A collection of ancient and modern Scottish ballads, etc

HARDYKNUTE.
A FRAGMENT.
[In 1263, Elaco, King of Norway or Denmark, under pre-
tence that Arran and the islands adjacent formed part
of the Western Isles, then subject to him, fitted out a
large armament, with which he overran Kintire and the
islands in dispute. Elated with success, he determined
on pursuing his predatory enterprise still farther, and
with this view came to anchor with his fleet at the Cumbras,
whence he sent a detachment up the Clyde, which
plundered the islands in Loch Lomond, at that time very
populous. But before he had sufficient time to carry his
other plans into effect, a storm arose in which several of
his ships were driven on shore near Largs, where the
Scottish army had collected, and was watching his mo-
tions. Those vessels which ran aground were immedi-
ately attacked by the Scots, and obstinately defended by
the Norwegians, who being successively reinforced from
their fleet, remained on shore all night ; next morning
(2d October) Haco landed with a numerous body of
troops,—was again attacked by the Scots, and, after a
desperate conflict, finally routed and driven to his ships,
with the loss of sixteen thousand men, according to
Buchanan and other Scottish writers, but of only about
six hundred, according to an ancient manuscript account
of the expedition in the library of the King of Denmark,