The life of Laurence, Bishop of Hólar in Iceland (Laurentius saga) Translated from the Icelandic by Oliver Elton

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LIFE OF LAURENCE, BISHOP OF HOLAR

THE LIFE OF LAURENCE BISHOP
OF H6LAR IN ICELAND {LAURENT-
I US SAGA) BY EINAR HAFLIDASON
TRANSLATED FROM THE ICELANDIC
BY OLIVER ELTON

LONDON
RIVINGTONS

1890

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9642»7

PREFACE

[n the year 1106, the long arm of the Catholic
Church reached the little town of H61ar, in North
Iceland, and there, almost on the habitable
extreme of earth, planted her most northern
bishopric. Marvellous mother, never satisfied till
she had set her puissant children on the frozen if
not on the ' flaming frontier ' of the world ! The
first bishop of the new See — which was formed 1
to relieve the distant and hard-worked bishop of
Skalholt, and to minister to the populous Northern
Quarter — was John Ogmundarson, the subject of
the beautiful biography that bears his name, and
often spoken of in the following pages with every
term of sainthood. A long line of prelates
followed; and in 1267, three years after the com-
plete submission of the country to Norway, was
1 See Jdris Saga, ch. 19 ; and Note 3 below.

vi PREFACE.

born one of their most striking figures, Laurentius
or Laurence Kalfsson, in familiar Norse ' Lafranz.
His Life, written by his careful if somewhat near-
sighted disciple Einar Haflidason, is here trans-
lated. A true pastor — dogged, imperious, bene-
ficent towards men, towards his God humbly and
radiantly pious — Laurence is not only a dominant
figure in the church troubles of his time, but in
his inner life shines to us almost with the light of
the saints. The pioneers of religion in Norse
lands, surrounded by bloody and intricate ven-
dettas, involved in fierce litigation with laymen
and with each other, needed all their heritage of
the Viking demon; they were the axes of God,
and had to be sharp. All the more singular is the
literary product they inspired — the ecclesiastical
biography or Saga. Like the Passion Hymns of
a later day, these histories of the Icelandic bishops
reveal a religious language which is beautiful,
tender, unrhetorical, free from false unction j and,
flowing in a soft abundant current, shows the wish
of the writer, not to be admired, but to relieve
his heart and to penetrate our own.

These are only some of the qualities of a class of

PREFACE. vii

composition in which the Icelander was a master.
Others — such as the clear thrusting dialogue, the
power of etching memorable scenes in a few
thrifty strokes, and the born sense for expanding
and proportioning a story, — the church biography
shares with the great heroic Sagas. Everywhere,
naturally, we find all the defects of the mytho-
logical spirit. The sense of evidence, where a
marvel is in question, is unborn. Here, as else-
where, the most sincere and punctilious mind —
like that of Einar for instance — is a worthless
witness when an omen, a dream, or a judgment
upon a sinner tempt it. Perhaps the mission of
the Church could only have breathed in this
atmosphere of naive acceptance; at any rate,
though the Gospel's true power lay in winning
hearts, the marvels of the saints served to fill some
of the void left by the departed Asgard. Men's
picturing and worshipping instinct had to be fed
somehow, and it was centuries before the poetry
of normal life could satisfy the hunger \ the result
being, that chronicles like Einar's must be read in
the spirit in which we read, not Thucydides, but
Herodotus.

viii PREFACE.

This short translation had the honour of en-
couragement from the veteran Norse scholar so
lately lost, Gudbrand Vigfusson. His own heavy
work did not prevent him from generously offering
to revise these sheets. But though his death
interrupted everything, his edition of the text
(published in Copenhagen in 1858), and his
Dictionary, practically did half the labour of a
version ; without these aids, indeed, no version
pretending to accuracy could well exist. In any
piece of work which he did, every one can feel
the hand of the master-scholar; like Casaubon,
he cut roads into the jungle of learning, and his
roads are Roman.

The translation, in spite of this loss, has had the
great advantage of aid from Vigfusson's partner in
Scandinavian research, Mr. York Powell, who has
spared no pains to improve a work which he
originally suggested.

ERRATA.

Page 4, at bottom of page, read 'Then was revealed
Mary Magdalen, and set in a shrine at St. Maximin.'

Page 35, margin, for 'Dec. 23' read 'July 20.'

Page 67, for 'seven hundred and twenty rend 'seven
thousand two hundred.'

Page 73, I. 5, for ' Shak ' read 'Skak.' Last line, for
' to Norway ' read ' to Iceland.'

Page 90, last words of Chap. 43, read ' He chanted Mass
foe the first time on All Saints' Day.'

Page 95, 1. 12, for ' requiems ' read ' hours of the dead. '

Page 105, 1. 14, for ' Flugumyri lent money,' read ' leased
Plugumyri/

Page 106, 1. 7, for ' in ' read ' on to.5

UL

THE LIFE OF LAURENCE, BISHOP
OF HOLAR.

WHEN at the helm of God's Church Uni-
versal was the Apostolic Father Urban,
fourth of his name, and Pope in Rome ;
and when Lord Hakon, archbishop of Nidaros
church, and Jorund Thorsteinsson, bishop of the
church of Holar, were mighty in the northern
quarter of Iceland ; and when that gracious lord,
our lord the King Magnus Hakonarson, ruled in
Norway with the temporal rod ; — this history,
which with God's help we will begin, was first
written, to delight and fleet the time of good
men, and for knowledge withal and for edifying ;
concerning Lord Laurence, bishop at Holar, of
excellent memory. He himself admonished me 1
to keep in mind whatsoever he related about
the course of his life before he was bishop at
Holar. But his life afterwards was well known to
one, who was night and day in his service and
lodging while he was bishop in Iceland until he
died. Here also much is gathered together, after
the notices of the annals that seem best informed,
about divers events that befell in divers countries.

4 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 3.

grfma, being his nephew's wife, to his home at
Vellir. A heaviness came upon her so that she
could scarce bear up, and before St. Laurence'
Day she fell ill, lay on the floor, and could not be
delivered; many prayers were said over her, but
there was no change in her for the better. Before
mass on St. Laurence' Day Sir Thorarin went in
to her, and chanted over her, and by God's grace
she bore a man-child ; but in this child no man
saw a sign of life. Then Sir Thorarin vowed that
this boy should be called Laurence, and that if
St. Laurence vouchsafed life to this boy, he
should all his life after keep a water-fast 4 before
St. Laurence' Day, if he had years and health for
it. And when this vow had been confirmed and
pronounced by Sir Thdrarin, a sign of life was
straight seen in the boy. Then was the child
baptized 'Laurence.' When he grew a mighty
man, he kept that vow : and after he became
bishop at Hdlar, he kept St. Laurence' Day with
high festival, doing the prelude in the mass him-
self, keeping it a day of banquet, and giving much
alms on the same.

1267 In the birth-year of Laurence these things befell
abroad.5 Hakon, archbishop in Nidarris, and Prince
Olaf died. Charles, king in Apulia, went on a crusade
to Jerusalem ; also Lewis his brother, king of the
Franks. Then appeared Mary Magdalen and was set
in the shrine of St. Maximin. In the second year of
Laurence' life John was consecrated archbishop at
Nidartfs. Conrad was beaten by King Charles out by
Rimini, and fled to Benevento, and was there beheaded.
Then died Earl Gizurd, and Sigvard bishop in Skalholt,

1269 and Gauti bishop of the Faroe Isles. In the third year

ch. 3.] BISHOP OF HdLAR. 5

of Laurence' life the Icelanders consented to pay tribute
to King Magnus. Ami was consecrated bishop to
Skalholt, and Erlend to the Faroes. In the fourth year
of Laurence" life the Icelanders received laws of King
Magnus. King Lewis put a tribute on King Charles.
The following kings died of poison which was cast
into wells — the Sultan of Tunis, Theobald of Navarre.
James went to Jerusalem. Queen Margaret, and Peter,

1271 bishop of Bergen, died. In the fifth year of Laurence'
life, Philip was crowned king of the Franks ; and
Norwegian laws came into Iceland. In the sixth- year
of Laurence' life there was no Pope for four years
running. Clement was the next Pope after Urban.
In the seventh year of Laurence' life Gregory, sixth
of his name, was made Pope. King Magnus and
Valdimar, king of the Swedes, had a conference.
Bishop Jbrund went to Norway, and Bishop Ami,
Rafn, and Thorvard came to Iceland. There were now
disputes in the contest6 over the glebes. Henry,
king of the English, died. In the eighth year of
Laurence' life Pope Gregory had a council at Lyons
and reformed the faith of the Greeks. Then died
James, archbishop of Lund in Denmark. Edward,
king of the English, was crowned. Archbishop John
visited the country ; and a piece came of the Crown of
Thorns of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was sent to
King Magnus from Philip, king of France. In the
ninth year of Laurence' life, Eirek, son of Duke Birgi,
came from Denmark with a troop and strove with
Valdimar his brother, aided by Duke Magnus their
brother, and King Valdimar fled into Norway. Then
came such mighty hail from heaven on St. Laurence'
Eve, in certain spots in the lordship of the Thronds,
that the largest hailstones weighed fifteen ounces.

1276 In the tenth year of Laurence' life died Pope Gregory,
and Pope Innocent, and Pope Adrian, who was not a
priest, but the chief of the cardinals, and called Octo-
bonus. John the Twenty-first was Pope. In Tiinsberg
King Magnus gave the title of Earl to Magnus, son of
Magnus, Earl of the Orkneys.

Now while we have been speaking of those
matters to begin with, Laurence stayed in turn

6 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 3-4.

with the priest Thorarin his kinsman at Vellir, or
else with his father and mother, where they were
keeping house ; and now he was taught. It was
soon manifest that he was eager to learn good.

4. Once at Vellir this befell. The schoolboys
were brawling in the church there at Vellir ; and
it so happened that something Laurence threw hit
the image of Our Lady and broke off a leaf of the
sceptre she was holding. And when Sir Thorarin
came to church at even, the lads told him of
Laurence' misdoing; and he was very wroth
thereat, and vowed him a sound hiding on the
morrow. When Laurence knew that this must
be fulfilled even as it was promised him, he
betook him for help where there was good store
of it ; he flung down weeping on the floor before
Our Lady's image, prayed for aid from her and
forgiveness ; and especially that the heart of his
kinsman might be softened towards him. Next
morning Priest Thorarin called his kinsman
Laurence, and asked him whether he had put up
any prayer to escape his thrashing. He said he
had made one to Mary Queen.

1 1 doubt as much,' said Sir Thdrarin, ' for in
the night it was revealed to me that it was Our
Lady's will that I should not beat thee for this,
but should have thy breakage mended.' This was
a sign that his appeals and prayers, which were
acceptable in his childish years to God and his sweet
Mother, would be much more so afterwards.

When Sir Thorarin was dead and gone, Kalf
took it so to heart that he could scarce bear up,

ch. 4.] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 7

and soon he departed. Money after that was
scant and hard to find; and yet Thorgrima and
her husband had lived long on the lands of the
church at Holar. Lord Bishop Jorund asked the
lad Laurence to his house at Holar, and put him
to book-learning, saying he thought that this lad
Laurence would gain much understanding in the
lore and learning of books. Year after year went
by, so that Laurence waxed in book lore and
knowledge, and was best of all the scholars of his
years. Sir Oblaud Hallvardsson was schoolmaster
there, and he took such a liking to this youth
Laurence that he always made him stay in the
school and question the other scholars, when he
was himself feasting and drinking with Bishop
Jorund. (The aforesaid Sir Oblaud was near of
kin to the Lord Bishop, and had before then been
abroad and much loved by the archbishop in
Nidaros; and Lord Bishop Jorund bore much
love to Sir Oblaud his kinsman.) Often, when
the other scholars were at play or other light-
mindedness, there stayed Laurence bettering his
mind, studying books, or teaching others. There
was much play of malice among the other scholars
at this : there, they said, went a bishop-elect ; and
much fleering and flouting they had at him ; but
he only went on the further at bettering his mind.
His orders proceeded regularly and duly, and the
more swiftly, because he was a better scholar than
others. And as soon as he was hallowed under
Holy Orders, he was appointed at home at Holar
and there was deacon. As soon as Laurence was

8 LIFE OF LA URENCE [ch. 4-5.

twenty-two he was ordained priest by Lord Bishop
Jorund, and then he kept school. He got so
toward in scholarly composing of Latin prose and
verse that he could make verse as fast as a man
could talk Latin.

5. Turn we back again to the events that befell here
1277 in the country and elsewhere. In the eleventh year of
Laurence died Pope John. King Magnus gave the title
of Baron to his liegemen. Hrafn was knighted. King
Magnus and Archbishop John made a lasting settlement
between Church and Crown, and confirmed it with their
hand and seal. In the twelfth year of Laurence, King
Magnus demanded a levy to go to the Elfi. Bishops
Arni and Jorund were reconciled. The bones of Odd,
son of Thorarin, were carried to the church in Skalholt.
In the next year after, Bishops Ami and Jorund went
abroad. Hrafn came home, and Lodin of Bakki with
lawman's powers. Abbot Vermund of Thingeyri died.
In the next year, Pope Nicholas died, and also King
Magnus Hakonarson., King Eirek was crowned.
Bishops Jorund and Arni, Lodin the ' Rag,' and John
the lawman with a new code, came home. Bjarni was
consecrated abbot to Thingeyri. Next year Martin
was consecrated Pope. Lodinn the ' Rag's' journey to
Norway took place. Eirek, king of Norway, took
Queen Margaret, daughter of Alexander, king of Scot-
land, to wife. Moreover in the next year the houses in
Nidards were burnt. Lord Archbishop John died out
east in Skarir, having been exiled from Norway in the
1283 same year. In the next year after Lord Hrafn and
Lord Lawman Erlend came to Iceland and raised claim
to the demesnes6 in Iceland. Then a great plague over-
ran Iceland. Also next year quarrelling arose between
Hrafn on one side, and Bishop Arni and those who
were appointed to livings, on the other. Stock perished,
and many men died of famine in Iceland, and there was
desolation of many homesteads. Also next year, the
title of Earl was given to Lord Alf and to Audun ' Oats'.

Also next year King Eirek sent Sir Gudmund
Kallsson to Iceland to demand men for a levy.

ch. 5-6.] BISHOP OF HdLAR. 9

This same Gudmund came to Iceland with the
vestments which King Eirek had given to St. John,
bishop of Holar. It came to pass that King
Eirek was on his way to a council of kings and
could not get a wind. Prayers were made to
many saints, but it was granted none the more.
Then came Sir Gudmund to the king, saying : —

'Pray, Sire, to John, bishop of Holar; he is
very swift to hearken to prayers ; and offer him
your best robes of rich stuff.'

1 Thus shall it be done, Sir Priest,' said the king,
1 and let him show he is no sluggard, as Icelanders
commonly are.'

Then the calm ended. Straightway Sir Gud-
mund bade them hoist sail, and forthwith a fair
and good wind came blowing : and the king in
four days reached the harbour he had chosen,
and he honoured St. John, bishop of Holar, ever
after. And dalmatics were made of the clothes at
Holar. Also in the next year came Jorund, arch-
bishop-elect to Nidards. Hallkell ' Crow-dance '
was put to death. Alf was exiled and outlawed ;
and also Queen Ingibjorg died.

6. Next year Bishop Jorund and Lord Thor-
vard came to Iceland. Laurence, as we said before,
was now ordained priest; and he was
now twenty-two. Here he was priest for 1288
three years and also schoolmaster. When
Laurence was twenty-five, Bishop Jorund gave
him a benefice up north at Hals in Fnjoska-dale.
He was a year there, and then gave up the living
because he had ill luck with his stock in his

io LIFE OF LA URENCE [ch. 6.

housekeeping : he was then shifted back to Holar.
In the second year of Sir Laurence' priesthood,
it came to pass that King Eirek sent Hrdlf to
Iceland on a search for the New World. Bishop
Jorund of Holar went over the diocese of Bishop
Ami to reclaim glebes for the Church, by the

counsel of Archbishop Jorund. In the
1290 year following Bishop Jorund went a-

broad and stayed two years in Norway ;
during this time Sir Halldor Grfmsson was
official over Holar See, and Sir Haflidi Steinsson
was steward at Holar. Sir Haflidi was the best of
overseers for all secular counsel ; he had before
this been to Norway, and was chaplain for some
years of King Eirek and the queen. Laurence
and Sir Haflidi became most friendly and com-
panionable together; often afterwards Laurence
testified that he had been a most trusty friend to
him. In the third year of Laurence' priesthood,
Hrdlf wanted men in Iceland for a voyage to the
New World. Then arose dispute between Arch-
bishop Jorund and the canons in Nidar6s. In

the following year was the voyage home
1292 of Lord Bishop Jorund, and Bishop Ami,

of Lord Thdrd of Christopher, and many
others with writs from the king. Then began a
fresh contest over the glebes.6 Sigurd was told
to quit Hlid, at Modruvellir, in the Horg Valley,
and he thought himself entitled, by inheritance, to
keep his land. This displeased Bishop Jorund,
who gave him many admonitions; and yet he
budged from his estate not a whit the more. And

ch. 6.] BISHOP OF H6LAR. ii

it came to this, that he was ready to excommuni-
cate him. Then he bade Sir Laurence go north
to Modruvellir with a letter of excommunication
which he was to announce before Sigurd, if he
refused to quit. Laurence took this journey so
sadly that he went with one man north over the
Pass of Hedinn, got to Modruvellir, and talked to
yeoman Sigurd declaring to him that if he would
not obey and come to terms, heavy affliction would
befall him. Sigurd took Laurence' words heavily,
saying that it was nought to him what he said.
Then, next day, when high festival came on, Sir
Laurence read the Bishop's writ at mass after
Gospel, so loud and clear that Sigurd heard, and
all who were in the church. And this was the
tenor of the writ : Bishop Jorund laid the ban
on Sigurd and barred him from communication
with Christian men. From Sigurd and his men
Laurence got many revilings and threatenings, and
such array was made against him that it was
hardly safe for him to leave the church.

Then straightway yeoman Sigurd departed and
went west to Holar with much company. At first
Sigurd said bitterly that it misbeseemed the bishop
to bear so hard on the king's lieges. And he
asked, Did the bishop own that he had bidden
Laurence proceed thus? But the bishop said
that Laurence had not acted in the way he had
bidden him. The end was that Sigurd and the
bishop made a bargain : the bishop paying a sum
to Sigurd, while church and bishop were to have
freehold of the living for ever.7 Then Sir Laurence

12 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 6-7.

came back, Sigurd having ridden off from Hdlar.
And from this journey Laurence earned but labour
and trouble; from Sigurd despitefulness and
hate, and small cheer from the bishop. This was
the root of the estrangement between Bishop
Jorund and Laurence ; for Laurence thought that
he had received a great rebuff for the mission
which he deemed he had done faithfully. And
he desired much to leave Iceland, because he
thought he would get little cordiality from Bishop
Jorund : also many of the bishop's kin were very
short with him.

7. Next summer, after ' Flitting-days,' 8 Lord

Peter came to Iceland from Eidi-at-Knerri. All

the northern quarter was appointed to

1293 him by the king for his province. Lord
Bishop Jorund invited him to Holar,

and there he stayed the winter. Sir Laurence and
Lord Peter came to feel fast friends. Laurence
took counsel with himself and travelled with him
in the summer, and talked and questioned with
him of many matters entertainingly. Once
Laurence asked Lord Peter how men looked or
bore themselves when the sea was bad. ' Vari-
ously,' said Peter, ' I tell thee no more about it
this time.' In the summer after, Sir

1294 Laurence rode south into Skalholt. It
is notable that Lord Bishop Ami Thor-

laksson, who was in authority there, welcomed
Laurence so signally that he made him sit next
to him. Many marvelled that he gave to a poor
cleric a seat higher than distinguished people.

ch. 7.] BISHOP OF H6LAR. 13

But the bishop said that some day it would
come to his not having the lowest seat; also
he said it was not wrong to set high those who
had the better wits. Afterwards the lord bishop
called Laurence into his study and set out before
him a lectern and upon it a book of the Canon
Law, telling him to amuse himself with it. Then
said Laurence to the bishop : —

1 My good Lord, God requite you for your con-
descension which you show to me, so poor, so
nameless.'

The bishop answered : ' If thou hast not yet fully
comprehended the Canon Law, that must be thy
business henceforth. Also, thou shalt come to
endure many tribulations ere thy days be done.'

Laurence used to say that he had seen the face
of a saint on two men only ; on Bishop Ami
Thorlaksson, and on Bjarni abbot of Thingeyri.
Bishop Ami and Laurence parted cordially. That
same summer Laurence embarked for
Norway at Gaseyri with the aforesaid 1294
Lord Peter, leave being first obtained
from Bishop Jorund. When they got on the sea,
Laurence was in great distress from sea-sickness.
Then came Lord Peter to him and said, fleering : —

{ Priest, in the winter at Holar, thou askedst me
what figure people cut when the sea was bad ; and
now I will answer all thy questions ; even as pale
and peaked as thou art, Sir Laurence.'

Laurence had now double pangs — from Lord
Peter's flouting and also from the sea-sickness.
They got a fair wind and reached Norway safe

14 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 7-8.

and sound. It befell in that year that there was
a great earthquake in Iceland in the
MariC2h9412' south> before St Gregory's Day, so that
in some places houses fell down. There
was strife in Rome, and people slain in St.
Peter's.

8. Now we must go on to tell how Lord Peter
and Sir Laurence came to Norway. King Eirek
was then sojourning in Bergen. The king re-
ceived Lord Peter most blithely, for he was a
dear friend of the king's. Lord Peter broached
his suit towards a certain woman of the king's
kindred, who lived east in Vik ; he entreated that
the king would write to her. The king bade
Lord Peter have a letter written in Latin and told
him he would give him his seal on it. Then Lord
Peter called Laurence to him and bade him com-
pose this letter in the best Latin he knew. Sir
Laurence tried to shirk it, and said he was not
skilled enough for this. ' But,' he said, ' though
I have little skill to do this, yet am I bound to do
what you will.' Next day he showed Lord Peter
the letter, written in Latin. Then Lord Peter
went to the king with the letter and showed it
him. The king praised the handwriting and style
of the letter much, and then asked who had done
it. Peter answered him that a certain Icelandic
priest had done it, whom he had brought from
Iceland. The king bade him tell that priest to
be at his banquet for that day. Even so Laurence
did, and it was arranged he should sit above the
other guests, and for that day the king ate and

ch. 8.] BISHOP OF H6LAR. 15

drank to him. The next day a page of the king
came to Sir Laurence and told him that the king
summoned him. He went to the king in his public
hall and gave him good-day. The king received
him cheerily, and asked whether he was the priest
who had written Lord Peter's Latin letter ; and he
said that it was so. The king offered him to wait
upon his service. Sir Laurence thanked the king
for his offer, and said that he had leave of absence
for his pilgrimage to St. Olaf in Nidaros.

1 Come to us,' said the king, \ when thou return-
est, and be at our banquet for Yule and all high-
days, and whensoever thou wilt.' Also through-
out the winter he was in the hall with the king,
but sometimes at Lord Peter's charges. There
were there with King Eirek many mighty men
from divers countries and skilled in many matters.
Among them was a man named Thrand ' Cracker,'
who knew of many clever tricks, but more by his
mother-wit than by any manner of sorcery; he
was Flemish by race. Sir Laurence struck up a
friendship with this man, and talked about many
things to him, for while he was young he went
much after laying up of knowledge, and yet he
never dealt in sorcery or heathen witchcraft. In
Yule Thrand 'Cracker' let off the war-crack; it
comes so loud that very few men could bear to hear
it, women with child fall in labour when they hear
it, and men fall down out of their seats on the
floor, or are troubled otherwise. Thrind told
Laurence that he should put his fingers in his
ears when the crack came. Many men could not

16 LIFE OF LA URENCE [ch. 8-9.

stand it in the hall when he made the crack.
Thrand explained to Laurence what it was need-
ful to have to make the crack, namely four things :
fire, brimstone, parchment, and tow. Now men
often use this war-crack in battle, to the end that
they who are not used to it may fly all ways.

9. Next spring Laurence went north to Thrond-
hjem where Archbishop Jorund abode: between him
and the Chapter there was much dissension. Arch-
bishop Jorund was a great lord, a good scholar, a

firm friend, very bountiful to his people,
1295 and the comeliest of men to look upon.

A little before, a great scholar, John the
Fleming, had come there. He had abode long
in Paris and Orleans, studying, and was so
great a lawyer that there in Norway there was
none like him, and in this way the archbishop
found him a pillar of strength when he was
there; for all the foremost of the Chapter were
his adversaries. They were constantly appealing
to the Pope, and got a number of rescripts
from the Curia to burden the archbishop. So
the archbishop was very glad to find a scholar
wherever he could. John the Fleming was a
good mediator for the archbishop in his disputes
with the Chapter, because he could not speak any
Norse, and the people could not understand his
speech ; for he spoke all in Latin, French, or
Flemish. At this time Sir Laurence came to
Throndhjem begging leave to speak with Arch-
bishop Jorund, and when this was got, he showed
him the permit from Bishop Jorund at Holar,

ch.9-] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 17

declaring that he gave Sir Laurence leave to stay
with the archbishop as long as he liked to have
him by him.

Hereat the archbishop was very glad and spoke
thus : ' Many thanks give we to Bishop Jorund
because he sent thee to us ; thou shalt be welcome
among us in the Lord; but come to us on the
morrow and show us thy handwriting, and whether
thou canst compose aught in Latin.'

Next day came Sir Laurence to the archbishop,
holding a scroll. The archbishop looked at it, and
praised the writing and said, ' Read before us that
which thou hast written.'

He read from it the verses which he had made
upon Lady Hallbera, abbess at Stad.

'Is she a good woman,' said the archbishop,
' since thou hast praised her so much ? '

' People in Iceland,' said Laurence, ' count that
for certain.'

'Cease verse-making henceforward,' said the
archbishop, ' and study rather in the Canon Law.
Knowest thou not that Versificatura nihil est nisi
falsa figura ? '

'You must also know,' said Laurence, 'that
Versificatura nihil est nisi maxima cur a?

Then the archbishop had John the Fleming
summoned, and said to him, 'We give this man
Sir Laurence into your charge, and bid you take
all pains in teaching him the Canon Law. We will
give you good guerdon for that. — But why do you
wear red clothes,' he said to Sir Laurence, ' which
it is forbidden to clergy to wear?'

6

18 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 9-10.

He said, ' Because I have no others.'

