SOME EXPEDITIONS AND DEEDS OF GREAT VIKINGS.
(_Continued._)
The first Jarl of Normandy—His banishment from Norway—Genealogy of
the Jarls of Normandy—Political connection between kings of the
North and of England—Jealousy between Athelstan and Harold
Fairhair—Hákon of Norway educated in England—Northern chiefs come
to the help of English kings—Battle of Brunanburgh.
Very little is said in the Sagas of Göngu Hrolf, the first jarl of
Normandy, for he, like all those who left their country to settle in
foreign lands, was forgotten by the scalds at home, as these did not
take part in their expeditions. We give here different sagas which
confirm each other in regard to him. But the little we have concerning
him is extremely interesting, as his descendants conquered England and
part of France. All the different Sagas agree in calling him a son of
Rognvald jarl of Norway.
The causes which led to his banishment are simply and clearly related.
“Rögnvald Mæra jarl was a very great friend of King Harald, and was much
valued by him. Rögnvald was married to Hrolf Nefja’s daughter Hild,[399]
and had by her the sons Hrolf and Thorir.... Hrolf was a great Viking,
and so large that no horse could carry him, so that he walked wherever
he went, and for this reason he was called Göngu Hrolf (walking Hrolf).
He made much warfare in the east. One summer when he returned from
‘Vikingry,’ or a raiding expedition in the east, he committed acts of
depredation in Vikin. King Harald, who was then in Vikin, was very angry
when he heard of this, for he had strictly forbidden robbery within his
land. He therefore announced at a Thing that he made Hrolf an outlaw
from Norway. When Hrolf’s mother Hild[399] heard this, she went to him
to ask for pardon for Hrolf, but the king was so angry that her prayers
were of no avail. Then she sang:
Disgrace not Nefja’s namesake[400]
Nor drive the wolf from the land,
The wise kinsman of Höld,[401]
Why dealest thou thus with him, king?
It is bad to worry
Such a wolf of Ygg’s,[402]
He will not be gentle toward
The king’s herds if he runs into the woods.”[403]
Göngu Hrolf then went westward across the sea to the Sudreyjar
(Hebrides), and thence west to Valland, and made war there, and got a
large jarl’s realm, where he induced many Northmen to settle down. It
was afterwards called Nordmandi.
“Göngu Hrolf’s son ‘William’ (Vilhjálm) was father of Richard (Rikard),
father of Richard the Second, father of Robert Longsword,[404] father of
Vilhjalm (William) the Bastard, king of the English, from whom all
subsequent English kings are descended. The jarls in Normandi are also
of Hrolf’s family” (Harald Fairhair’s Saga, c. 24).
“Rögnvald jarl of Mæri was married to Ragnhild, daughter of Hrólf Nefja;
the first of their sons was Ivar, who fell in the Hebrides on an
expedition with Harald Fairhair; the second was Göngu Hrolf, who won
Northmandi; from him are descended the Ruda-jarls (Rouen jarls), and the
Engla-kings (English kings); the third was Thórir jarl the Silent, who
was married to Alöf Arbot, the daughter of Harald Fairhair, and their
daughter was Bergljot, mother of Hakon jarl the Powerful”[405]
(Landnama, iv., 8).
“Rögnvald jarl conquered the country with Harald Fairhair, who gave him
the rule over the two Mæri’s and Raumsdal. He was married to Ragnhild,
daughter of Hrolf Nefja; their son was Hrolf, who won Northmandi. He was
so large that no horse could carry him, and he was therefore called
Göngu Hrolf. From him are descended the Rouen jarls, and the kings of
England” (Flateyjarbok, vol. i.).
“Rögnvald, jarl of Mæri, was the son of Eystein Glumra, son of Ivar
Uppland jarl, son of Halfdan the old; Rögnvald was married to Ragnhild,
daughter of Hrolf Nefja.
“The sons of Rögnvald were: Ivar, who fell in the Hebrides when with
King Harald Fairhair; Göngu Hrolf, who won Northmandi, and from whom the
Ruda (Rouen) jarls are descended, as well as kings of England; and
Thorir jarl the Silent, who was married to Harald Fairhair’s daughter
Arbot, their daughter was Bergljot, mother of Hakon jarl the Great”
(Landnamabok, iv. 8).
