Brand.—­In return for our being freed from the excommunication of the Holy Church I and Broddi Thorleifsson each will give the value of five hundred in land, to the see of Holar; and two hundred for each of those who were present at the slaying of Thorolf, as is set forth more explicitly in the deed of gift which I now deliver into your hands and which Deacon Sigurd worded. (Gives the bishop a scroll of parchment.  BRAND and his men rearrange their garments.)

Botolf.—­Exceeding bold have you become, Deacon Sigurd, to carry weapons and to shed blood.

Broddi.—­A weaponless man is but a wretch, my lord!

Sigurd.—­Armed priests went to war with Bishop Gudmund Arason, my lord!

Botolf.—­Because of his visitations with armed men, his battlings, and his unruliness Bishop Gudmund was declared to have forfeited his office.

Brand.—­Yet retained his office as bishop till his dying day, through the good services of Kolbein the Young.

Botolf.—­Kolbein is king over you all, yet archbishop, I know, he is not.  Over my clerics I mean to rule so long as I am in power.

Sigurd.—­I did not urge on to Thorolf’s execution, and no sacraments would he have received had I not been one of the company.

Botolf.—­For that reason I shall let pass by your transgression, this once, but leave your weapons here, when you depart, and never more carry weapons henceforth.

Sigurd.—­I shall obey, my lord!

Kolbein Kaldaljos (enters).—­Now I would pray you, sir bishop, that you assist my son and his men to obtain a becoming reconciliation in the action about Thorolf’s death; because my namesake Kolbein was a stanch friend of his.

Botolf.—­Those who are reconciled with the Holy Church ought also to be reconciled with all Christian men.

Alf.—­They ought certainly; but Kolbein the Young is but little of a Christian when he means to take revenge for one of his men.

Broddi.—­He will perhaps call the slaying of Thorolf an act of insurrection against himself.

Botolf.—­It is an ill matter to assist rebels.

Kolbein Kaldaljos.—­Thorolf insulted my son by giving him a nickname, and he took revenge for that.

Botolf.—­You Icelanders must be more deliberate in your words than are we Norwegians, if every nickname shall cost a man’s life.  The slaying of Thorolf was a wicked deed, because Brand swore him an eternal truce.  But in this land every one seems hardened in the ways of Kain.

Kolbein Kaldaljos.—­My son Brand will succeed to Kolbein the Young!

Botolf.—­He will succeed Kolbein?  Then shall I seek to bring about a reconciliation between you and Kolbein the Young!

Broddi.—­And for the purpose that it come about in the smoothest manner possible I need the fortifications of your see a day or two for my men.