Sword and crozier, drama in five acts eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 125 pages of information about Sword and crozier, drama in five acts.

Sword and crozier, drama in five acts eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 125 pages of information about Sword and crozier, drama in five acts.

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.

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Sword and crozier, drama in five acts from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.