(A.D. 1164); but when summer came he proceeded north to
Bergen, where at that time a great many people were assembled. There
was the legate from Rome, Stephanus; the Archbishop Eystein, and other
bishops of the country. There was also Bishop Brand, who was consecrated
bishop of Iceland, and Jon Loptson, a daughter's son of King Magnus
Barefoot; and on this occasion King Magnus and Jon's other relations
acknowledged the relationship with him.

Archbishop Eystein and Erling Skakke often conversed together in
private; and, among other things, Erling asked one day, "Is it true,
sir, what people tell me, that you have raised the value of the ore upon
the people north in Throndhjem, in the law cases in which money-fees are
paid you?"

"It is so," said the archbishop, "that the bondes have allowed me an
advance on the ore of law casualties; but they did it willingly, and
without any kind of compulsion, and have thereby added to their honour
for God and the income of the bishopric."

Erling replies, "Is this according to the law of the holy Olaf? or have
you gone to work more arbitrarily in this than is written down in the
lawbook?"

The archbishop replies, "King Olaf the Holy fixed the laws, to which he
received the consent and affirmative of the people; but it will not be
found in his laws that it is forbidden to increase God's right."

Erling: "If you augment your right, you must assist us to augment as
much the king's right."

The archbishop: "Thou hast already augmented enough thy son's power and
dominion; and if I have exceeded the law in taking an increase of the
ore from the Throndhjem people, it is, I think, a much greater breach of
the law that one is king over the country who is not a king's son, and
which has neither any support in the law, nor in any precedent here in
the country."

Erling: "When Magnus was chosen king, it was done with your knowledge
and consent, and also of all the other bishops here in the country."

Archbishop: "You promised then, Erling, that provided we gave our
consent to electing Magnus king, you would, on all occasions, and with
all your power, strengthen God's rights."

Erling: "I may well admit that I have promised to preserve and
strengthen God's commands and the laws of the land with all my power,
and with the king's strength; and now I consider it to be much more
advisable, instead of accusing each other of a breach of our promises,
to hold firmly by the agreement entered i