THE LAWMEN. 



533 



Thorleif the Wise, son of Hordakari, with regard to what should 

 be added or taken away, or altered " (Islendingabok, c. 2). 



One of the great authorities for our knowledge of the 

 administration of justice among the Norwegians is the law- 

 book, the Gragas. 1 



Sigvat Scald made a song wherein he says the king 

 (Magnus) \vas too hard towards the bo?udr. 



" After this the king became milder ; also many spoke to 

 him about this. At last he had a talk with the wisest men, 

 and they made laws. Then he had a law-book written which 

 is still in Thrandheim, and is called Gragas (the grey goose). 

 He became popular and was liked by all the people of the 

 land, and therefore was called Magnus the Good " (Magnus 

 the Good's Saga, Heimskringla, c. 17). 



All over the Northern lands are yet seen numerous judgment 

 rings, made of large stones, where justice was administered; 

 some were used for religious ceremonies, some for duellings. 



" The defender in a case can name six judges whom he does 

 not want to judge in his case. They are to rise from the 

 court (dom), and sit inside the domhring (sacred precincts) 

 while the case is judged " (Gragas, i. p. 78). 



The lawmen, or logmenn, were the most influential and 

 powerful men in the land ; they were respected and loved 

 by the people, and great faith was placed in their advice. 

 Extensive knowledge of the earlier customs and ancient laws 

 was absolutely necessary for this important office, in order to 

 put before the Thing in a proper light the subjects under 

 discussion. From the Sagas we see that their office in the 

 earlier time \vas probably hereditary ; but in Iceland, as the 

 emigration broke the hereditary succession, the lawmen were 

 chosen by election. 



" Hakon was one of the most merry, eloquent, and modest of 

 all men ; he was very wise and especially fond of law-making. 

 JTe enacted the Gulathing's law, with the advice of Thorleif 

 the Wise ; also the Frostathing's law, with the advice of Sigurd 

 jarl and other Thrands who were very learned ; but the Heid- 



1 The old laws of Sweden were pub- 

 lished during the years 1827-77 (the 

 life-work of Schlyter), in Lund, in 



thirteen volumes ; the thirteenth volume 

 is a dictionary to the twelve volumes 

 preceding it. 



