her attendants on
his person. He ordered all the silver-plate belonging to his table to be
weighed, and to be distributed if his standard silver fell short....
King Haco received extreme unction on the night before the festival of
St. Lucia. Thorgisl, Bishop of Stravanger, Gilbert, Bishop of Hainar,
Henry, Bishop of Orkney, Albert Thorleif and many other learned men,
were present; and, before the unction, all present bade the king
farewell with a kiss.... The festival of the Virgin St. Lucia happened
on a Thursday; and on the Saturday after, the king's disorder increased
to such a degree, that he lost the use of his speech; and at midnight
Almighty God called King Haco out of this mortal life. This was matter
of great grief to all those who attended, and to most of those who heard
of the event. The following barons were present at the death of the
king:--Briniolf Johnson, Erling Alfson, John Drottning, Ronald Urka, and
some domestics who had been near the king's person during his illness.
Immediately on the decease of the king, bishops and learned men were
sent for to sing mass.... On Sunday the royal corpse was carried to the
upper hall, and laid on a bier. The body was clothed in a rich garb,
with a garland on its head, and dressed out as became a crowned monarch.
The masters of the lights stood with tapers in their hands, and the
whole hall was illuminated. All the people came to see the body, which
appeared beautiful and animated; and the king's countenance was as fair
and ruddy as while he was alive. It was some alleviation of the deep
sorrow of the beholders to see the corpse of their departed sovereign so
decorated. High mass was then sung for the deceased. The nobility kept
watch by the body during the night. On Monday the remains of King Haco
were carried to St. Magnus Church, where they lay in state that night.
On Tuesday the royal corpse was put in a coffin, and buried in the choir
of St. Magnus Church, near the steps leading to the shrine of St.
Magnus, Earl of Orkney. The tomb was then closed, and a canopy was
spread over it. It was also determined that watch should be kept over
the king's grave all winter. At Christmas the bishop and Andrew Plytt
furnished entertainments, as the king had directed; and good presents
were given to all the soldiers. King Haco had given orders that his
remains should be carried east to Norway, and buried near his fathers
and relatives. Towards the end of winter, therefore, that