16 MARRIAGE. 



" There are maidens called baugryg. They shall pay with 

 rings and take rings when they are only children and in- 

 heritance-born, till they sit down on a bride's chair. Then 

 they throw this into the lap of their kinsmen, and shall neither 

 pay nor take rings thereafter " (Frostath., vi. 4). 



A widow, who had the same rights as a girl of age, could 

 not be forced into a new marriage by her father or kinsmen, 

 but on the other hand she could not marry without their 

 consent; and the conditions of the marriage were generally 

 settled by the spokesmen of the suitor and her nearest of kin 

 in the usual manner. 



" A widow shall betroth herself and take the advice of her 

 kinsmen " (Gulathing's Law, 51). 



" Thorgerd, Thorstein's daughter, Hoskuld's mother, was still 

 a young and very beautiful woman. She did not like to stay 

 in Iceland after the death of Koll (her husband). She declared 

 to her son Hoskuld that she wished to go abroad with the 

 property she owned. Hoskuld said he was sorry to part with 

 her, but would not oppose her will in this any more than in 

 other things. Then Hoskuld bought the half of a ship in 

 Dogurdarnes for his mother. Thorgerd went on board with 

 much property, set sail, and after a good journey lauded in 

 Norway. She had in Norway a large family and many high- 

 born kinsmen ; they received her well, and offered her every- 

 thing she might wish. Thorgerd accepted this thankfully, 

 and said she intended to settle down there. She was not long 

 a widow ; Herjolf, a wealthy and highly-honoured lendirmadn, 

 asked her in marriage. She accepted him, although he was 

 not handsome, and a splendid wedding was celebrated. A son 

 was bom to them, who was called Hrut, and who quickly grew 

 up and became very strong and large. He was fair of face like 

 his mother's family. Herjolf fell sick and died, and men 

 thought it a great loss. After his death Thorgerd did not 

 like to remain in Norway, but returned to Iceland to her son 

 Hoskuld with much property, and remained there until her 

 death, after which she was buried in a mound. After her 

 burial Hoskuld took all her property, and offered half of it to 

 Hrut, who had remained in Norway " (Laxdrela, 7). 



The Icelandic chief Thorkel Eyjolfsson wanted to marry 

 the widow Gudrun, Usvifr's daughter. The chief Snorri godi 

 asked her in marriage on his behalf. 



" (ruclrun answered : ' My sons Thorleik and Bolli will 



