BATTLE OF HELG.l. 1,S."> 



many of those on the ships, lost their lives. All who could, cut 

 their anchor-ropes, and the ships drifted in great disorder. 

 The large dragon, on which the king was, floated out with the 

 current ; it was not easy to move it with oars, and it drifted 

 out to the fleet of the kings. When they recognized it, they 

 at once surrounded it. As the ship had sides as high as the 

 walls of a burgh, and many chosen and well-armed men were 

 on board, it was not easy to capture it. After a short time 

 Ulf jarl came up with his ships, and the battle began. There- 

 upon the host of Knut gathered from all sides. Then Olaf 

 and Onund saw that they had gained as much advantage as 

 was then possible ; they pulled back and got loose from the 

 host of Knut, and separated the fleets. Because this attack had 

 not been as Knut had ordered, he did not row after them ; 

 they began to array the ships and make themselves ready. 

 When they had separated, and each fleet was mustered, the 

 kings counted their men, and found that they had not lost 

 many ; they saw also that the odds would be so great if they 

 waited till Knut had made ready all his great host, and attacked 

 them, that there was little hope of victory. They decided to 

 row with all their ships eastward along the coast " (St. Olaf, 

 c. 106). 1 



Before the conflict the sides of the ships were strengthened 

 by viggyrdil (war-girdle) or vigfleki (war-hurdle). 



" King Sverri was at Bergen (Bjorgyn) with his host, and 

 all his ships lay ready and war-girdled at the gangways" 

 (Sverri's Saga, c. 52). 



When King Svein of Denmark was pursuing King Harald 

 with an overwhelming force, 



" He (Harald) bid the men lighten his (ship) by throw- 

 ing overboard malt, wheat, and pork, and to cut holes in 

 the ale-barrels : this helped awhile. Then he had viggyrdils, 

 vats, and empty barrels, as well as the prisoners of war, thrown 

 into the sea " (Harald Hardradi's Saga, c. 35). 



" We will carry out on the boards (i.e. the sides of the ship) 

 vigfleki, and defend ourselves as best we can, but not attack 

 them " (Flateyjarbok). 



A man with his shields protected the rowers from the missiles 

 of the enemy ; but in spite of this, many were often killed. 



1 Cf. also St. Olaf, 185, 186 ; Mjala, c. 30. 



