DERISION. ;,S1) 



be the slayer, then they are both slayers, though there is only 

 one wound on the dead man. When a man declares the slay- 

 ing lawfully, he goes from the place in whatever direction he 

 likes, and declares it at the next house, unless kinsmen on 

 male or female side or near relatives of the dead are there ; in 

 this case he shall pass on to the next house, unless they (kins- 

 men) are also there ; then he shall go to the third house 

 and declare it, whoever are in it. He is neither called Ulf 

 (wolf), nor Bjorn (bear), unless it be his name. He shall tell 

 the jartegn (by which he is known), and tell where he slept 

 last night. At the Arrow-thing evidence of the declaration of 

 the slaying shall be given " (Gulathing's Law, 61). x 



If a man acknowledged a slaughter lawfully, and also in the 

 presence of witnesses gave surety that he would pay weregild 

 and tJiegngildi (weregild for a thegn), he thereby made himself 

 holy and sacred, so that he could not be slain. 



u If a man wounds an innocent man, or injures him publicly 

 by deeds liable to full rett, and revenge is taken by the man 

 or his kinsmen before a lawful offer with full surety has been 

 made, then the one who first broke the peace is outlawed, 

 whether he has been slain or outraged in other ways, unless 

 the kino- and other men of good sense think otherwise. But 

 if he offers full surety he is peace-holy, and the one who slays 

 him is outlawed " (Frostath., Introd. 6). 



An insane man who committed murder, though not accounted 

 responsible for his actions, was expelled the country. 



" If a man becomes mad so that he breaks his chains and 

 kills a man, he shall leave the land, and have all his property 

 in half a month's truce during summer, and one month during 

 winter" (Frostath.). 



" If a father becomes so mad that he slays his son, or a son 

 slays his father, or a brother his brother, he shall be outlawed, 

 and leave the land, and never come back again " (Frostath., 

 iv. 31). 



Among the insults which were most resented were those 

 caused by " nid," or derision. Derision was of two kinds : the 

 first called " twngunid," tongue derision ; that is, derisive or 



1 Cf. also Kormak's Saga, c. 16. 



