In the days of Harald's sons Cardinal Nikolas came from Rome to Norway,
being sent there by the pope. The cardinal had taken offence at
the brothers Sigurd and Eystein, and they were obliged to come to a
reconciliation with him; but, on the other hand, he stood on the most
affectionate terms with King Inge, whom he called his son. Now when
they were all reconciled with him, he moved them to let Jon Birgerson
be consecrated archbishop of Throndhjem and gave him a vestment which is
called a pallium; and settled moreover that the archbishop's seat should
be in Nidaros, in Christ church, where King Olaf the Saint reposes.
Before that time there had only been common bishops in Norway. The
cardinal introduced also the law, that no man should go unpunished who
appeared with arms in the merchant-town, excepting the twelve men who
were in attendancce on the king. He improved many of the customs of the
Northmen while he was in the country. There never came a foreigner to
Norway whom all men respected so highly, or who could govern the people
so well as he did. After some time he returned to the South with many
friendly presents, and declared ever afterwards that he was the greatest
friend of the people of Norway. When he came south to Rome the former
pope died suddenly, and all the people of Rome would have Cardinal
Nikolas for pope, and he was consecrated under the name of Adrian; and
according to the report of men who went to Rome in his days, he had
never any business, however important, to settle with other people, but
he would break it off to speak with the Northmen who desired to see him.
He was not long pope, and is now considered a saint.