Steinkel, the Swedish king, died about the same time (A.D.1066)as the two Haralds fell, and the king who came after him in Svithjod was called Hakon.Afterwards Inge, a son of Steinkel, was king, and was a good and powerful king, strong and stout beyond most men; and he was king of Svithjod when King Magnus was king of Norway.King Magnus insisted that the boundaries of the countries in old times had been so, that the Gaut river divided the kingdoms of the Swedish and Norwegian kings, but afterwards the Vener lake up to Vermaland.Thus King Magnus insisted that he was owner of all the places lying west of the Vener lake up to Vermaland, which are the districts of Sundal, Nordal, Vear, and Vardyniar, with all the woods belonging thereto.But these had for a long time been under the Swedish dominion, and with respect to scat were joined to West Gautland; and, besides, the forest-settlers preferred being under the Swedish king.King Magnus rode from Viken up to Gautland with a great and fine army, and when he came to the forest-settlements he plundered and burnt all round; on which the people submitted, and took the oath of fidelity to him.When he came to the Vener lake, autumn was advanced and he went out to the island Kvaldinsey, and made a stronghold of turf and wood, and dug a ditch around it.When the work was finished, provisions and other necessaries that might be required were brought to it.The king left in it 300 men, who were the chosen of his forces, and Fin Skoptason and Sigurd Ulstreng as their commanders.The king himself returned to Viken.
14.OF THE NORTHMEN.
When the Swedish king heard this he drew together people, and the report came that he would ride against these Northmen; but there was delay about his riding, and the Northmen made these lines: --"The fat-hipped king, with heavy sides, Finds he must mount before he rides."But when the ice set in upon the Vener lake King Inge rode down, and had near 300 men with him.He sent a message to the Northmen who sat in the burgh that they might retire with all the booty they had taken, and go to Norway.When the messengers brought this message, Sigurd Ulstreng replied to it; saying that King Inge must take the trouble to come, if he wished to drive them away like cattle out of a grass field, and said he must come nearer if he wished them to remove.The messengers returned with this answer to the king, who then rode out with all his army to the island, and again sent a message to the Northmen that they might go away, taking with them their weapons, clothes, and horses; but must leave behind all their booty.This they refused.The king made an assault upon them, and they shot at each other.Then the king ordered timber and stones to be collected, and he filled up the ditch; and then he fastened anchors to long spars which were brought up to the timber-walls, and, by the strength of many hands, the walls were broken down.
Thereafter a large pile of wood was set on fire, and the lighted brands were flung in among them.Then the Northmen asked for quarter.The king ordered them to go out without weapons or cloaks.As they went out each of them received a stroke with a whip, and then they set off for Norway, and all the forest-men submitted again to King Inge.Sigurd and his people went to King Magnus, and told him their misfortune.
15.KING MAGNUS AND GIPARDE.
When King Magnus was east in Viken, there came to him a foreigner called Giparde.He gave himself out for a good knight, and offered his services to King Magnus; for he understood that in the king's dominions there was something to be done.The king received him well.At that time the king was preparing to go to Gautland, on which country the king had pretensions; and besides he would repay the Gautland people the disgrace they had occasioned him in spring, when he was obliged to fly from them.
He had then a great force in arms, and the West Gautlanders in the northern districts submitted to him.He set up his camp on the borders, intending to make a foray from thence.When King Inge heard of this he collected troops, and hastened to oppose King Magnus; and when King Magnus heard of this expedition, many of the chiefs of the people urged him to turn back; but this the king would not listen to, but in the night time went unsuspectedly against the Swedish king.They met at Foxerne; and when he was drawing up his men in battle order he asked, "Where is Giparde?" but he was not to be found.Then the king made these verses: --"Cannot the foreign knight abide Our rough array? -- where does he hide?"Then a skald who followed the king replied: --"The king asks where the foreign knight In our array rides to the fight:
Giparde the knight rode quite away When our men joined in bloody fray.
When swords were wet the knight was slow With his bay horse in front to go;The foreign knight could not abide Our rough array, and went to hide."There was a great slaughter, and after the battle the field was covered with the Swedes slain, and King Inge escaped by flight.
King Magnus gained a great victory.Then came Giparde riding down from the country, and people did not speak well of him for not being in the fight.He went away, and proceeded westward to England; and the voyage was stormy, and Giparde lay in bed.
There was an Iceland man called Eldjarn, who went to bale out the water in the ship's hold, and when he saw where Giparde was lying he made this verse: --"Does it beseem a courtman bold Here to be dozing in the hold?
The bearded knight should danger face:
The leak gains on our ship apace.
Here, ply this bucket! bale who can;
We need the work of every man.
Our sea-horse stands full to the breast, --Sluggards and cowards must not rest."