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.