DIVISION OF PROPERTY. 17 



have most of the power in this, but thou, Snorri, art the third 

 man to whom I would most willingly entrust the matters 

 which I think very important, for thou hast long given 

 me good advice,' Snorri said it was evident that Thorkel 

 ought not to be rejected. Thereafter Snorri had the sons 

 of Gudrun called thither \ he told them how much support 

 they could get from Thorkel on account of his wealth and 

 foresight, and gave good advice about it. Bolli answered : 

 ' My mother will be best able to see this ; I shall consent to 

 her will. But surely we think it advisable to take into account 

 that thou hast supported this matter, Snorri, for thou hast done 

 many good things for us.' Gudrun said : ' We shall carefully 

 heed the advice of Snorri in this matter, for thy counsels have 

 been good to us.' Snorri urged her strongly to do it, and it 

 was settled that the marriage should take place. Snorri offered 

 to make the wedding feast. Thorkel was pleased at that, and 

 said : ' I have got provisions enough to supply as much as you 

 like.' Then Gudrun said : ' It is my will that the feast shall 

 be here at HelgafeU ' " (Laxdaela, 68). 



People could not marry unless they had means enough to 

 support themselves in comfort. If they acquired wealth after- 

 wards, then he owned two-thirds, and she one-third, both of 

 land and movable property, and the husband could not take 

 his wife's property out of the country without her consent. 

 Partnership between husband and wife was said to be esta- 

 blished after a certain time, which according to Frostathing's 

 Law was twelve months. 



But according to the Gulathing, man and wife could not, 

 without the consent of the heirs of both, enter into partnership 

 before they had children ; but when they had, they could 

 make whatever partnership they liked. When they had been 

 married twenty years they were partners according to law. 1 



" If men marry who have less property than one hundred 

 legal aurar, besides their everyday clothes, and no children, 

 then they are liable to lesser outlawry unless the woman is 

 barren. No ferdnsdom 2 shall be held, and their property is 

 not confiscated, and they shall leave the land with their 

 children, and not come back unless their property increases 



1 Borgarthing's Law says thirty years ; 

 in Iceland after three years (Gragas, 153). 

 But however these laws differed, they all 

 agree that the woman owns one-third, 

 the man two-thirds. 



VOL. II. 



2 A court of execution or confiscation 

 to be held within a fortnight after the 

 sentence at the house of a person con- 

 victed in one of the two degrees of 

 outlawry. 



