_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.
_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.