Then he whispered to one of his pages, who went
away and came in a little after with fine brown
clothes, which the archbishop had worn himself.
Then he said to Laurence, ' Wear these clothes on
high days ; but get from the Steward at our manor
money to buy you black clothing to wear every day :
but give these red clothes to your page. Sit at
table on the Steward's bench by John the Fleming.'

10. Now to tell how Sir Laurence, after coming
to Archbishop Jorund, went daily to study to learn
Canon Law, and how sometimes the archbishop
sent him to declare his bidding in the quarrels of
the Chapter, which were then going forward.
Quickly Laurence became best beloved by the
archbishop, because he seemed to him shrewd and
well-counselled, firm, and quick in argu-

1296 ment. Next winter, in Lent, on Laetare
Jerusalem Sunday, the archbishop had
Laurence summoned into his chapel at mass.

'Forasmuch as,' he said, 'this Sunday is not-
able, we will give you Olaf s church here in the
town, for it is now free.'

Laurence thanked him for all the good treatment
he had vouchsafed him. This is a token what love
the archbishop had towards him, that he took
thought of himself and unasked to give him a
church which many men wanted.

1294 In this year, spoken of already, Adrian the Hermit
was consecrated Pope on the day of the Holy Ghost,
and called Celestinus. There were standing by him ten
lepers, and by God's mercy they were all cleansed utterly.
Celestinus did not last quite till St. John's Eve, and gave

ch. io-ii.] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 19

up the Popedom, going back to his hermitage. Then
one of the Cardinals Benedict was chosen and con-
secrated, and called Boniface. Eirek, king of the
Danes, and Duke Christopher took the Archbishop of

1295 Lund and put him in a dungeon. Denmark was under
interdict. Bishop Jorund of Hdlar founded a cloister of
canons at Modruvellir, in the Vale of Horg. Then
died Lj6tr, abbot at Munka-Thvera, Then was the
great drift of whales in the North of Iceland. At this
time Bishop Jorund also founded a nunnery at Stad in
Reynisnes. Next year Bishop Jorund made Teit prior

1320 at Modruvellir. A great plague of boils ran over Ice-
land ; and twelve yeomen in Skalholt See confirmed
Church-property by oath.

11. Now we must go on to tell how Laurence
was with Archbishop Jorund in Nidaros and
studied continually in the Canon Law
which Master John the Fleming taught 1296-8
him. Also they were great friends one
to another. It seemed great sport to Laurence
when John made struggles to talk Norse, but got
a very little way with it.

Once John the Fleming said to Laurence; 'I
would thou wouldst intercede with my Lord
that he should present me to the living of the
church of Mary here in the town, for it is now
empty.'

Laurence answered, ■ How should that be,
when you do not know how to speak any Norse ? '

' I know,' said John, ' as much as I want, and
as lies upon my mind to speak.'

'Now,' said Laurence, 'let us then suppose
that the beginning of the long fast 9 is come. ' It is
then your business to declare before your parish
folk how they are to keep the long fast.'

20 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 11-12.

' In this wise,' said John the Fleming. ■ Now
Lent is come : every Christian man come to
church : get him shriven : put away his wife :
make no brawling. Nonne sufficit domi?ie ? '

Then Laurence laughed and said, ' The people
understands not what Lent is.'

He told the archbishop, and they had great
sport thereat. But they granted unto John some
portion of his request, because he was very quick
of temper if things were not done as he liked.

12. Once a great company of passengers for
Iceland came to Throndhjem, and there were many
Icelanders among them. Sir Laurence wished to
do some service to each and all of them. Among
the rest came the man called Klaeng the ' Caster,'
a kinsman of Laurence and intimate with him.

And when John the Fleming saw that, he
wanted to pay some attention to him, and once
spoke to Laurence in Latin, and said, ' Teach me
how to greet this companion of yours in Norse.'

Laurence thought he would have a great jest
with John and said, * Thus greet him : Small
welcome, fellow ! ' *

' I understand,' said John : ' this must be a
fair greeting, because fdgnudr means gaudium, and
laus l praise.' f Afterwards he went up to Klaeng
the Caster, clapped him on the shoulders and said,
1 Small welcome, fellow ! '

The other sharpened his looks at him, and he

* iFagnad arlaus, kompdn I '

\ He mixes Latin laus with Norse laus, 'less.'

ch. 12-13.] BISHOP OF HOLAR, z\

thought the greeting could not be so fair as he
had supposed.

Then said John the Fleming to Laurence,
1 Now I understand that thou hast mocked me,
for this man was wroth with me.'

John the Fleming had a mistress so hideous
and loathsome that there could scarcely be found a
more monstrous aspect than she wore. Sir Laurence
once asked Master John wherefore he would
keep so very hideous a woman in his company.
John answered, ' I am a hot-tempered man, and I
should not take it well if any one were to fool my
serving-woman away from me, and therefore I took
this one because I know that no man wants her.'

13. It is said that now the discussion of Arch-
bishop Jorund and the Chapter waxed so that it
broke into open hatred. His chief adversaries
were Sighvat the Landsman, and Sir Eilff, after-
words archbishop in Nidar6s, and Sir Audun the
Red, afterwards bishop at Holar in Iceland.
They appealed to Pope Boniface : the end was
that Archbishop Jorund was summoned to the
Pope, so he went out of the country to Paris ;
where he took ill, and went no further. Thence
he sent a message to the Pope and then got
back his credit. He was away there one year
and then came back to Nidaros. During / that
time Laurence was in Nidaros and had St. Olafs
Church, as we told before. He was glad when
the archbishop came back home, for he then
appointed Sir Laurence in charge over the offering
which was made to Olaf, saint and king, and

22 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 13.

also to be penitentiary. Then the archbishop
paid even more regard to him than before,
because he seemed to him to have gone on deftly
about his business and his church in his own
absence.

In that year Bishop Ami Thorlaksson departed ;
and he was buried at Munklif in Bergen. In the

next year died King Eirek Magmisson
1299 on the 10th of July. The title of king

was given to Hakon his brother, who
was crowned with the hallowing of a king in
Throndhjem by Archbishop Jorund. Thither
now came all the first men in Norway and from
other lands far and wide. There could be seen
the greatest throng ever known in the Northern
lands. No man might go out from Eyri and on
to Christ Church except with eider-down robes,
costly stuff, and canopy. King Hakon gave a
magnificent feast and also many privileges and
amended laws to the Holy Church. King Hakon
reconciled the Archbishop and the Chapter. But
it lasted only a while, for the moment that King
Hakon was out of the town, the same quarrelling
and wrangling arose between them as of old. So
things stayed for a year. Then the archbishop
proceeded against them with admonitions, and
they would not obey. In league with them now
went all the people of the town, all the school,
and the abbot from Holm. The end was that no
lettered man dared or would execute any bidding
of the archbishop's which the Chapter were
against.

-

I4-] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 23

14. One day the archbishop summoned Lau-
rence and said, 'Here is a writ which John the
Fleming has made by our bidding. This writ thou
art to read out against the Chapter in Christ
Church to-morrow morning, because that is a day
of most high festival.'

Laurence answers, ' Mighty is the masters word ;
I must do and forward whatever is your will while
I am in your service. But I know that, little as
the Chapter have loved me hitherto, now it will
be yet worse.'

Accordingly on the morrow at high mass, when
the Chapter were in the chancel, and when it was
least expected, Sir Laurence rose up in the choir,
according to the bidding of the archbishop, and
read the writ: — Rumor pestiferus ! . . . This was the
drift of the writ, that for many and mighty reasons
which he named, he laid a ban on the Canons Eilff,
Audun the Red, Sighvat the Landsman, saying
also that if they did not quit, the service of mass
was to cease. Laurence read so loudly and well
that they heard clearly.

Then answered Sighvat the Landsman, saying,
1 No need, Icelander, to bellow so loud, we hear
what thou say est.' They all went home each to his
lodging. From that day forth Sir Laurence could
never go out without danger from the Chapter.

This year it befell in Iceland that fire came
up from Mount Hekla10a so violently that the
mountain was cloven, which will be
there to see while Iceland is dwelt I3°°
in. In this fire great stones whirled wildly

24 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 14.

about like coal in hardness, so that, when they
drove together, the cracks were so great that
it was heard over the country northwards and
far and wide elsewhere. Thence came so much
lava, smiting on a farm in Naefraholt, that the
thatch was burnt off the buildings. A wind came
from the south-west which carried sand over the
country between Vatn Pass and the Heath of
Oxar Firth so thickly with so mighty a darkness,
that no man, in doors or out, knew whether it was
night or day, until the sand fell to earth in a
shower, and all the earth was hid for the sand.
On the next day the sand drifted, so that here
and there men could scarce grope their way. All
these two days no man durst row on the sea,
because of the darkness over the north country.
This befell on the 13th of July. At the same

time a fire burst up in Sicily and two
Dec. 31 dioceses were burnt. Likewise on the

sixth night of Yule, such a great earth-
quake came over the south country that the land
shook far and wide. A homestead fell in East
Skard ; - in the church there was a great brazen
caldron fixed against the ledge of the beam of the
church : it smote with the shock so hard against
the church roof that the caldron broke. Two
chests stood in the porch in Naefraholt, and they
were clashed by the earthquake together so mightily
that both were brayed into fine powder. And all
the chronicles witness that thirteen hundred years
had gone by from the coming upon earth of our
Lord Jesus Christ until that day.

ch. 15.] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 25

15. Now to take up the story. Many ambushes
were laid for Sir Laurence. Once it came to pass
that the clerks leapt upon him and desired to take
him; and when he saw it, he took to his heels
and sped up to Christ Church and got hold of the
ring of the church door.10 Then they sped after
him ; then all at once they tore off his gown, and
meant to gripe him away from the church; and
then the archbishop's lads came to help him, for
he called out for their aid. Also it befell once
that a great lady in the place, in the parish of St.
Olaf s Church, died ; requiems were sung accord-
ing to wont, and there was torch and taper. Sir
Laurence with his fellows sang the requiems.
Then came many scholars all at once and laid
hands on the waxen torches and tapers : they were
the stronger, and he had no power of defending
himself. On the morrow the archbishop sent his
lads, so that he got the masses sung and the body
lowered. So many offences and mockeries and
rebuffs did Sir Laurence endure, ever after he read
the aforesaid writ before the Chapter, at the hands
of the scholars and of all their train, that the tale
were long to tell.

Now to tell how Archbishop Jorund was high
in the graces of Lord Hakon the king ; to whom
wrote the archbishop, showing what affliction and
disquiet the Chapter brought upon him, and beg-
ging that he would come himself and chastise
them with royal authority. And Lord Hakon the
king did so ; he came to Throndhjem with a crowd
both of the clergy and laity, and appointed a

26 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 15.

moot,11 summoning thither the archbishop and all
the canons, his adversaries, and all the great men
of the town. The moot was held in the summer-
palace. There was with King Hakon a great
doctor called Aki who had been studying abroad, a
leading and eloquent scholar, and he was retained
to speak on the king's behalf. A reading-desk
was set before him : he stood out before the king's
dais. The order was this; the king and the
archbishop sat together, and out in line from the
king the knights and chief men of the kingdom,
and out in line from the archbishop the suffragans
and abbots, and beyond them the Chapter. On
the floor sat priests and common folk. And there
among the other companions of the archbishop
was Sir Laurence. Lord Aki, calling with a loud
voice, gave the signal for the people to hearken.
First he set to making an eloquent speech in
Latin, telling how it befitted princes both in tem-
poral authority and spiritual to have pre-eminence :
this speech of his lasted long. Then he trans-
lated his speech and delivered it in clear and
eloquent Norse ; keeping to the theme how it
was meet for meaner men to do homage to their
betters, not merely towards the good and righteous,
but equally towards such as are tainted in their
walk; as Paul the apostle saith, declaring how
heavy an iniquity it is for a man to conspire
against his superiors, and making it as grievous as
idolatry. Then he went on to speak more boldly,
saying plainly into what abomination the Chapter
had fallen in working adversely to their lord arch-

ch. 15-16.] BISHOP OF HdLAR. 27

bishop : saying plainly also, that they might suffer
in their skins, and that the secular arm could
rightfully fall on them with the king's sword and
authority. And so sharp and loudly this man
spoke that many of the Chapter and their retainers
shivered in their shirts.

1 6. After Lord Aki's speech, King Hakon stood
up and spoke in Latin and in Norse ; and the end
of it was that he gave them a hard choice ; — either
those canons who had been declared under the
ban by the archbishop were to be outlawed from
Norway and all his dominion, they and all their
followers, or else they must fall down on the spot
before the archbishop and submit all their case
to his power by the counsel of the king and the
chief men; and yet if they did not there and
then do the king's bidding, they should by no
means now quit that chamber unscathed. Now,
when the canons saw what a great peril was
between them and the door, they straightway
stood up and fell down before the archbishop and
submitted all their case unto his will. Next day
the covenant between the archbishop and the
Chapter was declared. Each made a covenant of
peace and quietness with the other and the other's
men : which covenant was most loyally kept for
two years, and Sir Laurence was now in peace and
quietness and well entertained by Archbishop
Jorund ; he was also penitentiary, and appointed
to the charge of the offering to St. Olaf.

We would not pass by declaring and expounding
what befell abroad during these years. It is said that

28 LIFE OF LA URENCE [ch. 1 6- 1 7.

a rich prince fought in Rome herself, but afterwards
made peace with Pope Boniface, taking his niece to
wife. And the Lord Pope went so far for the peace of
holy Church that he himself solemnised their marriage,
and gave dispensation to eat meat on Palm Sunday,
but he forbade any man doing it at his pleasure. That

1301 year died Chancellor Bard : Lord Alf of Kr6k came out,
and two quarters of Iceland were appointed unto him,
the North and East. Then came out to Iceland Lodin,
the lawman, with a writ from the king. In the next
year following Audun ' Oats ' was hanged, and Margaret,
who boasted she was King Eirek's daughter, and her
husband were burned. A comet was seen about
Michaelmas time, by traders on the sea, and it seemed
to them greater and dimmer than other stars, and had
a tail like a plummet, and every evening that they saw
it, it went tail foremost from the north-east northwards.
Also in the South country a comet was seen for half a
month on winter nights : also in Bergen towards Lent,
and in Rome before Easter. Lord Bishop Jorund, at
Hdlar, instituted chanting at the new church which he
had had built at Modruvellir in the Horg Valley,
Kr6k Alf came to Norway and told King Hakon of

1304 many changes in Iceland. In that following year above
spoken of Pope Boniface died ; Benedict was consecrated
Pope, and Arni Helgason also was consecrated bishop
to Skalholt. Thurid, daughter of Arni of Burgundy,
bore a boy to Sir Laurence, called Arni ; the same
woman afterwards bore a boy to Sir Solomon, called
Bard. In the next year died Pope Benedict, and Clement
was consecrated in his stead.

17. Then came from Norway to Iceland Alf
Krok with many writs from the king and novellae,12
with these he went over the country and named
many good yeoman outlaws. At Hegraness moot
and also at Oddeyri moot the people rushed at him.
At Hegraness moot he was so scared that he
hardly knew where to turn for refuge : the vaga-
bond beggars, whooping and hollaing, smote
their shields against him ; he was only saved from

ch. 17.] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 29

slaughter at their hands by Lord Th6rd from
Modruvellir and other lords having him covered
by their shields. There was a fellow called Berg
the ' Wren,' a yeoman, and a fat-headed fool ; he
was also the most forward of all the freedmen in
harrying Alf at Hegraness moot. And when Lord
Jorund was billeted at Hof in Hofdastrond, and
was at table in the evening, into the room burst
the aforesaid Berg the Wren, and flung himself
down before the bishop's feet, saying, ' Utterly in
God's hand and yours, lord bishop ! '

Bishop Jorund asked, 'What is the matter,
Berg?'

1 1 have fallen into a lamentable sin,' said Berg ;
' to-day, at Hegraness Thing, I slew Krok-Alf.'

Then asked the bishop, ' How didst thou attack
Alf?'

! My Lord, I thrust Alf through with a spear :
now I offer myself to whatsoever penance it is thy
will to put upon me.'

1 Berg, get up,' said the bishop. ' Berg, thou
hast seen wrong ; for Krok-Alf thou hast not slain,
and he yet lives. Go to the table and eat ; I will
not shun commerce with thee : thou art no man-
slayer.'

' Will that be better known to thee than me,
bishop ? nay, for the trouble has grown yet greater
notwithstanding; I slew yet another man.' ,So
said Berg.

' Hold thy peace,' said the bishop, ' and lie not
like a fool about thyself. For people already know
that thou art none too valiant, and art not tried in

30 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 17-18.

fight and fray ; nay, we deem thee more of a coward
than any man, when manly prowess is wanted.'

Now, when the bishop and Berg had thus
parleyed, people came into the room who had been
at the moot during the day, and told that Alf
was alive and journeying to Lord Thdrd, and
meant to go north over the waste. And the
moment that Berg saw the people coming into the
room, he took to his heels and flew to the church,
and into the chancel, and under the hangings, and
there he skulked till the bishop came to the
church, and by talking got enough pith into Berg
to make him go away with the rest. Ever after,
Berg seemed a worse fool than before ; everything
Bishop Jorund had said proved right ; for it was
truly said about him that he was shrewder about
everything and clearer-witted than any one else in
Iceland during his days upon earth. Krok-Alf
went north into Dynhagi and stayed there through
the winter, over Yule. Then he took a sickness
and died of it, and lies at Modruvellir in the Vale
of Horg. It was told to King Hakon that Ice-
landers had slain Alf; but there were many to
gainsay this on oath.

18. Now to take up the story : Sir Laurence
was in Throndhjem, in Nidaros, well enter-
tained, as we said before, by Archbishop Jorund ;
but many felt great envy at the eminence which
the archbishop gave him. One day it happened
that the archbishop was holding a Chapter
with the canons and the other chief clergy that
were then with him. They declared, before the

ch. 1 8.] BISHOP OF H6LAR. 31

archbishop, that it was meet for him to send a
visitor out to Iceland; and proclaiming that the
fittest man for that was Sir Laurence, because he
was a good scholar and an Icelander born. With
this declaration the archbishop agreed, and called
Sir Laurence up, declaring that his will was to send
him to Iceland for a visitation with authority from
the archbishop. He bade him come again next
day, which he did. Then the archbishop said the
like to Laurence, that his will was to send him to
Iceland. And thus Laurence answered the arch-
bishop's words :

'My Lord, you know well that I do all your
will gladly ; but I know my own infirmity for all
such matters, and especially that I have small
practice in preaching God's message before the
people ; and if you desire that I adventure on this
service, send with me some preacher to hold forth
before the people. I have even spoken with
brother Bjorn of the preacher's order; he is willing
to go with me if you consent ; only, it must be so
as to share my power fairly with me, and to be in
equal authority with me.'

Then said Lord Archbishop Jorund, 'Thou
seest this thing not so clearly, Sir Laurence, as
were meet for thy own edification; but thou
knowest this well, how our Lord saith : omne
regnum in se divisum desolabitur ; yea, it often
happens that a kingdom divided against itself shall
be swiftly desolate ; and there is seldom agreement
of one man with another : also discernment will,
in this matter, be given unto thee, so that thou

^

32 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 18-19.

will repent greatly of taking a preaching-brother
into thy company : for such are ever ill to trust in
law-suits and in all other fellowship.'

Then the canons held to it — more for malice
towards Laurence than for sound counsel — that he
should never be suffered to take brother Bjorn with
him. Then the plan was settled, that brother Bjorn
and Sir Laurence were appointed visitors to Iceland
with equal powers ; yet the archbishop was much
more close and affectionate with Sir Laurence
than with brother Bjorn, but both of them took
the strongest letters of authority for their mission.
The archbishop showed what love he bore to Sir
Laurence, inasmuch as he gave him, with his seal
patent, three parchments — the nature of such letters
is, that there must be a seal on them, but nought
written ; then he, to whom they are given out, is
to write in them what he likes ; swearing first an
oath not to write on them aught to the hurt of
him who issues them, or to his Church. And this
oath Sir Laurence swore, and it was sealed duly,
two trusty men of the archbishop's being by.
Also the archbishop wrote warm letters out to
Bishops Jorund and Ami, saying that they should
show goodwill to the visitors aforesaid and sup-
port, as far as their own authority went. Then
their visitors got on board a ship on its way
to Iceland, and took leave of the archbishop
cordially.

19. Now to tell how the visitors put to sea, had
a fair voyage, landed at Eyri, in the south country,
rode up into Skalholt, and were nobly welcomed

ch. I9-] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 33

by Bishop Ami. He bade them stay as long as
they had a mind, and gladly they accepted. And
when, in summer, the next day before St. Thor-
lak's Day came, thus said Laurence to brother
Bjorn, 'Now in Skalholt is a great congregation
from over all Iceland, and thou, brother Bjorn,
must ponder over thy morrow's sermon, and
especially upon the glory of Thorlak, bishop and
saint, for that is now most meet.'

Then brother Bjorn answered, ' Strange folk all
ye Icelanders are, calling many men who have
grown up here among you saints^ while in other
countries men know nothing of them. Thus it is
high presumption in you Icelanders to reckon a
man a saint whom the archbishop in Nidards
has no cognisance of; nay, to-night, when the
clergy think of going to evensong, I must rise up
in the chancel, and forbid the bishop and all the
clergy to sing of this Thorlak, until he is legally
acknowledged by our lord archbishop and all the
bishops in the province of the church of Nidards.
And I desire thou wilt do likewise, having power
equal with mine.'

'Peace, peace,' said Laurence, 'and let this
foolishness go no further, for all men, both here
in the land and far and wide beyond it, know that
the Bishop St. Thorlak is a saint in truth, and did
many mighty miracles, and yet doeth ; and he will
surely punish thee if thou dost not make thy peace
with God and this blessed bishop.'

The end of their talk was that each held to his
own way of thinking. Brother Bjorn called his

34 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 19.

cook and bade him cook meat for him in Skalholt,
the day before St. ThorlaVs Day, which seemed
passing strange. At evening the bell rang to keep
holiday, and when it was come to the time for
evensong, a man came in haste to Laurence, say-
ing that brother Bjorn entreated him to come
speedily. He went into the room where brother
Bjorn lay, and saw him lying on his bed, groaning
with sick sobs.13

Then said brother Bjorn to Laurence, ' Friend,
what shall I do? I am fallen on so heavy an
affliction that something goes through my heart,
so that I think it most likely, if this go on a
while, I shall die speedily.'

1 Small wonder is it,' said Laurence, ' though
this befall thee, for thou spokest very foolishly in
the morning, in misdoubting the- sainthood of this
goodly servant of God, the sainted Bishop Thorlak,
who manifests many good miracles, and as men
know that he is merciful unto them that call upon
him, so is he very vengeful to them that trespass
against him. Thus a certain fool in England was
disposed to think that he would bring shame and
gibing upon the Bishop St. Thorlak. He took a
sausage of sheep's fat and carried it before the
image of Bishop Thorlak, saying, "Have it,
Fat-lander? Thou hast come abroad from Ice-
land." This gibe was avenged so swiftly that the
hand which held up the lard sausage became stiff
like wood ; and there he had to stand where he
was, with his hand on high, until pious men prayed
for him, and he repented him of his abomination ;
then he got free.'

ch. 19.] BISHOP OF HdLAR. 35

' Gladly,' said brother Bjorn, ' will I repent, and
will consent to believe every word said henceforth
about his glory and sanctity, if he will only mend
my malady and take it away : may God grant this
at his intercession ! Also on the morrow I will
preach before the good people of his laudable life
and miracles.'

And when he had thus confessed, straightway
came a riddance of all his sickness, so that he stood
up whole and preached finely on the morrow before
the people concerning Bishop Thorlak, telling
clearly and bravely what had befallen him. From
this event the Bishop St. Thorlak got glory, renown,
and honour in everything, even as he is worthy.14

After St. Thorlak's Day, the visitors made their
visitation, over the Southern and Western quarters
first. Sir Laurence looked hard after
the performance of service by priests of Dec. 23
small lore and knowledge; many of whom
proved of light learning, and among them a priest
called Eilif in Gufa-dale in the Western quarter.
At mass and lessons the visitors examined him,
and the issue was that he knew hardly a thing
in either of these matters.

Then said Laurence, ' Let us examine him in
the canticle Audited and they did so ; and he
had no sure knowledge of how to read Audited

Priest Eilif said, ' I can do nothing with it, if
ye examine me in the hardest thing ye can find.'

1 Thou hast seldom read the feriales liturgiae,'
said Laurence, { that is easy to see.'

The visitors took away from Priest Eilif the mass
and all the priest's service, until he should know it,

36 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 19-20.

or till he learnt enough to make him fit to officiate.
There were also some more priests from whom they
took, because of their ignorance, the right of saying
mass. In the summer they visited the See of
Skalholt and went to all the cloisters and larger
churches ; and in the Skalholt See they were not

withstood, for Lord Bishop Ami was
1307 a lowly man of gentle bearing. In that

summer Lord Bard came to Iceland
with writs and amendments from the king.

20. Now to tell how when the visitors had gone
over the See of Skalholt, they rode to Holar and
met Lord Bishop Jorund. He received them both
civilly, but brother Bjorn far more cordially :
Laurence soon found that Lord Bishop Jorund
invited brother Bjorn to stay the winter there ;
but no invitation came to Laurence. Brother
Bjorn accepted the bishop's invitation and stayed
the winter at Holar. Sir Laurence went north
over the fell and parted from Bishop Jorund
coldly. The bishop's kin did nothing but scoff
and jeer at him, casting in his teeth the old days
when Bishop Jorund took him up a beggar, and
had him taught ; ■ and now he claimed to have
authority over him, and power, by the archbishop's
ordinance, to depose him from his episcopal sway.'
Many despiteful fellows carried a pack of lies
between them. Laurence went to Eyja Firth,
and Lord Thord invited him to stay the winter
with him; he accepted, and stayed the winter
there with one lad. Lord Abbot Th<5rir was then
at Munka-Thvera.

ch. 21.] BISHOP OF HdLAR. 37

21. In the spring before it had befallen that
Solveig, the daughter of Lopt, wife of Thorvald
Geirsson, then dwelling in Long Slope in the
Horg Valley, went to Baegis Water to service on
the eve of Maundy Thursday, and one woman
with her. As they both went on, it happened
that they went down into the Horg river and were
both drowned. The body of goodwife Solveig
was found afterwards, and later Thorvald Geirsson
took his wife's body to Munka-Thvera and gave
thereafter much offering with the corpse ; but she
had a right of burial at Baegis Water, where then
dwelt the priest called Hildibrand Grfmsson.
There had been no love lost between Sir Hildi-
brand and Thorvald ; likewise there was a coolness
between Solveig and the wife of Thorvald : the
priest was for ever comforting Solveig with holy
counsel. It was much treasure which Thorvald
gave to Miinka-Thvera as an offering for her soul ;
but to Baegis Water he merely gave twelve ells
for a burial-fee. Then in spring Sir Hildibrand
complained to Bishop Jorund, but it came to
nothing. Afterwards Sir Hildibrand came to Sir
Laurence at Modruvellir in Eyja Firth, and com-
plained to him that he thought he had a claim to
the offering and the burial-service ; also that her
body had a right to burial in the churchyard
at Baegis Water; moreover her own will and
testament did not declare that she had chosen
burial anywhere else save at her own parish
church in Baegis Water. Laurence wrote a letter
to Thorvald admonishing him to dispose the

38 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 21.

body to be taken back to Baegis Water, or else
come to an agreement with the priest and dispose
fittingly with the church by a gift for her soul,
while her body, with Sir Hildibrand's leave, should
have free burial in Munka-Thverd. Thorvald
took this letter coldly, professing that he cared
nothing for what he said, but meant to have the
decision of Bishop Jorund. Afterwards Hildi-
brand went to Munka-Thvera and claimed the
body, demanding it back for that place of burial
which was its due; afterwards he entreated the
visitors to hear the case and give him his rights.

