Soon after King Harald Gormson ordered a levy of men over all his kingdom, and sailed with 600 ships (1).There were with him Earl Hakon, Harald Grenske, a son of King Gudrod, and many other great men who had fled from their udal estates in Norway on account of Gunhild's sons.The Danish king sailed with his fleet from the south to Viken, where all the people of the country surrendered to him.When he came to Tunsberg swarms of people joined him;and King Harald gave to Earl Hakon the command of all the men who came to him in Norway, and gave him the government over Rogaland, Hordaland, Sogn, Fjord-district, South More, Raumsdal, and North More.These seven districts gave King Harald to Earl Hakon to rule over, with the same rights as Harald Ha***ger gave with them to his sons; only with the difference, that Hakon should there, as well as in Throndhjem, have the king's land-estates and land-tax, and use the king's money and goods according to his necessities whenever there was war in the country.King Harald also gave Harald Grenske Vingulmark, Vestfold, and Agder all the way to Lidandisnes (the Naze), together with the title of king;and let him have these dominions with the same rights as his family in former times had held them, and as Harald Ha***ger had given with them to his sons.Harald Grenske was then eighteen years old, and he became afterwards a celebrated man.Harald king of Denmark returned home thereafter with all his army.
ENDNOTES:
(1) i.e., 720 ships, as they were counted by long hundreds, 100=120.
16.GUNHILD'S SONS LEAVE THE COUNTRY.
Earl Hakon proceeded northwards along the coast with his force;and when Gunhild and her sons got the tidings they proceeded to gather troops, but were ill off for men.Then they took the same resolution as before, to sail out to sea with such men as would follow them away to the westward (A.D.969).They came first to the Orkney Islands, and remained there a while.There were in Orkney then the Earls Hlodver.Arnfid, Ljot, and Skule, the sons of Thorfin Hausakljufer.
Earl Hakon now brought all the country under him, and remained all winter (A.D.970) in Throndhjem.Einar Skalaglam speaks of his conquests in "Vellekla": --"Norway's great watchman, Harald, now May bind the silk snood on his brow --Seven provinces he seized.The realm Prospers with Hakon at the helm."As Hakon the earl proceeded this summer along the coast subjecting all the people to him, he ordered that over all his dominions the temples and sacrifices should be restored, and continued as of old.So it is said in the "Vellekla": --"Hakon the earl, so good and wise, Let all the ancient temples rise; --Thor's temples raised with fostering hand That had been ruined through the land.
His valiant champions, who were slain On battle-fields across the main, To Thor, the thunder-god, may tell How for the gods all turns out well.
The hardy warrior now once more Offers the sacrifice of gore;The shield-bearer in Loke's game Invokes once more great Odin's name.
The green earth gladly yields her store, As she was wont in days of yore, Since the brave breaker of the spears The holy shrines again uprears.
The earl has conquered with strong hand All that lies north of Viken land:
In battle storm, and iron rain Hakon spreads wide his sword's domain."The first winter that Hakon ruled over Norway the herrings set in everywhere through the fjords to the land, and the seasons ripened to a good crop all that had been sown.The people, therefore, laid in seed for the next year, and got their lands sowed, and had hope of good times.
17.HAKON'S BATTLE WITH RAGNFRED.
King Ragnfred and King Gudrod, both sons of Gunhild and Eirik, were now the only sons of Gunhild remaining in life.So says Glum Geirason in Grafeld's lay: --"When in the battle's bloody strife The sword took noble Harald's life, Half of my fortunes with him fell:
But his two brothers, I know well, My loss would soon repair, should they Again in Norway bear the sway, And to their promises should stand, If they return to rule the land."Ragnfred began his course in the spring after he had been a year in the Orkney Islands.He sailed from thence to Norway, and had with him fine troops, and large ships.When he came to Norway he learnt that Earl Hakon was in Throndhjem; therefore he steered northwards around Stad, and plundered in South More.Some people submitted to him; for it often happens, when parties of armed men scour over a country, that those who are nearest the danger seek help where they think it may be expected.As soon as Earl Hakon heard the news of disturbance in More, he fitted out ships, sent the war-token through the land, made ready in all haste, and proceeded out of the fjord.He had no difficulty in assembling men.Ragnfred and Earl Hakon met at the north corner of More;and Hakon, who had most men, but fewer ships, began the battle.
The combat was severe, but heaviest on Hakon's side; and as the custom then was, they fought bow to bow, and there was a current in the sound which drove all the ships in upon the land.The earl ordered to row with the oars to the land where landing seemed easiest.When the ships were all grounded, the earl with all his men left them, and drew them up so far that the enemy might not launch them down again, and then drew up his men on a grass-field, and challenged Ragnfred to land.Ragnfred and his men laid their vessels in along the land, and they shot at each other a long time; but upon the land Ragnfred would not venture: