546 INDEMNITY, WEBEGILP. 



is ten marks. That is (as much as) thirty-two cows if the slain 

 man isodal-born. The weregild increases and decreases like other 

 rett's of men. The father shall get it if the son is not alive ; if 

 both live, the father owns three marks. If he is not able to 

 fio-ht, he gets twelve aurar from the slayer. If the slayer is 

 outlawed he loses that indemnity. When the slayer dies his heir 

 receives the axe (has to pay the weregild)" (Gulath., 218). 



" The second indemnity is called brother's indemnity. 

 That is five marks, or sixteen cows. The third is the 

 indemnity of the broadrung (first cousin). That is four marks, 

 or half an eyrir less than thirteen cows " (Gulath., 219). 



The sum paid was the same whether the receiver was one or 

 more. The amount paid by each degree became smaller in 

 proportion as the kinship became more distant. The degrees 

 of kinship embraced in the weregild were always considered as 

 existing on both sides. If they in reality did not exist, the 

 slayer had to pay, and the next of kin on the other side to 

 receive, for the missing degree. 



" The slayer shall pay the head-indemnity to the son 

 of the dead. The brother of the slayer shall pay indemnity 

 to the brother of the dead if he is found ; otherwise the 

 slayer shall pay it. The brcedrung of the slayer shall pay 

 to the broedrung of the dead broedrung-indemnity if he is 

 found ; otherwise the slayer shall pay it " (Gulath., 222). 



The saktal was a list of the amount to be paid or received by 

 every degree in the weregild. Two or three of these lists 

 are found in the Gulathing's Law, and one in the Frostathing's 

 Law. 



The nearest kinswomen on both sides, mother, daughter, 

 sister and wile, paid and received a certain gift called Kvenn- 

 gjof. Otherwise a woman was never reckoned as payer or 

 payee, unless she were sole heir. But the moment she was 

 married her rights in this respect passed over to her nearest 

 male relative. 



" A mark is a woman's kvenngjof. Four women shall 

 receive it if they are found ; the mother of the slain man, his 

 daughter, his sister, and his wife. Each of them receives two 

 aurar if they all exist. Wherever they are not found the son 

 of the slain man shall receive it. If all the women are missing, 

 the slayer shall take this mark and pay it to the son of the slain. 