Then Sir Laurence admonished the abbot and
brethren to give up the body freely or else come
to a bargain with the priest. The abbot and
brethren answered coldly and appealed to Bishop
Jorund, saying they heeded his words never a whit.
Afterwards at home at Modruvellir Laurence made
a writ, and went to Munka-Thvera, and one saint's
day went up into the choir, and with letters patent
laid his judgment upon them, namely; that the
body of Solveig, daughter of Lopt, had right of
burial at Baegis Water : and forbidding per-
formance of mass there in the church while her
body lay there in the churchyard. Their abbot
and brethren asked Laurence to give them a
copy of the judgment Laurence bade them take
the judgment, and declared he would give them a
copy then or never; then straightway they
departed with it. Next the abbot wrote west to
Bishop Jorund and brother Bjorn, and they gave
leave to sing again as before in the church. Lord

ch. 21-22.] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 39

Bishop Jorund and brother Bjorn wrote north by
the hand of Sir Snjdlf; the main thing in the
message was that they wished Laurence' writ of
judgment to be delivered over into Snjdlf's hand,
for censure in case he had decided hastily and not
heeded the law. It had also been said in the north
that it had been read, and that was not proved.
Sir Snjdlf came to Miinka-Thvera with the aforesaid
ordinance ; the message was also sent to Sir
Laurence and Sir Thdrd. They came ; Snjdlf read
out the letter of Bjorn the visitor, giving leave to
chant in the church, till Bishop Jorund and he
should take evidence in court after Easter. Bishop
Jorund wrote to the same effect. Snjdlf called on
Laurence to read out his writ of judgment ; then
Laurence read the writ, and when the writ was
finished, the abbot and many with him in the church
snatched at the writ, and tore writ and seal away.
Then Laurence and his friend were haled and
thrust out of church and churchyard, and there was
no more violence done to men's hurt. Laurence
had such odds against him, that it was doubtful if
he would not have received hurt had not Lord
Thdrd given him help and aid. Thus began the
estrangement of Laurence and Bishop Jorund.
Then, as often, Snjolf was the chief adversary of
Laurence. There was peace now till after Easter.
22. After the day of Bishop John of Hdlar,
Lord Jorund and brother Bjorn rode
north to Modruvellir in the Horg April 23
Valley, and summoned before them
Hildibrand, the priest at Baegis Water, and like-

4o LIFE OF LA URENGE [ch. 22.

wise Thdrir, the abbot at Munka-Thvera, and the
bishop made covenant of peace between them.
Solveig's body was to have free burial at Munka-
Thvera. But the priest got off somewhat poorly.
For the end of the suit was that Bishop Jorund
was complete master over whatever men in the
See of Holar there were to deal with. For finally
all men were willing to sit down and stand up
and let all things go according to his will ; for he
was wise in all the wisdom of this world, and free
with his money. To this covenant Laurence was
no party ; yet he rode to Modruvellir to meet
them ; and then came his parting and estrange-
ment from brother Bjorn ; it was plain that
brother Bjorn would let everything go according
to the will of Bishop Jorund. Laurence made
this request of him, that they should heed the
archbishop's bidding, visiting from church to
church and looking after church causes. Brother
Bjorn declared he would not drift about the
desert in Holar diocese, but would go south to his
ship, and go back to Norway.

' This is my wish,' said Laurence, ' that we heed
as best we can my lord archbishop's business, and
visit over all Holar diocese, and get afterwards on
the ship that is now here at Gaseyri, and go back
in it to Norway in the summer.'

1 Do as seems good to thee,' said brother Bjorn ;
1 thou keepest me not from my purpose.'

Now the plan Bishop Jorund had made with him
really was that he should embark from the South,
and reach Norway ere Laurence, and defame his
doings.

ch. 22.] BISHOP OF H6LAR. 41

' Then wilt thou be willing to consent that I take
upon me the business of us both,' said Laurence.

' Manage as thou likest,' said brother Bjorn.

Brother Bjorn went back home to Hdlar with
Bishop Jorund, and there Laurence parted with
him, and thought he himself had fallen into a heavy
plight ; all his business in the North quarter un-
performed ! He took counsel thereon with his
friends, what was next to be done ; for he perceived
all the counsel of Bishop Jorund, knowing his wish
was to have a swift riddance of the visitors. North
of the heath they counselled him to assume all
authority and visit on visitor's business, and oppose
Bishop Jorund if he would not hearken to the arch-
bishop's bidding. Then he wrote to his dear
friend Haflidi Steinsson, asking his counsel. He
wrote back, that he should go back in the same ship
as brother Bjorn, and meet the Archbishop and
Chapter at the same time as he ; but he bade him
beware most of all lest he opposed Bishop Jorund
in anything, or wrought at all against his will,
saying that, good scholar as he was, that was not
enough to make him prevail over Bishop Jorund
because of the luck and lordship that was his; and
that he might do himself great harm by striving
with him in any way.

And when this advice came back to Laurence,
he said, ■ I know that Sir Haflidi, my comrade,
wishes me well ; but for the love and friendship he
bears Bishop Jorund, he will not hear of any man
speaking or acting against him ; but I am bound
to do my lord archbishop's bidding.'

So he took up the harder way for himself, of

42 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 22-23.

staying behind in the Northern quarter. But
brother Bjorn went first to Skalholt and then on
board. He was then given many fine gifts by
Bishop Jorund, who sent a letter abroad by him
to the Archbishop and Chapter.

In that winter, then past, this had befallen in
the south of Iceland; so mighty an earthquake
came, that eighteen farms fell down because of it.
And in Norway the news was that Lord Arch-
bishop Jorund fell very sick, in this way ; that gout
first attacked his leg, and then struck up into his
body. The Chapter took unto them all rule and
authority in temporal even as in spiritual matters,
so that there remained by him only two lads and
his cook. All were now turned out who had
heretofore been his friends or supporters in law-
suits.

23. Now to take up the story. Brother Bjorn
being gone from H61ar diocese, and Laurence left,
Laurence was prompted by some to start on his
visitor's business, and he did so. No man heeded
his word; every claimant appealed to Bishop
Jorund, and no entertainment was given him as he
journeyed. Then he rode home to H61ar, and
asked the bishop to yield him a night's lodging at
his bishop's seat ; the bishop said he was not
bound to, because the other, his equal in authority,
had left the bishopric. Laurence said, that though
he would fain disregard visiting or looking after the
archbishop's business before he were worn to
death, yet he would liefer proceed with his bounden
duty. About this the bishop and Laurence came

ch. 23.] BISHOP OF H6LAR. 43

to no terms. Then on a high-day, which was near
at hand, Laurence went up into the choir and
spoke of many sins, which went on there at home
at the seat, and chiefly of filthy living and incests.
■ This touched the daughters of Bodvar, kinswomen
of the bishop, most home, ' since,' he said, ' no man
heard of their paying public penance, fasting, or
standing outside the church door ; and it was just
the same far and wide over in H61ar diocese ; and
there was much reckless conduct.' Straightway a
clamour arose. In the hearing of all he ended
his discourse by saying that men should quit their
evil ways and turn and mend. To this admonish-
ings and helpful teaching, the bishop's kinswomen
heeded not a whit; nay, when he came out of
church, after mass, he got revilings and many
words of contumely from the bishop's kindred.
There were so many differences now between
Bishop Jorund and Laurence, that at last it broke
into open feud. Laurence saw that, now that the
bishop was so adverse to him, he could carry out
no chastisement upon the people, so he took pass-
age in the Gaseyri ship. Bishop Jorund also sent
abroad a certain priest of his own called Gudmund
Hallddrsson, with much treasure and gifts to
the Archbishop and Chapter, and letters against
Laurence.

Bishop Jorund was becoming very worn with
years j he had long kept at home and was loath to
visit or vex himself. Laurence had made note of
many suits, which had gone on to his knowledge
in a very slovenly fashion, specially suits about

44 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 23.

marriage. At the last, when the traders were
ready to sail, Laurence went to H61ar, and then
had an interview with the bishop. Then Laurence
read out all the heads he had drawn up about the
careless and lawless ways of the bishop.

'Nor will I hide from you, my lord bishop,
that all these things I will read out before the
archbishop.'

Then Bishop Jorund spoke more softly, and
thus said : ' I ask you this, Sir Laurence, that
we let our suit drop, and write in harmony with
one another ; we will write about thee favourably
to the archbishop ; tear this letter in pieces which
thou now hast read out touching it, and swear an
oath of faith and fealty to us.'

Laurence said, 'I know that so great is your
kingdom, power, and lordship, that you can over-
come and put me down ; but not so much as to
make me break that oath which I swore before my
Lord archbishop, that I would tell him truly of the
doings of the bishops and suits.'

And scarce had he got the words out, when

Bishop Jorund leapt up straightway, and Laurence

could get no speech with him, and so they parted.

Laurence went north to Gaseyri, and so on board.

The traders put to sea nigh on St.

"!"0g7, Bartholomew's Day. They had a poor

wind and were long at sea. At first

they went north towards Nauma-dale, and then

Se they had a good south wind, and

' 29 got into Throndhjem in autumn nigh on

Michaelmas Day. Now of Bjorn it is to be told,

ch. 23-24.] BISHOP OF HdLAR. 45

that he had got to Throndhjem on the latter St.
Mary's Day, and had come with the
letters and ordinance of Bishop Jorund, Sep. 8
bringing lying tales of Laurence, and
stating that he had read out in Iceland many writs
of the archbishop, which he said he knew not how
Laurence had come at. The Chapter gave ear
eagerly to this deliverance of Bjorn ; and the plan
was straightway laid, that as soon as Laurence
arrived from Iceland, all his goods, letters, and
documents should be seized, and he thrust into a
dungeon. Bjorn slandered him as best he could ;
but most credit was given to what Bishop Jorund
had written out to the Archbishop and Chapter.

24. Now to tell how Laurence had himself
taken from the merchant-ship into the town,
knowing nothing of what was afoot. They had
landed at H61m with no thought of alarm. The
Chapter had news of this at once, and sent their
men with a few clerics down to the pier ; and as
soon as Laurence thought of disembarking, and
stepped on the pier, the clerics gripped him, saying,
' Thou, Laurence, art to come with us ; a lodging is
made ready for thee, whereto we must escort thee.'

Then straightway a crowd of men-at-arms rushed
on him, and at first led him amidst them; and
when he saw he was taken, he tried to break away ;
then they dragged and carried him in turn, and
cruelly enough, till they came to a dungeon.
It was most foul and called Gulskitni. Down
into this he was kicked and plunged; it was
cold and foul both, and so dark he could

46 LIFE OF LA URENCE [ch. 24.

hardly discern his own hands. Then an iron
door was locked which was over the dungeon.
When Laurence came down on the stone wall, he
fell in a swoon ; and when he came-to, he crossed
himself and bade God help him. Then he raised
himself up and found that the place could not
hold over three men together. Nor was any living
thing there. All this that has just been told was
done so swiftly that this man Laurence never got
word or oath in his own behalf to absolve him or
help his case; and as soon as it was done, the
people went to the canons and told them what
was done. Then they sent some people out to
the merchant-ship to seize the goods Laurence
had had in the ship ; but the merchants were so
faithful that they would not say a word to them,
but straight snatched up their arms and made
as if they would fight to prevent them ransack-
ing there. Then they took his lad whom he
had had with him, and tried to force him to
speak; but this he by no means would. Still,
they were told by a Thrond trading lad where his
boxes were. Straightway there were seized and
carried off to the bishop's house all the goods he
had, great and little, into the hands of the canons
and of Nidar6s Church : the boxes were broken
open ; and all his writs and documents were con-
fiscated from him and read before the Chapter.
They said that they did not know how some of
the writs which he had, had come into his hands,
for the archbishop had never issued them to him.
Yet this was not in the least tested. On the day

•:

. 24.] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 47

after Laurence was flung into the dungeon, the
canons held a Chapter: no man got in to hear
them, and people did not know what they were
dealing with. Now to tell of Laurence. 4le was
two nights in the dungeon, and the keeper of the
dungeon brought him, night and morning, bread
and a little bacon and sour small beer; of this
he could take hardly anything. There was a con-
course both of those who had been the archbishop's
servants and many who had been Laurence'
friends in the town when he was duly honoured ;
and they said plainly to the canons that these
were sorry doings of theirs, to seize a man and
starve him in a dungeon before inquiry was made
of what he had done, or before his suit came on
after inquiry. The Chapter said it was easily
proved that he had gone to Iceland with a forged
writ, had got at the archbishop's seal, and under
it had written letters enacting what he himself
wanted. Then people said, 'Why was he not
to be allowed a meeting with the archbishop ? '
'Because,' they replied, 'the archbishop was so
wroth with him on account of brother Bjorn's
report and Bishop Jorund's letter that he would
on no account see him.' This was a lie of
theirs; for the Chapter seized for themselves all
writs and ordinances. They decided all cases,
and ruled all things, temporal even as spiritual;
but the archbishop lay in his agony with all power
confiscated from him. Eilff, chosen archbishop
afterwards, was Official ; 16 while Sir Audun the Red
was the greatest, richest, and most thought of of all

48 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 24-25.

the canons, Sighvat the Landsman being now
dead. Eilif and Audun bore heaviest upon Lau-
rence because of his having long ago read the
writ of ban over them in the choir when no man
else dared to. Sir Solomon was newly made
canon, having left his studies but a short while
ago ; he and other two likewise never went against
Laurence ; but all the rest were his adversaries.

25. Now to go back to tell how, when he had
been famished two nights in the dungeon, the
canons had him summoned. They all sat on the
bench, as the custom was ; but he was put down
on the floor with fetters on his feet ; he spoke very
low, for he had been far gone in the dungeon, and
before that sea-worn ; and so it was to be expected
that he would not speak very loud. Yet he
greeted them. They answered him never a word.
Then they spoke : ' Higher much was thy howl-
ing, Sir Laurence, when thou readest the writ of
ban over us.'

1 Be not wroth with me for it,' said he, ' though
I did my lord's bidding.'

1 Now,' they said, ' there shall be manifest and
revealed the charges that are brought against
thee.'

Then there was read the deed they had drawn,
saying that two charges were brought against him ;
one, that he had forged letters of the archbishop's ;
but this in chief, that he had squandered the goods
and offerings of St. Olaf when he had to receive the
offering and was appointed by the archbishop there-
to. This charge had never been brought against

ch. 25. J BISHOP OF HOLAR. 49

him ere he went to Iceland. Then were read the
letters written by Jorund, bishop of Holar, to
weigh against him. Then Laurence was asked,
would he confess to these things without force
being used ? if so, they would look kindly on his
case.

Then he said, ' Now, how ye will deal with me
lies in your power — whether I am to keep alive
or no ; but what I have not done, that will I never
acknowledge.'

Then started up certain of the canons, saying,
'He has not been tried hard enough yet; he
will have much more to say if he goes back to
Gulskitni.'

Then a choice of two things was offered him :
to make there in Norway just what confession the
official drew up for him; or else to go back to
Iceland under Bishop Jorund's authority and stay
in prison till he sailed.

'I will take,' said Laurence, 'what most men
least expect. I choose that ye send me back to
Iceland under Bishop Jorund's authority.'

The Official proclaimed that the holy church of
Nidar6s should keep all the baggage he had come
with. A lodging was got for him ; it had a window,
so that he could read his Hours; and for his victuals
there was brought him a little bread and one other
dish and a little small ale to wash it down; by
night he had fetters on his feet ; his feet swelled
up, and the scurvy flew to his body. Icelanders
were always coming to the window and talking
with him ; many men brought him food and drink,

D

50 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 25-26.

so that he had no lack for that. This was told
the canons, and they put iron spikes outside
against the window, so that none should be able
to talk with him. The woman named Thurid,
daughter of Ami, by whom he had had a boy
Ami, often came to the window to him and
brought him somewhat, as best she could, for food
or comfort to him.

26. Now, when he was in these straits, many
looked on him with eyes of compassion and showed
him in word or deed some solace. The canons were
as fierce towards him as ever ; and, that he could
have any exculpation from his charges, — that was
not a thing to be heard of. Once it befell that he
had got leave to go into the archbishop's lodging
where he lay in his sickness, though this was at
first without the chapter's knowledge. As soon
as Laurence had come into the lodging with the
fetters on his feet, the spies and eavesdroppers of
the Chapter were ware of it; then he was haled
out and not dealt with gently. The archbishop
asked what that brawling was in the lodging;
he was told that Laurence had come into the
room and would have talked with him, and was
in fetters, and had then been dragged out vio-
lently.

Then, with a heavy sigh, said the archbishop,
'God requite him for the heavy dealing he has
to endure of his adversaries ; and this he suffers for
the stout service he did us. But what will it serve
him to meet us here where the pang is only
doubled by our looking in each other's face? in

ch. 26-27.] BISHOP OF H6LAR. 51

me he will see sickness and sorrow, I misery in
him.'

Then answered a servant of the archbishop,
' It seems heaviest of all to him, that he is
told this is thy doing that he is so sore
dealt with; and that this is all done by thy
bidding.'

Then said the archbishop, ' Why will folk say
so? That is not my bidding a whit. Thou
mayest know, that when we fell on this sickness,
the canons stopped all authority from us in
spiritual as in temporal matters; and so little
do we appoint or rule aught, that we do not
even manage our daily food and drink: and
they are fiercer than that to all those who stood
on our side when we had to withstand them in
law-suits. Now it is plain that God forbids not
that things stay thus a while; but let Laurence
be told to bear him as manfully as he may ; for
if he keeps alive there is hope that God may
make manifest which side has stood more in the
right.

This was told Laurence, and he got much com-
fort of the archbishop's words. Now the canons
kept on Laurence stronger ward than ever, so that
he could never stir or get out.

27. All Laurence' goods were seized, as we said,
and taken up into the archbishop's house; and
the books which he had were filched. It was done
craftily, thus ; various priests from Iceland, winter-
ing then at Throndhjem, claimed them for their
own. All winter was Laurence thus in prison,

52 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 27-28.

and it was God's mercy that he stayed alive, and
past all nature that his health broke

Ai3oa°' not- *n sPring> f°ur nignts before the
feast of Tiburtius and Valerian, Arch-
bishop Jorund departed this life. Then Eilif,
whom we noticed before, was chosen archbishop ;
a man of good life.

In Iceland, where there was much lamenting, the
news was that Skalholt Church was burnt on the eve
of Paul's Day, as swiftly as men swallow meat before
Jan. 25. drinking. There was neither ember nor charcoal, for
that fire came down from heaven. Then died in Ice-
land Hoskuld, the abbot of Thingeyri, and many
priests ; also Sir Gamli, at Hoskul Stad, a goodly
preacher, who had power over priest and laymen,
and a good yeoman. That was called the Deadly
Spring. Then was also Lord Kolbein Bjarnason
slain by Charlemagne and Thorstein. In Norway
was slain Ogmund ' Ungin-dance.' There was war in
Norway from the foray of Eirek duke of the Swedes.
Lord Bishop Arni voyaged out after the church fire.

28. Now to tell how the chapter put Laurence
in chains on a trader, and sent a letter out with
him to Bishop Jorund. He was stripped of all
his goods, besides that which he prized dearest —
his books with the holy Church law in them : and
these were filched. They put to sea, the voyage
prospered, and they landed safe and sound at
Gaseyri. The traders, when they got to sea,
straightway smote the fetters off Laurence, saying
it was not the custom to carry folk in gaol or
durance over the high seas. The canon's message
was speedily delivered to Bishop Jorund, wherein
they sent Sir Laurence to be under his jurisdiction,

ch. 28.] BISHOP OF H6LAR. 53

and told the way in which they imagined that
they had received evidence in his case ; as was
recorded above. Laurence came home to H61ar ;
and when he went into the lodging where the
bishop was, he fell on his knees. But the bishop
stood up opposite him, and bade him sit by him,
and so he sat down at the dinner-table. The
bishop was most cordial to him, and bade Sir
Laurence sleep there three nights. He did so ;
and when they were past, the bishop had Laurence
called into the vestry with some priests ; then he
made him read out the ordinance of the arch-
bishop-elect and likewise of the canons. Then
Laurence asked the bishop how it was to go with
his case.

1 Because of the doings of the Chapter I dare
not let thee chant mass again; but I tell thee,
that thou shalt go, for all I care, freely over
Iceland, whither thou wilt; likewise in Skalholt
See, if thou likest to come down there, or in the
monasteries. Also thou canst do much service
by educating and teaching, a matter wherein thou
canst do well.'

1 Nought,' said Laurence, ' seems to me so hard
as this, that I may not have the mass service.'

'That thou gettest not,' said the bishop, and
sprang up and left the lodging.

Next night Laurence was at H61ar and a strange
dream came to him. He thought he was standing
up beyond the choir lectern, and held a holy
wafer high up, as the priest holds it at mass ;
on this wafer was marked Alpha and Omega. A

54 LIFE OF LA URENCE [ch. 28.

priest had come south thither over the fell, old,
but full of precious lore. Next morning they
two were reading the services together. Laurence
told him his dream.

The priest said, ' In the spot where thou
wentest up beyond the lectern here at H61ar,
there shalt thou be set and appointed over that
choir of clergy that is here at H61ar. Thou
heldest up the wafer ; thereby shalt thou have the
highest authority and ministration in thy hand.
Also there was marked on it Alpha and Omega ;
which is, being interpreted, the beginning and the
end ; even as thou keptest school here and
stayedst here in the beginning of thy life, so shall
the days of thy life end here also, with thee set
and established in highest authority.'

'Peace, peace, my priest,' said Laurence,
1 for now I am so beset and come so low,
that my adversaries may well think that I shall
never become one high in honour : and so to
some other man must this dream belong.'

Then Laurence went west over Vatn Pass,
where Gudmund was consecrated abbot at
Thingeyri into the benefice of Hoskuld his
mother's brother. Laurence came there, and
asked to teach the friars or clergy. But Abbot
Gudmund durst not then receive him ; for it was
reported to have been said by Bishop Jorund that
he did not wish Laurence to be in the north
country in H61ar See. Thence he went to his
friend, Sir Haflidi Steinsson, at Breidab61stad
in Vestrh6p. Sir Haflidi went out to meet Sir

ch. 28-29.] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 55

Laurence and received him with open arms, and
had hangings put in his room, and seated him
next himself, and treated him as handsomely as a
bishop. Then Sir Haflidi's men asked why he
made so much of this fellow Laurence, considering
the deep disfavour he was in with Bishop Jorund.

Then answered Sir Haflidi, so loud that all heard,
'My sons, and many else, are to bear in mind
that this hook-nose who sits by me, Laurence, on
whom all men look down, shall be bishop at
H61ar.'

In many ways Sir Haflidi was a prophet.
Thence Laurence went south over the country.
Abbot Thorlak asked him east to Ver, to teach
there. He accepted, and was there
twelve months; keeping school and 1309-1310
teaching many clergy and brethren.
There he taught a poor scholar, whom Abbot
Thorlak was helping, called Run61f. Sir Haflidi
gave him a school nickname, saying that he was
to be called ■ Grandam ' ; and so thenceforth he
was. Afterwards he was to the fore and a good
scholar.

29. In that year it befell that Arni Helgason came with
much authority, given him by King Hakon, and church
timber withal, wherewith the church was to be built in
Skalholt. Then came out the Pope's bull about the
Jerusalem gift. Then was the slaying in battle of
Charlemagne, and Thorstein, and of Orm. Much small-
pox overran all Iceland, and many young men died.
Next year it befell that there was an ecclesiastical council
at Vienne in France.

That next year Laurence was at Ver in Thyk-

56 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 29.

kvabaer, and taught there : but then came news
south from H61ar that the Chapter were
1311 ill pleased at Laurence' welcome, and
thought it beseemed him to stay under
penance. Then Abbot Thorlak dared not keep
him. Then Hall Sigurdsson asked him to Dal
under Eyja Fell. Sigurd ' Seal-tar' his father
and Laurence had been good friends of old in
Eyja Firth. Then Laurence went to Hall in Dal ;
he stayed winter there, but in spring he was
minded to depart thence, for his and Hall's way
of life were not the same. Then Laurence was
sore concerned where he should betake himself.
And one morning in spring, as Laurence lay in
his bed he was pondering deeply, chiefly about
where he should settle or go for help. Then a
light slumber seemed to glide upon him, and a
man to come into the lodging where he lay, clad
as a clerk, and to come forward to the bed
wherein he lay, and to speak thus :

'Truly thou art sore straitened and in need;
but I give thee counsel, which if thou keepest,
there shall be a turn for the better in thy
fortunes. Read daily the Hours of the Holy
Spirit, and forget it not; and the compassion
of the Holy Spirit shall comfort thee, and
loose thy toil and trouble.'

And when this man had thus spoken, he went
away from him. Laurence had no chance of
asking aught, or who he was ; for swiftly it passed
by him, and swiftly he woke. He gave God
thanks for the vision, and began to keep the

ch. 29-30.] BISHOP OF HdLAR. 57

Hours, and kept ever after to these Hours till the
day of his death. A few nights after this came a
letter to Laurence from the northern quarter,
from Abbot Th6rir of Miinka-Thvera, asking
Laurence north to see him, to teach the brethren
and clergy there, for twelve months at first ; and
for this he had Bishop Jorund's leave. Then
Laurence managed to get north, and came to
Miinka-Thvera, as we said, and Abbot Th6rir
and the brethren took kindly to him, and there he
taught clergy and brethren.

