Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/334

 322 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA XVI. Chapter XXII. King Mag- nus's con- secration. Mao-nus is son of a queen and a lawfully married wife. NoAV if you will give him royal consecration, no man can take royalty from him. William Bastard was not a king's son ; but he was consecrated and crowned king of England, and the royalty in England has ever since remained with his race, and all have been crowned. Now we have here in Norway an archiepiscopal seat, to the glory and honour of the country ; let us also have a crowned king, as well as the Danes and Englishmen.'' Erling and the archbishop afterwards talked often of this matter, and they were quite agreed. Then the archbishop brought the business before the legate, and got him easily persuaded to give his consent. Thereafter the archbishop called together the bishops, and other learned men, and explained the subject to them. They all replied in the same terms, that they would follow the counsels of the archbishop, and all were eager to promote the consecration as soon as the archbishop pleased. Erling Skakke then had a great feast prepared in the king's house. The large hall was covered with costly cloth and tapestry, and adorned with great expense. The court-men and all the attendants were there entertained, and there were numerous guests, and many chiefs. Then King Magnus received the royal consecration from the Archbishop Eystein ; and at the consecration there were five other bishops and the legate, besides a number of other clergy. Erling Skakke, and with him twelve other lendermen, admi- nistered to the king the oath of the law ; and the day of the consecration the king and Erling had the legate, the archbishop, and all the other bishops as guests ; and the feast was exceedingly magnificent, and the father and son distributed many great pre- sents. King Magnus was then eight years of age, and had been king for three years.