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
The Scotch then left the eminence, and fled, where they could, away to
their mountains. The Norwegians, perceiving this, retired to their
boats, and rowing out to their ships, luckily escaped the storm. On
the morning they came back in search of the bodies of those who had
dropt. Among the dead were Haco of Steini, and Thorgisl Gloppa, both
belonging to King Haco's household. There fell also a worthy vassal
called Karlhoved, from Drontheim, and another vassal named Halkel,
from Fiorde. Besides, there died three Masters of the Lights,
Thorstein Bat, John Ballhoved, and Halward Buniard. It was impossible
for the Norwegians to tell how many were killed of the Scotch, because
those who dropt were taken up and removed to the woods. King Haco
ordered his dead to be carried to a church.
Five days after, King Haco commanded his men to weigh anchor and to
bring his ship close under the Cumbras. He was soon joined by the
squadron which had been in Loch-long. On the fast day following, the
weather was good, and the King sent some retainers ashore to burn the
vessels which had been stranded; that same day the King sailed past
Cumbra to Melansey,[93] where he lay some nights. Here he was met by
the Commissioners he had sent to Ireland, who assured him that the
Irish Ostmen would willingly engage to maintain his army till he freed
them from the dominion of the English. King Haco was extremely
desirous of sailing for Ireland, and, as the wind was not favourable,
he held a Council on the subject, but the whole army was against this
plan. He, therefore, told them that as he was short of provisions he
would steer for the Hebrides. The King then ordered the body of Ivar
Holm to be carried to Bute, where it was interred.
Afterwards King Haco sailed past Melansey and lay some nights near
Arran, then proceeded to Sandey and so to the Mull of Kintire, and at
night he arrived north at Gudey; next he sailed out to Ila-sound,
where he remained two nights. King Haco laid a contribution, rated at
three hundred head of cattle, on the island, but part was to be paid
in meal, part in cheese. Haco set sail again on the first Sunday of
winter, and met a fog and a storm so violent that few of the ships
could carry their sails. The king, therefore, made for Kiararey, and
about this time messengers passed between him and King John, but to
little purpose. Here the King was informed that his troops had made
depredations in Mull, and that some of the Mull-men, with two or three
Norwegians, had been killed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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