WAR-SHIPS.
The Northmen pre-eminently a seafaring people—Figurative names
given to ships—Classification and names of ships of
war—Ironclads—Swift cruisers—Transport vessels—Foreign
ships—Different parts of a war-ship—Oars—Ship’s boats—Tents—Ship’s
moorings—Sheds—Launching—Ornamentations—Beautiful sails—Colour
of war-ships—Standards—Ornamentation of ship’s sides
with shields—The port of Jomsburgh—Size of ships—The
Tuneship—Shipbuilding—Crews—Description of a storm.
One of the most important features in the life of the Viking Age was the
ships in which the hardy Norsemen were able to rove over the seas of
Europe, and conquer and plunder the lands around them. In the Eddas and
Sagas these ships are often minutely described, so that we are able to
form a fair idea of the shipbuilding art of those days.
The ships were called by figurative and most poetical names, and from
many of these we see that speed was valued very highly:—
Deer of the surf.
Reindeer of breezes.
Sea-king’s deer.
Reindeer of the shield wall.
Elk of the fjords.
Sea-king’s sledge.
Horse of the home of ice.
Soot-coloured horse of the sea.
Horse of the gull’s track.
Mare of the surf.
Horse of the breeze.
Raven of the wind.
Gull of the fjord.
Carriage of the sea.
The sea-wader.
Ægir’s steed.
Sea steed.
Lion of the waves.
Hawk of the sea-gull’s track.
Raven of the sea.
Snake of the sea.
The general name for all ships was _skip_, but these were classified
under different appellations. The war-ships were also classified under
several names, viz: _Dreki_ (dragon), _Skeid_, _Snekkja_, _Skúta_,
_Buza_, _Karfi_. The _herskip_ (host or war-ship), also called the
_langskip_ (long ship), was their most powerful ship of war. The
_Dragon_ was the finest and largest vessel of the North, and derived its
name from the prow and stern being ornamented respectively with the head
and tail of one or more dragons.
The most celebrated for its beautiful proportions was the _Ormrinn
Langi_ (the long serpent), which, long afterwards, even during the time
of Harald Hardradi and Sigurd Jórsalafari, served as a model (11th and
12th centuries).
The _skeid_ (swift sailer) was another kind of long ship, which held
from twenty to thirty or more rowers’ benches, and was occasionally as
large as a dragon-ship. The largest _skeid_ mentioned is that of Erling
Skjalgsson, which had thirty-two rowers’ benches, and carried two
hundred and forty or more men. He used it on viking expeditions, or when
he was summoned to participate in war.
“Erling Skjálgsson, the king’s brother-in-law, had his large _skeid_; it
had thirty rooms, and was well manned” (Olaf Tryggvason, c. 105).
“It was then told to the king that Erling Skjálgsson had many men
gathered in Jadar. His skeid lay fully equipped near the shore, and many
other ships owned by the bœndr, such as _skutas_, _lagnarskip_ (fishing
ships) and large _rodrar-ferjas_ (rowing ferries)” (St. Olaf, c. 184).
The _snekkja_ was a somewhat smaller long-ship, of which frequent
mention is made; but sometimes it must have been as large as a
dragon-ship.
“Erling had prepared a twenty-seated _snekkja_, a fifteen-seated
_skuta_, and a _vistabyrding_ (store-ship)” (Magnus Erlingsson’s Saga,
c. 25.)[123]
The _Skuta_[124] was a small vessel, much used and often mentioned,
containing probably fifteen seats. In it the upper part of the gunwale
was so built that the crew could easily step on it, and more easily
board the enemy.
“In the spring Eirik obtained men, and Thorleif (Eirik’s foster-father)
gave him a _skuta_, with fifteen rowers’ seats and complete equipment,
tents, and provisions” (Olaf Tryggvason, c. 20).
This vessel was manned in time of peace by about thirty men.
“Egil had his ship afloat and the cargo on board before he departed for
the Thing. When they left Arinbjörn they went to Steinsund to their
ship, which was floating in the harbour with the tents up. The skuta was
floating with its rudder on between the shore and the ship, with the
oars in their rowlocks. In the morning, near dawn, the watchmen saw that
some ships were rowing towards them. Egil saw that these were enemies,
and bade his men leap into the skuta. They all quickly seized their
weapons, and Egil took the chests of silver which King Adalstein gave
him. They rowed between the land and the snekkja nearest to it, which
was that of King Eirik, but in the hurry, and as it was rather dark, the
ships passed each other. When the lyptings[125] were near, Egil flung a
spear, which hit Ketil Höd in the waist, who was sitting at the helm,
and killed him instantly. King Eirik called to his men to row after him,
but as they passed the trading ship the King’s men leapt upon it. Those
of Egil’s men who had not gone into the skuta, and were caught, were all
killed; but some jumped ashore. Ten of his men were killed there. Some
of the ships rowed after Egil, while others plundered the trading ship;
all the goods on board were taken, and the ship burnt. Those who pursued
Egil and his men rowed violently, two taking one oar and rowing in
turns. They had many men on board, but Egil had few: they were eighteen
in the skuta. The space between them grew less, but inside the island
there was a somewhat shallow fording-sound between it and another
island, and the tide was ebbing. Egil sailed with the skuta into the
shallow sound; but the snekkjas could not float there, and there they
parted”[126] (Egil’s Saga, c. 58).
The _Buza_ and the _Dreki_ must have been somewhat similar in size, for
a _buza-ship_, built on the model of the long snake is mentioned in the
Sagas.
“When Thorir’s messengers returned, he had made ready a long-ship, a
large buza which he owned; he manned it with his huskarls, nearly eighty
men” (St. Olaf, c. 143).
“King Harald (Hardradi) had a buza-ship built at Eyrar during the
winter. It was made as large as the long serpent, and as good as could
be in every way. It had a dragon’s head on its prow and a tail in its
stern, and the beaks (svini) were ornamented with gold all over. It had
thirty-five rooms, was large in proportion thereto, and very fine. The
King was very careful about its outfit, sails, rigging, anchors, and
ropes” (Harald Hardradi, c. 61).
The _Karfi_ seems to have been a vessel of the size of a skuta.
“To Ketil of Hringunes, King Olaf gave a fifteen-seated _karfi_” (St.
Olaf, c. 50).
“Thorfinn, who dwelt at Hamarsey, was the son of Kar the old, who had
long resided there; he was a great chief. When it got light the men were
seen on the islet, and Thorfinn was told of it. He quickly got ready and
pushed out a karfi which he owned; twenty men rowed it on each side”
(Gretti’s Saga, c. 20).
