Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/317

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 305 Gyrdersson, Kognvald Kunta, Sigurd Kapa, Sigurd saga xvi. Hiupa, Frederik Keina, Asbiorn of Aurland, Thor- biorn, a son of Gunnar the treasurer, and Strad Biorn. Erling was in Bergen with a great armament, and Chmter resolved to lay a sailing prohibition on all the mer- ofEriing's chant vessels which were going north to Nidaros ; for p^^p'^- 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 Avere 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 re- port 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 steers- men 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 sail- ing 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 col- lecting 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 VOL. III. X