heimskringla-第157章
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ed the victory。
87。 OF HARALD'S ORDER OF BATTLE。
Thereafter the king sailed to the Humber； and up along the river； and then he landed。 Up in Jorvik were two earls； Earl Morukare； and his brother； Earl Valthiof； and they had an immense army。 While the army of the earls was coming down from the upper part of the country； King Harald lay in the Usa。 King Harald now went on the land； and drew up his men。 The one arm of this line stood at the outer edge of the river； the other turned up towards the land along a ditch； and there was also a morass； deep； broad； and full of water。 The earls let their army proceed slowly down along the river； with all their troops in line。 The king's banner was next the river； where the line was thickest。 It was thinnest at the ditch； where also the weakest of the men were。 When the earls advanced downwards along the ditch； the arm of the Northmen's line which was at the ditch gave way； and the Englishmen followed； thinking the Northmen would fly。 The banner of Earl Morukare advanced then bravely。
88。 THE BATTLE AT THE HUMBER。
When King Harald saw that the English array had come to the ditch against him； he ordered the charge to be sounded； and urged on his men。 He ordered the banner which was called the Land…ravager to be carried before him； and made so severe an assault that all had to give way before it； and there was a great loss among the men of the earls； and they soon broke into flight； some running up the river； some down； and the most leaping into the ditch； which was so filled with dead that the Norsemen could go dry…foot over the fen。 There Earl Morukare fell。 So says Stein Herdison：
〃The gallant Harald drove along； Flying but fighting； the whole throng。 At last； confused； they could not fight； And the whole body took to flight。 Up from the river's silent stream At once rose desperate splash and scream； But they who stood like men this fray Round Morukare's body lay。〃
This song was composed by Stein Herdison about Olaf； son of King Harald； and he speaks of Olaf being in this battle with King Harald； his father。 These things are also spoken of in the song called 〃Harald's Stave〃：
〃Earl Valthiof's men Lay in the fen； By sword down hewed； So thickly strewed； That Norsemen say They paved a way Across the fen For the brave Norsemen。〃
Earl Valthiof； and the people who escaped； fled up to the castle of York； and there the greatest loss of men had been。 This battle took place upon the Wednesday next Mathias' day （A。D。 1066）。
89。 OF EARL TOSTE。
Earl Toste had come from Flanders to King Harald as soon as he arrived in England； and the earl was present at all these battles。 It happened； as he had foretold the king at their first meeting； that in England many people would flock to them； as being friends and relations of Earl Toste； and thus the king's forces were much strengthened。 After the battle now told of； all people in the nearest districts submitted to Harald； but some fled。 Then the king advanced to take the castle； and laid his army at Stanforda…bryggiur （Stamford Bridge）； and as King Harald had gained so great a victory against so great chiefs and so great an army； the people were dismayed； and doubted if they could make any opposition。 The men of the castle therefore determined； in a council； to send a message to King Harald； and deliver up the castle into his power。 All this was soon settled； so that on Sunday the king proceeded with the whole army to the castle； and appointed a Thing of the people without the castle； at which the people of the castle were to be present。 At this Thing all the people accepted the condition of submitting to Harald； and gave him； as hostages； the children of the most considerable persons； for Earl Toste was well acquainted with all the people of that town。 In the evening the king returned down to his ships； after this victory achieved with his own force； and was very merry。 A Thing was appointed within the castle early on Monday morning； and then King Harald was to name officers to rule over the town； to give out laws； and bestow fiefs。 The same evening； after sunset； King Harald Godwinson came from the south to the castle with a numerous army； and rode into the city with the good…will and consent of the people of the castle。 All the gates and walls were beset so that the Northmen could receive no intelligence； and the army remained all night in the town。
90。 OF KING HARALD'S LANDING。
On Monday； when King Harald Sigurdson had taken breakfast； he ordered the trumpets to sound for going on shore。 The army accordingly got ready； and he divided the men into the parties who should go； and who should stay behind。 In every division he allowed two men to land； and one to remain behind。 Earl Toste and his retinue prepared to land with King Harald； and； for watching the ships； remained behind the king's son Olaf； the earls of Orkney； Paul and Erlend； and also Eystein Orre； a son of Thorberg Arnason； who was the most able and best beloved by the king of all the lendermen； and to whom the king had promised his daughter Maria。 The weather was uncommonly fine； and it was hot sunshine。 The men therefore laid aside their armour； and went on the land only with their shields； helmets and spears； and girt with swords； and many had also arrows and bows； and all were very merry。 Now as they came near the castle a great army seemed coming against them； and they saw a cloud of dust as from horses' feet； and under it shining shields and bright armour。 The king halted his people； and called to him Earl Toste； and asked him what army this could be。 The earl replied that he thought it most likely to be a hostle army； but possibly it might be some of his relations who were seeking for mercy and friendship； in order to obtain certain peace and safety from the king。 Then the king said； 〃We must all halt； to discover what kind of a force this is。〃 They did so； and the nearer this force came the greater it appeared； and their shining arms were to the sight like glancing ice。
91。 OF EARL TOSTE'S COUNSEL。
Then said King Harald； 〃Let us now fall upon some good sensible counsel； for it is not to be concealed that this is an hostile army and the king himself without doubt is here。〃
Then said the earl； 〃The first counsel is to turn about as fast as we can to our ships to get our men and our weapons； and then we will make a defence according to our ability； or otherwise let our ships defend us； for there these horsemen have no power over us。〃
Then King Harald said； 〃I have another counsel。 Put three of our best horses under three of our briskest lads and let them ride with all speed to tell our people to come quickly to our relief。 The Englishmen shall have a hard fray of it before we give ourselves up for lost。〃
The earl said the king must order in this； as in all things； as he thought best； adding； at the same time； it was by no means his wish to fly。 Then King Harald ordered his banner Land…ravager to be set up； and Frirek was the name of him who bore the banner。
92。 OF KING HARALD'S ARMY。
Then King Harald arranged his army； and made the line of battle long； but not deep。 He bent both wings of it back； so that they met together； and formed a wide ring equally thick all round； shield to shield； both in the front and rear ranks。 The king himself and his retinue were within the circle； and there was the banner； and a body of chosen men。 Earl Toste； with his retinue； was at another place； and had a different banner。 The army was arranged in this way； because the king knew that horsemen were accustomed to ride forwards with great vigour； but to turn back immediately。 Now the king ordered that his own and the earl's attendants should ride forwards where it was most required。 〃And our bowmen；〃 said he； 〃shall be near to us； and they who stand in the first rank shall set the spear…shaft on the ground； and the spear…point against the horseman's breast； if he rides at them； and those who stand in the second rank shall set the spear…point against the horse's breast。〃
93。 OF KING HARALD GODWINSON。
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