Svein Ulfson went directly to his ships as soon as he heard that King
Magnus had left his fleet. He drew to him all the men he could, and went
round in winter among the islands, Seeland, Fyen, and others. Towards
Yule he sailed to Jutland, and went into Limfjord, where many people
submitted to him. He imposed scat upon some, but some joined King
Magnus. Now when King Magnus heard what Svein was doing, he betook
himself to his ships with all the Northmen then in Denmark, and a part
of the Danish troops, and steered south along the land. Svein was then
in Aros with a great force; and when he heard of King Magnus he laid
his vessels without the town, and prepared for battle. When King Magnus
heard for certain where Svein was, and that the distance between them
was but short, he held a House-thing, and addressed his people thus: "It
is reported to me that the earl and his fleet are lying not far from us,
and that he has many people. Now I would let you know that I intend
to go out against the earl and fight for it, although, we have fewer
people. We will, as formerly, put our trust in God, and Saint Olaf, my
father, who has given us victory sometimes when we fought, even though
we had fewer men than the enemy. Now I would have you get ready to seek
out the enemy, and give battle the moment we find him by rowing all to
attack, and being all ready for battle." Thereupon the men put on their
weapons, each man making himself and his place ready; and then they
stretched themselves to their oars. When they saw the earl's ships they
rowed towards them, and made ready to attack. When Svein's men saw the
forces they armed themselves, bound their ships together, and then began
one of the sharpest of battles. So says Thiodolf, the skald:--
"Shield against shield, the earl and king
Made shields and swords together ring.
The gold-decked heroes made a play
Which Hild's iron-shirt men say
They never saw before or since
On battle-deck; the brave might wince,
As spear and arrow whistling flew,
Point blank, death-bringing, quick and true."
They fought at the bows, so that the men only on the bows could strike;
the men on the forecastle thrust with spears: and all who were farther
off shot with light spears or javelins, or war-arrows. Some fought with
stones or short stakes; and those who were aft of the mast shot with the
bow. So Says Thiodolf:--
"Steel-pointed spear, and sharpened stake,
Made the broad shield on arm shake:
The eagle, hovering in the air,
Screamed o'er the prey preparing there.
And stones and arrows quickly flew,
And many a warrior bold they slew.
The bowman never twanged his bow
And drew his shaft so oft as now;
And Throndhjem's bowmen on that day
Were not the first tired of this play:
Arrows and darts so quickly fly,
You could not follow with the eye."
Here it appears how hot the battle was with casting weapons. King Magnus
stood in the beginning of the battle within a shield-rampart; but as it
appeared to him that matters were going on too slowly, he leaped over
the shields, and rushed forward in the ship, encouraging his men with
a loud cheer, and springing to the bows, where the battle was going on
hand to hand. When his men saw this they urged each other on with mutual
cheering, and there was one great hurrah through all the ships. So says
Thiodolf:--
"'On with our ships! on to the foe!'
Cry Magnus' men--on, on they go.
Spears against shields in fury rattle,--
Was never seen so fierce a battle."
And now the battle was exceedingly sharp; and in the assault Svein's
ship was cleared of all her forecastle men, upon and on both sides of
the forecastle. Then Magnus boarded Svein's ship, followed by his men;
and one after the other came up, and made so stout an assault that
Svein's men gave way, and King Magnus first cleared that ship, and then
the rest, one after the other. Svein fled, with a great part of his
people; but many fell, and many got life and peace. Thiodolf tells of
this:--
"Brave Magnus, from the stern springing
On to the stem, where swords were ringing
From his sea-raven's beak of gold
Deals death around--the brave! the bold!
The earl's housemen now begin
To shrink and fall: their ranks grow thin--
The king's luck thrives--their decks are cleared,
Of fighting men no more appeared.
The earl's ships are driven to flight,
Before the king would stop the fight:
The gold-distributor first then
Gave quarters to the vanquished men."
This battle was fought on the last Sunday before Yule. So says
Thiodolf:--
"'Twas on a Sunday morning bright,
Fell out this great and bloody fight,
When men were arming, fighting, dying,
Or on the red decks wounded lying.
And many a man, foredoomed to die,
To save his life o'erboard did fly,
But sank; for swimming could not save,
And dead men rolled in every wave."