30. In the summer the events were : — Lord
Christopher went abroad, also Lord Ivarr ' h61m\
Queen Euphemia died. Our Lord Pope's
missives came to Norway. That year died 1312
Lord Th6rd and Lord Lopt. The
winter after died the worshipful Lord Jorund,
bishop at H61ar, on St. Bridget's Day; he had
then been bishop forty-six years. He
set up two monasteries, at Modruvellir l^*'
and at Stad in Reynisnes. He had the
church at H61ar built up, and decked it with bells
and furniture, and enriched the foundation with
lands and goods, gold and refined silver, and
other fair treasures, which shall be seen till
Iceland is dwelt in no more. It is not to be
forgotten what happened when Laurence heard
that Bishop Jorund was dead and gone. He was
there in the monks' room at Thvera, when all
the bells were rung for a requiem. When a
message of the news came from H61ar, Laurence,
like the rest, started up hastily, and with the

58 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 30.

speed of his uprising he got the ailment which
never left him till his dying day ; it was an injury
in the small guts : this he himself testified unto a
man whom he trusted.17 Lord Bishop Jorund ere
he died, appointed to Sir Thorstein Illugason,
called ' Notchstone,' the officialty of the church of
H61ar. But Sir Kodran Hranason of Grenjadar-
stad claimed to be Bishop Jorund's coadjutor,
being appointed so by Archbishop Eilif. And
whereas Sir Kodran had more backing, and most
people were minded to speak and do according
to his will, he took all authority in spiritual things
in H61ar See. Laurence was at Miinka-Thvera
through the winter, and many prospered greatly
under his teaching. Next spring came Sir Kodran
to Munka-Thvera, where he was greeted like a
bishop. Next day Sir Kodran called unto him
many learned men, and showed them the letters
which the archbishop had given out to him,
making him coadjutor of Bishop Jorund when
he was declared incapable and worn with age.
But this declaration had been false, because as
far as capacity or infirmity went, Bishop Jorund,
old as he was if reckoned by years, was well able
to keep all his authority. And after the reading
out of the letter — Sir Kodran had it read out —
he reeled off a long speech, asking what people
thought; which of them had the right to be
Official, — Sir Thorstein, whom Bishop Jorund had
appointed, or he; he himself, he thought, was
the better man because of the letters the arch-
bishop had given him. Straightway all leapt up

ch. 30.] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 59

with one voice saying, that his was the greater
authority, because of what he had from the
archbishop ; while Sir Thorstein only had the
word of Bishop Jorund. Sir Laurence was in
there, sitting outermost of the priests.

Then said Sir Kodran, -'How thinkest thou,
Laurence ? Thou knowest well the Canon Law ;
tell us what the law seems to thee to say : which
of us two, Sir Thorstein or I, has the right to be
Official in the church of H61ar as things stand ? '

Sir Laurence answered, ' Sir Kodran, why ask
you such a thing ? Nay, go home to H61ar, and
let the Canon Law-books tell you ; for their plain
pronouncement is this : — to me the case is clear
that you, Sir Kodran, were appointed by the
archbishop to be coadjutor of Bishop Jorund,
since he was worn with age — wThile he lived ;
but when he departed from this world, there
in this world was an end of his authority; like-
wise, by the death of the bishop, your authority
is also dead and done with. But inasmuch as
he had his sound senses, when he appointed
to Sir Thorstein the officialty and authority
in spiritual things over H61ar bishopric, there-
fore my decision is, that that appointment has
a right to stand, which he made in his last
days.'

At this speech of Laurence Sir Kodran so
chafed and raged, that he said thus, openly,
1 Get thee out, foul forger ! Thou shalt not be
judge here ! '

'I can do this,' said Laurence, 'I can leave

60 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 30-31.

your presence ; but the way to adjudicate between
honourable priests, is the way I declare in this
case.'

Such also was the archbishop's decision, when
he heard that Sir Thorstein and not Sir Kodran
had the right to the officialty. Sir Laurence
might never come into Sir Kodran's sight while
he was at Munka-Thvera ; and so he asked
Abbot Thorir to let him depart thence. Then
Sir Laurence went west to Thingeyri, and
joyfully Lord Abbot Gudmund welcomed him.
He set up school there, and there taught
Abbot Gudmund and many others. There
was a deacon there, called Egil, son of Ejy61f
the goldsmith and Thorgerd daughter of Egil ;
on this man Laurence spent all his pains in
teaching him Latin; the man knew well how
to turn it into profit, and became a ripe scholar
and fine versifier. Many others Laurence taught,
of whom these got on best : Th6rd son of
speaker Gudmund; a poor lad named 6laf
Hjaltason; he taught him to be a good
scholar, and he was afterwards schoolmaster at
Holar. Sir Haflidi at Breidab61stad also put
under him his son, named Einar,17 then ten years
old. Sir Haflidi went thence to Holar, when
Bishop Audun came to Iceland, and stayed with
his daughter's son at H61ar while Audun was
bishop; for Sir Haflidi and Bishop Audun were
the fastest of friends.

31. Now to tell how in the next summer after
Lord Bishop Jorund departed, Sir Thorstein

ch.31.] BISHOP OF H6LAR. 6i

Illugason and Snjdlf Sumarlidason went abroad
with the news of Bishop Jorund's death. Then
Audun the Red was chosen bishop of H61ar ; he
was chief of the Chapter, and had long been
treasurer of king Hakon, and best beloved of all
the canons by the king. Many said that they
chose Audun bishop of H61ar in Iceland, because
they thought they would get no advancement from
the king while Audun was by, as he had the king's
ear most. He was consecrated bishop
on St. Catherine's Day. He had long N°^|5'
had the church in the north at Haloga-
land, called the Church at Thrandarnes. He was
a leading man, rich in substance. The yeoman
Clement was the husband of his daughter Olof.
She had before had for husband Thorstein a
yeoman, whose sons by her were Red Eystein
and Red Thorberg : and the son of the yeoman
Klemet and 6lof was called Vigleik.

In that year there was a wreck of the merchant-
ship Uxi [Ox], at Eyri. Then arose a fray
between the Eastmen and Gizur 'Flaw,' so that
they beat him. That was a hard winter, in which
Bishop Jorund departed : that winter was called
the ' horse-death ' winter. In the next year, when
Bishop Audun was consecrated, Pope Clement
died. Then the Emperor was betrayed on Easter-
day with this treason, that when he had taken the
Lord's body, poison was put into the chalice
whereof he drank, and thus he came by his death.
Then Sir Snj61f and Sir Thorstein came out in
the summer with the Pope's ordinance to pay him

62 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 31-32.

tithes of all Church property. They were also
appointed by Lord Bishop Audun officers over
all H61ar See, the lord bishop wintering in
Norway.

32. Next year, in the summer, came Bishop
Audun out to Iceland, landing at Seleyri. He

rode the sand north to H61ar, where all
1314 the chief priests were present. He was

received at the bishop's place with little
show. He was very stiff with riding, being an old
man. Sir Kodran and Sir Snj61f did nothing but
mock him; scant heed he paid to it. He had
beams brought north from Eyri, whereof he had a
timber hall built at H61ar. In autumn Bishop
Audun visited over the western district, and con-
secrated the church at Thingeyri. Laurence was
there at the time; Audun paid no heed to him
then, and so of course Laurence gave himself little
pains for him. Many plaints were lodged before
Bishop Audun, which were useless because he did
not know the ways of the country. And when
he came home from his visitation, he drove away
Skiili who was steward, and seized all his goods.
In the winter arose great quarrelling and discord
between Sir Kodran and Sir Snj61f on the one
side, and Lord Bishop Audun on the other.
They were both in league against him and ap-
pealed at first to the archbishop. Lord Bishop
Audun took Grenjadarstad from Sir Kodran.
Snj61f submitted to the bishop, and received the
living of Grenjadarstad.

As soon as the lord bishop came home from

ch. 32.] BISHOP OF HdLAR. 63

his visitation, he inquired where the relics of the
good Bishop Gudmund were like to be \ for they
had been so neglected before, that people knew
not where they were likely to be. Digging was
first done inside the choir, but they were not
found there — only some other relics in a coffin,
just as Bishop Jorund had had them done up
when he built the new church. Then the smith,
Kolli Helgason, was sent for : for long he would
not come, being somewhat out with the lord
bishop. Later, though, he came, being more
admonished to it by what was due to Bishop
Gudmund, than by the bidding of Bishop Audun.
Then said Kolli, that it was of no avail to look in
the choir ; he told them to break up the floor in
the nave. He marked the spot so clearly, that
the coffin was found where he said, and he opened
it. Therein were found the bishop's remains, and
all done up just as Bishop Jorund had told him.
A leg was to be seen broken, with a clean clout
wrapped round it; on the leg were huge knobs,
as was to be looked for according as is told in the
Life 18 of Gudmund, namely that he broke his leg
when lying off Strand, when he was a scholar with
Ingimund his kinsman. Then Bishop Audun
was called, and he was very glad thereat, and
had then a new coffin made, and the relics of
blessed Bishop Gudmund put in it. Afterwards
Lord Bishop Audun had it done up beautifully
with a grating, and had a great cross put before it
inside the church. Then straightway came a
great gathering to the church, and many prayers

64 LIFE OF LA URENCE [ch. 32.

were made over all Iceland, and there were many
goodly miracles. It was a great good chance for
Bishop Audun that he was the first bishop of
H61ar to take the relics of the blessed Bishop
Gudmund out of the ground ; by whose help his
renown and report have waxed ever since, beyond
all those bishops of H61ar that came after, even
until now. Then straightway, throughout the
days of Bishop Audun, there was a mighty holiday
on Gudmund's Day; the bishop himself sang
services and masses for his soul, and honoured
him in all things to the foremost of his power.
Lord Audun did this from the goodwill which
God breathed into his breast, and somewhat also
from the prompting of king Hakon when he
parted with him. But before Bishop Audun
came there was no remembrance kept of him,
save that a mass was said for his soul, even as for
the rest of the bishops of H61ar : but there was
no holiday, for men knew not where were his
relics and his resting-place.

Till Bishop Audun came there was no observ-
ance of the day of translation of holy Bishop
John of H61ar : hours only were chanted, but it
was not kept holiday. Lord Bishop Audun stopped
this, so that there were orders over all H61ar See
to keep it sacred by law, and to chant twice inside
the church. By things like this it could be seen
what a mighty ruler Bishop Audun was. He had
brought to Iceland with him a stone-mason, and
south of the church in Rafta Slope he found a
red rock, and this he had broken up, brought

ch.32.] BISHOP OF HOLAK. 65

home and hewn, and had a stone oven made in
the wooden hall (as is done in Norway) to carry
out the smoke while he was sitting himself within.
Also he had the high altar built of stone, and a
hollow therein with an iron door before it, so that
the treasures of the church could be in ward there,
safe from fire and everything : likewise he had
made all the steps which are to be seen in the
church, and the pillars in the choir; and had
the ceiling painted, and the ceiling put over the
high altar, where coffins and other rubbish had
been hitherto. Also he contributed good furniture
and a fine cope called Skarmande. He had the
bishop's lodging done up in a fashion seldom seen
in so poor a country, and a pretty penny this re-
pairing cost the church. Notable above all was
his great hospitality : for though his adversaries
were contending with him, and his servants an-
nounced it was time to go to table, thus he spoke
to his foes : ' Go to table and to God's gifts ;
be not wroth with the meat, though ye be wroth
with me.' Thus he often prevailed over his
adversaries, so that after the merry and good cheer
which he dealt them, they yielded everything into
his power. All his service he went through in
goodly style. He had a voice so beautiful, loud,
and clear, that every one was ravished to hear his
chanting. He was a mighty man in prayer, for
he sang a third of the Psalms of Our Lady which
holy Archbishop Anselm had writ in Latin. He
kept a water-fast before all the days of the apostles
and St. Mary's Days, and before many bishops'

66 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 32-33.

days. He kept all the Hours through Lent and
Advent; but not daily, save on the highest of
high-days.

33. On St. Gregory's Day, the priests of most

note in H61ar See assembled to H61ar.
MarIt?I62' The bishop had the mass stopped when

it had got as far as the Gospel ; for the
bishop accounted Kodran excommunicated. This
was accounted his offence, that he had let the
brethren in Modruvellir have authority in temporal
things; the bishop thought that they had
squandered a deal of money since the death of
Bishop Jorund, and he wanted Kodran to pay it
back to the church of H61ar. Next, Kodran had
taken on him to do the duty of the Official ; the
third offence he accounted to be his conspiracy
against himself. At this time all the priests were
leagued in opposition to him, except Sir Haflidi of
Breidab(51stad ; the bishop gave him good gifts, and
he parted on ill terms with Kodran. The good-
will which Bishop Audun showed to the foremost
priests met with ill requital ; for he gave dispen-
sations to their sons, having authority thereto
from the Pope. He gave dispensation among the
following : — Einar Haflidason, Paul Thorsteins-
son, Thorstein Hallsson, Thorm6d Thorkelsson.
These were the foremost men in H61ar See for
scholarship and success. He also gave it to
John Kodransson, who was a leading man and
priest of note, because of his shrewdness and
substance.

In that year John the Twenty-second was made

ch. 33-] BISHOP OF HOLAK. 67

Pope. Bishop Ami went to Greenland. Then
died Ingjald bishop of Hamar. In the year
after that in which Bishop Audun came
to Iceland much happened. At Modru- 1315
vellir, in the Horg Valley, the convent
and church with all the bells and church furniture
were burnt. The convent in Nidarholm was also
burnt. Then Lord Bishop Audun also took the
abbey away from Abbot Th6rir, at Munka-Thvera.
Then also arose a disagreement between Bishop
Audun and Gudmund abbot at Thingeyri. The
beginning thereof was, that Eyjolf, a yeoman in
Forsaela-dale, told Bishop Audun that the alms
which Karl the rich had given, being worth seven
hundred and twenty ells of wool, which ought to
be at Breidab61stad, in Vestrh6p, and which he
had given for distribution among the paupers to
whom the alms were due, had been taken off
by Thorstein Hjalmsson, when he went from
Breidabolstad to Thingeyri ; and that these seven
hundred and twenty ells had never come back to
Breidab61stad. Lord JBishop Audun bade Sir
Haflidi claim back these alms for the church at
Breidab61stad. Sir Haflidi was loath unto this, for
he was prebendary at Thingeyri and loved the
church there well ; still he did the bishop's bidding.
And upon witness and inquiry made, the bishop
decided that the property which Karl the rich had
given at the first should be restored. Secondly,
Abbot Gudmund and the brethren laid a complaint
against the church of H61ar about the bishop's
tithes :. namely, that John, first bishop of H61ar,

68 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 33.

had given all the bishop's tithes, west of Vatn-
dale river, to Thingeyri Convent when he founded
it, to help it. For this reason Abbot Gudmund
appealed to the archbishop. Sir Laurence com-
posed this appeal in Latin, and sided with the
abbot in all his doings.

This same year at the beginning of Lent,
Laurence and his son Ami took monk's vows ;

Ami had come to his father two years
1317 since, and Laurence had him taught.

In Lent Laurence was consecrated monk,
as well as Ami his son, by Abbot Gudmund.
Then also Berg Sokkason joined the brother-
hood. Laurence had known him of old at Miinka-
Thvera, when he set himself to learn of Laurence :
he was the most accomplished scholar, a splendid
chanter, and a great orator ; so that he composed
many histories of the saints very eloquently in
Northern speech. Brother Berg and Laurence
loved one another with the love of their hearts ;
for all whom he saw were willing to learn good,
and use their learning for good, Laurence loved.

Brother Laurence observed well the rules of
St. Benedict, under whom he had vowed him-
self, so as to be an ensample for many. He was
not much for gadding abroad, for he never left his
cloister unless he was bidden by his superior, or
for strong urgency. The times of silence he kept
carefully : then, just as in the night when it was
1 utmost silence,' he never said a word, either in
Latin or Northern speech ; and between these times
he spoke mostly Latin, as in church and congrega-

ch. 33-34.] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 69

tion. Lowly and obedient he was to his superior j
he would never sit down anywhere but in the con-
gregation j though the abbot asked him, he would
excuse himself, and beg that the other monks
should sit. His sole business was to read, teach,
and study books. He bestowed all pains, teaching
Arni Latin and handwriting j the lad became a
most accomplished scholar, and wrote very finely,
and was a versifier. It could be truly said that a
convent that was made up of such monks as were
then at Thingeyri, was a fine one.

34. Egil Eyjulfsson, deacon, was in this year
named above consecrated priest by Bishop Audun,
and then he was first appointed schoolmaster at
H61ar. Their parting seemed a mighty matter to
Laurence, for he had formed the lovingest regard
for him. In the summer Gudmund, abbot at
Thingeyri, went abroad, and stayed abroad two
years. The archbishop did nothing about his suit
with Bishop Audun, not wishing to do aught till
Audun came to answer for himself. In autumn
Bishop Audun visited over the Western district.
And as he rode from Breidab61stad to Thingeyri,
the brethren barred the convent in the face of
Bishop Audun, and made no procession to meet
him. Meat was prepared for his people, and also
for himself, but no ale. Sir Haflidi had his own
ale brought out, and Audun and his people drank
this. Brother Bjorn Thorsteinsson was prior over
the convent and establishment. Many yeomen
had come down over Vatn-dale to defend the
convent from the bishop, if he thought of assaulting

70 LIFE OF LA URENCE [ch. 34.

it ; but little liking showed he or any of his men
for doing so.

Next year it came to pass that King Hakon Mag-
nusson, king of Norway, died. In Sweden also it befell
1319 that King Birgir starved in prison his two brothers,
Duke Eir/k the long and Valdimar : the wife of Eirfk
was Ingibjorg, the daughter of King Hakon ; she was
aftn wards Culed the duchess. In the same year died
Sir Haflidi of Breidabdlstad, a man of mark, sometime
chaplain of King Eirek, and afterwards for long steward
at H61ar and Thingeyri. Then died Sir Kodran
Ranason in Norway.

Sir Egil had leave of Lord Bishop Audun, and
had thought to go to Norway in the ship that
was at Seleyri, in which same ship Sir Grfm
( )\\ igsson was to have gone with business of Lord
Hishop Audun ; but that ship was weather-beaten
back. Sir Egil was now still at H61ar, and the
bishop took him utterly into his love. Then
in the summer came a writ summoning out both
bishops of Iceland, both lawmen, Lord Ketil
Thorkelsson, six officers of the king, and six of the
chief yeomen. Lord Grfm Thorstein took the
jurisdiction, and Erlend the yeoman from Upsir
in Svarfadar-dale had the jurisdiction over the

Northern quarter. Then was destroyed
Dec. 23 the church in Skalholt in winter, just

before Thorlak's Day. Magmis Eireks-
son, son of King Hakon's daughter, was chosen
king over Norway, Sweden, and Gotland. Lord
Erlend Vidkunnsson was Regent over all the
kingdom of Norway, Lord Archbishop Eilff and
all the mightiest lords in Norway consenting, King

ch. 34-35-] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 71

Magmis being three years old. Next summer
Lord Bishop Audun made ready to journey abroad
from Gaseyri, was driven back, and landed at
Hdsavfk, Sir Egil being then still with him. He
stayed the winter at home at H61ar.

35. In autumn Sir Egil was mediator to re-
concile Bishop Audun and brother Laurence,
putting it clearly before the bishop that a man like
Laurence was a tower of strength to him. Bishop
Audun sent Sir Egil west to Thingeyri, and brother
Laurence rode to H61ar with him ; and they met,
and the bishop received him worthily, granting
him his friendship; whereunto brother Laurence
granted his obedience in return ; and was to teach
the son of the lord bishop's daughter, named
Eystein. This youth went with brother Laurence,
who taught him ; and he afterwards became a
man of mark, and for a long time had St. Mary's
Church in Throndhjem, and was called Eystein
the ' Red.' Through the winter and spring there
was disquiet in H61ar See; for, because of the
slanders of wicked men, it was said against Bishop
Audun that the tithe would have to be paid by
property assessed at a hundred and twenty ells 19
and upwards. The vagabonds would not brook
this, and banded together over Skaga Firth, and
d a gang. They laid wait for the bishop in
H6fdah61ar, and there was a danger that they
might have taken him and laid hands upon him,
if Ram J6nsson from Glaumbaer and many priests
had not yielded the promise that thenceforth the
tithes should be imposed and arranged as of old,

72 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 35.

and that the paupers should not receive a share
from property worth less than six hundred ells.

In the winter people fared very hard ; far and
wide was the deep-sea ice, and the weather was
very bitter. In the spring Lord Bishop Audun
set his face against the vow that had been made
on Easter-day to the sainted John bishop of
Holar, namely, that every yeoman in Skaga
Firth between the lava-fields who was liable to
dues, should give a clipped sheepskin, where-
with to buy a graven image, to be made for the
sainted John bishop of Holar; this the yeoman
Ram J6nsson had to prevent being done. The
weather took a turn for the better in this way : —
On Easter-day, before high mass, when the shrine
was brought out, the north wind straightway
dropped dead ; and after high mass it arose from
the south, and in evening, at evensong a thaw
came and kept up till the ice and snow were all
gone. And through the spring there was good
grass, and the sea-ice drifted away. Also there
was contention between Bishop Audun and Sir
Snj61f, from whom he took Grenjadarstad, the
charge being that he would not take the clerk
whom the bishop ordained to that place. The
bishop exacted an oath that seven clerks should
be bound to be kept at Grenjadarstad. Many
other charges the bishop had against Snjdlf ; the
end was that the bishop laid on him the utter-
most ban, depriving him of all communion with
Christian men. Snjolf heeded this not a whit, but
went to Norway.

ch. 35-36.] BISHOP OF H6LAR. 73

Ami, bishop of Skalholt, had sailed in the
summer before to Norway, and died in Norway in
the winter. Orm Thorsteinsson was
bishop-elect of Skalholt. In the spring 1320
just spoken of, the ship Shdk [Chess]
touched East Firth and broke on the ice. Abbot
Th6rd and Berg J6nsson were on board, and all
hands reached land sorely distressed. The aforesaid
Berg was on his way with letters to Bishop Audun.
Straightway the bishop made Berg start off and
sent him south to Eyri to take ship there, and this
was done. In summer, at the moot, the laymen
from the Northern quarter leagued in the resolve
to suffer no innovation at the hand of Bishop
Audun. After the moot Lord Grim and many
men of mark rode to H61ar and parleyed with
Bishop Audun ; the bishop was not softened at
their words, and they against whom he had plaints
before submitted unto him j and thus they parted.

36. In summer Bishop Audun made ready and
departed from H61ar with his company, and Sir
Egil went with him. Sir Thorstein Illugason he
left for his Official. In the same ship was also
Orm, bishop-elect of Skalholt. They put to sea,
and had a fair voyage, and reached Norway. Lord
Bishop Audun went north to Throndhjem, and
there met Archbishop Eih'f, who received him
kindly; there he wintered. Now it is to be re-
corded that Lord Ketil Thorlaksson came to Ice-
land with writs from the king. The land was then
sworn in to King Magnus. Then came to
Norway Lord Gudmund, abbot from Thingeyri,

74 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 36.

and Sir John K6dransson, who was at H61ar
through the winter and kept school there.

Lord Bishop Audun abode in Throndhjem and
feasted deep at Yule ; not till far past Yule was it
over. At his banquet also the archbishop stayed
some days ; but the canons continually. Early in
Yule Lord Audun took gout ; first it came on the
leg at the knee, and then the pain struck up into
the body. Leeches were called, all counsel sought,
and it grew worse and worse. So stout a fellow
was he, that he sat up with his mates, making
them as merry as though he had not a pang. And
when he saw how it would be with him, he called
the archbishop and all the chief men, bidding
them to his banquet still. And, after the pledg-
ing of Mary,20 he spoke nobly, and thanked God
and Mary his sweet mother for all the rich estate
and fair fortune which God had given to him, so
unworthy of this world ; begging all men nigh him
there to forgive him and pray God for him, and
saying out that within a few days he would go
forth from the world. First he gave to the arch-
bishop, to the canons, and to all the foremost men
who had gathered there to banquet, the goodliest
gifts; entreating them also, that three nights
thence, however it went with his life, they should
hold like feast and revel. Then all took leave of
him, and he went away leaning on somebody.
Then he took to his bed and made all his disposi-
tions, choosing to rest in St. Mary's Church there
in the town, seeing that he might not lie in that
Mary's Church where he was bishop, at H61ar

ch. 36.] BISHOP OF H6LAR. 75

in Iceland. And after he was anointed, the arch-
bishop came to him and asked him who in Ice-
land was fitted best to be bishop at H61ar, when
he was gone.

Then Bishop Audun answered, ' In H61ar See
there are many fine clergy ; but before God I will
answer for this, that no man seems to us better
fitted to be bishop than brother Laurence at
Thingeyri. This can we make good for many
reasons. And first, because he has given himself to
God, and served well and devoutly under the holy
rule of St. Benedict ; this was told us for truth
when we were in Iceland. Further, he is the best
scholar, and well skilled in Canon Law. Also he
is bold and trusty in all business that concerns
law-suits ; and he would never let the rights which
belong to Holy Church be wrested from her hand ;
for the men of North Iceland need this — to have
a bishop over them who is both a great scholar
and a firm enough hand to chastise all the
perverseness and disobedience in that place.'

'Thou knewest,' the archbishop said, 'how he
withstood us both, when he was with Archbishop
Jorund, and read the writ of ban upon us twain.'

Lord Audun replied, ' Doth not the need of
Holy Church that men like this should be chosen
to be governors and bishops, count to thee for
more than certain offences done against us ? this
also is most right and becoming before God, that
if in this and that we have transgressed against
him, we should hereby redress it. Laurence is not
guilty for doing his master's bidding.'

76 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 36-37.

So heartily did Audun speak about this matter,

that he wept ; and all that were there praised his

speaking. And when Bishop Audun had

I3221' received all God's sacrament, he died, on
the second day of St. Agnes, with great
glory and high report ; and his resting-place is in St.
Mary's Church in Throndhjem. His departure was
observed with the utmost honour and worship.
His heirs increased the banquet which he had kept
up in his lifetime, and bade guests afresh, and turned
it into a funeral feast. It has been the common
speech of men, that no man of all the Norse
bishops was ever such a prince in Iceland in all
manner of magnificence, as Bishop Audun.

37. Now to tell how after a little while had gone
by, the Archbishop summoned the Chapter, and
dealt with them about the choice of a bishop to
the church of H61ar. Archbishop Eilif would have
nothing but the choice of brother Laurence for
bishop Holar, even as Bishop Audun had pointed
out. By God's will it was so decided, that Arch-
bishop Eilif chose and elected brother Laurence
bishop at H61ar, all the canons consenting. This
election was published in the chancel, Christ
Church, in Nidar6s, a Te Deum being first
chanted, and bells rung.

