第244章

When King Magnus had been nine years king of Norway (A.D.1094-1102), he equipped himself to go out of the country with a great force.He sailed out into the West sea with the finest men who could be got in Norway.All the powerful men of the country followed him; such as Sigurd Hranason, Vidkun Jonson, Dag Eilifson, Serk of Sogn, Eyvind Olboge, the king's marshal Ulf Hranason, brother of Sigurd, and many other great men.With all this armament the king sailed west to the Orkney Islands, from whence he took with him Earl Erlend's sons, Magnus and Erling, and then sailed to the southern Hebudes.But as he lay under the Scotch land, Magnus Erlendson ran away in the night from the king's ship, swam to the shore, escaped into the woods, and came at last to the Scotch king's court.King Magnus sailed to Ireland with his fleet, and plundered there.King Myrkjartan came to his assistance, and they conquered a great part of the country, both Dublin and Dyflinnarskire (Dublin shire).King Magnus was in winter (A.D.1102) up in Connaught with King Myrkjartan, but set men to defend the country he had taken.

Towards spring both kings went westward with their army all the way to Ulster, where they had many battles, subdued the country, and had conquered the greatest part of Ulster when Myrkjartan returned home to Connaught.

26.KING MAGNUS'S FORAY ON THE LAND.

King Magnus rigged his ships, and intended returning to Norway, but set his men to defend the country of Dublin.He lay at Ulster ready for sea with his whole fleet.As they thought they needed cattle for ship-provision, King Magnus sent a message to King Myrkjartan, telling him to send some cattle for slaughter;and appointed the day before Bartholomew's day as the day they should arrive, if the messengers reached him in safety; but the cattle had not made their appearance the evening before Bartholomew's mass.On the mass-day itself, when the sun rose in the sky, King Magnus went on shore himself with the greater part of his men, to look after his people, and to carry off cattle from the coast.The weather was calm, the sun shone, and the road lay through mires and mosses, and there were paths cut through; but there was brushwood on each side of the road.When they came somewhat farther, they reached a height from which they had a wide view.They saw from it a great dust rising up the country, as of horsemen, and they said to each other, "That must be the Irish army;" but others said, "It was their own men returning with the cattle." They halted there; and Eyvind Olboge said, "How, sire, do you intend to direct the march? The men think we are advancing imprudently.You know the Irish are treacherous; think, therefore, of a good counsel for your men."Then the king said, "Let us draw up our men, and be ready, if there be treachery." This was done, and the king and Eyvind went before the line.King Magnus had a helmet on his head; a red shield, in which was inlaid a gilded lion; and was girt with the sword of Legbit, of which the hilt was of tooth (ivory), and handgrip wound about with gold thread; and the sword was extremely sharp.In his hand he had a short spear, and a red silk short cloak, over his coat, on which, both before and behind, was embroidered a lion in yellow silk; and all men acknowledged that they never had seen a brisker, statelier man.

Eyvind had also a red silk cloak like the king's; and he also was a stout, handsome, warlike man.

27.FALL OF KING MAGNUS.

When the dust-cloud approached nearer they knew their own men, who were driving the cattle.The Irish king had been faithful to the promises he had given the king, and had sent them.Thereupon they all turned towards the ships, and it was mid-day.When they came to the mires they went but slowly over the boggy places; and then the Irish started up on every side against them from every bushy point of land, and the battle began instantly.The Northmen were going divided in various heaps, so that many of them fell.

Then said Eyvind to the king, "Unfortunate is this march to our people, and we must instantly hit upon some good plan."The king answered, "Call all the men together with the war-horns under the banner, and the men who are here shall make a rampart with their shields, and thus we will retreat backwards out of the mires; and we will clear ourselves fast enough when we get upon firm ground."The Irish shot boldly; and although they fell in crowds, there came always two in the place of one.Now when the king had come to the nearest ditch there was a very difficult crossing, and few places were passable; so that many Northmen fell there.Then the king called to his lenderman Thorgrim Skinhufa, who was an Upland man, and ordered him to go over the ditch with his division."We shall defend you," said he, "in the meantime, so that no harm shall come to you.Go out then to those holms, and shoot at them from thence; for ye are good bowmen."When Thorgrim and his men came over the ditch they cast their shields behind their backs, and set off to the ships.