History of the Scottish expedition to Norway in 1612Michell, Thomas
History
History of the Scottish expedition to Norway in 1612
Michell, Thomas
Norway -- History -- Scottish Expedition, 1612
A prisoner who had been quartered at Veikle farm in Qvam parish,
and who had been well treated, sent later, says tradition, "when
he got home," six silver spoons to the farmer,[116] as a token of
remembrance. Respecting two other prisoners, one of whom was at a
farm in Qvam, the other at a farm in Sel, it is related that they
were shot the same autumn, "as the proprietors did not find it would
pay them to feed them over the winter." Another of the prisoners is
said to have been killed at Vaage. The farmer with whom he lived took
him on a journey into the woods. On the way, it is said, they began
to talk about the battle at Kringlen. The prisoner having said that
if the Scots had known about the Bönder as much as the latter had
known of them matters would have turned out differently, the farmer
got angry and cut his prisoner down on the spot.
It is related of the Bönder from Vaage that on the return homewards
they met at Kalsteen, in Vaage, a portion of the men of Lom who
intended to encounter the Scots. An argument arose between the men of
Vaage, proud of victory, and those of Lom, and a bloody battle very
nearly ensued, but it was prevented by individual representations. A
certain Peder Killie[117] of Dovre is reported to have said on his
return home from the battle that he thanked God he had not fired a
shot at the Scots; but when another Bonde, his neighbour, heard this,
he became angry, quickly cocked his gun to shoot him, and would have
killed him had not others intervened and prevented him.
A man called, Jörgen Fjerdingreen[118] of Hedalen is said to have
got possession of Sinclair's money-chest (or holster), and was
carrying it home on a pack-horse. At Breden farm he went inside to
enjoy himself; but spending a long time over his dinner, the holster,
which he had left outside, was carried away.[119] This has given rise
to the saying, which, however, is not very general, "to dine like
Jörgen."
[Illustration: OLD MONUMENT OVER SINCLAIR'S GRAVE.
_Page 121._]
Sinclair's body was carried to Qvam and there buried just outside the
church-yard, as the exasperated Bönder would not allow him to lie in
consecrated ground. It is told that one of his relatives thought he
had not been killed, but only taken prisoner, and therefore came
to Norway in search of him, but found only his grave. A simple wooden
post close to the road, a little to the south of the church,[120]
shows to this day where he lies buried. A board with the following
inscription is fastened to the post:--
[Illustration: (A Christian Cross)]
Epitaphium.
Here below rests
Mr. Colonel GEORGE JÖRGEN SINKLER,
Who fell at Kringlene,
In the year 1612, with a force of 900 Scots,
Who were crushed like earthen pots
By a smaller number of 300 Bönder
Of Lessöe, Waage, Froen; and the
Leader of the Bönder was Berdon
Sejelstad of Ringeboe Parish.[121]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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