Erling was in Bergen with a great armament, and resolved to lay a
sailing prohibition on all the merchant vessels which were going north
to Nidaros; for he knew that King Hakon would soon get tidings of him,
if ships were sailing between the towns. Besides, he gave out that it
was better for Bergen to get the goods, even if the owners were obliged
to sell them cheaper than they wished than that they should fall into
the hands of enemies and thereby strengthen them. And now a great many
vessels were assembled at Bergen, for many arrived every day, and none
were allowed to go away. Then Erling let some of the lightest of his
vessels be laid ashore, and spread the report that he would wait for
Hakon, and, with the help of his friends and relations, oppose the enemy
there. He then one day called a meeting of the ship-masters, and gave
them and all the merchant ships and their steersmen leave to go where
they pleased. When the men who had charge of the cargoes, and were all
ready to sail away with their goods, some for trade, others on various
business, had got leave from Erling Skakke to depart, there was a
soft and favourable wind for sailing north along the coast. Before the
evening all who were ready had set sail, and hastened on as fast as they
could, according to the speed of their vessels, the one vying with the
other. When this fleet came north to More, Hakon's fleet had arrived
there before them: and he himself was there fully engaged in collecting
people, and summoning to him the lendermen, and all liable to serve in
the levy, without having for a long time heard any news from Bergen.
Now, however, they heard, as the latest news, that Erling Skakke had
laid his ships up in Bergen, and there they would find him; and also
that he had a large force with him. King Hakon sailed from thence to
Veey, and sent away Earl Sigurd and Onund Simonson to gather people, and
sent men also to both the More districts. After King Hakon had remained
a few days at the town he sailed farther, and proceeded to the South,
thinking that it would both promote his journey and enable new levies to
join him sooner.
Erling Skakke had given leave on Sunday to all the merchant vessels to
leave Bergen; and on Tuesday, as soon as the early mass was over, he
ordered the warhorns to sound, summoned to him the men-at-arms and the
townsmen, and let the ships which were laid up on shore be drawn down
into the water. Then Erling held a House-Thing with his men and the
people of the levy; told them his intentions; named ship commanders;
and had the names called over of the men who were to be on board of the
king's ship. This Thing ended with Erling's order to every man to make
himself ready in his berth wherever a place was appointed him; and
declared that he who remained in the town after the Baekisudin was
hauled out, should be punished by loss of life or limb. Orm, the king's
brother, laid his ships out in the harbour immediately that evening, and
many others, and the greater number were afloat before.