Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/269

 Haralds- son. KINGS OF NORWAY. 257 clad's son was in Thurso, to which he sailed directly in saga xiv. three small boats. The earl had a ship of thirty Eystdn banks of oars, and nearly eighty men in her. But they were not prepared to make resistance, so that King Eystein was able to board the ship with his men ; and he took the earl prisoner, and carried him to his OAvn ship, but the earl ransomed himself with three marks of gold : and thus the} parted. Einar Skuleson tells of it thus : — '' Earl Harald in his stout ship lay On the bright sand in Thurso bay; With fourscore men he had no fear, Nor thought the Norse king was so near. He who provides the eagle's meals In three small boats along-shore steals; And Maddad's son must ransom pay For his bad outlook that fair day." From thence King Eystein sailed south along the east side of Scotland, and brought up at a merchant- town in Scotland called Aberdeen*, where he killed many people, and plundered the town. So says Einar Skuleson : — ^' At Aberdeen, too, I am told. Fell many by our Norsemen bold; Peace was disturbed, and blue swords broke With many a hard and bloody stroke." The next battle was at Hartlepool f in the south, with a party of horsemen. The king put them to flight, and seized some ships there. So says Einar : — " At Hartlepool, in rank and row, The king's court-men attack the foe. The king's sharp sword in blood was red. Blood dropped from every Norse spear-head. Ravens rejoice o'er the warm food Of English slain, each where he stood; And in the ships their thirst was quenched: The decks were in the foe's blood drenched." Then he went southwards to England, and had VOL. III. S
 * Apardion is Aberdeen. f HiartapoU — Hartlepool.