Hal says that the chiefs wished to have Sigurd killed instantly; but the
men who were the most cruel, and thought they had injuries to avenge,
advised torturing him; and for this they named Beintein's brothers,
Sigurd and Gyrd, the sons of Kolbein. Peter Byrdarsvein would also
avenge his brother Fin. But the chiefs and the greater part of the
people went away. They broke his shin-bones and arms with an axe-hammer.
Then they stripped him, and would flay him alive; but when they tried to
take off the skin, they could not do it for the gush of blood. They took
leather whips and flogged him so long, that the skin was as much taken
off as if he had been flayed. Then they stuck a piece of wood in his
back until it broke, dragged him to a tree and hanged him; and then
cut off his head, and brought the body and head to a heap of stones and
buried them there. All acknowledge, both enemies and friends, that no
man in Norway, within memory of the living, was more gifted with all
perfections, or more experienced, than Sigurd, but in some respects he
was an unlucky man. Hal says that he spoke little, and answered only
a few, and in single words, under his tortures, although they spoke to
him. Hal says further, that he never moved when they tortured him, more
than if they were striking a stock or a stone. This Hal alleged as proof
that he was a brave hero, who had courage to endure tortures; for he
still held his tongue, and never moved from the spot. And farther he
says, that he never altered his voice in the least, but spoke with as
much ease as if he was sitting at the ale-table; neither speaking higher
nor lower, nor in a more tremulous voice than he was used to do. He
spoke until he gave up the ghost, and sang between whiles parts of the
Psalm-book, and which Hal considered beyond the powers and strength of
ordinary men. And the priest who had the church in the neighbourhood let
Sigurd's body be transported thither to the church. This priest was a
friend of Harald's sons: but when they heard it they were angry at him,
had the body carried back to where it had been, and made the priest pay
a fine. Sigurd's friends afterwards came from Denmark with a ship for
his body, carried it to Alaborg, and interred it in Mary church in that
town. So said Dean Ketil, who officiated as priest at Mary church, to
Eirik; and that Sigurd was buried there. Thjostolf Alason transported
Magnus the Blind's body to Oslo, and buried it in Halvard's church,
beside King Sigurd his father. Lodin Saupprud was transported to
Tunsberg; but the others of the slain were buried on the spot.