Before this it befell that Orm Thorsteinsson,
bishop-elect to Skalholt, died ere he was conse-
crated. Then Orm Steinsson was chosen bishop
in Skalholt, and was loath to be ; and so he made
his pilgrimage to the threshold of the apostles
Peter and Paul, and died soon after. After this

ch. 37.] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 77

'Skiff' Grim was chosen, who before that was
abbot at H61m in Nidar6s. He was consecrated
bishop in Skalholt, and was bishop three months,
and spent thirty-six thousand ells value, the pro-
perty of the church in Skalholt ; he died in Hogn,
when the traders were lying by for a wind. After
that Bishop John Halld6rsson was chosen and
consecrated to Skalholt ; he was of the Dominican
Order, a great scholar, and noble preacher j he had
been long abroad studying in Bologna and at Paris
in France. While this was passing in Norway,
people in Iceland were unaware of how things had
gone there. At the moot, a ship, driven back,
came to Eyri. Among people of note therein was
the Lady Malfrid. Only then did it get abroad
that bishops were chosen for Iceland ; Bishop John
to Skalholt, and brother Laurence to H61ar.
People could not think who this Laurence could
be, not believing at first that brother Laurence
from Thingeyri could be elected.

Now it must be told how this summer, a little
after the moot, it came to pass, that Abbot Gud-
mund from Thingeyri was asked by the
Lady Gudrun, daughter of Thorstein, 1322
then dwelling at Holtastad in Langdale,
to a friendly feast ; and with Abbot Gudmund
went the two brethren, brother Bjorn and brother
Laurence. And when he and they were riding
home, and had passed over Blanda, a man named
Thorvard, and nicknamed ' Bishop,' met them ;
he told them of the arrival of Bishop Audun's ship,
and of his death. Abbot Gudmund asked what

78 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 37.

people said about who was chosen bishop to H61ar.
Thorvard said that he was called Laurence. Now
they had not yet heard of the ship's arrival or the
news. And when the man had left them, brother
Bjorn said to Laurence, ' Brother Laurence, wilt
not thou be the bishop-elect ? '

He answered, 'Flout me not; it seems to me
likelier that the canons in Norway have so
plucked me down from my degree, as'many know,
that I have not the least hope of their ordaining
authority unto me.'

And when they came home to Thingeyri, within
two days after that, a letter came from the Lady
Malfrfd to brother Laurence, saying that she had
been there in Christ Church in Norway, that he
was elected bishop at H61ar, and that this had
been published in the chancel. He could not
now hide from himself the truth of the stories that
tallied. He was deeply moved about this matter,
thanking God and his sweet mother Mary for all
the gifts vouchsafed unto him. He kept his seat
in the choir and cloister. In summer on

Aug. 3 the latter St. 6laf s Day, Sir Egil
Eyjdlfsson came with the archbishop's
decree; he had entered the country a few days
before on the ship that put in at Gaseyri. The
decree was in this wise, there were two letters
with hanging seals, and this was their tenor : one
said that the archbishop remitted to him all the
offences which he had done against the church of
Nidar6s, the Archbishop and the Chapter ; giving
this reason, to which the Canon Law testifies, that

ch. 37-38-1 BISHOP OF HdLAR. 79

the entering of a cloister is like any other baptism,
and so all that a man has done against God's laws
is remitted to him as soon as he goes under the
holy order. The sense of the other letter was,
that the archbishop, with the counsel and enact-
ment of all the canons, elected brother Laurence
bishop at H61ar, with all the state and glory which
befits the rank and honour of a bishop ; confirming
his authority, that he might receive his consecra-
tion with all speed.

38. When this decree had been made and de-
livered, he and all with him thanked God for this gift
and authority that was vouchsafed him ; of this any
man soever may be sure, that what elected this man
Laurence was rather Divine mercy and the guidance
of the Holy Spirit, than show, riches, or bribery; see-
ing that they who before were his chief adversaries
chose him to this station; so that this was the
breath of the Holy Spirit in their breasts, without
aid of any of Laurence' friends or kin. This over,
the lord bishop-elect wrote to Lord Ketil, who
was then governor in Iceland, and he came to
Thingeyri, and north to Sir Thorstein the Official.
They all rode together, and the lord bishop-elect
with them to H61ar ; where a feast was
prepared for them. On St. Laurence' A^*°'
Day the decree of the archbishop about
the election of Laurence was announced from the
choir by Lord Ketil Thorlaksson. Then the Te
Deum was sung with the ringing of bells, and Lord
Ketil and Sir Thorstein the Official led the lord
bishop-elect to his seat. The lord bishop-elect

80 LIFE OF LA URENCE [ch. 38.

and Lord Ketil parted in the friendliest fashion.
The lord bishop-elect had an inspection of the
goods of the church at H61ar, and for all manner
of reasons it was very bare at his coming. God
had shown before this in the spring that the
coming of Laurence pleased him. For there was
a whale drifted up on that estate of the church at
H61ar which is called Ness ; this whale was both
fine and large, fully thirty-eight thousand four
hundred pounds weight, so that people could not
have had a better jetsam come just then upon the
place. The lord bishop-elect took Skiili Ingason
the priest back for steward at H61ar ; he had had
it a long while in the days of Bishop Jorund, and
was thought a good overseer : Sir Haflidi, when he
was himself steward, trained him first. Solvi he
made bailiff, and Gudrun, daughter of Skegg, his
wife, he made stewardess. These two were the
most experienced wardens, and they stayed as long
as he was bishop. Over all the storehouses of the
church he appointed those of ripe counsel, and
declared before all men that he would have all the
rules kept just as Bishop Jorund had them. The
lord bishop-elect said he would not meddle with
daily business, save with his cellar and wardrobe,
and the governing of the clergy ; and every gift of
wadmal that came he made over to the
Aug. 15 poor. On the first St. Mary's Day he
preached, and gave handsomely to the
stout fellows who had come to the monastery ; then
straightway the church and monastery seemed to
rejoice at the coming of such a ruler. After St.

ch. 38.] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 81

Mary's Day he rode north to Modruvellir. There
were no brethren there, though Bishop Audun had
made provision for priests there ; brother Thorgeir
in Logmanns Slope was a sort of vicar, and brother
Th6rd at Vidivellir in Skaga Firth, but brother
Thorbjorn and brother Brand had gone home to
H61ar and died there. H61ar Church, ever since
the monastery was burnt, took all the rent from
the foundation, and all the goods that belonged
thereto ; two priests were there with a steward, and
two deacons. In such a matter it could be seen
how hard a task Lord Laurence had when he
came into power; for he saw clearly that it
thwarted God's laws for religious men to be out
in the world like other secular priests; yet
the lord bishop was loath to do aught to it
till he met the archbishop. Thence he went to
Munka-Thvera, where there was lack of a head,
Abbot Th6rir being, as we said, deposed from
his abbotship and away in Norway. The lord
bishop-elect appointed Berg Sokkason from Thin-
geyri as a head of the Thvera monastery, in tem-
poral as in spiritual matters ; and forthwith, then
and there, brother Berg amended their ways unto
goodness. Thence the lord bishop-elect went
north to Grenjadarstad ; here Sir John Kodransson
held the living which had been appointed unto
him by Sir Thorstein the Official. To him also
the bishop-elect gave full powers until he should
return from Norway. Then the lord bishop-elect
rode home to H61ar and wintered there. He
made 6laf Hjaltason, who was deacon there,

F

82 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 38.

schoolmaster at home in the seat, and found for
it scholars who came daily to school. Then
straight he fell to taking count of men's ways of
life in his See, clergy and laymen alike, admonish-
ing them daily to quit the path of sin ; and before
he was bishop he had no bigger business than
this. The church at Hvamm, in Vata-dale, owned
two shares in the home-estate, the yeoman Finn-
bjorn Sigurdarson owning the third. The church
seemed to the bishop-elect to be in a sorry way,
for the yeoman Finnbjorn was managing both
the church's share and his own. The lord bishop-
elect found fault therewith, and desired to appoint
some priest over the church's share, while Finn-
bjorn should manage his own. But Finnbjorn was
loath. It came to this, that the lord bishop-elect
dealt him an admonition to let it go, saying that,
if he did not, he would proceed against him. Or
else he offered to buy his share of him for its full
worth. The end was, that by good men's counsel,
yeoman Finnbjorn sold his share in the estate for
seven thousand two hundred ells of stuff, the
lord bishop-elect wishing the church thus to have
the estate free in its hands. He appointed over
it his son, Egil Grimstiinga, and helped him to
move his household thither; and to the Lady
Gudnin and the Lady Thurid he lent Hvamm
until his return from Norway. Early in spring

the lord bishop-elect visited over the
13233' Western district, and was at Breidab61-

stad, in Vestrh<5p, with Sir Thorstein
1 Shardstone ' on the day of John bishop of Holar.

ch. 38-39.] BISHOP OF HdLAR. 83

The winter and spring were then so hard that
sheep were lost ; still, on the day of John bishop
of H61ar, matters mended.

39. Lord Gudmund, abbot at Thingeyri, and
the brethren spoke to the lord bishop-elect about
the bishop's tithe. He answered that he was not
fully enough appointed to deal with it till he was
consecrated bishop, and he invited the taking of
umpires, by them on their own behalf, by himself
on behalf of the church at H61ar ; and so it was
settled between them. For the side of H61ar
church he chose Sir John Kodransson, while the
abbot and brethren chose Lang-Orm, provost at
West Firth, and holding the living of Holt in
Onund Firth. Both sides were to accept these
men's award until the archbishop gave his own.
They were over this arbitration while the bishop-
elect was at Thingeyri, and their award was that
the foundation and convent of Thingeyri should
keep Hjalta Bank, which Bishop Jorund had as-
signed to Thingeyri long ago ; but Bishop Audun
had taken it from them and given it to the
priest Sir J6ngeir, who abode there some years.
This the abbot and friars thought a pitiful recom-
pence for the tithe ; but so it had to rest until the
archbishop should make an end of the matter;
and with this they parted.

In the summer the bishop-elect took ship in the
Krafs [? Scratch'] with Clement Atlason, yeoman,
and the people he had with him. These men went
with him, Sir Egil Eyj61fsson, Sir Stephen, Athal-
brand Magniisson, Deacon Eirek the Red, and

84 LIFE OF LA URENCE [ch. 39-40.

ship's crew. In the summer, till he embarked, the
bishop-elect stayed at Modruvellir. A day or two
before they put out, three ships came to Gaseyri,
each a dinner's length after other, and all from
Norway. Hallkel, yeoman at Ungland's-Bowl, was
in one ; Sigvaldi in the second, called the Elftri,
and on the third ship, called the Glbd \Embers\t
was Sir Snj61f. The two first ships lay off Gaseyri
in harbour to begin with; they had good wares
for the north country. Sir Snj61f and the bishop-
elect met, and Snj61f would make him no rever-
ence. Awhile they talked, somewhat stiffly. At
last the bishop-elect asked, 'Wilt thou give me
the parting-kiss ? '

Snj61f answered, ' Laurence, kiss thee I will not ;
for, maybe, as time passes, thou wouldst call it a
Judas-kiss.'

So they parted joylessly.

40. Now to tell how yeoman Clement and the

lord bishop-elect put forth from Gaseyri: this

was on the feast-day of Abbot Bertin;

Sep. 5. they had a good wind north off Lang-
ness, and also eastwards over sea; a
strong good breeze and keen weather. They were
out only a little time and touched Halogaland,
in the north, opposite Brunney. Where they were
going was an inshore reef, but they saw where
they had got to and launched a boat. But the
trader dashed up on the skerry quicker than they
thought ; the ship split from under, and straight-
way the keel was down, and all the freight sank.
The lord bishop-elect, all the women, and all

ch.4o.] BISHOP OF HdLAR. 85

the less fighting folk went into the boat; some
got to land with spars, Sir Egil with the mast-tree.
All the people reached land, save that one woman
died on the spot, named Th6rdfs, and known as
1 Blossom-cheek.' The whole fund of money mostly
perished instantly on the spot; yet a good deal
was saved, for they dragged up the rolls and bales
of wadmal and the casks of train-oil ; and of dried
fish there was none on board. The lord bishop-
elect reached land first, yet, as might be supposed,
distressfully. He was no long time there before
a freight-ship was got and hired for him to go
south to Throndhjem. On board with him were
Sir Egil and Laurence' son, brother Ami, and
some of his servants, with deacon Athalbrand ; Sir
Stephen, however, whom he appointed to stay
behind by the wreck, and have all the goods
dragged up that could be found, wintered there
with a few servants of the church at H61ar. The
lord bishop-elect came with his train to Thrond-
hjem, and Lord Archbishop Eilif was there in
the town. Laurence went up to the bishop's
house, and with leave he entered, and fell down
before the archbishop, craving forgiveness for his
transgressions against him. Forthwith up got the
archbishop's self, and lifted Laurence, bidding
him welcome. 'All that is remitted already,'
said the archbishop, ' as may be seen in the letter
I sent to you. Also, if in any matter we have
dealt amiss with you, we pray you forgive it us.'
1 That,' said Laurence, ■ was only right.' The arch-
bishop bade him tell him how he had fared since

86 LIFE OF LA URENCE [ch. 40.

he left Iceland. The lord bishop-elect told him
how all had befallen, shipwreck and all ; also how
he and his men had come without stores. This
vexed the archbishop, but he invited him at his
own charges, as well as his men, to eat with
him in his archbishop's house. Gladly the lord
bishop-elect accepted this ; as it seemed best to
close with the archbishop in the matter. Sir Ami,
known as { Wader,' was then steward at the Arch-
bishop Eilff's house, being his sister's son. He
was archbishop afterwards next to Archbishop
Paul, and the bishop-elect's dearest friend. As
we said, it came to pass that Laurence sat at table
with the archbishop the winter through. Sir Egil
sat on a steward's chair, and the others on the
proper seats. The bishop-elect chose Stephen
Hauksson for his cupbearer and servant, because he
was an Icelander. Stephen was the greatest master
in many crafts — goldsmith's work, carving, and
draughtsmanship, and Laurence made him beautify
the bowl of John bishop of H61ar, which John got
at Rome. This bowl had lain neglected at H61ar
until then, but Laurence had it beautified, and
himself wrote the Latin verses thereon now graven.
There were many matters which the lord bishop-
elect had before noted about all the knotty points
that had come up in H61ar See : he asked what
the archbishop thought was the law upon these,
for in all things he was fain to observe the law.
There, with the archbishop, Laurence wintered,
and the archbishop in all things did lovingly by
him and his people. In the autumn of the summer

ch.40-41.] BISHOP OF H6LAR. 87

in which Laurence sailed, there came to Skalholt

in Iceland Lord Bishop John Halld6rs-

son. He performed the consecrations 1323-4

of both Sees : then were consecrated Sir

Paul Thorsteinsson and Sir Olaf Hjaltason with

many more consecrated priests from H61ar diocese.

41. Now must be told how Lord Archbishop
Eilif summoned the bishops to him —
Lord Audfin, bishop of Bergen and 1324
Lord William, bishop of the Orkneys.
These came to Throndhjem on John the
Baptist's Day. Lord Archbishop Eilif
consecrated Laurence bishop with all the june^
pomp and honour which Holy Church
keeps and observes in such cases ; with the
usual forms of law, the aforesaid bishops standing
by. A little before this, in the spring, Sir
Stephen had come south from Halogaland to
Throndhjem on a trader with the goods of the
church of H61ar. Very soon after the consecra-
tion of Laurence to be bishop, brother Ingimund
Skiituson laid a complaint against the church of
Holar and Bishop Laurence, because provisions
had all gone at Modruvellir and all the brethren
were driven away, while the church and bishop of
H61ar had laid hands on all the rents of the
church of Modruvellir. Ingimund was then a
brother at Elgisetr of the Order of St. Austin.

To this complaint Laurence thus answered,
* All good people know that the monastery at
Modruvellir had gone to pieces when I was
bishop-elect; inasmuch as Bishop Audun had

88 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 41-42.

charged the brethren, that, all because of their
foolish handling of the light which they had gone
tipsily about with on the night they came from
Gaseyri, the fire had struck up into the tapestries
in the chancel, and some of it down into the chest
of vestments ; which last they opened, because
there, as it seemed, the fire was most furious.
Bishop Audun said he was not bound to have
their monastery mended, since this damage had
come from their own recklessness.'

The archbishop answered, ' You know well it is
Canon Law, that any convent originally founded,
is to stand, if there be no let or hindrance, for
ever and ever. Further, if the rents and revenues
of the church and monastery have been settled
upon the H61ar church, who else shall be bound
to keep up the cloister, or have it built, if not the
bishop of H61ar? But let those brethren who
have been clearly proved guilty of what you said,
be thrust into the strictest monasteries. Also
we will appoint judges-delegate out in Iceland,
to give out our judgment about the said case.'

Lord Laurence said this pleased him well ; nor
was any more done about this case at the time.

42. Also Lord Abbot Gudmund had now
written out to the archbishop about the tithe
case. Brother Ami read out the whole process
and evidence of Thingeyri monastery before the
Archbishop and Chapter. The archbishop said
he would fain also hear Bishop Laurence' answer.
'For,' he said, 'we were told, that when you
were yourself in the monastery, it seemed to you

ch.42.] BISHOP OF HdLAR. 89

law that the church of Thingeyri had a right to
the bishop's tithes ; that is, according to what
your son the young brother has told us.'

Laurence answered, 'Thy news, my Lord, is
true, namely that when I was in the monastery at
Thingeyri I pleaded as best I could that the
monastery had a right to the tithes, according to
the gift of St. John, first bishop of H61ar, who
founded the Thingeyri monastery. But though
he was a good man, he could not give them for
longer than his own life, or tie the hands of
future bishops of H61ar.'

Brother Ami, his son, answered, 'What you
said when you were at Thingeyri was, that there
was a right to keep them, now that the two
bishops after John had agreed with him and
upheld the gift unalterably. Now, those two
bishops after him upheld this; so that one can
count up seven bishops after him throughout
whose days the tithes remained with the Thingeyri
monastery, right on until Bishop Jorund con-
fiscated them in the days of Abbot Vermund.'

'Thanks, young brother,' said the archbishop,
' thou standest by thy own cloister. We beg you,
Lord Laurence, and likewise enjoin you, to give
the convent good terms, and suffer us a right to
see to it.'

Bishop Laurence said, 'Will you confirm
whatever agreement I and Abbot Gudmund,
with the friars, make together ? '

The archbishop said he would do that gladly.
No more was done about the business.

90 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 43-44.

43. It also happened now that Sir Egil asked
and got Grenjadar living from the archbishop,
thinking that it was really under his authority,
though it had been lost by the carelessness of
Bishop Audun. Bishop Laurence recompensed
the archbishop in a way that pleased him well,
for the entertainment of himself and his people.
And when Lord Laurence was ready to go, he
took leave of the archbishop cheerily. The arch-
bishop gave goodly gifts to Lord Laurence, and
they parted with true loving-kindness. Lord
Laurence went south to Bergen and took passage
in the ship Yeoman Bassi. They put to sea, had
fair voyage, and came in at Eyri on the selfsame

day that Laurence had put out from
Si?24 ' Gaseyri — Bertin's Day. Horses had been

got for him ; and Lord Bishop Laurence
rode north to H61ar, and all the folk at the seat
rejoiced in him. He chanted first mass at all
Holy Masses.

44. Now must be told how, as soon as Laurence
had settled down at home at H61ar, he shaped a
fair and godly life, first, in what touched himself,
and after that in all other men. And we will tell,
point by point, of his conduct of life, because
there is in it a pattern for many a good man who
wishes to walk righteously both in spiritual and
temporal things. About the way of his life we have
here put together nothing that we cannot before God
attest ; for this man was so steadfast and settled
in his conduct, that all his life he behaved himself
just as thou mightest have beheld him behave any

ch. 44.] BISHOP OF H6LAR. 91

two days, night and day, if thou hadst stayed with
him. In divine service he was so constant and
devout that he kept every service, matins, and
evensong, masses and daily hours ; and no busi-
ness bore so hard upon him, but he let it all go
by that he might attend the holy services, winter
like summer, and night like day. All the clergy
who had to chant and read, deacons or clerks, he
disciplined in such wise that they did it properly.
Sir Olaf Hjaltason he made schoolmaster, to teach
grammar. He received many scholars for teach-
ing, rich men's sons and many poor men also, and
had them taught till they were capable. All the
time that he was bishop, he had a notably good
school kept ; brother Ami also taught many ; and
there were always fifteen or more going to school.
Those who had read had to repeat the lesson the
evening before to the schoolmaster, and be dealt
with by him if they read or chanted amiss. Sir
Valthjof he made choirmaster, and his business
was to settle what each should chant. Also before
the highest of high-days — Yule or Easter or St.
Mary's Days — he had the priests and deacons and
all the clergy summoned, and then he preached
and gave them a sermon on the way it behoved
them to act on each high-day ; admonishing them
to confess above all if they had any sins in their
soul unshriven. On all high feast-days he led
the chanting himself, and chanted mass and
preached in so scholarly and devout a fashion that
many came to repent and amend because of it.
Sir Valthjof stood ever by him and was his chap-

92 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch.44.

lain. At high mass he always had the same
deacon to minister to him ; this was Deacon Einar
Haflidason, whom he loved beyond all his clergy,
and accounted as his true and trusty friend. The
service of mass itself he delivered with heartfelt
piety and with tears welling ; and such compunc-
tion visited the bystanders, that in the low-chant 21
there was more weeping and catching of breath
to be heard from them than clear words. All the
signs of the cross he made clearly and soberly, so
that it could never seem too fast or too slow, but
ever in due measure. After mass, when he came
into the vestry, he sometimes rebuked the deacons
and clergy for aught that seemed to him to have
gone carelessly in the reading or chanting or other
matters. He could not bear to see a deacon with
a baggy blouse under his mass-vestments and
dalmatic; that, he said to them, was how the
mass-vestments and the stuff got torn. Likewise
no priest or deacon durst have a cope beneath
his long gown, having a choir-cope outside it ; he
told them to tear off the gear which was tightened
down round them. He would never allow singing
in two or three parts, calling it fiddler's folly ; no,
they were to chant plain song, just as it was set
in the choir-books. In the bell-ringing, he chose
to have the same rule as in the days of Bishop
Jorund — namely, to go out about midnight in
winter. He liked those of the clergy who had to
go out to have a good nap after vespers. Every
time he chanted mass, five paupers had to be
taken in and given meat enough for one meal.

ch. 45.] BISHOP OF HdLAR. 93

45. The course of Lord Bishop Laurence' Day
was this. When the bell began for matins, he
read the service to the Virgin while he dressed :
likewise the clergy read the service to the Virgin
in the choir while the bell rang. When it pealed,
the bishop came forth and was in his seat all
matins chanting with the other clergy. After the
chanting, he went into his quarters, and as soon
as he came in he entered his study and barred
himself in. No one might go in save he only;
and there he stayed all alone, and in the dark
moreover, about a matins' space; and he never
came forth to join the rest but his cheeks were
wet with tears. Then he went up into his sleeping
room, and when he had gone to bed, a light was
brought to him in a lantern, and for long he read
the Psalter ; for a very brief space drowsiness stole
on him till the bell rang for primes. He read
indoors as he dressed and washed. At the bell
for fore-mass, he went to church and was in his
place while it was chanted, and gave the blessing
after mass. Then the bishop went out of and
round the church. Every day on which people
might be coming, he sat in his consistory to deal
with cases and do other needful business, either of
people that had come, or concerning the church.
This went on till the bell for terces. Then the
bishop straightway went out, staying at service till
after mass and nones ; then to table. He made
all his priests sit over his table, and made them,
and all that cared to come, glad with goodly cheer
and liquor, either mead or small ale. Always the

94 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 45.

bishop drank a cup to each of his priests severally,
when he had been let blood; and when good
guests came to the house, there was a cup round
for each. All double feasts were handsomely
drunk ; but on all high-days there was no special
order, but every one drank as he would. Whether
any ship was at Iceland or not, just the same
cheer was to be expected at H61ar. With all his
guests he dealt handsomely; all of mark sat up
in his room, and those that sat by him were to
drink as they listed, each man no more than he
pleased. Those who were more eager to drink
were none the more sought after, so that it was
their own fault who were the worse for it. He
made the priests always keep Yule-feast hand-
somely, and all the clergy, lay-prebendaries, bailiff,
and housekeeper, and all the servants ; so that all
had cheer enough. At Easter the entertainment
was moderate, likewise on high-days during Lent.
Lord Laurence had such foresight that he laid in
the drinkables from wherever in Iceland he could
get them. He always had shares in two or three
ships faring to Iceland ; his managers were Grafar-
Leif and Eirek the ' Red.' Most commonly H61ar
church owned something in the ships that came to
Iceland. He gave his trusty men charge over his
cellar ; Ketil Hallsson for the two first years of his
coming to Iceland, and afterwards Deacon Einar,
who kept it afterwards all the time Laurence was
bishop. Daily after the meal, he first walked and
then went into his study and studied books : he
wrote on his waxen tablets and noted what he

ch. 45-46.] BISHOP OF HdLAR. 95

especially wished to take from the books, and then
Deacon Einar wrote it out in a quire or book, to
be at hand for the bishop when he wished to look
at it and have it before him. No man might
come up into his quarters without asking leave ;
a porter was appointed to watch the lodging by
day and also by night. Whenever it began to get
dark in the winter, Deacon Einar would tell to the
bishop in Norse lives of the saints, or would some-
times read Latin stories till the vesper bell ; at the
first ringing the bishop would go straight out to
church, reading requiems with the clergy as he
went. After evensong the bishop went home
to his quarters and then to table. He always
made some cleric read a lesson before his table ;
most commonly Oblaud Thorsteinsson, deacon,
did so. In the evening, after the meal, the bishop
walked about the floor at bathing-time, and then
went to his bed and had his longest sleep straight
on till matins. Lord Laurence never came into
the monastery, save sometimes when he was told
that dancing was going on in the evenings. Then
he had a lantern borne before him into the great
room, forbidding each and all to have dancing
there in the monastery. Much zeal showed Lord
Laurence about the conduct of the clerks, the cut
of their hair and dress ; and against their making
any show there in his diocese : also about their
way of life, especially where he thought there was
excess ; also about those people who, either by way
of adultery or incest, lived together forbiddenly.
46. It is not to be forgotten, but rather to be

96 LIFE OF LA URENCE [ch. 46.

made khown to righteous men, how many and how
goodly charities he had endowed from the goods
of the church at H61ar while he was bishop. All
the provost's revenue that came in by fines or other
penalties, he gave to the poor who needed it sorest,
most of all to those who had before had a household ;
to lepers, blind folk, or those who had the worst
sickness. For this he appointed a priest to exact
the provost's revenue ; Sir Paul Thorsteinsson had
the place first, and then Sir Bjorn Ofeigsson. To
these the bishop gave for their trouble such a share
of the income as he thought good ; and so it stood
during his life. This was a mighty help to many
poor people, and every one paid in with goodwill.
Twelve almsmen he established there at Hdlar and
in the storehouses of the church ; these were both
fed and clad. In Lent five paupers were taken in

and stayed on till over Easter-week. On
Sep. 29 Michaelmas Day in autumn, the steward

had to measure off two thousand four
hundred in wadmal, and this had to be given to
the poor for keeping through the winter, and till
after Whitsun-week. This the guest-man had to
give out and distribute among the paupers whom
he thought neediest — or else the bishop directed
him — before the highest days. A trusty, benevo-
lent, shrewd man, Thorstein Thorleifsson, was
chosen for this. All the goods given yearly in
wadmal to the church he had taken home to his
quarters, and given to the poor. — Also be it noted,
that Laurence had the same apparel as monks
wear, a cowl and a long gown outermost ; for he

ch. 46-47.] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 97

declared the rule to be, that though bishops were
of the black monks' order, they were bound to have
the same dress as that of the rule they were chosen
to. A shirt of hair and wool he wore next him. He
set up a school in the monastery, and had Latin
taught. Sir Olaf Hjaltason then kept the school,
and Laurence gave him the living of Vellir church
in Svarfadar-dale, saying that whoever was school-
master at H61ar should always have that living.
Sir Valthj6f taught chanting.