“King Olaf had been on warfare west in Valland two summers and one
winter. Two jarls were then in Valland, Vilhjalm and Rodbert; their
father was Rikard Ruda-jarl (jarl of Rouen); they ruled Northmandi.[406]
Their sister was Queen Emma, who was married to Adalrad (Engla-king);
their sons were Jatmund, Jatvard the Good, Jatvig and Jatgeir. Rikard
Ruda-jarl was the son of Rikard son of Vilhjálm Langaspjót (longue
epée); he was the son of Göngu Hrölf jarl who won Nordmandi; he was the
son of Rögnvald Mæra jarl the Powerful, as before is written. From Göngu
Hrölf have sprung the Rúda jarls, and long after they reckoned
themselves to be the kinsmen of the chiefs of Norway, and thought so for
a long time, and were always great friends of the Northmen, and all of
these men had a peace-land in Normandy who would accept it. For the
autumn King Olaf came to Normandy, and stayed during the winter in Signa
(Seine), and had peace-land there” (St. Olaf’s Saga, ch. 19).
Here is the genealogy of the jarls of Normandy.
“King Harald was the son of Halfdan (the Black), king in Uppland;
Halfdan the Black’s father was Gudröd Veidikonung (hunting king), son of
Halfdan, who was called the liberal and food-stingy, for he gave his men
as much pay in gold as other kings theirs in silver, but he kept them
short in food. The mother of Halfdan the Black was Asa, daughter of
Harald Granraud, King of Agdir.
“The mother of Harald Fairhair was Ragnhild, daughter of Sigurd Hjört
(Hart), whose mother was Aslaug, daughter of Sigurd Snake-eye, son of
Ragnar Lodbrok.
“Sigurd Snake-eye’s mother was Áslaug, daughter of Sigurd Fafnisbani.
Sigurd Hjört was married to Thyri, daughter of Klakkharald of Jutland
and sister of Thyri, Denmark’s improver (Danmarkarbot), who was married
to Gorm (the Old) King of Denmark” (Flateyjarbok, vol. i., ch. i.).
The testimony of the Sagas, as we see, is here unmistakable, clear, and
to the point. When we compare them with the Frankish annals and their
fabulous and strange stories and discordant dates, we cannot but give
the preference to the Sagas.
“Alfred the Powerful (_riki_) ruled over England; he was the first of
his kinsmen who was absolute king in the days of Harald Fairhair, King
of Norway. After him his son Edward was king; he was the father of
Athelstan the Victorious (the foster-father of Hakon the Good), who was
king after his father. There were several brothers, sons of Edward. When
Athelstan became king those chiefs who had lost their lands through his
forefathers rose against him, thinking it would be easier to regain
their lands from so young a king. These chiefs were Bretar (Britons) and
Skotar (Scots) and Irar (Irish). Athelstan gathered a host, and gave pay
to every man, both foreigners and natives, who wanted it. The brothers
Thórólf and Egil were going southward past Saxland and Flæmingjaland
(Flandre); when they heard that the King of England needed men, and as
there was likelihood of getting much property, they decided to go
thither with their men. They went in the autumn to the king, who
received them well, for he thought that their following would be a great
help; he offered them pay for their service to defend his kingdom; they
made an agreement and became his men. England had been Christian for a
long time when this happened; the king was a good Christian, and was
called Æthelstan trufasti (constant in belief). He asked Thórólf and
Egil to be _prime-signed_, as was then very usual, both among traders
and those who went into the service of Christians; for those who were
prime-signed had full intercourse with both Christians and heathens, but
at the same time believed what they liked best. Thórólf and Egil did so
at his request. They had three hundred men in the service of the king”
(Egil’s Saga, c. 50).
The following shows the jealousy that existed between the two kings,
Æthelstan and Harald Fairhair of Norway.
“At this time Æthelstan, who was named the victorious and the faithful,
had taken the kingdom in England. He sent to Norway a messenger, who
went in before King Harald and handed him a sword with golden guards and
hilt, and its scabbard was ornamented with gold and silver, and set with
gems. The messenger turned the handle of the sword towards the king, and
said: ‘Here is a sword, that King Æthelstan said thou shouldst take.’
The king took hold of the hilt, and the messenger added: ‘Thou didst
take hold of this sword, as our king wanted thee to. Thou shalt now be
his _thegn_ (subject), because thou didst take it by the hilt.’ Harald
then saw that this had been done to deride him, for he did not want to
be the _thegn_ of any man. He nevertheless remembered his habit,
whenever he got angry, to first keep quiet and let his anger subside,
and then look at the matter calmly. He did thus, and brought the matter
before his friends; and they all thought it right to do as had been done
by. He thereupon allowed King Æthelstan’s men to depart unharmed.
“Hauk Hábrok (high breeches) was with King Harald. He was a good
messenger on all difficult errands, and dear to the king. The summer
after this King Harald entrusted his son Hakon to the hands of Hauk, and
sent him westward to England to King Æthelstan. Hauk found him in
London, at a great feast. He went into the hall with thirty men, and
said to them: ‘We will so arrange that the one who enters last shall go
out first, and we will all stand in a line before the king’s table, and
each one shall have his shield on his left side, and hide it under his
cloak.’ He took the boy Hakon on his arm, and they entered; he saluted
the king, who bid him welcome; then he seated the boy on King
Æthelstan’s knee. The king looked at him, and asked why he did this.
