him night and day; first the lives of Saints, and, when they were ended, he made his attendants read the Chronicles of our Kings from Haldan the Black, and so of all the Norwegian Monarchs in succession, one after the other.  The King still found his disorder increasing.  He, therefore, took into consideration the pay to be given to his troops, and commanded that a mark of fine silver should be given to each courtier, and half a mark to each of the masters of the lights, chamberlains, and other attendants on his person.  He ordered all the ungilt plate belonging to his table to be weighed, and to be distributed if his plain silver fell short.  At this time also letters were wrote to Prince Magnus concerning the government of the nation, and some things which the King wanted to have settled respecting the army.  King Haco received extreme unction on the night before the festival of St Lucia.[103] Thorgisl, Bishop of Stavanger, Gilbert Bishop of Hamar, Henry Bishop of Orkney, Abbot Thorleif, and many other learned men were present; and before the unction, all present bade the King farewell with a kiss.  He still spoke distinctly; and his particular favourites asked him if he left behind him any other son than Prince Magnus, or any other heirs that should share in the kingdom, but he uniformly persisted that he had no other heirs in the male or female line, than what were publicly known.

When the histories of all the Kings down to Suerer had been recited, he ordered the life of that Prince to be read, and to be continued night and day, whenever he found himself indisposed to sleep.

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.  Afterwards all the company went out except Bishop Thorgisl, Briniolf Johnson and two other persons, who watched by the body, and performed all the services due to so illustrious a Lord and Prince as King Haco had been.  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 the 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