Gripla - 01.01.1993, Blaðsíða 207

SAINTS AND SINNERS
207
The events of the following weeks are to the credit neither of Þorgils
nor of the bishop. The author describes Heinrekr’s behaviour as fol-
lows: ‘Biskup varð þá reiðr mjök ok mælti mörg óþægileg orð við Þor-
gils, þau sem eigi hæfir at rita.’102 At first, Þorgils reacts with unusual
self-control: ‘Eigi mun ek leggja hendr á yðr, herra, ok eigi ræna stað-
inn á Hólum, en svá munuð þér til mega ætla, at ek muna lítils virða
yðvarn vilja í heraði, ef þér virðið minn vilja einskis.’103 When the
bishop threatens to put the entire district under interdict, however, his
response is more characteristic: ‘Mun ek taka vini hans ok vanðamenn
ok hrekja suma, en ræna eða berja suma, ok góðra gjalda vert, ef eigi
eru drepnir sumir.’104 When they finally meet at Hólar cathedral, Þor-
gils orders that hay be given to his horses, and has no qualms about
having the bishop’s men beaten when they refuse to obey.105 Interest-
ingly enough, these tactics prove successful; he is released from the
ban, peace is established between him and his main enemies in the dis-
trict, and, if we are to believe his saga, ‘Sat Þorgils þá um kyrrt ok
gerðist inn vinsælasti maðr í heraði.’106
Although he now seems to be at peace with God and man, the sit-
uation cannot last. Þorvarðr refuses to oblige Þorgils at the alþingi,
and we are told that the following winter saw numerous portents of
great events (which Þorgils took pains to hush up.)107 He also, oddly
enough, refuses to believe ill of Þorvarðr, whose plots against his life
are described in detail and condemned by one of Þorvarðr’s own men
as ‘it mesta níðingsverk ok óráð.’108
Although Þorgils is clearly doomed, the prayers of Abbot Brandr on
behalf of his soul have had their effect. Nothing else can account for
the way his thoughts turn to religion at the eleventh hour, so that on
the eve of his slaying he chooses to listen to the story of Thomas of
Canterbury, ‘því at hann elskaði hann framar en aðra helga menn.’109 It
Stu II 198-9/ K II 277.
Stu II 199 / K II 278.
Stu II 204 / K 282.
Stu II 205 / K II 282-3.
Stu II 206 / K II 284.
Stu II 217 / K II 294.
Stu II 219 / K II 296.
Stu II 218 / K II 295.
L