Hauk replied: ‘King Harald of Norway asks thee to foster for him this
child of his bondwoman.’ King Æthelstan at this became very angry,
seized a sword near him, and drew it as if he wanted to slay the boy.
“Hauk then said: ‘Thou hast now seated him on thy knee, king; and murder
him thou mayest if thou wilt; but by this thou wilt not exterminate all
King Harald’s sons.’ Hauk and his men walked out and went to their
ships, and when they were ready they set sail and returned to Norway.
King Harald was well pleased with the result of their errand, for it is
said that the man who fosters the child of another is of lower rank. By
these doings of the kings it could be seen that each wanted to be
greater than the other; but nevertheless each retained his rank, for
each was over-king over his kingdom until his dying day” (Olaf
Tryggvason’s Saga, pp. 16, 17).
The following Saga corroborates the story of Hakon being sent over to
England for his education, and indirectly shows the intercourse which
existed between England and Norway.
“King Æthelstan had Hakon baptized and taught the true creed, good
habits, and all kinds of courtesy. He loved him more than any one else,
kinsman or not, and every one who knew him liked him. He was afterwards
called Æthelstan’s foster-son. He was larger and stronger and handsomer
than other men, and the greatest man of _idróttir_, wise and eloquent,
and a good Christian” (Olaf Tryggvason’s Saga vol. i.; Fms.).
We see how insecure at the time of Æthelstan was the position of a king
or a sub-king, and how much they depended on the help of the powerful
and independent warriors by whom they were surrounded, and without whom
they could not have ruled.
“When Eirik (blood-axe), a Norwegian, saw that he could not resist the
host of (his brother) Hákon, he sailed westwards across the sea with
those who wished to follow him; he went first to the Orkneys, and took
many men with him thence. Then he sailed to England and made warfare in
Scotland wherever he landed; he also made warfare in the North of
England. Adalstein, king of the English, sent word to Eirik offering him
a realm in England, as his father King Harald had been a great friend of
his, and he wished to show that to his son. They made an agreement, so
that King Eirik got _Nordimbraland_ (Northumberland), in order to keep
it for King Adalstein, and defend it against the Danir and other
vikings. Eirik was to be baptized, and his wife and his children, and
all the men that had followed him there. Eirik agreed, was baptized, and
adopted the true belief. _Nordimbraland_ is one-fifth of England. He sat
in _Jórvik_ (York), where the sons of Ragnar Lodbrók are said to have
sat before. _Nordimbraland_ is for the most part inhabited by Northmen,
since the sons of Ragnar won it; the Danir and the Northmen often
attacked the land after they had lost it. Many of the names of the land
are in the _Norræna_ (Northern tongue): _Grimsbær_ (Grimsby), and
_Hauksfljót_ (Hauks-fleet), and many others” (Heimskringla, Hakon the
Good, c. 3).
“King Eirik blood-axe kept many Northmen, who had come westward with
him, and his friends continued to come from Norway. As he had little
land, he went on warfare during the summer, ravaged in Scotland and the
Hebrides, Ireland, and Bretland, and thus won property. Æthelstan died
on a sickbed (A.D. 940); he had been king fourteen winters, eight weeks
and three days. Thereupon his brother Edmund became King of England; he
did not like the Northmen, and was not fond of Eirik, and it was said
that he wished to place another king over Northumberland. When Eirik
heard this he went on a western viking expedition, taking with him
Arnkel and Erlend, the sons of Torf-Einar, from the Orkneys. Then he
sailed to the Hebrides, and there many vikings and host-kings joined
him. He went first to Ireland, then he crossed to Bretland, and
plundered there. After this he sailed south to England,[407] and ravaged
there, as in other places; but all the people fled wherever he went. As
he was a very valiant man and had a large host, he trusted so much to
this that he went far up into the land, and plundered and searched for
men. The king whom Edmund had set to defend the land there was named
Olaf; he gathered an overwhelming host, and went against Eirik. There
ensued a great battle.... Eirik and five kings with him fell; ... and
there was a great slaughter of Northmen; those who escaped went to
Northumberland, and told Gunnhild and her sons the tidings” (Hakon the
Good, c. 4).