“Björn and Thorolf had a karfi, the crew of which consisted of nearly
thirty men, twelve or thirteen rowing on each side. They had acquired
that ship in the summer on a Viking expedition. It was painted nearly
everywhere above the water-line, and was very handsome. When they came
to Thorir they were well received, and stayed there for a while; the
ship floated, tented over in front of the farm. One day Thorolf and
Björn went down and saw that Eirik, the king’s son, was there; he
sometimes went out on the ship and was sometimes ashore. As he stood
looking at it, Bjorn said to Thorolf: ‘The King’s son admires the ship
very much, and thou must offer it to him, for I think it will be a great
help for us with the King if Eirik pleads with him. I have heard that he
is angry with thee on account of thy father’s deeds.’ Thorolf thought
this good advice; they went down to the ship, and Thorolf said: ‘Thou
lookest closely at the ship, King’s son; how dost thou like it?’ ‘Well,’
he answered, ‘the ship is very fine.’ ‘Then I will give it to thee, if
thou wilt accept it,’ added Thorolf. ‘I will,’ replied Eirik; ‘but thou
wilt think the return is small, for I can only promise thee my
friendship’” (Egil’s Saga, c. 36).
Strange as it may seem, ironclad vessels which were used as battering
rams were known and used by the Vikings. At the famous battle between
Hakon Jarl and the Jomsvikings, Eirik Jarl, his son, had a Jarnbardi
(one of the most formidable vessels at the battle of Svold was probably
the same ship): the upper part of the vessel, which seems to have been a
ramming ship, was provided with a _skegg_ (beard),[127] which apparently
consisted of iron spikes.
The brothers Thorstein and Thorolf were going on an expedition.
“Thorstein asked his father to tell him of a Viking with whom he might
fight, and either fall or gain some fame. His father answered: ‘Ljot,
the pale, is east in the Svía-skerries (Swedish islets); he has fifteen
ships, and a dragon covered with iron above the sea; it sails through
every ship; he calls it _Jarnbardi_’” (Svarfdæla, c. 4).
“Thorstein (father of Fridthjof) had a ship called Ellidi; fifteen men
rowed on each side of it. It had a carved prow and stern, and it was
strong like a seagoing ship, and its sides were sheathed with iron”
(Fridthjof’s Saga, c. 1).
The smaller and most easily managed ships of the Northmen were called
_Askar_.
“Arngrim’s sons drew their swords and bit in the shield-brims (borders);
then they turned to the ships, and six men went up on each Ask”[128]
(Hervarar Saga, c. 5).
Some ships were specially built for speed. Among them we find long
ships—_skeid_ and _skuta_. The fast-sailing _skutas_ were called
_lettiskuta_ (light skuta), and _hleypiskuta_ (running ships), a kind of
yacht.
“Eyvind went quickly with a few men on a _lettiskuta_” (Olaf Tryggvason,
c. 83).
“Geirmund went with a _hleypiskuta_ and some men with him” (Olaf
Tryggvason, c. 41).[129]
The _Knerrir_ (sing. _Knorr_) or merchant vessels must sometimes have
been large, and were occasionally used as war or transport vessels. We
infer from the Sagas that they could stand heavy seas better than the
long ships.
“King Olaf left behind in England the _longships_, and went thence with
two _Knerrir_, on which he had 220 picked men, fully armed” (St. Olaf’s
Saga, c. 27).
“Sigmund told Hakon Jarl that he wanted to leave off warfare and go to
the Faroes; he said he no longer wished to hear that he had not avenged
his father and be upbraided for it; he asked the Jarl to aid him, and
advise him how to manage it. Hakon answered that the sea to the islands
was hard to cross, and the breakers strong; ‘you cannot go on longships
thither, but I will have two knerrir made for you, and get a crew to man
them’” (Fœreyinga Saga, c. 23).
Among vessels of other nationalities mentioned are _Galeid_ (galley) and
_Drómund_ (war-ship), both as sailing in the Mediterranean.
[Illustration:
Fig. 914.—Ship on a stone-wall of the Church of Skröbelef, Langeland,
Denmark.
]
“Harald went to the _galeids_ of the Væringjar and took two on which
they rowed into Sjavidarsund. When they came to where iron chains were
stretched across the Sound, Harald told his men to sit down at the oars
on both _galeids_, and those who did not row to go aft with their
hammocks (used for holding baggage and for beds) in their arms. The
_galeids_ were thus run up on the chains; but, as soon as they got fast
and slackened speed, Harald ordered all the men to run towards the prow.
The _galeid_ on which Harald was then turned down and slid off the
chains, but the other burst asunder as she rode on the chain. Many were
there drowned, but some swam and were picked up” (Harald Hardradi’s
Saga, c. 15).
“Rögnvald Jarl and Erling met a _drómund_ on the sea and attacked it
with their nine ships” (Ingi’s Saga, c. 17).
From the Sagas we infer that ships had but one mast.
Sometimes they had a _Hún-Kas’ali_ (knob castle), or crow’s-nest, at the
masthead, large enough to hold several warriors, who from such a height
could throw missiles at their enemies.
King Hakon Herdibreid was going to battle against King Ingi.
[Illustration:
Fig. 915.—On a stone. Alsnö parish in Upland, Sweden. Ship with crow’s
nest.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 916.—Bautastone. Harestad, Upland, Sweden. Ship with
crow’s nest.
]
“He (Hakon) had two east-journey _Knerrir_, which lay outside his ships.
On them, and also in the prows of both, were _húnkastalis_” (c. 5, Hakon
Herdibreid).
“They (Hakon’s men) prepare themselves for pouring down stones and shots
from the hunkastalis on board the trading-ships” (c. 9, Hakon
Herdibreid).
The different parts of a ship were the _lypting_[130] an elevated place,
where the commander stood and steered, and from which he could survey
the whole scene of battle; _stafn_ (prow); _rausn_ (forecastle);
_fyrir-rum_ (foreroom), so called, probably, on account of its being
before the mast; and _krapparum_, the third room from the stern.
The place in which the weapons were kept was called the _hasœtis-kista_,
or high-seat chest.
“The King went down into the foreroom, opened the _hasœtis-kista_, and
took out many sharp swords, which he gave to the men” (Olaf Tryggvason,
c. 117).
“In the foreroom were also sleeping-places. The men in this and the
_stafnbuar_ were called _fyrir-rumsmenn_. Those before the mast were all
called _frambyggjar_ (bow-sitters)” (Harald Fairhair, c. 11).
The ship was highest forward and aft, and was pointed at both ends.
[Illustration:
Fig. 917.—Ship propelled by oars. Slab. Haggeley, Uppland, Sweden.
Similar to the Egyptian bas-relief on the Temple of Medinet-Hakou
(see p. 123).
]
As the largest ships were lofty, they required a deck (_thiljur_), but
decks are very seldom mentioned.
Thorir sailed westward to England, to Knut the Great, with his valuable
skins.
“Thorir Hund went on board of his ship; Finn with many men followed him
thither, and went along the ship. He had taken up the deck, and under
the planks near the mast they saw two barrels, so large that they
wondered at them. In the barrels there was an inner bottom close to the
outer one, between which was the drink; but the barrel itself was filled
with grey skins, beaver and sable” (St. Olaf’s Saga, c. 149).
