When Trygve came from the west he landed first on the coast of
Hordaland, and when he heard King Svein had gone south he went the same
way to Rogaland. As soon as Svein got the intelligence that Trygve had
come from the west he returned, and steered north with his fleet; and
both fleets met within Bokn in Soknarsund, not far from the place where
Erling Skjalgson fell. The battle, which took place on a Sunday, was
great and severe. People tell that Trygve threw spears with both hands
at once. "So my father," said he, "taught me to celebrate mass." His
enemies had said that he was the son of a priest; but the praise must
be allowed him that he showed himself more like a son of King Olaf
Trygvason, for this Trygve was a slaughtering man. In this battle King
Trygve fell, and many of his men with him; but some fled, and some
received quarter and their lives. It is thus related in the ballad of
Trygve:--
"Trygve comes from the northern coast,
King Svein turns round with all his host;
To meet and fight, they both prepare,
And where they met grim death was there.
From the sharp strife I was not far,--
I heard the din and the clang of war;
And the Hordaland men at last gave way,
And their leader fell, and they lost the day."