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ith Cecilia。 When a bishop who ruled there heard of this he went to the king； and asked if it were true that he intended to marry in the lifetime of the queen。
The king said it was so。
The bishop answers； 〃If it be so； sire； you must know how much such a thing is forbidden to inferior persons。 Now it appears as if you thought it was allowable for you； because you have great power； and that it is proper for you； although it is against right and propriety； but I do not know how you will do it in our bishopric； dishonouring thereby God's command； the holy Church； and our episcopal authority。 But you must bestow a great amount of gifts and estates on this foundation； and thereby pay the mulct due to God and to us for such transgression。〃
Then said the king； 〃Take what thou wilt of our possessions。 Thou art far more reasonable than Bishop Magne。〃
Then the king went away； as well pleased with this bishop as ill pleased with him who had laid a prohibition on him。 Thereafter the king married the girl； and loved her tenderly。
41。 IMPROVEMENT OF KONUNGAHELLA。
King Sigurd improved the town of Konungahella so much； that there was not a greater town in Norway at the time； and he remained there long for the defence of the frontiers。 He built a king's house in the castle； and imposed a duty on all the districts in the neighbourhood of the town； as well as on the townspeople； that every person of nine years of age and upwards should bring to the castle five missile stones for weapons； or as many large stakes sharp at one end and five ells long。 In the castle the king built a cross…church of timber； and carefully put together； as far as regards the wood and other materials。 The cross…church was consecrated in the 24th year of King Sigurd's reign （A。D。 1127）。 Here the king deposited the piece of the holy cross； and many other holy relics。 It was called the castle church； and before the high altar he placed the tables he had got made in the Greek country； which were of copper and silver； all gilt； and beautifully adorned with jewels。 Here was also the shrine which the Danish king Eirik Eimune had sent to King Sigurd； and the altar book； written with gold letters； which the patriarch had presented to King Sigurd。
42。 KING SIGURD'S DEATH。
Three years after the consecration of the cross…church； when King Sigurd was stopping at Viken； he fell sick （A。D。 1130）。 He died the night before Mary's…mass （August 15）； and was buried in Halvard's church； where he was laid in the stone wall without the choir on the south side。 His son Magnus was in the town at the time and took possession of the whole of the king's treasury when King Sigurd died。 Sigurd had been king of Norway twenty…seven years （A。D。 1104…1130）； and was forty years of age when he died。 The time of his reign was good for the country； for there was peace； and crops were good。
SAGA OF MAGNUS THE BLIND AND OF HARALD GILLE。
PRELIMINARY REMARKS
An age of conflict now begins in Norway。 On his death； in 1130； Sigurd left his son Magnus and his brother Harald。 They soon divided the government； and then entered upon a five…years' conflict； until Magnus； in 1135； with eyes picked out； went into a convent。
The next year； 1136； a new pretender appeared in the person of Sigurd Slembe； who took King Harald's life in 1137。 Magnus died in 1139。
Other literature in regard to this epoch is 〃Fagrskinna〃 and 〃Morkinskinna〃。 The corresponding part of 〃Agrip〃 is lost。
Skalds quoted are： Haldor Skvaldre； Einar Skulason； and Ivar Ingemundson。
1。 MAGNUS AND HARALD PROCLAIMED KINGS。
King Sigurd's son Magnus was proclaimed in Oslo king of all the country immediately after his father's death； according to the oath which the whole nation had sworn to King Sigurd； and many went into his service； and many became his lendermen。 Magnus was the handsomest man then in Norway； of a passionate temper； and cruel； but distinguished in bodily exercises。 The favour of the people he owed most to the respect for his father。 He was a great drinker； greedy of money； hard； and obstinate。
Harald Gille； on the other hand； was very pleasing in intercourse； gay； and full of mirth； and so generous that he spared in nothing for the sake of his friends。 He willingly listened to good advice； so that he allowed others to consult with him and give counsel。 With all this he obtained favour and a good repute； and many men attached themselves as much to him as to King Magnus。 Harald was in Tunsberg when he heard of his brother King Sigurd's death。 He called together his friends to a meeting； and it was resolved to hold the Hauga Thing （1） there in the town。 At this Thing； Harald was chosen king of half the country； and it was called a forced oath which had been taken from him to renounce his paternal heritage。 Then Harald formed a court； and appointed lendermen； and very soon he had as many people about him as King Magnus。 Then men went between them； and matters stood in this way for seven days； but King Magnus； finding he had fewer people； was obliged to give way； and to divide the kingdom with Harald into two parts。 The kingdom accordingly was so divided （October 3； 1130） that each of them should have the half part of the kingdom which King Sigurd had possessed； but that King Magnus alone should inherit the fleet of ships； the table service； the valuable articles and the movable effects which had belonged to his father； King Sigurd。 He was notwithstanding the least satisfied with his share。 Although they were of such different dispositions； they ruled the country for some time in peace。 King Harald had a son called Sigurd； by Thora； a daughter of Guthorm Grabarde。 King Harald afterwards married Ingerid； a daughter of Ragnvald； who was a son of the Swedish King Inge Steinkelson。 King Magnus was married to a daughter of Knut Lavard； and she was a sister of the Danish King Valdernar； but King Magnus having no affection for her； sent her back to Denmark； and from that day everything went ill with him； and he brought upon himself the enmity of her family。
ENDNOTES： （1） Hauga…thing means a Thing held at the tumuli or burial mounds。 L。
2。 OF THE FORCES OF HARALD AND MAGNUS。
When the two relations； Harald and Magnus； had been about three years kings of Norway （A。D。 1131…1133）； they both passed the fourth winter （A。D。 1134） in the town of Nidaros； and invited each other as guests； but their people were always ready for a fight。 In spring King Magnus sailed southwards along the land with his fleet； and drew all the men he could obtain out of each district； and sounded his friends if they would strengthen him with their power to take the kingly dignity from Harald； and give him such a portion of the kingdom； as might be suitable； representing to them that King Harald had already renounced the kingdom by oath。 King Magnus obtained the consent of many powerful men。 The same spring Harald went to the Uplands； and by the upper roads eastwards to Viken； and when he heard what King Magnus was doing； he also drew together men on his side。 Wheresoever the two parties went they killed the cattle； or even the people； upon the farms of the adverse p