“When (Eirik’s wife) Gunnhild and her sons became aware that Eirik had
fallen, and had first plundered in the realm of the Engla-king, they
knew they could not expect peace there, and at once made ready to leave
Northumberland with all the ships which Eirik had owned; and also took
with them all those who wished to follow them. They also carried away
what property had been gathered from taxes in England, as well as what
had been won in warfare. They sailed with their men north to the
Orkneys, and stayed there awhile. Thorfinn Hausakljuf (head-cleaver) was
then jarl. The sons of Eirik subdued the Orkneys and Shetlands, and took
taxes from them; they remained there during the winter, but went on
western viking expeditions in the summer in Scotland and Ireland” (Hakon
the Good, c. 5).[408]
The following account gives us an insight of the manners of the time
during Æthelstan:—
“Eirik saw no other choice than to leave the land (Norway), and departed
with Gunnhild his wife and their children. Arinbjörn hersir was a
foster-brother of King Eirik, and the foster-father of his children, and
dearest to him of all lendirmen.... They went first westward across the
sea to the Orkneys. Then he married his daughter Ragnhild to Arnfin
jarl, and went with his host south, past Scotland, and made war there,
and thence south to England, ravaging there. King Æthelstan heard this,
and gathered men and went against Eirik. When they met, words of
reconciliation were carried between them, and it was agreed upon that
King Æthelstan gave Eirik Northumberland (Northymbraland) to rule over;
and he was to be his land-defender against the Scotch and the Irish.
Æthelstan had made Scotland tributary after the fall of King Olaf, but
the people were constantly faithless to him” (Egil’s Saga, c. 62).
_Battle of Brunanburgh._—This battle is interesting and important in its
details. It illustrates in many instances the customs of the people at
the time of Athelstan, and shows that many customs were identical in
England and the North, and that these Northmen were continually coming
to England to help their friends or kinsmen.
Of Egil, the hero of this important battle, we read:
“When Egil grew up it could soon be seen that he would be ugly and like
his father, with black hair. When he was three winters he was tall and
strong as other boys of six or seven. He was early talkative and wise in
words, but was rather hard to deal with in games with other youths”
(Egil’s Saga, c. 31).
“Olaf Raudi (the red) was a powerful king of Scotland. His father was
Scotch, while his mother was Danish, descending from Ragnar Lodbrok.
Scotland was said to be a third of the size of England; Nordimbraland
(Northumberland) is called a fifth part of England, and is northernmost,
next to Scotland, on the east. The Danish kings had held it in former
times: Yorvik (York) was the head burg. This Æthelstan owned, and had
placed two jarls to rule it; one was named Alfgeir, the other Gudrek.
They were there to defend it, both against the attacks of the Scots and
those of the Danes or Northmen, who ravaged there much. They thought
they had great claims to it, for in Northumberland were only men whose
fathers or mothers were of Danish kin, and, in many cases, both. The
brothers Hring and Adils ruled Bretland (Wales), and paid a tribute to
Æthelstan. When they were in the king’s host, they and their men were to
stand foremost in the ranks, in front of the banners. They were among
the greatest of warriors, though not very young. Alfred the Great had
deprived all tributary kings of their title and power; they who had been
called kings or kings’ sons were called jarls; this continued while he
and his son Edward lived. Æthelstan came young to the kingship, and did
not inspire much dread. Many who were faithful before then became
faithless.
“Olaf, king of the Scots, gathered a large host, and went south to
England. When he reached Northumberland, he went with[409] war-shield
all over the land. But the jarls who ruled there heard of it, and
gathered men, and went against him. There ensued a great battle, which
ended in a victory for Olaf. Gudrek fell, and Alfgeir fled with most of
their men who got away from the battle. Alfgeir could stop nowhere, and
Olaf conquered the whole of Northumberland. Alfgeir went to Æthelstan
and told him of his defeat, but as soon as he heard that so numerous a
host had entered the country he summoned men, and sent word to his jarls
and chiefs. He at once departed with his host against the Scots. When it
was reported that Olaf, King of the Scots, had been victorious, had
conquered a large part of England, and had a far greater force than
Æthelstan, many chiefs went to him. Hring and Adils had gathered many
men, and went over to King Olaf, who then had a very large army.
Æthelstan then had a conference with his chiefs and counsellors to see
what was most expedient. He told the whole assembly distinctly what he
had heard about the Scottish king, and his great number of men. All
agreed that Alfgeir jarl had been most to blame, and it seemed to them
right to remove him from his place. It was agreed that the king should
go back to the southern part of England, and gather men northwards
throughout the whole land, for they saw that the great number needed
would gather too slowly if the king himself did not call them together.
He made Thorolf and Egil leaders of the host there; they were to lead
the men whom vikings had taken to the king, and Alfgeir had still the
command of his own men. The king also made those it pleased to him
chiefs of detachments (Sveit). When Egil came from the meeting, he was
asked what news he could tell about the king of the Scots. He sang....
