KINGS OF NORWAY. 215 admit it, and offered to clear himself by ordeal. King saga xm. Harald would not have this, but laid on the bishop a money fine of fifteen marks of gold, which he should pay to the king. The bishop declared he would not thus impoverish his bishop's see, but would rather offer his life. On this they hanged the bishop out on the holm, beside the sling machine. As he was going to the gallows he threw the sock from his foot, and said with an oath, ^' I know no more about King Mag- nus's treasure than what is in this sock ; " and in it there was a gold ring. Bishop Reinhold was buried at North-ness in Michael's church, and this deed was much blamed. After this Harald Gille was sole king of Norway as long as he lived. Five years after King Sigurd's death remarkable Chapter occurrences took place in Konghelle. Guttorm, a son Extra- of Harald Flitter, and Saemund Huusfreya, were at «^^"^^7 ' J ' omens in that time the king's officers there. Ssemund was Kongheiie. married to Ingeborg, a daughter of the priest Andreas Brunsson. Their sons were Paul Flip and Gunne Fis. Sasmund's natural son was called Aasmund. Andreas Brunsson was a very remarkable man, who carried on divine service in the Cross church. His wife* was called Solveig. John Loptson, who was then eleven years old, was in their house to be fos- tered and educated. The priest Lopt Ssemundson, John's father, was also in the town at that time. It happened now in Konghelle, the next Sunday night after Easter week, that there was a great noise in the streets through the whole town, as if the king was going through with all his court-men. The dogs were so affected that nobody could hold them, but they slipped loose; and when they came out they ran mad, biting all that came in their way, people and cattle. All who were bitten by them till the blood
- The Catholic priests appear to have had wives at that time in Nor-
way, and cehbacy to have been confined to the monks. p 4
