A mighty fleet came across the strait   But Erik was prepared   Five hundred Germans had come to his aid   On horseback with their spears      The fleet was carrying two thousand men   Eager to drain blood   But as they were about to land   Erik released his hoards      One thousand men and five hundred horsemen   Came charging down the beach   When the sea-king saw this force   He gave order to retreat      All obeyed except one ship   It held the king’s own son   He despised the thought of flight   And attacked on his own      The Danish fleet had to turn around   They charged King Erik’s men   But it was too late to save his son   His life was already spent      The fighting continued bloody and fierce   And the bloodshed was immense   Two thousand warriors died that day   Most of them were Danes      The Danish king was captured   Most of his guards were dead   For ransom he was released   Then his people took his head