Chapter XLIV: Revenge (3)

In the same Saga, c. 96, there is another account of the powers of the
lawman.

In ch. 81, the king (of Sweden), the jarl of Vestr Gautland, and the
lawman Thorgnýr are all three called _höfdingjar_ = _chiefs_.

Footnote 542:

Eight aurar made a mark.

Footnote 543:

Indemnity to be paid in metal rings of silver or gold.

Footnote 544:

The reksthegn was a freeman descended from thrall kin, although his
family might have been free for several generations. The rétt of the
árborinn-madr was 12 aurar, that of the reksthegn one mark. The
classes in the two other law districts were probably similar to those
above, but it seems that the haulld and bondi were classified as one.

Footnote 545:

The laws on wounds are so minute and numerous that it is not possible
to give them in full. Cf. also Gulath., 179–215; Frostath., iv. 42–53.

Footnote 546:

N. G. L., ii. 60.

Footnote 547:

Frostath., v. 20.

Footnote 548:

See oath, p. 558.

Footnote 549:

It was thought unmanly to be disgraced three times and take no
revenge. Cf. also Gulath., 196; Addition to Frostath. Law, 36.

Footnote 550:

_Baug-eid_, or “ring-oath,” is mentioned in Havamál, stanza 110.

Footnote 551:

Cf. also Eyrbyggja, c. 4, 16, 44.

Footnote 552:

The sleeping room.

Footnote 553:

The stepson of Thor.

Footnote 554:

See also Kjalnesinga, 2.

Footnote 555:

_Skirsl_, to pass under jardarmen. See page 559.

Footnote 556:

_Dulareid_, an oath of denial.

Footnote 557:

Evening rider, night hag, witch, riding on wolves in the twilight.

Footnote 558:

Witnesses fetched at random when defendant could choose his
co-swearers.

Footnote 559:

Witnesses called by a body of named men.

Footnote 560:

_Séttareid_, an oath of six; i.e., six compurgators.

Footnote 561:

_Grima_, a hood covering the face; _grimueid_, a kind of oath taken by
six compurgators. The origin of the word is obscure; perhaps the
compurgators had to appear in court with cowls or hoods on.

Footnote 562:

See chapter on Foster-brotherhood. Vol. ii. p. 61.

Footnote 563:

In the second song of Helgi, stanza 31, an oath upon a stone is
mentioned; these holy stones may have meant _hörgs_.

Footnote 564:

This shows the large size of some of the halls.

Footnote 565:

Her brothers.

Footnote 566:

From stanza 2 we see that the kettle was consecrated. Stanza 5 shows
the accuser had to go through the ordeal also.

Footnote 567:

They drowned her in a mire.

Footnote 568:

Einvigi Kormak, c. 10.

Footnote 569:

On Holmganga, Egil, 67.

Footnote 570:

Cf. also Gisli Sursson’s Saga.

Footnote 571:

Cf. Svarfdæla Saga.

Footnote 572:

Ingjald (another text).

Footnote 573:

Ingibjörg.

Footnote 574:

Inheritance feast. See Vol. II., p. 47.

Footnote 575:

Cf. Sigurd Jórsalafari, Heimskringla, c. 20–21.

Footnote 576:

From the last paragraph we see that announcing a hostile invasion of
one’s country was a redeemable case.

Footnote 577:

Cf. also Gretti’s Saga, c. 16.

Footnote 578:

Or any one under fifteen years of age.

Footnote 579:

I.e. Slaying which was not done in secret or against plighted faith or
skill.

Footnote 580:

N. G. L., i. 122, 265.

Footnote 581:

Gulath., 132.

Footnote 582:

Cf. Fœreyinga Saga, c. 4, 5; Njala, 38, 122; Heidarviga Saga, c. 22;
Björn Hitdœlakappi; St. Olaf’s Saga, 126, 132; Egil’s Saga, c. 24, 59,
60; Viga Styr, 4. N. G. L., i. 56, 60, 159, 167, 178.

Footnote 583:

Cf. also Kormak’s Saga, c. 16.

Footnote 584:

The text of Fornmannasögur says that he had 1200 ships.

Footnote 585:

In the song, which is very coarse, it is said that the king and Birgir
were like stallion and mare. Cf. Vatnsdæla Saga, c. 33. Björn
Hitdœlakappi’s Saga.

_BY THE SAME AUTHOR._

THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN.

ASHANGO LAND.

EXPLORATIONS IN EQUATORIAL AFRICA.

* * * * *

STORIES OF THE GORILLA COUNTRY.

WILD LIFE UNDER THE EQUATOR.

LOST IN THE JUNGLE.

MY APINGI KINGDOM.

THE COUNTRY OF THE DWARFS.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

1. Moved the list of the author’s books from the beginning to the end. 2. Changed “Lanfey” to “Laufey” and “Lanfeyjarson” to “Laufeyjarson” everywhere. “It is guessed that this was Loki Laufeyjarson” on p. 35 was already correct. 3. Changed “ἐπενεχθείσῃς” to “ἐπενεχθείσης” on p. 10. 4. Added missing footnote anchor after “slain Saxon” for fourth footnote on p. 12. 5. Added footnote reference numbers to footnotes on pp. 60, 326, 333, 430, and 430. 6. Changed “see p. .” to “see p. 368.” on p. 68. 7. Corrected the footnote reference number for the 2nd footnote on p. 68. 8. Changed “Fig. 26.” to “Fig. 126.” on p. 114. 9. Changed “225.” to “Fig. 225.” on p. 142. 10. Changed “237.” to “Fig. 237.” on p. 145. 11. Added missing footnote anchor after “A halter-corpse” for second footnote on p. 162. 12. Changed “^2 real size” to “⅔ real size” on p. 281. 13. Silently corrected typographical errors. 14. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed. 15. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.