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