528 THE GODI AND THE GODISHIP. 



then asked Hrafnkel to name witnesses and claim that Helgi 

 Asbjarnarson had forfeited the godiship ; he said all his cases 

 were made void as he had named An into the court. Then 

 there was great pressing forward and a fight nearly ensued, 

 but Holmstein intervened and tried to reconcile them. The 

 agreement was that Hrafnkel should have the godiship as 

 long as Helgi had had it before, and thereupon they should 

 have it both together ; Helgi should, however, help Hrafnkel 

 in all cases at Things and meetings of men and wherever 

 needed. Helgi Droplaugarson said to Hrafnkel : ' Now it 

 seems to me I have helped thee.' He answered that it was so. 

 Then people rode home from the Thing" (Droplaugarsona 

 Saga). 



The godis seem to have worn long beards, which apparently 

 was the custom among rulers, for Edward is represented on 

 the Bayeux tapestry with a beard. 



" Rolf was a great chief and a most powerful man ; he had 

 to keep the temple of Thor on that island (Mostr), and was a 

 great friend of Thor, on which account he was called Thorolf. 

 He was tall and strong, fair of face, and had a large beard, 

 wherefore he was called Mostrarskegg ; he was the most pro- 

 minent man on the island " (Eyrbyggja Saga, c. 3). 



When the heir to the godiship was a minor, the fittest 

 Thingman took the office till he came of 







" It was law at that time that when the heirs were minors 

 the Thingman who was thought the fittest should keep the 

 godiship (until they were of age) " (Vatnsdaela, c. 41, 42). 



The men of Vatnsdal had a meeting at Karnsa about the 

 godiship. 



" They spoke about the godiship and did not agree ; every 

 one of them wished to become godi. Then they laid lots in 

 a cloak-skirt, and the lot of Thorkel Silfri (a chief) always 

 came first, for he was skilled in witchcraft. Thorgrim (a 

 kinsman of the deceased godi) walked out and met Thorkel 

 Krafla (his own illegitimate son) in the entrance with other 

 boys. Thorgrim said : ' Now I want thee to pay the price for 

 the axe.' Thorkel answered : ' I should like very much to 

 have the axe, and can easily pay its price now, though I have 

 not the ware thou likest.' * Thorgrim said : * Other things 

 than ware will be taken.' Thorkel asked : ' Dost thou want 



