LEACH. — NORWEGIAN AND ENGLISH CHURCHES, 1066-1399. 539 



allowed Ey stein ceased. At that time, then, we may suppose he left 

 the abbey. About that date, "one year and three months having elapsed 

 since the death of Abbot Hugh (November 15, 1180), the king commanded 

 by his letters that one prior and twelve of the convent, in whose mouth 

 the judgment of our body might agree, should appear on a certain day 

 before him to make choice of an abbot." 39 Two days later the thir- 

 teen set forth. Now, Eystein is not mentioned by Jocelin as a member 

 of the cavalcade, but Jocelin does say that Eystein " was of considerable 

 assistance in obtaining for us our free election, bearing witness of what 

 was well, and publicly declaring before the king what he had seen and 

 heard." 40 It seems, then, likely that Eystein left the abbey on the 

 15th, after the receipt of letters from the king, and proceeded to 

 Waltham, where he interceded with Henry on behalf of the abbey- 

 convent. Partly as the result of Eystein's intercession, Henry, instead 

 of appointing an objectionable stranger, gave to the delegates their free 

 choice of Samson, the sub-sacrist, for their new abbot. 



Where Eystein stayed during the remainder of his English visit, a 

 year and four months, we have no inkling. King Henry did not delay 

 long in England. The day after Samson's election he made his will, 

 and on March 10-11 embarked again for France, not returning until 

 June, 1184, a year after Eystein reached Norway. While he was with 

 the king, it is probable that Eystein gained that privilege from Henry II 

 for the Archbishop of Nidaros to export each year from England a 

 shipload of grain free of duty, a license which was renewed by Richard, 

 John, and Henry III. 41 At any rate, Eystein influenced English ideas 

 of Norwegian politics. Although King John in 1201 sent troops to aid 

 Sverri, 42 the chronicler William of Newburgh heaps abuse upon 

 Eystein's enemy — " sacro ordine abjurato," " caput execrabile." 43 



Early in the summer of 1183, then, according to Sverris Saga, 

 Eystein returned to Norway, made his peace with Sverri, and retired 

 north to his see at Trondhjem. The Icelandic annals barely record 

 that "Eystein the archbishop came to Norway from England." 44 

 After his return he lived in retirement from politics until his death in 

 1188. His last years were spent in revising the old laws of the land. 

 He also began the cathedral of Trondhjem, probably on Anglo-Norman 

 models, — not completed for fifty years. 



39 Clarke trans., p. 24. 



40 Note 25 (4) (trans. Clarke, p. 23). 



41 See below, p. 543. 



42 Sverris Saga (ed. Unger), chap. 194; Rotulus Cancellarii, p. 322. 



43 Note 25 (3). 



44 Note 25 (7). 