_Oars._—In calm weather ships were generally propelled with oars, which
were fastened with a strap attached to the tholes, or openings made as
in the Gokstad ship and Nydam boat. The oars had to be strong, and each
was generally manned by two, three, or four men, heavy or large ships
being with difficulty propelled by oars.
Sometimes men were so strong that they could, on the smaller vessels,
ply an oar alone, but this was an exception.
“King Hakon (Herdibreid) lay in the harbour with fourteen ships. He
himself and his men were at some games upon the island, while his lendir
men sat on a mound. They saw a boat rowing towards the south of the
island; two men were in it, and they pulled the oars so hard that they
bent themselves to the bottom of the boat” (Magnus Erlingsson’s Saga, c.
6 (Heimskringla)).
Only in one instance is the length of the oars given—those of the
_Ellidi_—which are said to have been 26 feet long. The largest ship must
have had oars still longer than those of the _Ellidi_, which was not a
large vessel.
They were called by the figurative names of The long arms; The feet of
the horse of the sea; The wave sweeper; The feet of the ship, &c.
Among the numerous fragments of oars of the Gokstad ship, four were
found in tolerable preservation, and only one well-preserved, measuring
nearly sixteen feet. The oar tholes were protected inside by round oaken
shutters to prevent the water from running in. The large ones found show
that no single man could row with one for a long time together; and the
oars which propelled the large dragon-ship must have been very heavy.
Every large ship had its boats, sometimes two or more.
“Sigurd took two _barkis_[131] and dragged them up on the rock above the
door of the cave, and fastened thick ropes around the ribs of the ship
under the stem and stern” (Sigurd Jorsalafari,[132] c. 6).
[Illustration:
Fig. 918.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 919.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 920.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 921.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 922.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 923.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 924.—Specimens of Rowlocks from Gokstad ship. Boats (see Nydam
boat, Vol. I.).
]
Fragments of three small boats made of oak were found on board the
Gokstad ship, which apparently had been destroyed intentionally. They
were clinker built, and had rowlocks, not two of which were alike,
fastened to the gunwale instead of holes for the oars. These boats were
so broken that no part could be put together again, except their keels,
the longest of which measured over twenty-one feet, and the shortest
twelve feet. Two had carried masts.
“They drifted north off Ireland, and the ship was broken into fragments
on an unsettled island; while they were there Thorodd the Icelander met
them as he sailed from Dublin. The men of the jarl called on the traders
to help them. Thorodd had a boat put out and went in it himself”
(Eyrbyggja Saga, c. 29).
The _rudder_, called _styri_, was on the right side, _stjórnbordi_
(starboard); the opposite side being called _bakbordi_ (larboard).
The helmsman, who held the tiller, was generally commander of the ship,
and his position at the helm seems sometimes to have been below the
rudder head, with a view to being protected from the continual shower of
missiles to which he was subjected; the great purpose of the enemy being
to disable the ship’s commander.
When Magnus Barefoot made warfare in Scotland and Ireland:
“Then men went between him and Melkolm (Malcolm) Skota-king, and they
made an agreement (treaty) between themselves. Magnus was to become
owner of all the islands west of Scotland, between which and the
mainland a ship with its rudder on could go. When King Magnus came from
the south to Satiri (Cantire), he had a skuta dragged across the isthmus
(Mull of Oantire) with its rudder placed in position. The king himself
sat on the lypting and had hold of the tiller, and thus got the land
lying on the larboard. Satiri is large and better than the best of the
Hebrides except Mön. A narrow neck of land joins it with the mainland,
and longships are often dragged across there” (Magnus Barefoot’s Saga,
c. 11).[133]
_Tents._—When the ship was lying still, especially for the night, tents
were stretched over it. Sometimes they were put up on the shore, and in
the latter case were taken on board the ship when they sailed away.
“When they came up on the islets, they saw a dragon-head, which looked
like gold. They saw that twelve ships were there with the dragon, with
black tents over them; light was under the tents; men sat there
drinking” (Svarfdæla, c. 4).
“As soon as Karli came on board, he took down the tents, threw off the
fastenings, hoisted the sail, and the ship went quickly out to sea” (St.
Olaf, c. 143).[134]
The men on board seem to have slept in leather bags, _húdfat_, and to
have taken them ashore when they camped out in tents.
“They carried their leather bags from the ship and made booths. Then
they resolved to live there that winter, and built there large houses,
&c.” (Flateyjarbok, i.).
When in harbour the ships were tied with fastenings communicating with
the shore by means of bridges or gangways.
“They rowed in search of the ship, and, when they found it, turned
towards the shore. Hallvard and his men had tented it over and then laid
themselves down to sleep. When Kveldulf and Skallagrim came upon them
the watchmen at the end of the gangway jumped up and shouted to the
ship, telling the men to rise, saying that an enemy was at hand,
Hallvard and his men rushed for their weapons. Kveldulf reached the end
of the gangway and got on board by the stern gangway, while Skallagrim
went to the fore-gangway” (Egil’s Saga, 27).
The chiefs seem to have been very particular as to the berths of their
ships when in harbour, so that the tents should be pitched ashore,
places being allotted to the ships according to the rank of their
owners. If there were several of equal rank, lots were drawn to decide
who should have the best place.
“One summer, when Hakon Jarl had a levy out, Thorleif the Wise steered
one of his ships. Eirik, who was ten or eleven winters old, was also
with him on the journey. When they went at night into harbour, Eirik was
not pleased unless his ship was next to that of the Jarl. On arriving
southward at Mæri, his brother-in-law Skopti came to him with a
well-manned longship. When he rowed to the fleet, he called out to
Thorleif to make room for him and change his position, but Eirik at once
told Skopti to take another position himself.
“As soon as Hakon Jarl heard that his son Eirik thought himself so great
a man that he would not yield to Skopti, he at once bade him take
another place, or otherwise it would be worse for them, as they might be
thrashed. Thorleif then ordered his men to take the ship from the
fastenings, which was done. Then Skopti occupied the position he was
wont to have, nearest to the Jarl’s ship” (Olaf Tryggvason, c. 20).
“Once Harald (Hardradi) with the Varangians had pitched their tents on a
well-situated place. Gyrgir, the chief of the Greek host, wanted to
pitch tents on the same spot, and they quarrelled over it. The wisest
man intervened, and they consulted together. At this meeting they all
agreed to throw lots into the skirts of a cloak, and thus decide which
should go into harbour or choose ground for their tents first; both were
to abide by the decision of the lot when the lots were made and marked”
(Harald Hardradi’s Saga (Heimskringla), c. 4).
When not being used, the ships were kept in sheds; and while they were
there everything loose was taken out, even the planks of the deck and
the dragon-heads.