“Then they sent men to Olaf with the message that Æthelstan would fence
a field with hazels to offer it as a battlefield to him on Vinheidi (=
Vin-heath), at Vinuskogar (= Vinu-forest); that he did not want them to
ravage in his land, and that the one who gained the battle should rule
over the realm, England; they were to meet in the course of one week,
and he who should arrive there first was to wait one week for the other.
It was customary then, after a battlefield had been enhazelled, to
consider it a disgrace for a king to plunder until after the battle.
Olaf therefore stopped his host, and did not ravage, but waited for the
appointed day; then he moved his force to Vinheidi. There was a town
north of the heath, where he took up his quarters; he had there the
greatest part of his host, for large provinces (herad) lay up to it, and
he thought it was easiest there to obtain necessary supplies for the
host. He sent some of his men to the heath where the battle was
appointed, to find a place for the tents and prepare everything in
advance. When they came to where the field was to be fenced, hazel poles
were put up all round to mark the place where the battle was to take
place. Care was taken that it should be even, as a large number of men
was to be arrayed there. The battle-place was a level heath; on one side
a river, and on the other a large forest. There was a very long distance
between the forest and the river, where it was shortest, and where the
tents of Æthelstan reached all the way from the one to the other. There
was no one in every third tent, and even few in those that were
occupied. When the men of Olaf came to the tents they had many men in
front of all the tents, but did not allow them to go in. The men of
Æthelstan said that all their tents were full, and that their whole host
had not room in them; the tents stood in so high a place that it was
impossible to look over them and see whether they were many or few in a
cut through, and they thought there must be a great host. They pitched
their tents north of the hazel poles, on a gentle slope. The men of
Æthelstan said day after day that their king was coming or had arrived
to the town south of the heath, and men gathered to them both by day and
by night.
“When the appointed time was past they sent a message to Olaf that
Æthelstan was ready for the battle, with a very numerous host, but that
he did not wish such a great slaughter as was likely to take place, and
bade him rather go home to Scotland and he would allow him as a friendly
gift a shilling (skilling) in silver for every plough in all his
kingdom, and that they should become friends. When the messengers came
to Olaf he was preparing for battle, but on the announcement of their
errand he stopped his advance that day, and with his chiefs sat in
council. Different advices were given; some urged him much to accept
this offer, thinking it most honourable to go home, having received so
large a tribute from Æthelstan; others dissented, and said that he would
offer much more next time if this was not accepted. This was agreed
upon. Then the messengers asked Olaf to grant them time to see King
Æthelstan, and try if he would pay more to get peace. They asked for
truce; one day to ride home, another for deliberation, the third for
returning. This was granted; the messengers went home, and came back the
third day and told Olaf that Æthelstan would give all he offered before,
and besides to his host a shilling to every free-born man, and a mark to
every leader who had command over twelve men or more, one mark in gold
to every leader of hirdmen (courtiers), and five marks in gold to every
jarl.
“The king had this announced to his men, some of whom desired it, and
others opposed it. At last the king decided that he would accept these
conditions if King Æthelstan let him have the whole of Northumberland
with the taxes and tributes thereto belonging. The messengers asked for
a further delay of three days, and that Olaf would then send to hear
from Æthelstan if he would accept these terms; they said that they
thought King Æthelstan was very anxious to conclude the agreement. Olaf
consented, and sent his messengers, who found Æthelstan in the burgh
which was nearest south of the heath. They spoke of their errand, and
the offer of reconciliation; the men of Æthelstan told also what they
had offered to Olaf, and that it was the advice of wise men thus to
delay the battle, as the king had not arrived. Æthelstan quickly gave
decision, and said to the messengers: ‘Carry these my words to Olaf,
that I will allow him to go back to Scotland with his men if he pays
back all the property he took wrongly here in the land. Let us then make
peace between our countries, and let neither make war on the other. Olaf
shall become my man, and hold Scotland from me, and be my under-king. Go
back and tell him this.’ The messengers went back that evening, and came
to Olaf about midnight. They awoke him, and delivered their message. The
king immediately called the jarls and other chiefs, and had the
messengers tell the result of their errand and the words of Æthelstan.
As this was made known among the warriors, all said that they must make
ready for battle. The messengers also told that King Æthelstan had a
great many men, and that he had arrived to the burgh the same day as
they. Adils jarl said: ‘Now my words have proved true, king, that you
would experience the cunning of the English. We have remained here a
long time, and waited while they have gathered all their men, and their
king has probably not been anywhere near here when we came. They must
have gathered many men since that time. It is my advice that I and my
brother ride at once in advance of you this night with our men. It may
be that they have now no fear about themselves, as they have heard that
their king is near with a large host. Then we will attack them, and as
they flee they will lose many men, and be less bold afterwards in
fighting against us.’ The king thought this a good advice, and agreed to
make his army ready at dawn and meet him. They decided upon this and
then parted.