47. During Laurence's first winter at H61ar, there
was little tidings all over Iceland. Brother Berg
Sokkason was chosen by Lord Laurence

1324-5 to be abbot at Miinka-Thvera, and con-
secrated by him at home at H61ar a year
later. He was a man of parts beyond most people
then in Iceland, in scholarship, handwriting, chant-
ing, and eloquence ; and he drew up many histories
of the Saints in Norse, which shall be known and
famous while this country is peopled. Moreover
this good man lived nobly in monastic discip-
line. Abbot Berg and Bishop Laurence were the
dearest of friends, Laurence being Berg's teacher.
In the winter before Lent, Lord Laurence sent
his son, brother Ami, south to Skalholt to Lord
Bishop John, begging him to ordain him to all
orders up to that of priest. Brother Ami came
north after Whitsun week, now ordained priest. It
seemed to Lord Bishop Laurence a finer thing for
a father not to lay hands of consecration upon his
son after the flesh : nor did brother Ami ever
stand by his father, save when he was confirming

G

98 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 47-48.

the young. Brother Ami was an excellent scholar
and versifier, and taught many clerks : he always
went with Lord Laurence his father on his visita-
tions, and slept in the same quarters. Also he,
and likewise Deacon Einar, had the bishop's signet
and the writing of his letters.

48. That same winter, in the autumn before
which Bishop Laurence came out, there was a lull
in Iceland and no event of note. The aforesaid
bishops were in power, Lord John at Skalholt, and
Lord Laurence at H61ar. People said that there
could never have been better Latin scholars in
Iceland than they j also between them at this time
was the greatest affection. In the second year of
Laurence's bishopric, he, with the counsel of all
the learned in H61ar see, enacted that the feast of
Corpus Christi should be kept with the festal
chanting of a high-day; for this had just been
proclaimed by Bishop John. This high-day was
made law at the General Moot in summer. In
autumn afterwards Lord Laurence performed
ordinations at home at H61ar. It was another of
the notable things about his rule, that he examined
the clergy himself, and himself told them to their
faces how it beseemed them to behave in the
ordination they were receiving; and most pierc-
ingly he overhauled their life and their knowledge
before he would go on to consecrate them ; he laid
most upon the way they chanted or read in Holy
Church. Then he said that [those should not]
receive holy orders, who expected to have a child
and would not declare it; and when this was

ch. 48.] BISHOP OF HdLAR. 99

discovered he laid heavy penances on them, and
made them forfeit his ministrations for a long
time.

In the year after Lord Laurence' coming, no
ship came to Iceland. In the spring afterwards
Abbot Gudmund and Yeoman Benedict Kol-
beinsson rode to H61ar. Abbot Gudmund in-
quired how he would settle about the tithes ;
a matter that had long been stirring between
Thingeyri and the church of Hdlar. Thus said
Lord Bishop Laurence to Abbot Gudmund :

1 There are two ways ; one to complain about
the tithes before my Lord archbishop ; the other,
to submit this whole case into our hands to be
set straight.' And with good men's counsel the
abbot elected that the bishop alone should fix
and fashion the affair as he would, having sworn
before God that Thingeyri monastery should not
be the loser. Then the bishop pronounced that
he made over Hvamm in Vatn-dale to the
monastery at Thingeyri for a perpetual possession.

f We know well,' said Bishop Laurence, ' that
every single bishop of H61ar has so much power
and authority over Thingeyri monastery, that the
abbots of Thingeyri never lay claim to the tithes
of the bishops of H61ar west of Vatn-dale river.
But, to the end that our successors may claim no
authority over the monastery at Thingeyri, we
desire with this gift and bounty to abate all
wrangling and complaint while we have any
choice in the matter. Also we will write to the
archbishop asking him to confirm this our

ioo LIFE OF LA URENCE [ch. 48-49.

covenant.' This agreement was sealed by deeds
and hand-pledges. Then Lord Laurence also
gave to Thingeyri his brother Kalf's donation j
it was four thousand eight hundred 19 worth, and
by this gift Lord Bishop Laurence had honour
and glory, but the monastery at Thingeyri eternal
gain and emolument while Hvamm lasts.

49. Thorstein Kolbeinsson, the brother of
Benedict, was now dwelling at Holtastad in
Langadale. The Lady Gudriin, daughter of
Thorstein, was mother of the two brothers.
Thorstein was then unwed, but was keeping a
lawless union, for he took Gudriin, Illugi's
daughter, to live with him. Thorstein and Thord
Loptsson were fourth cousins. This living
together became known, for she became with
child. So openly did they go about their union
that he took her to his own bed as if she were
his lawful wife. Lord Laurence at first ad-
monished him kindly to part with her. But he
was hardened in his perverseness and paid no
heed to the bishop's admonitions. At last Bishop
Laurence proceeded with legal evidence against
Thorstein, getting sworn proof of the kinship
between the said Thorstein and Th6rd, who was
the husband of Gudriin before this. Thereafter
the bishop gave Thorstein three admonitions, sum-
moning him to H61ar ; the last was summary, and
said that if he did not come to the said church,
Laurence would excommunicate them on the
First Lady-Day there at H61ar, with candles
reversed and bell-ringing. And inasmuch as they

ch. 49.] BISHOP OF H6LAR. 10 i

came not to the summons, but hardened their
hearts, behaving as before, the next thing was
that the bishop excommunicated them on Lady-
day in the chancel at H61ar, with the form which
Holy Church enjoins should be chiefly used
against refractoriness. Herein was manifested the
singlemindedness and righteousness of the bishop ;
for the Lady Gudriin and Benedict were his
dearest friends, and also Hallbera, the abbess at
Stad, the Lady Gudnin's sister. Thorstein also
had a large following, being a man very rich in
substance. Now it must be told how Thorstein
took this procedure and this ban which was going
forward at H61ar on Lady-day. When he had
come to table at Holtastad, he hid his face in his
palms, and then looking up said :

' Gudriin, methinks I feel that now the bishop
at H61ar is chanting a stern song over you and
me this day : I will not tangle other folk in my
own troubles, and all of you,' this he said speaking
to the people, 'must eat in here, and I will go
hence.' Then he left the table, ate alone, and
slept alone. Before this the bishop had sent
away the two priests, for he had dealt ruthlessly
with them. For soon after these doings the Lady
Gudnin and Benedict rode to Holtstad, and
urged Thorstein to be reconciled with Holy
Church and the bishop. The pair met the bishop
at Vellir in Svarfadardale, and the bishop took
the ban off Thorstein; and off Gudriin in Arshaw
some days after. They both swore to part, and
with God's will part they did. The bishop took

102 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 49-50.

every pains to chastise those under him out of
evil ways : but he never banned any other men
openly in H61ar see.

50. Especially is it to be named and noted,
how Lord Laurence was always saying at the
synod of priests, that it went past bounds that
those priests, who chanced to be disabled by age
or other ailments, should be driven to tramp and
beg; the church and her goods helping them hardly
at all. Accordingly he founded and ordered an
infirmary for priests at Kvia-Beck in Olafs-Firth,
and bought half of the ground from priest Arnod,
the church owning the other half. There he laid
out a great fund in estate and live stock and farm
gear, and also enacted that every priest in the
see should contribute half a mark a year for the
next three years : this swelled to a great fund.
Also over all 6lafs-Firth and all Flj6t he had a
lamb kept in each house, so that soon as many as
fifty were reared, and people ever after yielded them
up to the bishop for his estates. None the less
did Lord Laurence reserve for the infirmary the
fines for misconduct which came in in great suits ;
as for instance from Benedict Kolbeinsson and
Thorstein his brother and other men of means
who were liable for heavy penances. He chose
Kvia-Beck in Olafs-Firth for the infirmary, because
he thought it was a good place for cod-fish and
meat, well fitted for old men's diet. There he
made overseer a young priest who had been his
pupil of old when he was in Miinka-Thvera, saying
he thought he would have ripe judgment in

ch. 50.] BISHOP OF H6LAR. 103

managing the stock. This was Bjorn Onundarson,
priest, and he stayed steward here while Bishop
Laurence lived ; and into his hand came good
store of all manner of live stock and provisions,
so that there was no lack there till Bishop
Laurence departed ; many priests were then there.
This same Bjorn was long steward at Modruvellir
in the Valley of the Horg, and was a man of ripe
counsel, the words being fulfilled which Laurence
foretold of him.

Sir Snjolf landed in the south and rode up to
H61ar, having got a letter from some of the canons
who entreated Bishop Laurence to make good
terms with him. He would not do a reverence
to Bishop Laurence, and the bishop replied to
his speech not a word. Then he went to seek
Bishop John at Skalholt, and offered to minister
in his see. John counselled Snj61f to go back
to Bishop Laurence.

1 You are bound,' said Bishop John, ' to humble
yourself before him, seeing he is appointed by
God your superior. If you will promise us this,
we will even write north unto our brother.'
Snjdlf went north to Laurence and made him a
reverence, falling on his knees. The bishop
asked —

' Why so little like thyself, compared with what
thou wert when here last, Snj61f?'

1 Because,' he said, ' now is my neck quit of the
iron prong22 ; also Bishop John enjoined upon me
that I should yield unto you.' Then the bishop
rose up and set him beside him, and for that day

104 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 50.

entertained him, and there was such concord
between them, that he gave him the benefice of
Hals in Fnj6ska-dale, none other being then
empty. He could say with truth of Sir Snj61f,
that no man dressed or feasted so finely as he ;
yet never did he assess himself for tithe at more
than forty-eight hundred. There was ever a
sharpness between them ; but it was Snj61f who
attacked the bishop with vainglorious words,
Once at Miinka-Thvera, when the bishop had
come there on a visitation, this happened. When
the bishop was at meat Sir Snj61f came in and
found a place set for him at a table by the door.
Then, as Snj61f got tipsy, there came on him
a spirit of cursings and revilings against the
bishop. Very long-suffering was Bishop Laurence,
answering not a word, and only breaking up the
feast after Our Lady had been pledged. That
night Snj61f took quite enough to drink, and
swelled so big as to be on the brink of peril.
Then he was belted about with a linen kerchief,
and his writhings seemed to the bystanders piteous
to look on. Then he begged for Lord Bishop
Laurence to come to him ; which he did. Then
Sir Snjolf prayed forgiveness for the words he had
said in the evening. The bishop said he would
give it blithely, and then read over him. And,
by God's will, a little after, he mended. Sir
Snjolf never again reviled Bishop Laurence in
his life.

Lord Laurence bore great friendship to Sir
John Kodransson, and gave him a share in the

ch. 50-51.] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 105

benefice at Glen Hrafna, and therewith a provost-
ship over Eyja Firth and Dal, as far as the Rift of
Vard. He was a most goodly scholar, and had
the church at Glen Hrafna mended at such cost,
that it would have been long there manifest, had
it only been kept up.

51. All the foremost men in Iceland, lay or
learned, bore affection to Laurence while he was
there. They could borrow from the church on
condition that they left gold or refined silver in
pawn ; and that, if repayment was not forth-
coming, the church kept the deposit. Thus the
bishop got much treasure by their not redeeming
their pledges. The bishop and Skiili Flugumyri
lent money to Lord Eirek Sveinbjarnason for four
years, he having then the bailiwick over the
Northern Quarter. He borrowed over fourteen
hundred and forty a year, paying up some in house
repairs, more as the church and bishop needed.
With rich men the bishop took pains about fixing
the tithe, especially with Gizur ' Gall,' yeoman at
the Tongue of Vidi-dale ; naming three priests and
three laymen to value his goods while he was
entertaining the bishop. At first Gizur was
stubborn against it ; but when he saw that a ban
hung over him unless the bishop had his way —
for the bishop desired him to name three laymen
as valuers — it was all settled, and they valued
the goods at seven thousand two hundred more
than Gizur had before paid tithe on. Not many
people had trouble with Gizur after that. Lord
Laurence had no respect of persons in chastising,

106 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 51-52.

and found fault with aught which he saw was
against God's laws, whether they who did it were
rich or poor. It was also notable how, when
Benedict or yeoman Rafn or other men of mark
were taken in adultery, they had to come to
H61ar on Maunday Thursday and be brought up,
just like other penitents, in a bearskin; likewise
sometimes, on Ash Wednesday they who had
more grievously backslidden. But he bade them
sit by him at banquet through Easter, and made
them welcome. He so managed because he
thought that it would bring them to the blush to
receive such disgrace publicly for their misdoing,
and that they would beware of backsliding again j
for they would rather pay a trifle than abase
themselves like so many nobodies.

52. In the third year of Lord Laurence's
episcopate, brother Ingimund Skutuson came from

Norway with writs of Lord Archbishop
1327 Eilif concerning the case of Modruvellir ;

the tenor of his decree was, that Lord
John Bishop of Skalholt and Lord Thorlak, abbot
at Ver, were appointed by the archbishop judges
delegate with power to take evidence, ' and with
authority so to decide or quash, that a covenant
should be come to in the said suit : also to
summon on either side, to wit, on behalf of
Laurence Bishop of H61ar Church, and for the
accusation on behalf of the brethren of the afore-
said cloister.' And when this decree reached
the aforesaid judges, they issued summonses on
both sides, namely to Bishop Laurence and the

ch. 52.] BISHOP OF H6LAR. 107

brethren of the said cloister for the day after the
first day of St. Olaf, at Modruvellir.
And when all were there assembled, the July 30
brethren, namely brother Thorgeir, brother
Th6rd, and brother Ingimund, all of that order,
lodged their complaint against Bishop Laurence.
First then they claimed their monastery, to which
they were consecrated ; next, that the bishops of
Holar, namely Audun, and now Laurence, had
taken all the income of the monastery for the
church at H61ar ever since the monastery was
burnt ; and they had had to provide for them-
selves like so many laymen. And for the said
reasons they craved the judges to deal them justice.
To these things Bishop Laurence made answer,
'All men know that the monastery here at
Modruvellir stood before the fire and before I was
chosen bishop. Also the brethren were appointed
priestly maintenance. This suit was also pleaded,
and this charge brought by brother Ingimund
before the archbishop in Norway when we were
last there. We, not having acted, have not to
answer for our own person. Thus we begin our
answer ; — in all things are we willing to answer to
and obey the archbishop ; let his ordinance stand.
Our offer is to have the monastery here at Modru-
vellir put in repair, with all speed and the best
means we can find ; likewise that as many brethren
be received in as were there when Bishop Jorund
departed, with maintenance found in clothing and
victual, even as they had in Bishop Jorund's days.
We will appoint a prior over the order, and be

108 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 52.

ourselves their abbot, and set a steward over the
foundation and its funds. In grave matters all is
to be done with the counsel of the prior and
brethren. This monastery is to be in all matters
spiritual and secular according as it was founded
by Bishop Jorund of excellent memory.' At these
words of Bishop Laurence there was a loud
cheer.

Then spoke first Bishop John : ' Brethren, ye
have now heard the lord bishop's offer ; it is now
for yourselves to choose; will ye follow up the
accusation that is begun, or will ye make a cove-
nant according to his offer?' The brethren said
they would take the way he should counsel them.

John answered, ' We would call some more men
of weight to help us.' Then Lord Laurence and
his following departed. He had ere that called
all the chief scholars in H61ar See, and laymen
likewise. After a while Bishop Laurence with his
following was called in, and Bishop John spoke
then on the brethren's behalf :

1 Whereas, lord bishop, you have made offer to
the brethren, utterly without compulsion or bond
of law ; they desire to choose that you have the
monastery repaired with all speed and at fitting
charges, as you have abundant means, with furni-
ture and bells found, and all things needful to the
ministry and service of Holy Church ; that a prior
and warden be appointed over the monastery,
clothed and fed in a seemly style ; and that the
monastery and brethren be in all ways established
as in the days of Bishop Jorund when he first

ch. 52-53.] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 109

founded it ; and we twain here, judges-delegate
appointed by our lord archbishop, consent, con-
firm, and assure this with our seals.' This
covenant was agreed to, all those aforesaid con-
senting with goodwill and affection, without any
compulsion or force. This agreement was made by
Bishop John joining their hands, and was ratified
after by the hand and seal of either party. The
most noble feast was given at Modruvellir to both
the bishops, to Abbot Thorlak, and to all priests and
laymen that came. Thence they all rode off to-
gether, bishops and all aforesaid ; for Lord Laurence
invited them all home to H61ar to feast ; Bishop
John, Abbot Thorlak, and. all their following. This
was on the first day of St. Olaf. Lord Laurence gave
the goodliest gifts to Bishop John and also to Abbot
Thorlak, and they parted the best of friends for
the nonce. Thence they rode to Glaumbaer, and
yeoman Ram gave great gifts to John the bishop.
After that John rode to Thingeyri, being close
friends with Abbot Gudmund, and there also was
loaded with goodly gifts. He was at Breidabdlstad
on the feast of St. Laurence, chanted mass and
preached there ; and Sir Thorstein gave him goodly
gifts. Thus he rode west into his diocese, and
this ride of Bishop John's north got him great
friends.

53. Now it must be told how Bishop Laurence
got together carpenters, and had the convent at
Modruvellir done up, providing furniture and bells.
'Apostles" bells and also five 'singing-maids'23
were brought north from Holar; and soon this

no LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 53.

was finished in so good a style, that it is visible
unto this day. Thus all went on in

1328 peace and quietness over the summer
and right on until the next Lent.

Brother ingimund, in Lent, rode south to Skal-
holt, no man at first knowing his business.
Brother Thorgeir was appointed prior at Modru-
vellir, and Thorkel Grimsson warden. Hard on
Passion Week came a messenger from Bishop
John with letters — close, short, and sharp. After
greeting, it ran thus :

* Brother Ingimund from Modruvellir swooped
down on us unawares, like a thunderclap, ere we
knew it. He brought tidings, Lord Bishop Lau-
rence, that you had not kept the covenant which
we struck in summer at Modruvellir; wherefore
we see nought else fitting for us but to ride north in
the summer and decide the said suit once for all.'

Upon this letter Bishop Laurence was vexed
and wroth, saying to the man he trusted, that he
had hoped better things of Bishop John when
they parted last at H61ar than that he would so
quickly reverse his love towards him, and trust,
without the least evidence, the tales of his foes,
that he was breaking the covenant which he and the
brethren had made between them, and which, he
said, he desired to keep to the last tittle. Further,
that the authority of Bishop John and Abbot Thor-
lak over his covenant with the brethren to decide
over the said case, was dead and done with ; and
he showed thereon the canon law. And summon-
ing his chief priests he showed them the canon

ch. 53-54.] BISHOP OF HdLAR. hi

law upon it. In spring after Easter, on the day of
John Bishop of H61ar, he sent Sir Paul Thorsteins-
son to Skalholt with letters. He had composed
a long letter wherein he set forth certain legal
points; namely, Abbot Thorlak and the Bishop
had no more authority in the said case to decide,
because of the covenant which he had made with
the brethren. This letter of Bishop Laurence Sir
Paul took to Bishop John, who, as soon as he had
read it, was much vexed, saying that for all this
letter he would proceed just as before. Then he
asked Sir Paul, would he have to write over again
what he had writ before, namely, that he would
still ride north in summer to decide on the Modru-
vellir case? But Sir Paul said he cared not
to go back with that letter. Then, said the
Bishop, he would not write another. Sir Paul
went back to H61ar and told Bishop Laurence
that it stood thus. So time went on till after
Whitsun-week.

54. On Trinity Sunday two deacons and a man
with them came from Skalholt to H61ar. One
was deacon Th6rd? son of Lawman Gudmund,
whom Laurence had taken quite a child at Thin-
geyri, and taught and spent all his pains on teach-
ing him, so that he was the best Latin scholar
and a good versifier; ill it beseemed him to go
with any errand contrary to the ordinance given
him by Bishop Laurence. The other deacon was
called Gregory. These deacons went into the
vestry when the bishop was disrobed. Th<5rd
greeted the bishop, saying that he had a letter

U2 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 54.

and ordinance of Bishop John to read before him.
The bishop answered, that he probably had an
ordinance which would be little good to Holy
Church or to himself: 'Th6rd, thou needst not
set thyself to read any letters of summons here
before me in the church, for I will hear none such.'
And when Th6rd was purposing to read out the
letter, the bishop sprang up and left the vestry
and all the clergy with him.

And when Th6rd saw this, he said : ' This
serves me not ; I now see that the bishop
will not hear the ordinance of Bishop John.'
Bishop Laurence said he would not raise the
authority of Bishop John and Thorlak from the
dead by listening to any summons of theirs.
Then the bishop went to table and asked the
deacons to eat with him; they stayed Sunday,
and were well feasted with meat and drink. On
the morrow after primes, they went to table and
gave out that they meant to ride away speedily,
and took their horses and saddled them ; and as
soon as high mass was sung, after offertory at
mass, Deacon Th6rd went before the Virgin's altar
and began the letter, Bishop Laurence sitting in
his seat. And when Bishop Laurence heard
Th6rd begin the letter, he said : —

1 Th6rd ! I forbid thee to read any letter or to
make stir or brawling during divine service of
mass.' At that instant Sir Valthj6f leapt from his
seat and gripped the letter with both hands,
thinking to tear it from him. And when the
bishop saw it, he called to him —

ch. 54-55.] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 113

'Take not the letter from him, but put them,
letter and all, out of the church, so that they brawl
not in holy mass.' Then the clergy flew at them
from all sides, and elbowed them out of church,
and locked the door behind them. Then Th6rd
set to reading out the letter in the tower without
the church, and afterwards nailed it up on the
church door with iron nails. Then they jumped
on their horses which they had tied outside the
churchyard, and halted not till they reached
Skalholt, and told Bishop John how it had fared
with their journey, and spared no word of the tale
how they had been haled perforce out of church,
but hid utterly how the bishop had made them
welcome. Little pleased was Bishop John; but
priests and learned men saw the letter fixed on
the church door at H61ar and read it. This letter
was in Latin, a fine composition, and showing
the surpassing scholarship of Bishop John. The
tenor of the said letter was, that Lord John and
Thorlak, being judges by Archbishop Eilif ap-
pointed, summoned Bishop Laurence to Modru-
vellir, in the Horg Valley, on the plaint of the
brethren to hear their judgment between the
church of H61ar and the convent of Modruvellir.
The day of summons was the morrow of the
translation of St. Benedict.

55. Now to tell how Lord John and Abbot
Thorlak made ready to journey north over the
land. With them travelled Lord Ketil and many
great men both lay and learned ; and they reached
Modruvellir ere the summoning day, bringing their

ii4 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 55.

own victual and drink ; yet Lord Laurence had ar-
ranged a handsome entertainment for them. Bishop
Laurence summoned to his side the chief priests,
Sir Thorstein ' Shardstone,' Sir Egil, Sir John, Sir
Eirik 'Bowl.' He had meant to visit over the
northern quarter, but stayed in Lauf Ridge as the
day of meeting drew near. There he treated and
took counsel with his priests about what was best
to do. All agreed that he ought to go to Modru-
vellir on the day of summons ; as it seemed likely
that the judges would proceed each to his decision,
which would damage the church at H61ar in
default of any man to speak for it ; and it seemed
also likely that they would say he was disloyal to
the archbishop, and either interdict him or sum-
mon him before the archbishop. He showed them
the canon law, declaring that the people had no
authority to give judgment after the covenant was
once made between him and the brethren; and
said that he had in no wise broken that. The
end was that Bishop Laurence went by his priests'
counsel, and accompanied them by ship over to
Modruvellir.

Laurence and the bishop met in the church, and
Lord Laurence was moving forward to kiss him ;
but he drew back, saying : ' Is it true that you
have bidden them lay hands on my deacons in the
church at H61ar and thrust them out ? '

1 I do not own that I bade lay hands on them ;
but this I own, that I forbade them to brawl in
holy church ; also it was not to my liking to hear
your letter.'

[ch. 55. BISHOP OF H6LAR. 115

1 It is told me,' said Bishop John, ' that two
men did lay hands on them, and they were your
priest Valthj6f and your scribe called Sigurd
' Pruning-knife ' : them I hold excommunicate,
and I will have no commerce with them till they
are cleared; but whereas you do not own that
you commanded it, I will not go so far against
you.'

Then many good men tried their best to make
a compromise between them. In the evening,
Bishop John chose to sit at meat by his own
people, Laurence sitting in another room with his.
Next morning both bishops went into the bishop's
study, and all the chief men were summoned
thither. The men from the south had a great
load of canon law-books which had been brought
north. Bishop John opened his speech in Latin,
saying to all that understood what had passed in
the Modruvellir case, and bidding Lord Laurence
answer.

Lord Laurence spoke in Norse. { We all
know, Lord John, that you have as fine a flow
of Latin as of your mother-tongue. But it is not
understanded of the people. Therefore, let us talk
clearly so that all may understand. Thus, then,
clearly say I ; that I will keep and abide by the
covenant made last summer. Let it be proved in
any jot, that I or my steward have started from it,
and then I will amend joyfully.' At this speech
of his there was a loud cheer.