“King Eystein also had ship-sheds made in Nidaros, so large that they
were famous, and built with the best materials and with great skill”
(Sigurd Jorsalafari, c. 27).
“They rowed hard towards the ship-shed of Thorfinn. When the ship
touched the bottom, the men jumped overboard. Grettir counted twelve of
them. They did not seem to him to be on an errand of peace. They lifted
up their ship and dragged it out of the water. They ran to the shed,
where the large karfi of Thorfinn stood, which he never launched with
less than thirty men, but they at once dragged it down on the beach.
Afterwards they lifted up their own ship and carried it into the shed”
(Gretti’s Saga, c. 19).
“After Yule Thorfinn made ready to go home, and sent his guests away
with many good gifts. Then he went with his men till he came near his
ship-shed. They saw that a ship lay on the sand, and soon knew that it
was his large karfi. Thorfinn had not then heard of the Vikings. He
asked them to make haste to get ashore, ‘for I expect,’ said he, ‘that
friends have not done this.’ Thorfinn was first ashore, and went at once
to the ship-shed. He saw a ship standing there, and knew that it was the
ship of the Berserks” (Gretti’s Saga, c. 20).
When the ships were ready to go to sea, or when being built, they had
rollers under them, over which they were pushed up to the shore or into
the sea.
Eirek and Agnar, Ragnar’s sons, were going on an expedition to Sweden:—
“They gathered many men, and made their ships ready; they thought it
important that the launching of ships should be successful. Now when
Agnar’s ship ran down from the rollers a man was struck by it and died,
and they called it _hlunnrod_ (roller-reddening). This they did not
think a good beginning, but would not let it stop their voyage” (Ragnar
Lodbrok’s Saga, c. 9).
Harald Hardradi had a large ship launched into the river Nid, and then
had the dragon heads put on. Then sang Thjódólf the scald:
Fair maiden, a skeid I saw
Forward pushed into the river;
See where lies near the shore
The long side of the proud dragon.
The hair of the shining serpent
Glows o’er the crew,
Since it was pushed from the rollers;
The ornamented beaks carried gold.
(Harald Hardradi’s Saga, c. 62.)
[Illustration:
Fig. 925.—Bronze kettle, ⅒ real size, found with Gokstad ship; wooden
plates and wooden carved drinking-cups were also found.
]
When the Norsemen came to a harbour, or to a coast without one, they
often dragged their ships on to the shore, when rollers, which no doubt
belonged to the equipment, had to be used.
“Hakon Jarl, after a battle with King Ragnfred, drew his ships ashore so
that his foes could not take them” (Olaf Tryggvason, c. 17).
[Illustration:
Fig. 926.—Iron chain, found with Gokstad ship. ⅒ real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 927.—Bronze ornament.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 928.—Bronze handles of kettle. Real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 929.—Iron chain, with crook to hold bronze kettle; found with
Gokstad ship. ⅒ real size.
]
After the ship had been launched into the sea the equipment was put on
board.
[Illustration:
Fig. 930.—On a stone-wall of the Church of Bödstrup, Island of
Langeland, Denmark.
]
“After Easter King Olaf had his ships launched and equipment and oars
carried to them, and decks placed in them, and tents put over them, and
then let them float at the bridges” (St. Olaf, c. 115).
[Illustration:
Fig. 931.—Iron kettle. ¼ real size—Ultuna ship find.
]
“Asbjörn owned a longship which was a twenty-seated _snekkja_, which
stood in a large _naust_ (ship-shed). After Candlemas he had it pushed
forward, the equipments carried on board, and everything made ready. He
then summoned his friends, and had nearly ninety men, all well armed”
(St. Olaf, c. 24).
It was not always the custom to have cooks on board ship, it being the
habit of traders to dispense with their services, and to draw lots among
the crew every day to decide who should prepare the food.
“He (Thorleif) took passage in the summer with the traders, who prepared
to go from Straumfjord, and was with the steersmen. It was then the
custom of traders not to have cooks, but the messmates drew lots to see
which of them should do the cooking day by day. All shipmates also had
to drink together, and a tub with a lid over it stood near the mast for
this purpose, but some drank from the casks which supplied the tub”
(Eyrbyggja Saga, c. 39).
[Illustration:
Fig. 932.—Dragon.—Length, 10 to 12 feet; width between the wings, 3
feet.
]
The people, and especially the chiefs, took great pride in the
appearance of their ships, both in regard to ornamentation and sails,
and kept them well painted. We may form an idea of the labour bestowed
on their embellishment, from the carved pieces of wood found on board of
the Gokstad ship;[135] what, then, must it have been on such ships as
the long serpent and others mentioned in the Sagas?
Insignificant objects are adorned with exquisite and tasteful designs.
Some of them seem to have been designed without the aid of mechanical
appliances, and others before being engraved must have had their
drawings traced with compasses, &c.
The dragons were gilt, both on the stem and stern, or covered with thin
sheets of gold, thus presenting a magnificent appearance as they sailed
with the sun shining upon them. These and other ornaments which were
placed on a ship were not fixed on till it had left the rollers and was
in the water.
“Olaf had a ship made in the winter, called Visund (the bison-ox), which
was larger than any other. On its prow there was the head of a bison,
gilt” (St. Olaf, c. 154).
“King Olaf had a ship called Karlhöfdi (man’s head); on its prow was a
king’s head, which he himself had carved. That head was for a long time
afterwards used in Norway on ships steered by chiefs” (St. Olaf, c. 45).
“Rand had a large dragon, with a gold-ornamented head, which had thirty
large rooms” (Olaf Tryggvason’s Saga, c. 85).[136]
On the top of the belfry (clock-tower) in Ghent is found the figure of a
dragon, of which a woodcut is here given (p. 152). It consists of gilded
copper-plates, nailed on a kind of iron skeleton. The back between the
wings is open.[137]
* * * * *
As King Sigurd was ready to go home, we read—
“Thereupon King Sigurd made ready for his journey homeward. He gave the
Emperor all his ships, and there were gold ornamented heads on the ship
which the king had steered; they were put on Peter’s church. There they
may be yet (_i.e._ 1220–1240‘)”’ (Sigurd Jorsalafari’s Saga, c. iii.,
Heimskringla’s text).
The date here given is that of Norri Sturluson.
* * * * *
Beautiful sails were highly prized; these were generally made of
_vadmal_, or coarse woollen stuff. The Sagas often mention that they
were striped, of different colours, red, blue and green,[138] being
sometimes embroidered and beautifully lined with fur; but some were as
white as the newly-fallen snow. They were square, and consequently good
speed could only be attained with fair wind.
The following poetical names were given to sails:—The cloak of the wind;
the tapestry of the masthead; the sheet spun by women; the cloth of the
wind; the beard of the yard; the fine shirt of the tree (mast).