“Hring, and Adils his brother, made ready and went in the night south to
the heath. When it became light the sentinels of Thorolf saw the host;
there was blown a war-blast, and the men put on their armour; they began
to array them in battle order in two fylkings. Alfgeir commanded one of
them, and had a standard carried in front of him: in this one was the
force which had followed him, and also those who had gathered from the
herads (provinces). It was a much larger host than that which followed
Thorolf. Thorolf had a wide and thick shield, a very strong helmet on
his head, a sword which he called Lang (the long), a large and good
weapon. He also had a spear (=kesja) in his hand, of which the blade was
four feet long, the point four-edged, the upper part of the blade broad,
and the socket long and thick; the handle was no longer than one could
reach with the hand to the socket, but very thick; there was an iron peg
in the socket, and the whole handle was wound with iron. These spears
were called brynthvari. Egil had the same outfit as Thorolf. He had a
sword he called Nadr (=viper), which he had got in Kurland; it was an
excellent weapon. Neither of them had on a coat of mail. They set up
their standard, and Thorfinn the Hard carried it. All their men had
Northern shields, and their whole equipment was Norwegian. All Northmen
who were there were in their ranks. Thorolf and his men arrayed
themselves nearer to the forest, but the array of Alfgeir along the
river. Adils jarl and his brother saw that they could not come on
Thorolf and his men unawares. Then they began to array their men in
order of battle, and had also two fylkings and two standards. Adils
arrayed his men against Alfgeir, and Hring his against the vikings. Then
the battle began, and both sides went well forward. Adils pushed hard
forward until Alfgeir let his men retreat; the men of Adils then fought
more boldly, and it was not long before Alfgeir fled. He rode away
southward off the heath with a detachment of men, till he approached the
burgh in which the king was stopping. The jarl said: ‘I do not think it
is safe for us to go into the burgh. We got a great scolding last time
we went to the king, when we had been defeated by Olaf, and he will not
think that our honour has improved after this journey. We need not
expect any honour where he is.’ Then he rode southward day and night
until they came west to Jarsnes. There he got passage southward across
the sea, and went to Valland (France), where he had one half of his
kindred. He never since came back to England.
“Adils first pursued the fleeing men, but not far before he returned to
the battle and then made an attack. As Thorolf saw this, he sent Egil
against him, and ordered the standard to be carried thither; he bid his
men follow each other well, and stand closely together. ‘Let us move
toward the forest.’ said he, ‘that it may shelter our back, so that they
cannot attack us from all sides.’ They did so, and a sharp fight
followed. Egil advanced against Adils, and they had a hard encounter.
The difference in numbers was very great, but nevertheless more fell on
Adils’ side. Thorolf became so furious that he threw his shield on his
back, and taking the spear with both hands, rushed forward and struck or
thrust on both sides. Men turned away from him, but he killed many. Thus
he cleared his way to the standard of Hring, and nothing could stand
against him. He killed the men who bore it, and cut down the standard
pole. Then he thrust the spear into the breast of the jarl through the
coat of mail and his body, so that it came out between his shoulders; he
raised him on the spear over his head, and put the shaft down into the
ground. The jarl expired on the spear, in sight of foes and friends.
Then Thorolf drew his sword, and dealt blows on both hands. His men also
made an onset; many of the Britons and Scots fell, and some fled. When
Adils saw the death of his brother, and the great fall and flight of his
men finding himself severely pushed, he turned and fled, running into
the forest, as did his men. The entire host of the jarls began to flee.
Thorolf and Egil pursued them, and many more fell; the fugitives
scattered widely over the heath. Adils had dropped his standard, and
nobody knew him from his men. It then quickly began to get dark, and
Thorolf and Egil went back to their camp, and at the same time Æthelstan
came with his entire host. They pitched their tents and encamped.
Shortly afterwards Olaf came with his host, and did the same. Olaf was
told that both his jarls Hring and Adils had fallen, and a great number
of men with them.
“Æthelstan had been, the night before the battle, in the burgh mentioned
before, and there heard that a battle had been fought on the heath. He
at once made ready with the entire host, and went northwards up on the
heath. He then was told minutely how the battle had gone. Thorolf and
Egil went to meet him. He thanked them greatly for their valour and the
victory they had won, and promised them his full friendship. They all
rested there together during the night. Æthelstan awoke his host early
in the morning; he had a talk with his chiefs, and told how his host
should be arrayed. He placed his own fylking first, and put at its
breast those detachments which were the most dashing, with Egil as
leader. ‘Thorolf,’ said he, ‘shall lead his host and the other men I may
put there in another fylking. They shall go against those of the enemy’s
men who are scattered and outside the fylking, for the Scots are usually
not in serried ranks; they run to and fro, and come forward in various
places; they often become dangerous if not guarded against, but do not
stand firm on the field if they are faced.’ Egil answered: ‘I do not
want that Thorolf and I shall be separated in the battle, and it seems
best that we be placed where it is most needed and hard to stand.’