Bishop John answered : ! That deed which was
drawn last summer we call a deed of your sharp

H6 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 55.

practice, and we think that it cannot stand; for
the rules of St. Augustine fix, that an abbot or
prior who is put in command of the monastery
shall have authority both in secular and spiritual
things ; and therefore we, judges in this case set
and appointed, hold to the prescription of the
rules, that the brethren here at Modruvellir should
have authority in secular things even as within
their walls they have in spiritual. And so it stands
far and wide in monasteries over all the world;
for it beseems not that the brethren be the alms-
men of laymen serving God as they do night and
day. We twain with God's will shall be disposed
to give judgment and decision thereon, if the
brethren are not to get hold of the rents and
maintenance which the rules ordain; superiors
being merely appointed to have power of control
over the goods which belong to the church. Now,
if a prior is appointed here at Modruvellir over
the brethren, and is to have no power over their
goods of this world; suppose that the brethren
were to ask him for necessary vesture or victuals,
he refers them to the bishop at H61ar, their abbot,
and the bishop refers to his steward. But it is a
long day's journey between the bishop's seat at
H61ar and the monastery at Modruvellir, and the
brethren cannot suffer lack for ever. Secondly,
the prior has to require zeal in discipline. Some
brethren being obedient, some disobedient, it is
for the prior to comfort the obedient with every
indulgence that it is fitting should comfort their
hearts, and to better their discipline. But now

ch. 55-56.] BISHOP OF HdLAR. 117

he has nothing to do with it j the bishop's steward
at H61ar rules all the funds, and will not yield
whatever the prior settles. Do not then the
obedient brethren lose their comforts? and like
enough they may fly into league with the mal-
contents. We twain, judges by the archbishop
appointed, will never consent to the prior and
brethren not having full power over secular things,
even as Bishop Jorund has ordained. And though
in his main plan of the monastery his scheme
has been goodly, yet it is fitting enough to mend
any flaw there may be in his handiwork.' Lord
Bishop John spoke so finely with all his eloquence
that to many there it looked like the law that
the prior and brethren should have full power in
secular things.

56. Bishop Laurence said he would stand by
the covenant which the brethren and he had made
in the summer before ; and the longer the bishops
parleyed, the stiffer grew Lord Bishop John.
Bishop Laurence begged leave from the meeting
to confer with his priests ; and when this was got
from Bishop John, Lord Laurence asked the
priests and other trusty men of his, what was the
wisest way to take in the said case. But they all
threw it back upon Laurence himself; some how-
ever gave ill counsel j but he felt himself the spirit
in which it was tendered.

Then said Bishop Laurence : ' I see how this
case will go ; if Bishop John and Abbot Thorlak
persist in their decision, adjudging all authority
to the brethren over secular matters at Modru-

n8 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 56.

vellir, it seems to us somewhat doubtful that the
archbishop would reverse that decision. But even
though, for peace and quietness, it is our doing
that the brethren have temporal control over their
funds, it seems to us more likely that the arch-
bishop would annul that disposition of ours, if he
thought it unbefitting, and then there would be
some hope of his choosing the covenant to be
kept to which we made last summer.' So this
point of his plan was decided, namely, to obstruct
the decision, and risk it. Then he sent on to
them two of his priests, who came back with the
message that on this occasion they must go them-
selves. Bishop Laurence went into the room, and
then the brethren were summoned. Bishop John
asked Laurence to what agreement he would come
with the brethren.

' I will choose — what many will put down as
puny in me — to agree that the brethren at Modru-
vellir shall have authority in temporal things,
rather than that we wrangle; provided the arch-
bishop lets this settlement stand.'24

The brethren agreed to keep this covenant \ it
was ratified with hand-pledging that the Lord prior
should have all authority over the foundation and
all the property, whether land or chattels, without
the walls even as within. Thorgeir was made
prior, and Bishop Laurence had all the property
in land and chattels made over to him, and the
funds were written off the funds of H61ar church.
And when this was done, Lord John, Abbot
Thorlak, Lord Ketil and all the Southrons, rode

ch. 56-57.] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 119

south on the fell. It was in all the people's
mouth that Bishop Laurence had let himself sing
quite small to the Southrons. The bishops parted
cordially, as it was right they should in public;
yet not with such hearty affection as in the
summer before. Bishop Laurence visited over the
northern district till Lady-day. There were then
two ships to Gaseyri bound to Norway that
summer.

57. Now to tell how Bishop Laurence called to
him Sir Egil of Grenjadarstad, and among other
things spoke thus in his ear : — ' Everybody knows
how ill the Modruvellir suit turned out last sum-
mer ; I had to yield before the great power against
me, though I thought I was right in my case.
But I like it ill, that the case should remain like
this — namely, the brethren at Modruvellir having
to rule the whole property. They will squander
ignorantly and foolishly all the funds which Bishop
Jorund gave away from those of H61ar church, and
into the clutches of fools ; while the agreement
made last summer is made void and a dead letter
now, Sir Egil, my disciple, seeing that thou art
best and foremost trusted to do my will, I have
thought of a journey to Norway in summer for
thee, with letters from me to the archbishop on
business, touching the Modruvellir case.'

Sir Egil answered : ' I feel that I have received
much good of you, and that I should be most
bounden to do your will towards all men. Yet I
know that I have myself neither scholarship,
knowledge, nor eloquence enough to go forward

120 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 57.

with this business; this above all, because such
mighty men have been there to preside over this
case; and also because you have now consented
and ratified with your own seal that the brethren
should themselves have the secular power. I
perceive it will prove a hard matter to take that
deed back.'

1 Thou knowest,' said Bishop Laurence, ■ that I
did that for peace and quietness ; consented, I
mean, to the second settlement; for I saw that
the church of H61ar would take harm irreparable,
if Bishop John and Thorlak had adjudged the
management of the funds to the brothers, and
much property to boot.'

At last, Bishop Laurence begging and bidding
him to go, he said : ' Mighty is the master's word;
I will do as you will.'

At this the bishop rejoiced greatly, and straight-
way passage for Sir Egil and his page was taken
at Gaseyri. Lord Laurence sent the archbishop
goodly gifts, and the whole case written out, and
both the covenants, by Egil's hand. He wrote a
schedule which he had compiled from the canon
law; showing how after the first covenant was
made, the power of the deputy judges was over,
and they had no more to do with the case. And
when the ship was ready to go, Sir Egil took leave
of Laurence. They soon had a fair wind and a
good voyage after they put to sea, and reached
Norway near Throndhjem. Sir Egil went with all
speed to meet the archbishop, and made over to
him the letter, the announcement, and the gifts of

ch. 57-58.] BISHOP OF HdLAR. 121

Bishop Laurence. All this the archbishop took in

good part, asking him to winter there with one lad

in his manor and at his charges. Sir Egil

1328-9 accepted, and sat through the winter on
a steward's chair, in high favour.

58. On the other hand it is to be told how Lord
John heard that Bishop Laurence was sending Sir
Egil on a voyage; and it seemed likely to him
that he was going about the Modruvellir case. So
he sent the priest whom he deemed foremost in
his see, Sir Arngrim Brandsson, who had the
benefice of Oddastad. Bishop John and Abbot
Thorlak wrote about Modruvellir, giving account
of the last covenant made between Bishop
Laurence and the brethren, and praying the
archbishop to stablish and ratify that settlement.
Sir Arngrim took ship, had a good voyage, reached
Norway, went with all speed to the archbishop's
presence, and gave him the letters of Bishop John
and Abbot Thorlak. The archbishop took it well,
asked Sir Arngrim up to his manor with one lad,
to have his keep there through the winter, and
made him sit on the steward's bench. The
steward gave both messengers one loft to sleep in,
and they loved one another like two brothers after
the flesh. During the winter their behaviour was
different. Sir Egil got into the archbishop's good
graces as often as he could, pleading his case and
the arguments of which Laurence had already
given him notes. The archbishop soon perceived
that Sir Egil was a great scholar and lawyer, and
Sir Egil was always in the archbishop's study at

122 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 58-59.

his ear, pleading about the Modruvellir case, and
showing to him how well the covenant which they
had made, Bishop Laurence on one side, and the
brethren of Modruvellir on the other, had been
kept in every tittle ; how he had had their monas-
tery mended, and a church put up, with bells and
furniture, and proper maintenance all found. All
this Sir Egil showed to the archbishop under the
hand and seal of excellent priests and likewise of
laymen ; and the end soon was that the archbishop
believed his pleading utterly. But Sir Arngrim
spent his days otherwise, going daily to an organ-
master then in Throndhjem, and he had so many
lessons on the organ that he never pleaded about
the Modruvellir case before the archbishop. The
messengers had the best of entertainment from the
archbishop through the winter.

59. Now to tell of what went on in Iceland
after they had gone to Norway. When the
brethren at Modruvellir took control over the
funds, all went improvidently. Uppsala-Hr61f,
and many yeomen over the Horg Valley and Eyja
Firth were mixed up with Prior Thorgeir ; and it
was costly, because they and their followers were
often entertained at Modruvellir. But the
brethren supposed that they did not receive from
Bishop Laurence the funds which — so they
thought — belonged of old to Modruvellir. The
bishop said, that they had enough to take care of,
and that they were mismanaging the funds which
he had made over to them. The bishop was in
high displeasure that laymen were mixed up with

ch. 59.] BISHOP OF HdLAR. 123

them. In the winter after Yule Prior Thorgeir
rode away from Modruvellir, meaning to go south
to Skalholt. He lodged at Reykir in Skaga
Firth, where Sir Thorleif then dwelt, the best
harp-player in Iceland. During the night he
stayed there, it came to pass that all the letters
which he had in his keeping, and which had been
stored in the same building as their saddles,
were stolen from him. Many yeomen from Eyja
Firth and the Horg Valley had sent letters by
the prior south to Bishop John of Skalholt. It
was laid to the charge of Sir Bjorn Ofeigsson, who
had then the provostship over Skaga Firth, that
he had sent thither the gallants of his following to
get at the letters, and that he had taken them to
the bishop : but this talk was never proved.
Prior Thorgeir went south to Skalholt, and there
met Lord Bishop John at home, who welcomed
him heartily, and there some nights he stayed.
At last, before Prior Thorgeir took his leave,
Lord John the bishop had a very splendid gilt
chalice brought out, and also a pair of copes ;
he said : ' These treasures we wish to give to the
church at Modruvellir and to St. Augustine's
monastery, for an everlasting possession, for
atonement of our sins and for our soul's health ;
we would fain do this so that no man may truly
say that we have in any wise despoiled the mon-
astery, or taken any bribe to back up the brethren
in their suit against Bishop Laurence; nay, we
see nought surer in the sight of God, than that
the brethren should have full power over their

124 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 59-60.

goods, without as within the walls, any man
notwithstanding. '

Prior and bishop parted right cordially. The
things which Bishop John gave to the church at
Modruvellir are to be seen within it. The prior
returned from his ride south; and Bishop
Laurence was displeased that he had gone into
another See and not first asked his leave.
Uppsala-Hr61f and his following, yeomen from
Eyja Firth and the Horg Valley, were offended
with Bishop Laurence, because the letters which
they had sent with Prior Thorgeir to Bishop
John had been stolen, and they laid it to
Laurence' charge. But this could not be said
with any truth j for he never knew of the prior's
ride south till Sir Bjorn told him of it.

60. In the spring after Easter, Bishop Laurence
called his friends to him, both priests and laymen,
and made known to them that he wished to ride
North to Modruvellir, and see how the brethren
there were behaving in their , walk ; for news had
come that there was lack at Modruvellir of meat
and hay. Bishop Laurence rode North on
Heljar-dale heath, and reached Modruvellir on
the day which he had named before in his letter.
As many as forty men were there, Uppsala-Hr61f
and yeomen from the Vale of Horg and Eyja
Firth. No procession was made to meet the
bishop, but there stood the aforesaid yeomen
armed. First the bishop and his people went to
the church j there was no sort of greeting for them
from the brethren. At meal-time the bishop sat

ch.6o.] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 125

in the great room; it was so disposed that the
yeomen sat on one dais, and the bishop and his
people on another ; and the yeomen had from the
brethren far better cheer than the bishop and his
people. There the bishop stayed one night ; not
speaking to the brethren, nor they to him.
Thence Bishop Laurence rode to Munka-Thvera,
and stayed two nights there ; there was the finest
feast made for him by Abbot Berg. It was said
when he rode from Modruvellir, that he would
ride back westwards on Oxna-dale's Heath, and
not go to Modruvellir. But the bishop would
not change his course like this. From Munka-
Thvera he rode back to Modruvellir. The
brethren had sent away the crowd ; and Benedict
Kolbeinsson and his lads were with the bishop.
In the evening meat was given to the bishop and
his folk. On the morrow Laurence went to the
chapter and brethren, and asked the prior to show
him the stores and hay and sheep. The prior
and brethren said they would show him neither
stores nor hay nor anything else. The bishop
asked for the keys, but could not get them. The
bishop said that he would not be answerable
before God for their waste of the church funds,
but that the church at H61ar was bound to make
restitution of any shortness in the funds. Then
the bishop made his clergy take the keys from
them by force, and had an inspection forthwith of
the stores j and it was seen that there was no pro-
visions either of meat or hay. He set a steward
to manage the stores, and even appointed a prior

126 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 60-61.

also, Steind6r the brother of Abbot Berg. Prior
Thorgeir he took along with him perforce, and got
the whole management of the monastery in his
hands before he went home to H61ar. Many said
what sharp practice it seemed in Bishop Laurence
to take into his hand the whole temporal adminis-
tration of the brethren, before any news came of
the way the archbishop chose to settle it, or
whether he leaned more to the mission of Sir
Egil or to that of Sir Arngrim on Bishop John's
behalf. Bishop Laurence said he knew full well
that the archbishop's will would be to let the
covenant stand which was made in the summer
before ; this he said he knew by his dreams, and
likewise by his heart's boding. The word goes —
' Sooth for the soothsayer? and so it was here.
Many said that he seemed very bold, while it was
doubtful how the archbishop would award on the
case.

61. Now to tell what passed in Norway, the
bishop's messengers being in the archbishop's
manor through the next winter. Sir Egil pled his
bishop's — Lord Bishop Laurence' — message when-
ever he could before the archbishop; but Sir
Arngrfm gave more heed to picking up organ-
playing, and did not think to plead before the
archbishop about the course of the Modruvellir
case. In spring, after Easter, Sir Egil came before
the archbishop and said that time was flying, that
he had a long journey before him, first south to
Bergen and thence to Iceland; there being no
passage to Iceland then from Throndhjem. The

ch. 61.] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 127

archbishop took it well, and said that he should get
done whatever business he wished. He had the
canon summoned, who was most skilled in writing
letters in Latin, and told him what the business was
to be. ' Sir Egil shall stay with you and tell you
the whole case to the bottom.' The master did
the archbishop's bidding, and next day the canon
showed to the archbishop the writ, which was
written in lordly Latin. Thereupon the arch-
bishop thanked him for ^making the writ. This
man was named Hakon Ulfsson j he was the arch-
bishop's souvenir and had his seal.

The archbishop said to him : ' This writ thou
shalt seal and hand to Sir Egil, Bishop Laurence'
messenger ; thou shalt keep it quiet till he is gone
from our presence ; for we desire to hear and allow
no dispeace or pryings or party-feuds in a case like
this : let this out, and if we come to know it
thou shalt lose our friendship, and lose thy place
which thou holdest under us.'

Hakon Ulfsson sealed the writ; he was so
disloyal to his lord that he showed that open writ
ere he brought it to Sir Egil, to one of the chapter
there in the manor. That same canon asked the
archbishop, Was it true that he had made an end of
the Icelandic JModruvellir case ? The archbishop
asked who had told him that ; at first he tried to
hide it ; but afterwards he had to tell the arch-
bishop that Hakon Ulfsson had shown him the
letter. One day the archbishop called his canons
together into his public hall, and told them him-
self the whole Modruvellir case ; how it had fared

128 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 61-62.

with the covenant which Bishop Laurence and the
brethren of Modruvellir had made the summer
before, according to the plan and first foundation
of Bishop Jorund, of excellent memory. And he
now declared before the canons, that that settle-
ment ought immutably to stand.

1 And we will confirm and ratify the same with our
archiepiscopal authority, and will not uphold any
other agreement that has been come to over there.'

Then the archbishop had read out the writ which
he had issued thereon, and all the chapter gave
consent to this judgment, together with the arch-
bishop. This done, Sir Egil took hearty leave of
Archbishop Eilif, who gave him at parting a fair
silver basin and the canon-law book called
Tancred. Sir Egil left the archbishop's presence
in great state, but Sir Arngrim kept in the back-
ground, seeing that the archbishop was utterly
resolved that the suit should go in the way now
proclaimed. But, for the disloyalty done by
Hakon Ulfsson, the archbishop had him cast into
a dungeon, and never after did he keep the said
Hakon by him in any trust.

62. South to Bergen went Sir Egil, and lit on a
ship trading to Iceland. They had a fair voyage,
and reached Eyri safe and sound before St.
Laurence' Day; two nights after St. Laurence'
Day, Sir Egil got home to H61ar, and Bishop
Laurence rejoiced at his coming. And when Sir
Egil showed him the writ and decree of the arch-
bishop, and how the Modruvellir suit had gone,
he thanked God for it, and likewise Sir Egil for

ch. 62.] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 129

his true and sturdy heed of his master's business ;
the archbishop having written how loyally he had
done it. Then Bishop Laurence had the writ put
from Latin into Norse to be discerned and under-
standed of the people. Much glory Bishop
Laurence got from the result of this lawing. Later
the writ was read out in the chancel in the sermon,
and also before the brethren at Modruvellir, and
was made known abroad elsewhere. The maligners
of Bishop Laurence were very dumb now. Sooth
to say, each of the bishops had much to say for
his own side of the case. Lord John wished that
the laws should be kept ; for the laws and rules of
St. Augustine really are that the brethren should
control secular things without the walls even as
within they control the conduct and discipline;
and that it is unseemly for them to be almsmen of
laics ; as Lord Bishop John himself bore witness
at Modruvellir, and as is told above in the history.
Whereas Bishop Laurence wished to hold by the
state things were in when Bishop Jorund first
founded the monastery. Therefore they who hear
this history must not blame or blemish either of
the aforesaid bishops in this matter, for each most
likely thought he was upholding the just cause.
Nor was the way in which the archbishop chose to
judge this case any discredit to Bishop John in
the end. Never again could Bishops John and
Laurence have the old cordiality, but Bishop John
showed high displeasure at the way the archbishop
had dealt with the Modruvellir case. Bishop
Laurence now took unto him the whole power at
1

130 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch.62.

Modruvellir, appointing them an overseer, and
dealing with the brethren in all ways according to
the bidding and ordinance of Bishop Jorund when
he founded the monastery. But the yeoman who
had meddled with the brethren, the bishop pro-
claimed under ban ; namely Uppsala-Hr61f. The
tenor of the charges made by those who passed
between the Bishop and Hr61f was this : — the
bishop was told that Hr61f had made with the
priest Klaeng Hjaltason a privy bargain for Klaeng's
wife Arnbjorg. This was not clearly proven, but
witness was alleged to be forthcoming that Klaeng
had taken Hrdlf s money. It happened later that
the bishop brought many charges against Hr61f and
put him out of the church. Hr61f stayed under
this ban till Bishop Laurence died. Bishop
Laurence wished to keep the laws of Holy
Church, with whomsoever he had to deal. But
he also looked narrowly to penances, as might be
shown from a thing that befell in his days. A
cleric, consecrated sub-deacon, born in Fnj6ska-
Dale, went to the East Firths, and came into the
district of Flj6ts-Dale, and so to Valthj6fstad.
And when he had come there he was so puffed up
with great wickedness and monstrous foolhardi-
ness, that he gave himself out for a mass-deacon
and asked to read the gospel at mass. A stole
was brought him, and when he began to read
the gospels, all the lights went out in the church,
and as often as the people there tried to light
them, it was just as if a blast came on them.
The deacon's lesson went on, but the lights could

ch. 62.] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 131

not be kindled; this seemed a strange thing to
the people there, but at first they suspected
nought from it. Also he betook himself to
another church to read the gospel, and all went
as at Valthj6f's church; all the lights went out
and could not be kindled. A suspicion now
sprang up that he was only consecrated a sub-
deacon, and not a mass-deacon. This was told
to Bishop John ; then he told his provost to
make the man go, little as he might like it, west
to H61ar. This was done, and the man owned
that he had twice publicly read the gospel in
mass. It seemed to Lord Bishop Laurence that
the case appertained to Bishop John, because the
man had sinned in John's diocese. So he sent
the deacon south to John and two men with him
that he might not give them the slip anywhere.
Then Bishop John sent a letter by him north to
Bishop Laurence, giving him authority by let-
ters-patent to set the man a fitting penance and
absolve him. This, among other things, was the
penance the bishop set him ; six mass-deacons were
each to whip him on the bare back so smartly
that the blood came. For the bishop proclaimed
that with unheard-of presumption he had intruded
into the deacon's office ; and therefore it was right
for him to be smitten by deacons, whose office he
took upon him without holy ordination. Then
he absolved the cleric, telling him that he should
never be legally ordained unless the pope gave
him dispensation. Also it came about that this
deacon got the name of "Gadding" Ami.

132 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 62-63.

In the year when these things happened, sad
news came of a fire at Christ Church in Nidar6s
of all the woodwork ; and the wall split in many
places, the bells were destroyed and many
treasures besides. The a'rchbishops wrote of this
mishap to the bishops in Iceland. An offering
was asked for the church over all the country,
and much money given.

63. At this time Bishop Laurence employed a
goldsmith called Eyjolf, a good craftsman. Bishop
Laurence made him work two very splendid
gospel books for the church at H61ar, which can
yet be seen there; also a goodly chalice. The

bishop got angry with him for the high
Sep3t2% wages °f ms smith's work ; they seemed

more than their worth. The bishop
bargained with the goldsmith that he should come
back in the autumn on Michaelmas day, and

work Laurence' shrine there through
June 17 the winter. In the spring, close on St.

Botolph's Eve, a ship from Norway
touched at Gaseyri, and over this ship was Berg
J6nsson, the archbishop's steward. The ship
came from Throndhjem. The said Berg came to
Holar and brought Bishop Laurence a very goodly
mitre which Lord Archbishop Eilif sent him, and
two boxes therewith holding balsam : this mitre is
now the best at H61ar. Such a thing showed
what affection the archbishop bore to him. In
recompence for this he gave thirty bales of
wadmal, and asked Berg to stay the winter at
Holar, which he accepted. In winter Bishop

ch. 63-64.] BISHOP OF HdLAR. 133

Laurence visited over the western district. He
was at Kiila at the wedding feast of John and
Ingigerd, and most of the great men in Iceland
were there. Lord Bishop Laurence preached
there, and his loving yet devout way of discourse
was the admiration of many discerning people. On

Michaelmas Day there was a spell of frost
Oct. 13 and snow, and Bishop Laurence said that

he was sure the winter would be hard.
Then he came to H61ar on the Feast of Relics.

Then it came to pass that Hallbera, abbess at
Stad, died. Bishop Laurence was then summoned,

and sent word that he would come to
I3303' t^ie sisters a^ter Yule, nigh on Epiphany ;

as was done. Then Sister Gudny,
daughter of Helgi, was chosen abbess, but was
only consecrated by Bishop Egil, successor of
Bishop Laurence.

64. This winter was most bitter weather. There
was scant hay and much live stock in the church

farm. Bishop Laurence had written
1329-133° home to Steward Skuli that he was to

kill a good deal, for he said at Michael-
mas that he thought the winter would be hard.
Skuli complied not with the bishop's words, and
had no greater a killing than common. In winter
came the time for the ewes to be in heat, but the
earth was snowbound. The bishop admonished
Skuli to slaughter the cattle; for it was now
reported that the stock of the church was without
food. Skuli took little heed of the bishop's words,
and fewer were slain than ever.

134 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 64.

After Yule brother Ami took a great sickness,

and was down a long time through the

i33r winter. Great searchings of heart had

Lord Bishop Laurence because of his

shocking way of life, all in the teeth of cloister

discipline. In the winter on the day of

March 3 the translation of Bishop John, it came

to pass, that great pains troubled him ;

and as soon as Bishop Laurence prayed over

brother Ami, he mended.

Once in Lent the bishop came to him, and
spoke very sternly to him, admonishing him to
repent of his courses, and saying thus : ' If thou
wilt vow to God and to me that thou wilt go
straightway back to the monastery at Thingeyri,
when thou losest me, then I will dare — though
thou deserve it not — to pray God for thee that
thou mend of this sickness. For in the monastery
at Thingeyri thou canst live very cleanly, canst
teach and write. But if it is in thy mind to break
this our bidding, and to go to Norway when thou
losest us, then thy counsel cannot thrive, for we
know that thou wilt fall to swilling and other
iniquity, and then Holy Church gets no good of
thy parts.'

The bishop ceased not till Ami was touched
and wept bitterly, promising to go back to
Thingeyri and abide there, as soon as he lost the
bishop. Which promise of his was kept less than
beseemed him ; for his course of life was even as
his father foretold. The weather began to worsen,
and times continued to be hard ; at last the sheep

ch. 64-65.] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 135

dropped down for leanness like drifting waves.
It had been better to follow the will of Bishop
Laurence and slay them while there was flesh on
them, than that no man should have good of
them. Laurence was a man of such foresight
that much went according as he foretold.

65. On the eve of the Annunciation of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, when Bishop Laurence was

thinking of going to evensong, he felt
March 19 heavy and ill just as the bell was going,

and said to his close friend, Deacon Einar
Haflidason, that he could not go out to evensong,
but begged him to go and chant, some of the clergy
being ill. This sickness which Lord Laurence then
took, grew on him from day to day, so that he ate
well nigh nothing, which was a drain upon his
strength. Yet he went every day to High Mass,
leaning upon Deacon Einar. Lady Day was that
year the Monday in the last week of Lent. Ill as

he was, he never broke his dry fast. On
March 31 Easter Day he was at offices, sitting in

his seat ; had mass said to him in the
vestry, and received the Lord's Body. Through
the day he did not sit indoors with the priests.
But at evening he grew worse. And when the rest
were gone to sleep, he roamed about the timber
hall, and got himself upon the dais. He sent
Deacon Einar out to see where the star had
reached,25 and when the deacon came back, the
bishop said to him :

1 Friend, I dreamed a dream. I thought I was
lying on the dais, and I held up my right hand.

136 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 65.

And methought I had in my hand the bone of a
saint ; it was a long bone, and I thought I would
have that bone kept in St. Laurence's shrine.'