[Illustration:
Fig. 933.—Runic stone, Hallingbo, Götland, 3 feet 9 inches above
ground.
]
“When the King on his return from Jerusalem wished to sail to Mikligard
(Constantinople), he lay still for half a month with his entire fleet,
although every day it blew a good stern-wind; but he waited for a
side-wind, so that the sails could be set lengthways on the ships. The
sails were mostly covered with _pell_ (a sort of velvet) on both sides,
as those in stem and stern wanted to see an equally handsome side. When
he came into Mikligard, he sailed close to the shore, from which could
be seen the whole width of the sails, which were so slightly separated
that they resembled a continuous wall. All the people were out to see
how Sigurd sailed” (Sigurd Jorsalafari, ch. 11).
[Illustration:
Fig. 934.—Vessel with sails. Reverse side of runic stone, Hallingbo,
Götland. Limestone.
]
“One autumn, as King Magnus the Good was on board his fleet off Scania,
they saw one day a ship, sailing eastward off the land. It was
ornamented all over with gold above the water, and fine dragon-heads
were on it, but the sail was of twofold _pell_ most splendidly woven.
All wondered at this strange sight. This ship was painted with red,
purple, and gold. All the weathervanes looked as if they were of gold,
as well as the beaks of the dragon-heads; inside these were valiant men
dressed in costly garments and _pell_. King Magnus instantly sent a ship
from the port to meet them, and wanted to know where they were going; as
the messengers met them, they turned towards the shore and lowered the
sail. They rowed towards the King’s fleet, and came up with that fine
beautiful ship to the King. It was then found to be the ship of Harald
Sigurdsson (Harald Hardradi), the King’s uncle” (Flateyjarbok, iii.).
Sails were given as valuable gifts to powerful chieftains.
When Harald Hardradi and Eystein were sailing together, Harald said:—
“‘Where didst thou, Eystein, get so fine a sail?’ Eystein answered:
‘This is the sail, lord, which you would not receive from Thorvard.’ The
king said: ‘I never saw a finer sail, and I have refused a costly
thing.’ Eystein replied: ‘... take whichever of the two sails thou
likest best; it is good that thou knowest what thou didst refuse.’ The
king thanked him and took the sail of Thorvard, and it was thought
precious, though it would scarcely fit the king’s large ship in
sailing-matches” (Harald Hardradi, Fornmanna Sögur, vi. c. 100).
Ships of war were apparently always painted; dark blue ships are
mentioned, but the colours were often more variegated. The ships of Knut
and Hakon Jarl were painted above the water-line. Asbjörn Selsbani’s
ship was painted above the water-line, in red and white colours.
“When Knut the Great left the country he had a great host and exceeding
large ships. He himself had a dragon so large that it had sixty rooms;
on it were heads ornamented with gold. Hakon Jarl[139] had another with
forty rooms, which also had gilt heads, and the sails of both were
striped with blue, red, and green. Both were painted above the water.
They had many other ships, large and well equipped” (Flateyjarbok, ii.).
Standards and weathervanes, not only on land, but at sea, are frequently
mentioned.
“Odd gave to Gudmund and Sigurd the dragon of Sóti. He had the dragon of
Hálfdán painted all over, and both the dragon-heads and the vane[140] he
had ornamented with gold” (Orvar Odd’s Saga, c. 8).
The standard-bearer stood by the prow of the ship, and the pennant seems
to have been carried at the masthead.
[Illustration:
Fig. 935.—Bayeux tapestry.
]
“The pennant, spun by women, played at the masthead of the reindeer of
the rollers” (Knutsdrapa).
[Illustration:
Fig. 936.—Baptismal font, Church of Lödurup, Scania, Sweden.
]
“When Eirik blódöx (blood-axe) got the kingship, he had feasts in
Hordaland and Firda Fylki. He took hirdmen with him. One spring he made
ready to go to Bjarmaland, and selected men for the journey. Thorolf
went with him, and was placed in the prow of his ship, and carried his
standard. Thorolf was then taller and stronger than other men, and
therein like his father” (Egil’s Saga, c. 37).
When Helgi came with his ships to make war at Frekastein he had a golden
standard.
_Gudmund._
Who is the Skjoldung
That steers the ship,
And a golden battle-standard
Hoists on the bow?
Those in the van
Seem not peace-like;
The redness of war
Is thrown on the Vikings.
_Sinfjötli._
Here can Hödbrodd
Know Helgi,
The hater of flight,
In the midst of the fleet;
He holds the birth land
Of thy kin,
The Fjorsungs’ heritage,
Taken by himself.
(Helgi Hundingsbani, ii.)
The ships as they came into harbour were often lined with shields,
showing by this that they were ships of war. These shields added not a
little to the appearance of the ships under sail, as the sun shone on
them. When the warriors were numerous, they must have been very
cumbersome, and on that account were often stationed all round the
bulwark or gunwales.
[Illustration:
Fig. 937.—Silver coin found in Blekinge.
]
In the Gokstad ship the shields were hung along the outer sides of the
ship, and all seem to have been of the same size. They were placed
somewhat ahead of the first oar, and a little behind the last one. They
overlapped each other, the outer edge of each touching the boss of the
other. They were painted either yellow or black, so that the contrast
must have been picturesque.
“Then he, Olaf Tryggvason, made his ships and men ready and sailed east
from Gardar out into Eystrasalt (the Baltic). The ships were lined with
shields on both sides, they were swift-sailing, and went well before the
wind” (Fornmanna Sögur, vol. i. p. 100).
“Hella Björn, the son of Herfinn and Halla, was a great viking, he was
generally the enemy of King Harald; he went to Iceland, and entered
Bjarnarfjord with a ship covered all over with shields” (Landnama, xi.
31).
“On Yule-eve the weather was bright and calm. Gretti was that day out of
doors most of the time, looking at the ships that went south and north
along the shore; for everybody was going to the Yule-feast. As the day
declined Gretti saw that a ship rowed towards the island. It was not
large, but the gunwales were covered with shields from prow to stern,
and it was painted above water” (Gretti’s Saga, c. 19).
“They saw no fewer than ten ships coming southwards off a cape. They
were rowed fast and steered towards them; they were completely covered
with shields, and at the mast of the foremost one there stood a man who
had on a silk jacket and a gilt helmet” (Njala, c. 84).
Some of the scattered pieces of poetry give a good idea of the
appearance of these ships.
The sea howls, and the wave
Dashes the bright foam against the red wood,
While the roller-bison (ship) gapes
With the gold-ornamented mouth.
Fair woman, I saw a skeid
Launched into Nid (the river) out to sea;
Look where the long hull
Of the proud dragon rides near the shore;
The bright manes of the serpent glitter,
For it has been launched off the rollers;
The ornamented necks
Carried burnt gold.
