The Norwegian account of Haco's expedition against Scotland, A.D. MCCLXIII.Sturla Þórðarson
History
The Norwegian account of Haco's expedition against Scotland, A.D. MCCLXIII.
Sturla Þórðarson
Haakon IV Haakonsson, King of Norway, 1204-1263; Norway -- History -- 1030-1397; Scandinavians; Scotland -- History -- To 1603
South in Kintire there was a Castle held by a Knight who came to wait
on King Haco, and surrendered the fortress into his hands. The King
conferred this Castle upon Guthorm Backa-kolf.
We must next speak of that detachment of the Army, which the King had
sent towards the Mull of Kintire to pillage. The Norwegians made a
descent there. They burnt the hamlets that were before them, and took
all the effects that they could find. They killed some of the
inhabitants; the rest fled where they could. But, when they were
proceeding to the greater villages, letters arrived from King Haco
forbidding them to plunder. Afterwards they sailed for Gudey to rejoin
King Haco, as is here said.
9.
The openers of gushing wounds, undaunted of soul, proceeded
in the paths[68] of the famed Getis,[69] from the south
round Kintire. Our heroes, rousers of the thundering tempest
of swords, glutted the swift, sable-clad birds of prey in
Scotland.
The wind was not favourable, King Haco, however, made Andrew Pott go
before him south to Bute, with some small vessels, to join those he
had already sent thither. News was soon received that they had won a
fortress, the garrison of which had capitulated, and accepted terms of
the Norwegians. There was with the Norwegians a sea-officer, called
Rudri.[70] He considered Bute as his Birthright; and because he had
not received the Island of the Scotch he committed many ravages, and
killed many people; and for that he was outlawed by the Scottish King.
He came to King Haco, and took the oaths to him; and with two of his
brothers became his subjects. As soon as the garrison, after having
delivered up the strong-hold, were gone away from the Norwegians,
Rudri killed nine of them, because he thought that he owed them no
good will. Afterwards King Haco reduced the island, as is here said.
10.
The wide-extended Bute was won from the forlorn wearers[71]
of rings by the renowned and invincible troops of the
promoter of conquest,--they wielded the two-edged sword--the
foes of our Ruler dropt, and the Raven from his
fields of slaughter, winged his flight for the Hebrides.
The Norwegians who had been in Bute went to Scotland, where they
burned many houses, and several towns. Rudri, proceeding a great way,
did all the mischief that he could, as is here described.
11.
The habitations of men, the dwellings of the wretched,
flamed. Fire, the devourer of halls, glowed in their
granaries. The hapless throwers of the dart[72] fell near
the swan-frequented plain,[73] while south from our floating
pines[74] marched a host of warriors.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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