REGULATIONS OF THE GODISHIP. 527 



there is no kinsman his Thingmen l shall decide who is to be 

 godi, and must come to their decision before the courts (are 

 formed). If there are cases at the Spring-thing the godi is 

 liable to lesser outlawry if he has not arrived at the beginning 

 of the Thing " (Gragas (1852), p. 142). 



If the godi for one reason or another could not rule over his 

 district, he could give it to whomsoever he liked within the 

 district ; though the office could be owned by more than one, 

 it could only be represented by one man. 



" Hrafnkel sat on his farm (bu~) and continued to be honoured. 

 He died and his mound is in Hrafnkelsdal outside Adalbol. 

 Much property, all his war-dress, and his good spear were 

 mound-laid with him. His sons assumed his rule. Thorir 

 lived in Hrafnkelsstadir and Asbjorn at Adalbol. They both 

 owned the godiship and were thought to be powerful men " 

 (Hrafnkel Freysgodi's Saga). 



If there were several owners, and the power had only been 

 given to one of them, it went by turns one year at a time. 



" Helgi Asbjarnarson lived at Oddsstadir near Hafrsa ; he 

 was godord-man (godi) ; he was married to Droplaug, daughter 

 of Spakbessi. They had many children. Hrafnkel, the first 

 cousin of Helgi, lived at Hafrsa and was young. He and 

 Helgi both had the same godord (godiship) and Helgi wielded 

 the godiship. 



"Hrafnkel claimed the godiship from Helgi Asbjarnarson, 

 his kinsman, and did not get it. 



"In the spring people went to the Spring-thing. Helgi 

 Asbjarnarson then named An Trud into the court (dom), though 

 it was to be concealed, for An had given to Helgi seven stud 

 horses. When An was seated in the court Helgi put on his 

 head a felt-hood to disguise him and asked him to speak little. 

 Thereupon Hrafnkel with the sons of Droplaug and many men 

 walked up to the court. Helgi Droplaugarson walked up to 

 the seat of An Trud in the court ; he jerked up the felt-hood 

 with the guards of his sword and struck it down and asked 

 who sat there. An told his name. Helgi said : ' Who named 

 thee into the court on the behalf of his godiship ? ' He 

 answered : ' Helgi Asbjarnarson did it.' Helgi Droplaugarson 



1 Thingmen of his district. 