The warriors’ Baldr (Harald) takes down
His long tent on _laugardag_,[141]
When beautiful women look out
From the town on the serpent’s hull;
The young all-wielder (king) is just steering
His new skeid out of Nid westward,
While the oars of warriors
Fall into the sea.
The host of the king can rightly
Tear the oars out of the water;
Woman stands wondering at
The marvellous oar’s stroke.
The Northmen row on the nailed serpent,
Along the hail-stricken stream;
It seems to the woman she sees
An eagle-wing of iron.
(Harald Hardradi, c. 62.)
As a rule, merchant ships were not kept in as good order as the
war-ships. The Northern chief Harek saved his life, after the battle of
the river Helga, by the following subterfuge. King Olaf went by land to
Norway, while the fleet of Knut the Great remained in the Sound.
“Harek did as he had said, waited for fair wind and then sailed westward
past Skáni, till he came off the Hólar in the evening, during a strong
gale. He had the sail lowered, and the mast and weather-vane taken down,
and the vessel above water wrapped with grey cloth. He had a few rowers
in rooms fore and aft, while most of his men sat very low in the ship.
King Knut’s watchmen saw the ship, and talked among themselves about
what kind of ship it might be. They thought it was loaded with salt or
herrings, for they saw that the men were few and rowing badly, and the
ship looked grey, and not tarred and dried in the sun. They also saw it
was deep in the water. But when Harek got well forward in the Sound past
the host, he raised the mast, hoisted the sail, and set up the gilt
weather-vane. The sail was white as new-fallen snow, and striped with
blue and red” (St. Olaf, c. 168).
[Illustration:
Fig. 938.—From Bayeux tapestry. Ship with dragon’s head, striped
sails, and carrying horses.
]
Some of the harbours built by the Northmen must have been very spacious.
Pálnatóki, jarl of Fjón, who also had a jarldom in Bretland (Wales),
made one summer warfare in Vindland. The king, Búrislaf, sent a message
that he desired friendship and peace with him, and invited him to come
and see him.
[Illustration:
Fig. 939.—Ship lined with shields, striped sails, and men pulling with
oars.
]
“Further, with this invitation he offered to give him a _fylki_ or
_riki_ in his land, called Jóm, in order that he should settle there,
and he would give it him on condition that he should be bound to defend
the land with him. This Pálnatóki and his men accepted. He quickly had a
large and strong sea-burgh made, since called Jómsburgh. He also had a
harbour made within the burgh, in which 300 longships could lie at the
same time, all being locked in the burgh. The entrance to the harbour
was constructed with great skill. It was like a gate with a large stone
arch above, and shut with iron doors locked from inside the harbour.
Upon the arch was built a strong tower (kastali) in which were catapults
(valslöngva). Part of the burgh stood out in the sea (water), and the
burghs built thus are called sea-burghs, and thus the harbour came to be
within it” (Jomsvikinga Saga, ch. 24).
[Illustration:
Fig. 940.—⅓ real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 941.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 942.—Shield. ⅙ real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 943.—Shield. ⅙ real size.
]
Carved pieces of wood and shield from the Gokstad ship.
[Illustration:
Fig. 944.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 945.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 946.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 947.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 948.—Scoop for baling water. ⅙ real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 949.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 950.
]
Scoop for baling water. ¼ real size.
[Illustration:
Fig. 951.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 952.
]
Part of wooden chair, probably high-seat of a chief.
[Illustration:
Fig. 953.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 954.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 955.
]
½ real size.
From Gokstad Ship.
[Illustration:
Fig. 956.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 957.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 958.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 959.—1/20 real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 960.
]
Heads of animals carved at the end of thick planks, the use of which
cannot be ascertained; the lines are painted in various colours. ⅒
real size.
[Illustration:
Fig. 961.—1/20 real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 962.—½ real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 963.—½ real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 964.—1/20 real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 965.—½ real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 966.—¼ real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 967.—¼ real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 968.—½ real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 969.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 970.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 971.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 972.
⅓ real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 973.—½ real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 974.—½ real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 975.—½ real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 976.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 977.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 978.—½ real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 979.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 980.—¼ real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 981.—⅓ real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 982.—⅙ real size
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 983.—⅙ real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 984.—1/40 real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 985.—½ real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 986.—⅓ real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 987.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 988.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 989.
]
⅓ real size.
[Illustration:
Fig. 990.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 991.
]
⅛ real size.
The size of a ship was recognised by the number of its benches, or of
oars by which it was propelled; so a vessel is often described as a
fifteen, twenty, thirty-seater, or more, without having its proper
appellation given to it, and the length can only be approximately given.
In no Saga are we told the length of a ship, and only in one instance,
that of the _Long Serpent_ of Olaf Tryggvason, is it partially given.
Fortunately, from the _Nydam_, _Gokstad_, and _Tune_ boats we can
approximate the distance between each rower’s seat, but the space varied
according to the size of the ship; and the larger the ship, the wider
the space, as the oars became longer and required more room to ply them.
[Illustration:
Fig. 992.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 993.—⅕ real size.
]
Fragments of wood from Gokstad ship.
The _Nydam_ vessel is a fourteen-seater and about 76 feet in length: of
this about 46 feet are taken up by the rowers’ seats, the remaining 30
feet being the spaces fore and aft. The space between each oar thole is
3 feet 2 inches.
The length of the twenty-seater must have been about 110 feet; that of
the twenty-five seater, about 130 feet; of the thirty-seater, about 155
feet; and of the thirty-four seater, the _Long Serpent_ of Olaf
Tryggvason, about 180 feet. Taking the rise from the keel to stem and to
stern, this cannot, in a vessel of that size, have been less than 15
feet at each end, and thus we arrive at the same result, or 180 feet.
The largest ship of which we have any record is that of Knut the Great.
His dragon had sixty pairs of oars, and therefore, according to the same
calculation, must have had a length of about 300 feet. The above
measurements are given without making allowance for larger spaces
between the benches than those of the Nydam and Gokstad ships, which
were necessary in order to give more space for the plying of the longer
oars.
The width of the ship is still more difficult to determine; but, taking
for example the _Serpent_, where it is said that each half-room held
eight men, or sixteen in the whole width of the vessel, its breadth
between the gunwales could not have been less than 32 feet, probably
more, if we judge by the proportions of the other vessels, the Nydam
boat’s width being ⅕ of its length, and that of the Gokstad boat being
nearly ⅕ of its length.
The depth of the ships is nowhere mentioned, but, as we find a
deck-planking (_thiljur_) mentioned, it must have been at least, in
cases of seagoing ships, 10 feet or more.
Looking at the Gokstad ship and its beautiful shape, we can form an idea
how advanced the art of shipbuilding was in the North. The vessel had no
deck, the bottom boards resting over the frames were loose, and were
made fast to the frames by notches cut in them. The fragments which
remain of the tent or tents show the material to have been red and white
striped wool, and the numerous pieces of rope were made of bast.
