Magnus Erlingsson 277 



Thus the new constitution was both a benefit and an 

 evil to Norway. It was an evil in that it made the 

 monarchv subservient to the Church ; it was a benefit 

 in that it put a stop to, or was designed to put a stop 

 to, the continual partition of the country between the 

 sons of the deceased monarch, as this custom had 

 hitherto prevailed. In virtue of what may really be 

 called this New Constitution, Archbishop Eystein con- 

 sented, in A.D. 1164, to anoint Magnus Erlingsson as 

 King of Norway, a ceremony which had been hitherto 

 unknown to the Norse constitution. 



For a while everything seemed to go well with the 

 new dynasty. More and more of the lendermen of the 

 opposition parties gave in their adherence to Erling and 

 his son Magnus. There remained only bands of mal- 

 contents hovering in various parts of the country, chiefly 

 in the markland between Norway and Sweden. The 

 Saga gives a picturesque description of how Erling 

 was nearly caught by one of these bands at a place 

 called Rydiokul, on Lake Venner. He was keeping 

 Candlemas there, and the priest of the place, who was 

 secretly in league with the rebels, made Erling and his 

 men drunk, and then sent word to the leader of the 

 outlaws. He, in the hope of entrapping Erling, marched 

 that night forty-three miles, but, through the extreme 

 darkness of the night, eventually failed in his attempt. 



Up to now the history of Norway seems to belong 

 chiefly to the coast districts. In the earlier years, from 

 the time of Hafirsfjord Battle down through many cen- 

 turies, almost all the engagements of importance had 

 been either naval battles, or, if fought on land, they took 