Now the bishop had made Eyjolf the goldsmith
make in the winter that shrine which now may be
seen above the high altar at H61ar.

Deacon Einar answered : ' This is a perfect
dream and a devout.'

The bishop answered : 'In my hand, there, I
had a hard feeling, for the bone is hard ; and that
will be a token of my sickness.'

Next day, in Easter week, he went very ill into

his study, sat in his chair, and bade Deacon Einar

drag out a great chest, giving him the

1331, key to open it. The bishop himself had
APril * the key to this chest, the deacon having
keys to all others in the wardrobe. Him
he bade take up everything from the chest and lay
it out on the floor. Then the deacon counted out
fifty pence, two rosaries of silver, weighing thirty-
seven marks, twenty-three silver spoons, five
brooches and three lockets, some old, broken
silver, and a few English pennies. These weighed
twenty-six marks and a quarter. Also there were
a chalice, a silver belt, three girdles, and tablets of
walrus tusk. Besides, he took out of a box ten
gold rings, having summoned Skuli the steward.

Then said the bishop to him and the deacon :
1 Here may ye see what things I have got and
gathered for the church here at H61ar since I have
been bishop. To this have gone my bishop's
tithes. Some of these I have bought ; some, good

ch.65.] BISHOP OF HdLAR. 137

friends of mine have given me, and I have gathered
what I thought would best suit the church.'

Then answered Skiili : ' The church would seem
to me to want meat and live beasts more than
these.'

'Say not so, Skiili,' said the deacon, 'nothing
can be more precious or needful to the church
than gold or refined silver, for with this refined
silver and gold the bishop can have many a blessed
thing wrought to deck the church withal, if he will
have a shrine or altar-piece made over the high
altar.'

Then the bishop spoke : ' What you two were
heard to say just now came verily from your
wisdom. Thou, Skiili, hast not looked well after
the live stock of the church, so that they have
starved and perished, and there is no use of them.
But this which you see now perishes not unless it
be wasted of men.'

Then the bishop bade them put the things back
as before. Sir Laurence sent a man west to
Breidabolstad to Sir Thorstein with a letter bidding
him come north with all speed. Another letter
was sent to Grenjadarstad to Sir Egil, bidding him
come to H61ar as swiftly as he might. Sir Thor-
stein came on the Sunday after Easter,

April 7 and the bishop rejoiced much at him.

April 8 On Monday the bishop announced to

Sir Thorstein that he wished to make his

will and all his dispositions ; saying he foresaw that

he would depart because of this sickness. Then he

told how he disposed about himself. Sir Egil was

138 LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch. 65.

not yet come. Sir Thorstein Illugason he made
his Official and vicar in spiritual things till another
bishop came to look after them. The clergy then
staying on the foundation were to have their table
there till another bishop came. There were also
other such elsewhere, which made eight or nine
poor clergy whom he had taken from poverty and
beggary and had taught the psalter and chanting
and Latin, so that then they were as good priests
as the rest. To the church of Thingeyri and to
Miinka-Thvera he made a gift, twelve hundred to
each monastery, and likewise twelve hundred to the
brethren at Modruvellir for their comfort. Also
all the almsmen were to stay on the foundation
and in its outlying parts till another bishop came.
To Sir Thorstein he gave twenty yards of cloth,
twelve hundred worth of stuff, and a goodly gold
ring ; to each of the choir priests a goodly gown.
To Steward Skiili he gave fifteen yards of cloth
and a coat.

To Deacon Einar he thus spoke : ' Our parting
is now other than I had meant ; for I had meant
to consecrate thee priest and give thee some such
rich benefice as thou deservest. As it is, we will
give thee, for thy comfort, and in return for thy
loyal and trusty service to us, a whole suit of cloth,
two tabard-kirtles with a hood. For this shalt
thou measure out of the wardrobe thirty ells of
linen, also thou shalt have whatever pillow for thy
head thou choosest, and a pair of shoes. Thou
deservest better for thy trusty service to us, and
we bid you, Sir Thorstein, my friend, to send him

ch.65.] BISHOP OF H6LAR. 139

south to Skalholt and have him consecrated by
Bishop John, so that he be hereafter choir priest
here at home till a bishop come. He has been
my one pupil who has never done aught against
me while he has been in my service.'

To everybody at the church he gave some keep-
sake : to each of the deacons six ells of linen : to
Solvi, the house-steward, six hundred ; to Gudnin,
the stewardess, eight yards of red cloth and a
psalter, to Thorir Isleifson, the guestman, a hun-
dred and twenty ; to Sigurd, the cook, a mortgage,
north in Myrk-Water. Brother Ami, his son, he
appointed to go back to his monastery at Thin-
geyri, sending a letter by him to Abbot Gudmund
to say what he bequeathed to the monastery of the
treasure which he had : this was nearly eighteen
hundred, and his clothes and books to boot. All

this was done on the Monday; on the
April 9 Tuesday he made his confession to Sir

Thorstein. Then were called all the
clerks and those of the servants at the church who
cared to attend. Sir Thorstein gave him extreme
unction, and before he was anointed the bishop
spoke again, declaring, concerning the people he
had put under the ban, namely Uppsala-Hr61f and
his train, that they should so remain till another
bishop arrived ; unless they were to swear to stand
to the judgment of Holy Church, in which case
the Official was to absolve them. After this speech
of the bishop he was anointed : and when the
body of God was brought to him he made a dis-
course so long and beautiful that many who were

i4o LIFE OF LAURENCE [ch.65.

there wept, and himself most. Now on Tuesday,
when, as we have said, the unction was over, his
strength sank and sank ; nevertheless he read his
offices, and ever through his illness he had read
unto him the Expositio?ies of St. Gregory the pope
and the prayers of Augustine ; and while he was
ill, he wept so sorely, especially when such things
were read before him, that the tears were never
dry on his cheeks.

On Friday in that week Sir Egil came to H61ar,

and when he and the bishop met the

April 12 bishop rose up in his bed to receive him

and embraced him with joy. Then they

spoke together of many things known to none else.

The bishop showed him how he had appointed
all things, and Sir Egil thought it wise in every jot.
On Saturday the bishop bade Deacon Einar bring
into the wooden hall — for he was lying there —
some very fair tapestries and two flagons wrought
preciously.

Then said the bishop to Sir Egil : ' These tapes-
tries, Sir Egil, we will give thee, and likewise these
flagons wherewith thou mayest deck thy room
fairly ; also we will give thee our gold ring which
we have had wrought and have worn, and there
is in it a holy relic of a bone of the sainted John,
Bishop of H61ar.

Then he took that same ring from his finger
and handed it to him; and as soon as Sir Egil
had thought to keep the ring, then the bishop
snatched the ring from him, saying : ' Thou shalt
not get the ring till I am dead ; thou wilt keep me
more in mind afterwards.'

ch. 65.] BISHOP OF HOLAR. 141

It was done even as he said. Then said the
bishop to Sir Egil that he would send him that
summer to Norway to the archbishop, with that
tidings about his death, which he said he knew
would quickly come to pass. Then were the
letters written which were to go on to the arch-
bishop, wherein Lord Laurence declared that it
would better serve the church, both lay and learned,
in H61ar see to have an Icelander for a bishop
than a Norwegian j for he would know the char-
acter of the people better. In all ways the bishop
prepared for his departure like one that was whole ;
but all could see how his strength faded. At . . .

[Here ends the Manuscript ; and the end of the
history for the three last days of Laurence'
life is lacking, for he died on the 1 6th of
April For his last day Einar's Annals
say:]

On the last day of his life he bade Sir Egil and

Deacon Einar read in his hearing the

Ap£\*6' offices of the Holy Ghost, and when they

were read he thus spoke : ' Ye twain are

both my disciples, and therefore I entreat you to

keep these offices hereafter every day.'

Then brother Ami read mass, and the bishop
made all his due responses in the Mass, and after
Mass, when the blessing was given upon those who
stood by, he yielded up his soul to God, as I should
truly trust. Also Sir Thorstein Illugason bore
witness that he had never been by any man who
had departed so wonderfully from the world as
Lord Bishop Laurence.

NOTES.

1. Ch. I. p. I. Admonished me to keep. That Einar
Haflidason, though nowhere so named, was the author of
this Saga, Dr. Vigfusson proves clearly in his preface to
Biskupa Sbgur, vol. i. His principal reasons are —

(i.) The frequent identity of language between the Saga
and the Annals which are known to be Einar's.
If the author of the Saga and Einar had been
different, one of them would have to be considered
as borrowing the words of the other about matters
he had seen with his own eyes ; which is most
unlikely.

(2.) The constant allusions in the Saga to Einar as a
bosom friend of Laurence ; chaps. 44, 47, 65, and
see Index.

(3.) The allusions to Einar's father, Haflidi Steinsson.
Einar is of course also the one who was night and
day in his service, a few lines lower.

2. Ch. I. p. 2. This account. Written more than fifteen
years after Laurence's death in 1331. This is proved
(Vigfusson) by the allusion in ch. 40 to 'Ami Vadi the
archbishop,' who was not archbishop till 1346. Einar's
Annals give 1307 for his birth, and the following prayer: —
' I, a sinner, entreat all who read or hear this history to
pray to God that on Doomsday I may be reckoned among
his chosen, and may his blessed mother Mary succour me
in my dying hour and beg mercy for me of her blessed Son.
Ave Maria mater domini succurre mihi peccatori hie et in

ftituro seeu/o, Amen. '

144 NOTES.

3. Ch. II. p. 2. Illugi, othenuise Hilarius. Cp. Jbrfs
Saga, ch. 7, where the founding of the Northern see is
described. ' At Holar . . . dwelt a worthy priest named
Illugi, son of Biorn. Of all the worthy men in the Northern
Quarter, he only was ready to rise up from his father's
heritage for the love of God and the needs of Holy Church.
For ere that there had been long beatings of the bush
(]>&for) betwixt the chief men, as to who should quit his
father's heritage and homestead, and none was ready to do
so, save he only. And all can see that this he did for
God's sake, and he might well hope for what must now
have been fulfilled, namely, that God would give him a fair
home in bliss everlasting, which may well be called the
inheritance of the good. '

4. Ch. III. p. 4. Keep awaterfast ; drink no wine or beer.

5. Ch. III. p. 4. 7'hese things befell abroad. Einar, the
Annalist, now and then spoils the flow of his Saga by these
Annual Registers. They are bare and often grammarless
lists of crusades, poisonings, battles, marvels ; in fact, all
the doings of the great world, strangely mixed up, and seen
belated and awry through the spectacles of a monk in a
remote island, which was shut off half the year from news.
The vital change for Iceland — Norwegian laws came — has
bare mention.

6. Ch. III. p. 5. Contest over the glebes (stadamdl). Also
ch. 5, p. 10, claim to the demesnes: and ch. 6, p. 10. This
attempt to impropriate for Holy Church, under the pretext
of Scriptural injunction, the estates of the lay Icelanders, is
recorded in the Second Life of St. Thorldk, ch. 12 (Bis. Sog.
i. 275). Thorlak, at his consecration in 1178, was instructed
by Archbishop Eystein that ' all the church estates which
were by old custom held by laymen should now be all under
the bishop's power according to the directions which were
attested by the orders of the apostles and holy fathers.'
The struggle, begun by Thorlak, to enforce this decree was
called stadamdl, the suit or litigation of the steads or livings ;
after it had lasted more than a century, it partly subsided,
while Laurence was still a priest, under an agreement made
in 1296 (see Icel. Diet. s.v. and end of ch. 11 below,
' twelve yeomen confirmed church property by oath ').

NOTES. 145

7. Ch. VI. p. 10, Sigurd. This Modruvellir compromise
is also named in Ami's Saga, ch. 53 (Bis. Sog. i. 750) ; and
the writer adds, 'and this happened on many other estates.'
By the time Laurence had become bishop, the stadamdl had
partly ceased, but the struggle began again within the
church between bishop and abbot : witness the wrangling
over Modruvellir itself which fills the end of our Saga.

8. Ch. VII. p. 12, Flitting-days (fardagar): 'four succes-
sive days in spring, at the end of May (O. S.) in which
householders in Iceland changed their abode.' (Diet, s.v.)

9. Ch. XI. p. 19, Long fast, Icel. langa-fasta; 'Lent'
was the foreign word.

10. Ch. XV. p. 25, Got hold of the ring of the church
door. Of course for sanctuary. Clerks means 'clergy'
(klerkar) throughout.

10a. Ch. XIV. p. 23, Fire came up from Mount Hekla.
This was in 1300. It is odd that Einar never mentioned in
ch. 7 above (though he names the earthquake), or in ch. 10
below, the great eruption of 1294, thus described in his
Annals for that year : — ' The fifth fire on Mount Hekla
came so furiously and with such an earthquake, that far
and wide in Fljots Hlid and in Rangarvellir and beyond
the River Thjor the earth split, and many houses fell
because of the earthquake, so that men perished. Men
could go dry shod over the Rang River because of the
pumice. Far and wide in Lon [Inlet] and wherever the
stream slackened the pumice was so thick as to hide the
river. ... At Husatopt the hot spring vanished which
had been there from all ages. So deep a gulf and cleft
came that no man could see its bottom. . . . For three
days in Flagbjorn Holt the becks were like milk to look
upon. '

n. Ch. XV. p. 26, a moot; Norse thing, the general
word for a formal assembly.

12. Ch. XVII. p. 28, novellae, Icel. nyjungar, innova-
tions in law.

13. Ch. XIX. p. 34. Compare the episode of Snjolf in
ch. 50. The good chronicler, like everybody else of his
time, is ever on the watch for a judgment.

K

146 NOTES.

14. Ch. XIX. p. 35, St. Thorldk. The life of this fiery
bishop is translated by Mr. York Powell, and included in
Vigfusson and Powell's Origines Islandiae. It is a very
remarkable Saga. The Annals of Einar say that Thorlak
was enshrined in 1292.

15. Ch. XIX. p. 35, Audite. The song of Moses in
Deuteronomy xxxii.

16. Ch. XXIV. p. 47, official, Lat. officialis — a vicarius
or deputy-in-charge.

17. Ch. XXX. p. 58, A man whom he trusted. This
and similar phrases point to Einar, the biographer, who
names himself for the first time on p. 60 below, as a pupil
of Laurence.

18. Ch. XXXII. p. 63, Gudmundar Saga, ch. 8, Bis.
Sbg. i. 420-I.

19. Ch. XXXV, p. 71 and ch. 48, p. 100, ells, of
wadmal or stuff — the Icelandic measure of value in most
cases. This arrangement of Audun's would have lowered
the minimum of taxable incomes (120 ells here =120 ells
a year), and struck at the poor ; hence the fury of the
4 vagabonds' or ' land-loupers ' (lausamemi).

20. Ch. XXXVI. p. 74, Pledging of Mary {Marlu-
minni). ' These memorial toasts were in the heathen age
consecrated to the gods Thor, Odin, Bragi, Frey, Njord,
who on the introduction of Christianity were replaced by
Christ, the Saints, the Archangel Michael, the Virgin
Mary, and St. Olaf. The toasts to the Queen, Army, etc.,
in English banquets are probably a relic of this ancient
Teutonic ceremony.' (Diet. s.v. Minni.)

21. Ch. XLIV. p. 92, low-chant-, namely when the
Host was elevated. The whole picture of Laurence's life
and ministrations is very natural and touching ; the early-
dews were still on Christianity in Iceland. People had,
indeed, that childlike interest in church clothes and
upholstery which is not yet extinct ; but then they wrestled
in prayer, like Vikings in battle with man or the elemencs.

22. Ch. L. p. 103, quit of the iron prong. Does Snjolf
mean his pride that had shackled him ?

23. Ch. LIII. p. 109, singing-maids. Also a kind of
bell.

NOTES. 147

24. Ch. LVI. p. 118. Einar says in the Annals for 1327,
1 they made such a set at Laurence that they nearly sus-
pended him from his bishopric'

25. Ch. LXV. p. 135, Where the star had reached. 'In
olden and modern days in Iceland the time in the winter
evenings was marked by the position of the Pleiades above
the horizon . . . that constellation is therefore called ' ' the
star " par excellence.'' (Diet. s.v. St jama.)

INDEX

Notb. — The accent lengthens the vowel, but does not stress the
syllable. The numbers refer to the pages of this book.

Aki, Hakon's orator, 26.

Alf Krdk to Iceland with writs, 28.

Arngrim Brandson, to Norway

from Bishop John, 121 ; at the

organ, 122.
Arni, Bishop of Skalholt, goes out,

5 ; back, 10 ; receives Laurence,

12-13, 32 > his humility, 36.
Arni, 'Gadding,' his presumption,

Arni, son of Laurence, born, 28 ;
monk, 68 ; crosses Laurence, 89 ;
priest, 97 ; riotous, ill, repentant,
and relapses, 134.

Audun the 'Red,' canon at Ni-
dards and Archbishop Jorund's
enemy, 21 ; Laurence's enemy,
48 ; bishop of Hdlar, 61 ; slights
Laurence, 62 ; energy, liberality,
and power, 65 ; visits, 69 ; recon-
ciled to Laurence, 71 ; to Nor-
way, 73 ; ill, 74 ; recommends
Laurence as his successor, 75 ;
dies, 76.

Baegis Water, 37.

Ban of the Church, 11, 100.

Berg the ' Wren,' his folly, 29-30.

Berg Jdnsson, steward of Eilif, 132.

Berg Sokkason, friend of Laurence,
68 ; made by him reformer of
Munka-Thvera, 8 ; abbot, 97.

Bjdrn, brother, goes to Iceland
with Laurence as visitor, 31, 32 ;
his presumption, 33 ; quarrels
with Laurence, 40 ; back to Nor-
way, 41.

Bjdrn Qfeigsson, 96, 123.

Bjdrn Onundarson, steward, 103.

Breidabdlstad, in Vestrhdp, 3, 67.

Canons at Nidards, quarrel with
Archbishop Jdrund, 21 ; de-
nounced by Laurence, 23 ; get
him sent to Iceland, 30 ; take all
rule, 42 ; seize, imprison, slander
Laurence, 42-48 : send him back
to Hdlar, 52 ; elect him bishop
there, 76.

Christ Church at Nidards, 76 ;
burnt, 132.

Dreams, of Thorgrima, % ; of
Laurence, 53, 56, 136.

Earthquakes, 14, 42.

Egil Eyjolfsson, taught by Laur-
ence, 60 ; priest, 69 ; mediates be-
tween Laurence and Audun, 71 ;
brings decree electing Laurence,
78 ; gets Grenjadarstad, 90 ;
advises Laurence, 119; sent to
Throndhjem about Mddruvellir,
120-2; wins case, 127; at last
illness of Laurence, 136-end.

i5o

INDEX.

Eilif, Sir, Canon at Nidards, 21 ;
Official, 47 ; Archbishop, 54 ;
elects Laurence, 76 ; friendly
with him, 85.

Eilif, a priest of small Latin, 35.

Einar Haflidason, the biographer,
schooled by Laurence, 60 ; emi-
nent, 66 ; best loved of Laurence,
02 ; reads to Laurence, 95 ; has
his signet, 98 ; 'his close friend,'
135 ; sees him die, 140-1.

Eirek, King of Norway, 5, 9;
eats and drinks to Laurence,
14-5 ; dies, 22.

Eyja Firth, 36, 37.

Finnbj5kn, a yeoman, 82.

Gaseyri, 40, 43-4, 119.

Gizur ■ Gall,' 105.

Goldsmith Eyjdlf, 132, 136.

Grenjadar-stad or benefice, 62, 72,
90.

Gudmund, Abbot of Thingeyri,
welcomes Laurence, 60 ; dis-
agrees with Audun, 67 ; to Nor-
way, 73 ; back, 77 ; agrees with
Laurence about Thingeyri, 99.

Gudmund Hallson, levies men,
8-9.

Gudmund, Bishop of Hdlar, his
remains, honoured by Audun,
63-4-

Gudrun, the Lady, entertains
Gudmund, 78.

Gudrun, daughter of Illugi, 100.

Gulskitni, 45.

Haflidi Steinsson, ' dearest
friend ' of Laurence, 3 ; steward
at Hdlar, 10 ; counsels Laurence
not to resist Bishop Jorund, 41 ;
at Breidabdlstad, 60, 67 ; father
of Einar2 60; prebendary at
Thingeyri, 67 ; dies, 70.

Hakon, King of Norway, 1, 22, 26,
7°-

Hakon Ulfsson, opens letters,
127-8.

Hallbera, abbess at Stad, 17; dies,

133-
Hekla, eruption, 23, and note xoa.
Hildibrand, priest at Baegis Water,

37-40.
Hdlar, passim.
Hvamm living, 82.

Illugi or Ilarius, 2, and see note 3.

John the Fleming, teaches Canon
Law to Laurence, 17 ; his Norse,
20.

John of Hdlar, bishop and saint,
his memory honoured by Audun,
64-5 ; his bowl, 86.

John Hallddrsson, bishop of Skal-
holt, elected, 77 ; arrives, 87 ;
his dealings, coldness, and par-
tial reconciliation with Laurence ,
103, 108-110, 115, 123, 129.

John Kodransson, 105.

Jorund, archbishop at Nidards, 9;
his character ; visited by Laur-
ence, 16 ; gives him a church,
18 ; quarrels with the Chapter,
21 ; makes a writ against them,
23 ; rebukes Laurence, 31 ; falls
sick, and loses power, 42 ; pities
Laurence, 51 ; dies, 52.

Jorund, Thorsteinsson, Bishop of
Hdlar, 1 ; to Norway, 5 ; teaches
Laurence, 7 ; abroad again, 8 ;
back, 9; gives Laurence a living,
9 ; takes part in Glebe-contest,
10 ; in affair of Modruvellir, 10-
12 ; deals with Berg ' Wren,' 29 ;
his penetration, 30 ; cool _ to
Laurence, 36-39 ; opposes him,

41 ; bitterly and openly, 43 *,
speaks more softly, 44 ; slanders
Laurence to the archbishop, 45-

49 ; receives him better, 53 ;
dies, 57.

Kalf, father of Laurence, 2, 3, 6.
Ketil Thorkelsson, 70, 79, 113.
Klaeng ' the Caster,' 20.
Klaeng Hjaltason, priest, 130.

INDEX.

t5'

Kodran Hranason, Sir, 58 ; Audun
takes Grenjadarstad from him,
62 ; quarrels further with Audun,
66 ; dies, 70.

Latin, use of, 8, 15, 17, 20, 26,
3*> 65.

Laurence K&lfsson, parentage and
birth, 1-4 ; boyhood, 5-8 ; priest
at twenty-two, 9 ; first rebuffs
from Bishop Jorund, 10-12 ; to
Norway to K. Eirek, 14-16 ; at
Throndhjem, feuds with Chap-
ter, 17-32; ' visitor ' with Bjorn
to Hdlar See, and feuds with
Bishop Jorund, 33-44 ; back to
Throndhjem and imprisoned,
45-52 ; to Iceland and in low
fortune, 52-68 ; Benedictine
monk, 68 ; elected bishop, 76 ;
his administration, 80-83 '■> con-
secration, 87 ; way of daily life,
90-97 ; settles Thingeyri monas-
tery, 99 ; punishes lawless
unions, 100-102 ; litigation with
M5druyellir, 106-128 ; admon-
ishes Ami, 134 ; sickness and
death, 135-141.

Letters-patent, 32, 38.

Magnus, King, 1, 15.

Malfrid, The Lady, 77-8.

Miracles, 6, 9, 80.

Modruvellir, Sigurd evicted from,
10; cloister of canons founded
by Jorund in 1295, 19 ; chanting
instituted, 28 ; brethren spend,
66 ; burnt, 67 ; pays Hdlar rent,
81 ; complains against Laurence
in consequence — his answer, 87-
88 ; arbitrators appointed, 106 ;
debate, 107-9 \ Laurence repairs
it, 109 ; he summoned on new
plaint, 113; new debate and
apparent concession by Laur-
ence, 114-119; who sends Egil
to Norway to appeal, 120-122 ;
and so gains the case, 126 ; and
reforms monastery, 130.

Munka-Thvera, Thdrir, abbot of,
36 ; disputes, 37-40 ; Laurence
visits, 57 ; Berg Sokkason
abbot, 81.

Music on organ, 122 ; on harp, 3 ;
in Iceland, 123.

Nidaros, see under Archbishop

Jorund and Eilif.
Norwegian laws into Iceland, 5.

Oblaud, Hallvardson, 7.

6laf's Church in Nidaros, 18-21,

25 ; Olaf's offering, 21.
Olaf Hjaltason, 91, 97.

Paul Thorsteinsson, hi.
Peter, Lord, 12-14,

Sighvat the Landsman, 21, 23.
48.

Sigurd of Hlid, 10, 11.

Skalholt, 5, 12, 52, and very often.

Skuli Ingason, steward at Hdlar,
80 ; improvident, 133, 136-7.

Snjdlf, Sir, enemy of Laurence,
39, 61 ; excommunicated but
indifferent, 72 ; quarrels with
Bishop Laurence, 84 ; humble,
tipsy, punished miraculously,
repentant, 103-104,

Solveig, 37.

' Stadamal ' or Glebe dispute, see
note 6.

Thingeyri monastery, arbitrated
on by Laurence, 83 ; debated
before Archbishop Eilif, 88-9 ;
tithes dispute settled by Laur-
ence, 99, ico.

Thdrarin ' Keg,' 2-4.

Thdrd, Lord, 30; shelters Laur-
ence^ 36, 39.

Thorgeir, 123.

Thorgrima, Laurence's mother,
2-4.

Thorlak, bishop and saint, 33.

Thorlak, abbot, 113.

152

INDEX.

Thorstein Kolbeinsson, ioo.

Thorstein Illugason, 'shardstone,'
Official at Hdlar, 58, 59, 79 ; at
Breidabdlstad— visits last illness
of Laurence, 137-end.

Thorstein Thorleifsson, quest-
man, 96.

Thorvald Geirsson, 37.

Thrand, 'Cracker,' 15.

Throndhjem, see under Archbishop
Jorund and Eilif.

Thurid, mistress of Laurence and
mother of Ami, 23 ; succours

Laurence in prison, 50; the Lady
Thurid (?), 82.

Uppsala-Hr6lf intrudes at Mod-
ruvellir, 122-124; banned, 130.

ValthjoV, Sir, choirmaster at
Hdlar, 91 ; assaults Deacon
Thdrd in church, 112.

Vellir, 2, 97.

Warcrack, 16.
Waterfast, 4 : see note 4.

Printed by T. and A. Constable, Printers to Her Majesty,
at the Edinburgh. University Press.

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The

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