The Tune vessel probably had ten to twelve pairs of oars, to judge from
the number of ribs and rowing benches; but as the gunwale is destroyed,
the oar tholes are missing. The vessel was iron, clinch built, with the
wood work almost entirely of oak; only the ribs and the wooden nails
were of fir. The planks were fastened to the frame by such clamps as
those described in the _Nydam_ boat and _Gokstad_ ship.
The ponderous beam shows that the mast, which was set in an opening made
in a large oak block, could be lowered at will, a fact sometimes
mentioned in the Sagas.
The Tune Ship.
[Illustration:
Fig. 994.
]
Tune ship (viewed from above), with heavy oak-log or block, with
square hole for making fast the mast, more than 2 feet in
diameter—a stump of the mast still remained in its place;
discovered in a mound, the lower part of which consisted of heavy
blue clay, the upper of sand and earth. The length of keel is
about 45 feet (from stem to stern it must, however, have been over
70 feet), the width amidships about 13 feet, and depth about 4½
feet. Stem and stern are alike, and pointed. The sponts were
attached to the planks by bast ropes. They were not fastened to
the keel plank, which has only been attached by the few nails
which held it together with the bottom planks. The planks, of
which there have been ten to twelve on each side, are from 18 to
30 inches in width. Tune parish, where the remains of the boat and
the stone with old Northern runes have been found, is especially
rich in mementoes from the past. All over the parish many mounds
and _bautarstones_ of large size are seen.
[Illustration:
Fig. 995.
]
Though several centuries had probably elapsed between the construction
of the _Nydam_ and that of the _Tune_ and _Gokstad_ boats, we find the
same principle of construction and of joining the planks by rivets used
in each case.
The clinch nails here represented were discovered not far from Upsala,
in the decayed remains of a small ship buried in the Ultuna mound. They
were from 1½ to 2 inches in length, and still remained in their places,
holding the planks together. The exact size of the vessel could not be
ascertained, as the mound had been disturbed before the systematic
researches by competent authorities had been undertaken. There were
besides a double-edged sword with hilt of gilt bronze, with fragments of
its wooden scabbard, a bundle of 19 arrow-points, 3 dice, 36 checkers,
parts of two horses, skeleton on the prow of the ship, and a gridiron,
etc., etc.
[Illustration:
Fig. 996.—½ real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 997.—⅔ real size.
]
Rivets or clinch nails for ships.
The following passages are the only ones in the whole literature of the
North which describe the building of a ship:—
“Next winter, after King Olaf came from Hálogaland, he had a large ship
built at Hladhamrar; it was far larger than the other ships in the
country, and the stocks on which it was built may still be seen (in
Snorri’s time). It was 148 feet long, touching the grass (_i.e._, at the
keel). Thorberg Skafhögg (blow-scraper) was stem-smith (made stem and
stern) for the ship; many others were engaged in the work, some to fell
trees, others to shape wood, others to nail, others to carry wood.
Everything used was most carefully selected. The ship was long and
broad, with high gunwales and large timbers. While the bulwarks were
rising, Thorberg was obliged to go home to his farm, and was away a long
time, and when he came back the bulwarks were completed. The same
evening the king, together with Thorberg, went to see how the ship
looked, and every man said he had never seen an equally large or fine
longship. The king returned to the town. Early next morning the king and
Thorberg went down to the ship; all the smiths had arrived, and stood
there doing no work. The king asked why they did this. They said the
ship was spoiled, and that a man had walked from the stem to the
_lypting_ and made cuts into the gunwale, the one after the other. The
king looked at it and saw it was true. He swore that if he knew who had
spoiled the ship from envy, that man should die, but the one who could
tell him should get great reward from him. Thorberg said, ‘I can tell
you, king, who did this.’ The king answered, ‘Thou wast the likeliest
man to be so lucky as to ascertain this and tell me.’ ‘I will tell the
king who has done it,’ he said: ‘I have done it.’ The king answered,
‘Thou shalt repair it so that it is as good as it was before, or else
lose thy life.’ Thorberg shaped the gunwale so that all the cuts
disappeared. The king and every one said that the ship was much better
on the side which Thorberg had shaped. The king asked him to do the same
on the other side, and thanked him well for it. Thereafter Thorberg was
the chief smith of the ship till it was finished. It was a dragon made
in the shape of the serpent which he brought from Hálogaland, and
belonged to Raud, but much larger and in every respect more carefully
built. He called it the _Long Serpent_, while the other was the _Short
Serpent_. The _Long Serpent_ had 34 _rooms_. Its beaks and the
dragon-tail were all ornamented with gold; its gunwales were as high as
those on seagoing ships. No better or costlier ship has been built in
Norway” (Olaf Tryggvason, c. 95).
“The same autumn King Olaf had a large longship built on the shore of
the river Nid. It was a _snekkja_; he employed many smiths on it. In the
beginning of winter it was finished; it had thirty rooms, high stems,
but was not large. The king called it the _Trani_ (crane)” (Olaf
Tryggvason, c. 79).
_Crews._—The crew of the ships no doubt varied in number considerably,
according to the power of the chiefs who manned them; crews of one
hundred and twenty men are often mentioned; sometimes the crew consisted
of seven hundred men.[142]
“When spring came, and snow and ice thawed, Thorolf had a large longship
which he owned launched, and made ready and manned with more than 100
(120) of huskarls; they were very fine and well-armed warriors. When a
fair wind came he sailed southward along the coast.... No one knew about
Thorolf’s journey. He had fair winds southward to Denmark, and then to
Austrveg (East of Baltic); he ravaged there that summer, but got little
property. In the autumn he went back to Denmark when the Eyrarfloti (the
trading-fleet of Eyrarsund) was leaving. That summer many ships from
Norway had been there as usual” (Egil’s Saga, c. 19).[143]
The division between each rower’s bench was called room (_rum_), and
this was subdivided into half-rooms, in which many of the combatants
were stationed: hence the fighting strength of a ship, as well as its
size, was known by the number of its rooms or benches.
On expeditions, when the men were landed to fight, we generally find
that one-third of the crew remained on board to guard the ship. This is
corroborated by the Frankish chronicles, which mention that the Northmen
arrived before Paris with seven hundred large ships, besides smaller
ones, and landed forty thousand men. The _Long Serpent_ had thirty-four
rooms; eight men were in each half room, or sixteen in each room, making
five hundred and forty-four. Then thirty men were in the foreroom, thus
making five hundred and seventy-four. We have also the warriors in the
prows, forecastle, and other parts of the ship, making in all probably
seven hundred men.
From the laws we find that people could refuse to sail on unseaworthy
ships.
“The ship which has to be baled three times in two days is reckoned,
according to the right Bjarkey-rett, to be unseaworthy, unless the crew
like to run the risk” (Bjarkey Law, 170).
The following is the only detailed description of a storm at sea in the
Sagas; it was encountered by Fridthjof on his way to the Orkneys. There
are many references to ships being lost at sea, and their crews drowned.
