Heimskringla, or the Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Part 29

12. THE SIXTH BATTLE.

King Olaf ordered great platforms of floating wood to be tied together with hazel bands, and for this he took down old houses; and with these, as a roof, he covered over his s.h.i.+ps so widely, that it reached over the s.h.i.+ps' sides. Under this screen he set pillars so high and stout, that there both was room for swinging their swords, and the roofs were strong enough to withstand the stones cast down upon them. Now when the fleet and men were ready, they rode up along the river; but when they came near the bridge, there were cast down upon them so many stones and missile weapons, such as arrows and spears, that neither helmet nor s.h.i.+eld could hold out against it; and the s.h.i.+ps themselves were so greatly damaged, that many retreated out of it. But King Olaf, and the Northmen's fleet with him, rowed quite up under the bridge, laid their cables around the piles which supported it, and then rowed off with all the s.h.i.+ps as hard as they could down the stream. The piles were thus shaken in the bottom, and were loosened under the bridge. Now as the armed troops stood thick of men upon the bridge, and there were likewise many heaps of stones and other weapons upon it, and the piles under it being loosened and broken, the bridge gave way; and a great part of the men upon it fell into the river, and all the ethers fled, some into the castle, some into Southwark. Thereafter Southwark was stormed and taken. Now when the people in the castle saw that the river Thames was mastered, and that they could not hinder the pa.s.sage of s.h.i.+ps up into the country, they became afraid, surrendered the tower, and took Ethelred to be their king. So says Ottar Svarte:--

"London Bridge is broken down.-- Gold is won, and bright renown.

s.h.i.+elds resounding, War-horns sounding, Hild is shouting in the din!

Arrows singing, Mail-coats ringing-- Odin makes our Olaf win!"

And he also composed these:--

"King Ethelred has found a friend: Brave Olaf will his throne defend-- In b.l.o.o.d.y fight Maintain his right, Win back his land With blood-red hand, And Edmund's son upon his throne replace-- Edmund, the star of every royal race!"

Sigvat also relates as follows:--

"At London Bridge stout Olaf gave Odin's law to his war-men brave-- 'To win or die!'

And their foemen fly.

Some by the d.y.k.e-side refuge gain-- Some in their tents on Southwark plain!

The sixth attack Brought victory back."

13. THE SEVENTH BATTLE.

King Olaf pa.s.sed all the winter with King Ethelred, and had a great battle at Hringmara Heath in Ulfkel's land, the domain which Ulfkel Snilling at that time held; and here again the king was victorious. So says Sigvat the skald:--

"To Ulfkel's land came Olaf bold, A seventh sword-thing he would hold.

The race of Ella filled the plain-- Few of them slept at home again!

Hringmara heath Was a bed of death: Harf.a.ger's heir Dealt slaughter there."

And Ottar sings of this battle thus:--

"From Hringmara field The chime of war, Sword striking s.h.i.+eld, Rings from afar.

The living fly; The dead piled high The moor enrich; Red runs the ditch."

The country far around was then brought in subjection to King Ethelred: but the Thingmen (1) and the Danes held many castles, besides a great part of the country.

ENDNOTES: (1) Thing-men were hired men-at-arms; called Thing-men probably from being men above the cla.s.s of thralls or unfree men, and ent.i.tled to appear at Things, as being udal-born to land at home.

14. EIGHTH AND NINTH BATTLES OF OLAF.

King Olaf was commander of all the forces when they went against Canterbury; and they fought there until they took the town, killing many people and burning the castle. So says Ottar Svarte:--

"All in the grey of morn Broad Canterbury's forced.

Black smoke from house-roofs borne Hides fire that does its worst; And many a man laid low By the battle-axe's blow, Waked by the Nors.e.m.e.n's cries, Scarce had time to rub his eyes."

Sigvat reckons this King Olaf's eighth battle:--

"Of this eighth battle I can tell How it was fought, and what befell, The castle tower With all his power He could not take, Nor would forsake.

The Perthmen fought, Nor quarter sought; By death or flight They left the fight.

Olaf could not this earl stout From Canterbury quite drive out."

At this time King Olaf was entrusted with the whole land defence of England, and he sailed round the land with his s.h.i.+ps of War. He laid his s.h.i.+ps at land at Nyjamoda, where the troops of the Thingmen were, and gave them battle and gained the victory. So says Sigvat the skald:--

"The youthful king stained red the hair Of Angeln men, and dyed his spear At Newport in their hearts' dark blood: And where the Danes the thickest stood-- Where the shrill storm round Olaf's head Of spear and arrow thickest fled.

There thickest lay the Thingmen dead!

Nine battles now of Olaf bold, Battle by battle, I have told."

King Olaf then scoured all over the country, taking scat of the people and plundering where it was refused. So says Ottar:--

"The English race could not resist thee, With money thou madest them a.s.sist thee; Unsparingly thou madest them pay A scat to thee in every way; Money, if money could be got-- Goods, cattle, household gear, if not.

Thy gathered spoil, borne to the strand, Was the best wealth of English land."

Olaf remained here for three years (A.D. 1010-1012).

15. THE TENTH BATTLE.

The third year King Ethelred died, and his sons Edmund and Edward took the government (A.D. 1012). Then Olaf sailed southwards out to sea, and had a battle at Hringsfjord, and took a castle situated at Holar, where vikings resorted, and burnt the castle. So says Sigvat the skald:--

"Of the tenth battle now I tell, Where it was fought, and what befell.

Up on the hill in Hringsfjord fair A robber nest hung in the air: The people followed our brave chief, And razed the tower of the viking thief.

Such rock and tower, such roosting-place, Was ne'er since held by the roving race."

16. ELEVENTH, TWELFTH AND THIRTEENTH BATTLES.

Then King Olaf proceeded westwards to Grislupollar, and fought there with vikings at Williamsby; and there also King Olaf gained the victory.

So says Sigvat:--

"The eleventh battle now I tell, Where it was fought, and what befell.

At Grislupol our young fir's name O'ertopped the forest trees in fame: Brave Olaf's name--nought else was heard But Olaf's name, and arm, and sword.

Of three great earls, I have heard say, His sword crushed helm and head that day."

Next he fought westward on Fetlafjord, as Sigvat tells:--

"The twelfth fight was at Fetlafjord, Where Olaf's honour-seeking sword Gave the wild wolf's devouring teeth A feast of warriors doomed to death."