safely。 The merchant v