On Saint Blasius' day (February 3, 1161), in the evening, King Inge's spies brought him the news that King Hakon was coming towards the town.Then King Inge ordered the war-horns to call together all the troops up from the town; and when he drew them up he could reckon them to be nearly 4000 men.The king let the array be long, but not more than five men deep.Then some said that the king should not be himself in the battle, as they thought the risk too great; but that his brother Orm should be the leader of the army.The king replied, "I think if Gregorius were alive and here now, and I had fallen and was to be avenged, he would not lie concealed, but would be in the battle.Now, although I, on account of my ill health, am not fit for the combat as he was, yet will I show as good will as he would have had; and it is not to be thought of that I should not be in the battle."People say that Gunhild, who was married to Simon, King Hakon's foster-brother, had a witch employed to sit out all night and procure the victory for Hakon; and that the answer was obtained, that they should fight King Inge by night, and never by day, and then the result would be favourable.The witch who, as people say, sat out was called Thordis Skeggia; but what truth there may be in the report I know not.
Simon Skalp had gone to the town, and was gone to sleep, when the war-shouts awoke him.When the night was well advanced, King Inge's spies came to him, and told him that King Hakon and his army were coming over the ice; for the ice lay the whole way from the town to Hofud Isle.
17.KING INGE'S SPEECH.
Thereupon King Inge went with his army out on the ice, and he drew it up in order of battle in front of the town.Simon Skalp was in that wing of the array which was towards Thraelaberg; and on the other wing, which was towards the Nunnery, was Gudrod, the king of the South Hebudes, a son of Olaf Klining, and Jon, a son of Svein Bergthor Buk.When King Hakon and his army came near to King Inge's array, both sides raised a war-shout.Gudrod and Jon gave King Hakon and his men a sign, and let them know where they were in the line; and as soon as Hakon's men in consequence turned thither, Gudrod immediately fled with 1500 men; and Jon, and a great body of men with him, ran over to King Hakon's army, and assisted them in the fight.When this news was told to King Inge, he said, "Such is the difference between my friends.Never would Gregorius have done so in his life!" There were some who advised King Inge to get on horseback, and ride from the battle up to Raumarike; "where," said they, "you would get help enough, even this very day." The king replied, he had no inclination to do so."I have heard you often say, and I think truly, that it was of little use to my brother, King Eystein, that he took to flight; and yet he was a man distinguished for many qualities which adorn a king.Now I, who labour under so great decrepitude, can see how bad my fate would be, if I betook myself to what proved so unfortunate for him; with so great a difference as there is between our activity, health, and strength.I was in the second year of my age when I was chosen king of Norway, and Iam now twenty-five; and I think I have had misfortune and sorrow under my kingly dignity, rather than pleasure and peaceful days.
I have had many battles, sometimes with more, sometimes with fewer people; and it is my greatest luck that I have never fled.
God will dispose of my life, and of how long it shall be; but Ishall never betake myself to flight."18.KING INGE'S FALL.
Now as Jon and his troop had broken the one wing of King Inge's array, many of those who were nearest to him fled, by which the whole array was dispersed, and fell into disorder.But Hakon and his men went briskly forwards; and now it was near daybreak.An assault was made against King Inge's banner, and in this conflict King Inge fell; but his brother Orm continued the battle, while many of the army fled up into the town.Twice Orm went to the town after the king's fall to encourage the people, and both times returned, and went out again upon the ice to continue the battle.Hakon's men attacked the wing of the array which Simon Skalp led; and in that assault fell of King Inge's men his brother-in-law, Gudbrand Skafhogson.Simon Skalp and Halvard Hikre went against each other with their troops, and fought while they drew aside past Thraelaberg; and in this conflict both Simon and Halvard fell.Orm, the king's brother, gained great reputation in this battle; but he at last fled.Orm the winter before had been contracted with Ragna, a daughter of Nikolas Mase, who had been married before to King Eystein Haraldson; and the wedding was fixed for the Sunday after Saint Blasius's mass, which was on a Friday.Orm fled east to Svithjod, where his brother Magnus was then king; and their brother Ragnvald was an earl there at that time.They were the sons of Queen Ingerid and Henrik Halte, who was a son of the Danish king Svein Sveinson.
The princess Kristin took care of King Inge's body, which was laid on the stone wall of Halvard's church, on the south side without the choir.He had then been king for twenty-three years (A.D.1137-1161).In this battle many fell on both sides, but principally of King Inge's men.Of King Hakon's people fell Arne Frirekson.Hakon's men took all the feast and victuals prepared for the wedding, and a great booty besides.
19.OF KING HAKON AND QUEEN KRISTIN.
Then King Hakon took possession of the whole country, and distributed all the offices among his own friends, both in the towns and in the country.King Hakon and his men had a meeting in Halvard's church, where they had a private conference concerning the management of the country.Kristin the princess gave the priest who kept the church keys a large sum of money to conceal one of her men in the church, so that she might know what Hakon and his counsellors intended.When she learnt what they had said, she sent a man to Bergen to her husband Erling Skakke, with the message that he should never trust Hakon or his men.
20.OF OLAF'S MIRACLE.
