512 



SLA VEE Y-THEALDOM. 



inside the fylki and outside the quarter (of the fylki), he shall 

 have one eyrir. If he capture him outside the fylki but in- 

 side our law district, he shall get two aurar. If he captures 

 him in the country and out of our law district, he gets half a 

 mark. If he brings him home in chains the owner has to 

 redeem him, but not otherwise " (Gnlath., 68). 



Without being held responsible, a master could kill or maim 

 his thrall ; only in the former case he had to publicly announce 

 the slaying on the day it was done. 



" If a man beats his thrall to death, he shall tell it to men 

 the same day. Then he is not answerable to any one but God. 

 But if he does not this, he is a murderer " l (Earlier Frosta- 

 thing's Law, v. 20). 



The slaying of another man's thrall was paid for by an 

 indemnity of twelve aurar. 



" It was the law at that time that if a man slew the thrall of 

 another, the slayer should carry home indemnity therefor to 

 the owner, before the third rising of the sun after the deed. 

 This indemnity was twelve aurar of silver ; and if it was paid 

 according to this law, no suit could be commenced for the 

 slaying of the thrall " 2 (Eyrbyggja Saga, c. 43). 



" Steinar summoned Thorstein for thrall-killing, and claimed 

 that the slaying of each be punishable byfjorbaugsgtard (lesser 

 outlawry) ; this was the law if a man's thralls were killed, and 

 the indemnity was not paid up before the third sunrise after. 

 Two cases of lesser outlawry 3 were to count the same as one of 

 full outlawry " (Egil's Saga', c. 85). 



Thralls were given duties and positions of trust, King 

 Aun's thrall, Tunni, as we have seen, became the King's adviser, 

 and became so powerful that he rebelled against his own 

 master. 



"Erling Skjalgsson said to King Olaf: 'To this I will 

 quickly reply, that I deny reproaching Aslak or others for 

 being in your service ; but I acknowledge that now, as hereto- 

 fore, each one of us kinsmen wants to be above the others. I 

 will also confess that I willingly submit to thee, King Olaf, 



1 Cf. also p. 7. 



2 Cf. also Njala, c. 36. 



3 A man convicted of the lesser out- 

 lawry by paying a fine of one mark 



within a fixed period was safe within a 

 certain space. If he neglected such pay- 

 ment he became a full outlaw. 



