The fleet, which was manned with many fine fellows, went out then to Tunsberg.
44.OF EARL SVEIN'S FORCES.
After Yule (A.D.1015) Earl Svein gathers all the men of the Throndhjem country, proclaims a levy for an expedition, and fits out ships.At that time there were in the Throndhjem country a great number of lendermen; and many of them were so powerful and well-born, that they descended from earls, or even from the royal race, which in a short course of generations reckoned to Harald Harfager, and they were also very rich.These lendermen were of great help to the kings or earls who ruled the land; for it was as if the lenderman had the bonde-people of each district in his power.Earl Svein being a good friend of the lendermen, it was easy for him to collect people.His brother-in-law, Einar Tambaskelfer, was on his side, and with him many other lendermen;and among them many, both lendermen and bondes, who the winter before had taken the oath of fidelity to King Olaf.When they were ready for sea they went directly out of the fjord, steering south along the land, and drawing men from every district.When they came farther south, abreast of Rogaland, Erling Skialgson came to meet them, with many people and many lendermen with him.
Now they steered eastward with their whole fleet to Viken, and Earl Svein ran in there towards the end of Easter.The earl steered his fleet to Grenmar, and ran into Nesjar (A.D.1015).
45.KING OLAF S FORCES.
King Olaf steered his fleet out from Viken, until the two fleets were not far from each other, and they got news of each other the Saturday before Palm Sunday.King Olaf himself had a ship called the Carl's Head, on the bow of which a king's head was carved out, and he himself had carved it.This head was used long after in Norway on ships which kings steered themselves.
46.KING OLAF'S SPEECH.
As soon as day dawned on Sunday morning, King Olaf got up, put on his clothes, went to the land, and ordered to sound the signal for the whole army to come on shore.Then he made a speech to the troops, and told the whole assembly that he had heard there was but a short distance between them and Earl Svein."Now,"said he, "we shall make ready; for it can be but a short time until we meet.Let the people arm, and every man be at the post that has been appointed him, so that all may be ready when Iorder the signal to sound for casting off from the land.Then let us row off at once; and so that none go on before the rest of the ships, and none lag behind when I row out of the harbour: for we cannot tell if we shall find the earl where he was lying, or if he has come out to meet us.When we do meet, and the battle begins, let people be alert to bring all our ships in close order, and ready to bind them together.Let us spare ourselves in the beginning, and take care of our weapons, that we do not cast them into the sea, or shoot them away in the air to no purpose.But when the fight becomes hot and the ships are bound together, then let each man show what is in him of manly spirit."47.OF THE BATTLE AT NESJAR.
King Olaf had in his ship 100 men armed in coats of ring-mail, and in foreign helmets.The most of his men had white shields, on which the holy cross was gilt; but some had painted it in blue or red.He had also had the cross painted in front on all the helmets, in a pale colour.He had a white banner on which was a serpent figured.He ordered a mass to be read before him, went on board ship, and ordered his people to refresh themselves with meat and drink.He then ordered the war-horns to sound to battle, to leave the harbour, and row off to seek the earl.Now when they came to the harbour where the earl had lain, the earl's men were armed, and beginning to row out of the harbour; but when they saw the king's fleet coming they began to bind the ships together, to set up their banners, and to make ready for the fight.When King Olaf saw this he hastened the rowing, laid his ship alongside the earl's, and the battle began.So says Sigvat the skald: --"Boldly the king did then pursue Earl Svein, nor let him out of view.
The blood ran down the reindeer's flank Of each sea-king -- his vessel's plank.
Nor did the earl's stout warriors spare In battle-brunt the sword and spear.
Earl Svein his ships of war pushed on, And lashed their stout stems one to one."It is said that King Olaf brought his ships into battle while Svein was still lying in the harbour.Sigvat the skald was himself in the fight; and in summer, just after the battle, he composed a lay, which is called the "Nesjar Song", in which he tells particularly the circumstances: --"In the fierce fight 'tis known how near The scorner of the ice-cold spear Laid the Charles' head the earl on board, All eastward of the Agder fjord."Then was the conflict exceedingly sharp, and it was long before it could be seen how it was to go in the end.Many fell on both sides, and many were the wounded.So says Sigvat: --"No urging did the earl require, Midst spear and sword -- the battle's fire;No urging did the brave king need The ravens in this shield-storm to feed.
Of limb-lopping enough was there, And ghastly wounds of sword and spear.
Never, I think, was rougher play Than both the armies had that day."The earl had most men, but the king had a chosen crew in his ship, who had followed him in all his wars; and, besides, they were so excellently equipped, as before related, that each man had a coat of ring-mail, so that he could not be wounded.So says Sigvat: --"Our lads, broad-shouldered, tall, and hale, Drew on their cold shirts of ring-mail.
Soon sword on sword was shrilly ringing, And in the air the spears were singing.
Under our helms we hid our hair, For thick flew arrows through the air.
Right glad was I our gallant crew, Steel-clad from head to foot, to view."48.EARL SVEIN'S FLIGHT.
When the men began to fall on board the earl's ships, and many appeared wounded, so that the sides of the vessels were but thinly beset with men, the crew of King Olaf prepared to board.