800 SURPRISED BY THE WENDIANS. 



Brvmsson, the parson, used his utmost efforts to allay 

 the panic. On Whitsunday he held a remarkable dis- 

 course to the people, telling them that instead of deserting 

 the place they should take courag-e, be careful of fire, 

 be constantlv on the ^Aateh asrainst the assaiilts of their 

 enemies, and leave the rest to God ; but his good 

 counsels, as well as other warnings they received, M'ere 

 soon foi'gotten. 



On St. Laurence's Day, however, when the gnmter 

 portion of the townspeople were in church, hearing a 

 sermon from Anders Brunsson, Einar, a brother of the 

 latter, rushed into the sacred edifice with the astounding- 

 intelligence that innumerable vessels were i-apidly ap- 

 proaching by both branches of the river, and tliat a large 

 body of cavalry were crossing Brattas, a" hill in the 

 vicinity. Taken so completely by surprise, people knew 

 not what to bidieve ; but many thought it niightbe the 

 King of Denmark, from whom no liostile attack was to 

 be apprehended. They, nevertheless, armed themselves 

 in all haste, and rushed down to the bridge, where 

 their worst anticipations were realized ; for Bettibur, 

 king of the Wendians,* and his lieutenants Dunimits 

 and Unibur, with a fleet of 250 war-galleys, carrying 

 11,000 men and 500 horses, was, in truth, at their 

 vei'y doors. 



There were then Ivini? near to the brid£je eleven larsje 

 ships, called Ostersjufarare, or such as traded to the Baltic. 

 These the heathens attacked in the first instance. The 

 townsjieople defended themselves manfully, and the com- 

 bat I'aged fiercely for a long time. Showers of javelins 

 and arrows were poured on the assailants, as well from 

 the beleaguered ships as the bridge itself, which was lined 



* A people of piratical habits, settled ou the southern coasts of tlie 

 Baltic, and afterwaids conquered by the Danish king Waldeinar. 