Thorolf said: ‘Let the king decide where he wishes to place us. Let us
assist him so well that he is pleased. I would rather be where thou art
placed, if thou hast no objection.’ Egil replied: ‘You must have your
will, kinsman, but this change I shall often regret.’ After this the men
went forward into the fylkings as the king had ordered, and the
standards were raised. The king’s fylking stood in the open field at the
river, while that of Thorolf was higher up along the forest. Olaf began
arraying his men, when he saw that Æthelstan had arrayed his. He had
also two lines, and he had his fylking and his standard, led by himself,
against Æthelstan. They were equal in point of numbers, but the other
line of Olaf went nearer to the forest, against that which Thorolf led.
The chiefs of this numerous host were Scotch jarls, and most of the men
Scots. The lines met each other, and soon a great battle ensued. Thorolf
made a hard onset, and had his standard carried along the forest,
intending to advance thus that he might attack the king’s array on the
flank. The men of Thorolf carried their shields in front, while the
forest protected them on their right side. Thorolf went so far forward
that few of his men were in front of him. But, when he expected it
least, Adils and his men rushed out of the forest; they pierced Thorolf
with many spears at the same time. He fell, but Thorfinn, who carried
the standard, retreated to where the warriors stood thicker. Adils
attacked, and there was a hard fight. The Scots raised a shout of
victory when they had killed the leader of their enemies. When Egil
heard that shout, and saw that the standard of Thorolf drew back, he
knew that Thorolf himself did not follow it. He rushed forward between
the arrays, and soon knew the tidings when he met his men. He urged the
warriors much to attack, and was foremost with the sword Nadr in his
hand. With this he strided forward slashing on both sides of himself,
and slew many a man. Thorfinn carried the standard after him, and the
men followed it. There ensued a most sharp fight. Egil went forward
until he met Adils; they exchanged but few blows before the latter fell,
and many around him. After his fall, the host which had followed him
fled. Egil and his men pursued, and killed all they got hold of, for it
was then useless to ask for life. The Scottish jarls did not stand long
when they saw that their companions fled, but at once took to their
heels. Egil then went to where Olaf’s array was, and attacked it in the
rear,[410] and made a great slaughter. The line began to waver, and was
all broken up; many of Olaf’s men fled, and the vikings raised a shout
of victory. When Æthelstan saw that the ranks of Olaf began to break up,
he urged his men, and had his standard carried forward. He made such a
fierce attack that the force of Olaf recoiled with a heavy loss. Olaf
fell there, and the greatest part of his host, for all who were caught
in the flight were slain. Æthelstan gained a very great victory.
“Æthelstan left the battlefield, while his men pursued the fugitives. He
rode back to the burgh, and there spent the night. Egil pursued for a
long time, and killed every one he could overtake. When he had slain as
many as he wanted, he went back to the battlefield, and found his
brother Thorolf there, dead. He took his body, washed it, and prepared
it as was customary; they dug a grave and put Thorolf therein, with all
his weapons and clothes. Egil fastened a gold ring on each of his
arms[411] before he left him. Then they piled stones upon him, and threw
earth over. Then Egil sang:
The slayer of jarls who could not fear (Thorolf)
Went valiantly forward;
The strong-minded Thorolf fell
In the great _din of Thund_ (= Odin) (= battle);
The ground will be green near the Vina (= a river)
Over my famous brother;
But we must hide our grief;
That is death-pain (= pain of Hel (= death)).
“Egil went with his men to Æthelstan, and at once went before him where
he sat drinking in loud merriment. The king saw that Egil had entered,
and said that place should be given to them on the lower bench, and that
Egil should sit there in the high-seat opposite to him. Egil sat down,
and flung his shield down before his feet. He had a helmet on his head,
and placed his sword on his knee. He at times drew half of the blade out
of the scabbard and then slammed it back again. He sat upright, with his
head bent forward. Egil had prominent features, a wide forehead, heavy
eyebrows; his nose was not long, but extremely big, the lips thick and
long, the chin and jaws wonderfully broad; he had a thick neck and large
shoulders, exceeding other men’s in size. He looked hard and fierce when
he was angry. He was well shaped, and taller than other men; his hair
was wolf-grey and abundant. and he became bald early. As he sat thus, as
before written, he made one of his eyebrows move down on his cheek and
the other up to the fringe of his hair. He was black-eyed and swarthy
(of a dark complexion). He would not drink the drink that was carried to
him, but moved his eyebrows one at a time, up and down. Æthelstan sat in
his high-seat with a sword on his knee. As they had sat thus for a
while, the king drew his sword from its scabbard, and took a large and
fine gold ring from his arm and hung it on the point of the sword blade,
rose, walked on the floor, and handed it to Egil across the fire. Egil
rose, drew his sword, and walked forward also. He stuck his sword into
the ring, drew it to him, and went back to his seat. The king sat down
in his high-seat. When Egil sat down he put the ring on his arm, and his
brows became smooth, and he laid down his sword and helmet, took a
deer-horn which was carried to him, and drank from it. He sang (on the
ring)....