“When Fridthjof got out of Sogn (fjord) a strong gale and a heavy storm
came upon them, and the waves were very great. The ship sailed very
fast, for it was swift and one of the best for the sea.
* * * * *
“They were driven (by the storm) northward into the sounds near to the
islands called Solundir; the wind was then at its hardest. Fridthjof
sang:
The sea begins to swell much,
The clouds are now struck,
Old witchcraft causes
That the sea moves;
I will not fight Ægir
In the gale;
Let the Solundir
Shelter the men.
“They laid the ship under the Solundir in order to wait there. At once
the wind fell. They then sailed out from the island in good hope, for
they had a fair wind for awhile. Then the wind grew stronger. When they
(Fridthjof and his foster-brother Björn) were a long way out at sea, the
sea began to move fearfully again, and such a snowstorm arose that the
men in the stern and the stem could not see the other, and the ship was
so filled with water that they had to bale it all the time. Fridthjof
sang:
We, the renowned warriors of chiefs,
Have come out on the deep;
We cannot see the waves
On account of the witch-storm.
The Solundir (isles) are out of sight,
And all the eighteen men
That defend Ellidi
Stand baling.
“Björn said: ‘The one who travels widely must meet good and evil.’ ‘That
is certain, foster-brother,’ said Fridthjof.
“Fridthjof said this was the time to try good men, though it was easier
to sit in Baldrshagi. They made themselves ready with boldness, for
valiant men were in the ship, and it was the best ship which has been in
the northern lands. Fridthjof sang:
The waves cannot be seen;
We have come westward in the sea;
All the sea looks
As if one saw embers;[144]
The breakers tumble down,
The swan-tops make mounds;[145]
Now Ellidi is overrun
By a high billow.
“Then great waves dashed over the ship so that they stood all baling.
The soft-mouthed maiden
East on the swan-slope
Where the clothes lay bleaching
Will drink if I sink.
“Björn said: ‘Thinkest thou the maidens of Sogn will weep much over
thee?’ Fridthjof said: ‘Surely, that is in my mind.’ Then the waves rose
at the stem so that they rushed into the ship; but the ship was good,
and hardy men were in it. Björn sang:
It is not like when a maiden
Wants to drink to thee,
A bright ring-wearing one
That asks thee to come nearer;
Salt is in my eyes;
They are bathed;
My strong arms fail;
My eyelids are smarting.
“Ásmund said: ‘It matters not though you try your arms (baling, rowing),
for you did not excuse us when we rose so early in Baldrshagi (sacred
grove of Baldr), and we rubbed our eyes.’ ‘Why doest thou not sing,
Ásmund?’ asked Fridthjof. ‘I will,’ said Ásmund.
Here was it rough round the mast
When the sea fell on the ship;
I with eight men
Had to work on board;
Easier was it to carry
A meal to women in their room (dyngja)
Than to bale Ellidi
On the high wave.
“Fridthjof said with laughter: ‘Thou callest not thy help less than it
is, though thy thrall-kin did appear now as thou didst wish to carry
food.’ Then the wind grew stronger again, so that the white
sea-drifts[146] which burst on the ship from all sides were more like
mountains and mountain-peaks than waves.
“Björn: ‘Now thou art afraid, foster-brother, and there is fear in thy
words; it is bad of a good warrior like thee.’ Fridthjof answered: ‘It
is neither fear nor fright, though our journeys of merriment are sung,
but it may be they are mentioned oftener than is needed; most men would
think death likelier than life if they were situated as we are now.’
* * * * *
“Björn: ‘We must take this, foster-brother, as it is.’ Then came a wave
dashing so strongly that it carried away the gunwales and part of the
bows, and flung four men overboard who were all lost. Fridthjof sang:
Both the bows were smashed
In the great wave of the sea;
Four warriors sank
Down into the deep”
(Fridthjof’s Saga, c. 6).
-----
Footnote 123:
Cf. also Olaf Tryggvason, c. 102; St. Olaf, c. 60, 150.
Footnote 124:
The Nydam and Gokstad boats seem to have been a fifteen-seated _skuta_
or _karfi_. Some skutas seem to have carried a crew of about thirty
men.
Footnote 125:
See p. 142.
Footnote 126:
Cf. also St. Olaf, c. 132, 149; Magnus Blind’s Saga, c. 5, 16; Magnus
Erlingson, c. 30.
Footnote 127:
See Battle of Svold.
Footnote 128:
This may explain the name _Askmanni_ given to the Vikings by Adam of
Bremen (c. 212).
Footnote 129:
Cf. also Ingi’s Saga, c. 1.
Footnote 130:
In the lypting seems to have been the sleeping-room, for in Harald
Hardradi’s Saga, c. 22, it is said of Harald, on his journey from
Constantinople, that “in the evening (he) went to sleep in the
_lypting_ of his ship.”
Footnote 131:
Ship boat, also a small vessel.
Footnote 132:
Cf. also Eyrbyggja, c. 29.
Footnote 133:
Cf. Orvar Odd, Hervara Saga, Harald Hardradi, 32; Olaf Tryggvason, c.
87.
Footnote 134:
Cf. also St. Olaf, c. 39.
Footnote 135:
In the Vold ship also there are some specimens of carving, but they
are rare.
Footnote 136:
Cf. also Magnus the Good’s Saga, c. 20.
Footnote 137:
When the Crusaders took Constantinople in 1204, the Belgians sent many
relics home (these are reckoned up in D’Outremann, ‘Constantinopolis
Belgica’); among them this dragon was sent to Bruges. In 1382, Bruges
was taken and plundered by the men of Ghent, and the dragon as a
trophy was put on the top of the belfry in Ghent, where it still is.
In Sigurd Jorsalafari’s Saga (Heimskringla), ch. 14, and Fornmanna
Sögur, vii. 98, we read that Sigurd put the gilded dragon-heads of his
ship on Peter’s Church (a part of Sophia Church, in Constantinople)
(‘Recueil des chroniques de Flandre 1837–41,’ vol. i.; Schiern, ‘Nyere
historiske Studier,’ i. 1875).
Footnote 138:
The Bayeux tapestry corroborates the truthfulness of this, and shows
that designs were either painted or embroidered upon them.
Footnote 139:
Grandson of the great Hakon.
Footnote 140:
An ornament used on the prow of ships and main doors of houses—a sort
of weathercock, which was often adorned with gold.
Footnote 141:
Saturday.
Footnote 142:
See battle of Svold, p. 188.
Footnote 143:
Cf. also Egil’s Saga, c. 55, 72; St. Olaf, 148; Fagrskinna, 42.
Footnote 144:
Phosphorescent, looking like fire at night.
Footnote 145:
That is, swells as high as a mound.
Footnote 146:
The sea is compared to snow lying in heaps or drifts.