“Thereafter Egil drank his share, and talked to men. The king had two
chests brought in; two men carried each, and both were filled with
silver. He said: ‘These chests thou shalt have, Egil; and if thou goest
to Iceland, thou shalt give this property to thy father. I send it to
him as indemnity for his son. But some of it thou shalt divide among the
kinsmen of thyself and Thorolf, whom thou considerest the foremost. But
thou shalt receive indemnity for thy brother here; land or loose
property, whichever thou pleasest. If thou wilt stay with me long, I
will give thee the honour and rank thou mayest choose thyself.’ Egil
accepted the property, and thanked him for his gifts and friendly words.
Egil then began to be merrier, and sang:
The towering peaks of the eyelids (= the eyebrows)
Did droop on me for sorrow.
Now I found the one who smoothed
These wrinkles on my forehead.
The king has lifted up the
Rocks fencing the ground of the hood,[412]
Of me with the arm-band (= goldring);
The frown has left my eyes.
“Those wounded men who were fated to live were healed. Egil remained
with the king the winter after the fall of Thorolf, and was greatly
honoured by him. The men who had followed the brothers, and had escaped
from the battle, were there with Egil. Egil made a drapa (= laudatory
poem) on the king, who gave him two gold rings, each of which weighed
one mark, and a costly cloak which he himself had worn. When spring
began, Egil announced to the king that he intended to go away in the
summer to Norway to find out how the affairs of Asgerd, the wife of his
brother Thorolf, stood. ‘There is much property, but I do not know if
there are any children of theirs alive. If there are, then I have to
take care of them.[413] But all the inheritance is mine if Thorolf has
died childless.’ The king answered: ‘Thou mayest go if thou thinkest
thou hast a necessary errand, but I like it best that thou remainest
here on such conditions as thou demandest thyself.’ Egil thanked him. ‘I
shall go first where it is my duty to go, but it is likely that I return
if I can to claim these promises.’ The king told him to do so. Egil made
ready, and with one longship and a hundred men, sailed for Norway.”
The widow of Thorolf Skallagrimsson, brother of Egil, who fell in the
battle of Brunanburgh, was named Asgerd. Egil told her of the killing of
his brother.
“Egil grew melancholy in the autumn, and drank little, but sat often
drooping his head in his cloak. Arinbjörn (his friend) once went to him
and asked what caused his sadness, ‘though thou hast lost thy brother it
is manly to bear it well, for man must live after man.’”
“Egil sang a stanza, in which he expressed obscurely the name of Asgerd,
and then asked Arinbjörn’s help to a marriage with her. Then he was
married to her, and was merry the remaining part of the winter” (Egil’s
Saga, chs. 51–56).
[Illustration:
Fig. 1361.—Fire-Steel. ⅔ size. In a grave, Götland.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 1362.—Key of bronze. ⅔ size. Norway; found with buckles, pearls,
etc.
]
-----
Footnote 399:
Hild is here an abbreviation for Ragnhild.
Footnote 400:
Hrolf.
Footnote 401:
The higher class of landowners.
Footnote 402:
Ygg (Odin). A wolf of Ygg means a champion.
Footnote 403:
If he becomes a viking he will not spare Harald’s men.
Footnote 404:
The name Longsword is usually given to Hrolf’s son William
(Löngumspada).
Footnote 405:
Then Hákon the Great was the son of the daughter’s daughter of Harald
Fairhair.
Footnote 406:
Northmandi; _th_ is here in the place of the soft Icelandic _d_ or ð.
Footnote 407:
This shows that Bretland must have been Wales.
Footnote 408:
Cf. also Egil’s Saga, c. 62.
Footnote 409:
= Ravaged.
Footnote 410:
In open shields, or the hollow of the shields; the rear.
Footnote 411:
Hönd = hand or arm.
Footnote 412:
Ground of the hood = forehead; its rocks = the eyebrows.
Footnote 413:
Brother inheriting brother.