8 MAP HI AGE. 



her that she would cost less if she were a bondmaid. He shall 

 summon him to lesser outlawry, and summon nine of his 

 neighbours to the Thing. If the witnesses are against him he 

 is to be outlawed, and the mund cannot be claimed. If the 

 witnesses say that the guardian knew not the faults of the 

 woman he can defend himself, but he cannot claim the mund 

 unless he can get five dwellers at the farm of the woman as 

 witnesses that she has not these faults ; then the mund is to 

 be paid ba?k " (Gragas, i. 316). * 



If the betrothed woman was injured or wronged in any way 

 the man had the same right to gain redress as if she were his 

 wife. 



" Every man has full reft on the behalf of his betrothed as 

 well as his wife, as long as it is due ; but if she sits at home 

 in the house of a father or brother they have the full rett on 

 her behalf which her betrothed would otherwise have had " 

 (Frostath., xi. 12). 



" If a man runs away with a betrothed woman he shall pay 

 full rett to the betrothed man and also to her father " 

 (Bjarkey law, 125). 



The virtue of a betrothed woman was very carefully 

 guarded. 



" If the father dies before the wedding within the twelve 

 months, and the child is begotten, then that child shall take 

 its father's inheritance as if its mother were bought with 

 mund. But in no other way is a man inheritance-born unless 

 his mother is bought with mund, or he is led lawfully into the 

 family (adopted). Though a man betroth his concubine in 

 order that according to this law his children be inheritance- 

 born, or delays the wedding on account of this, it does not 

 matter, for neither shall inheritance-fraud be committed, nor 

 the wedding be dishonoured by this " (Frostath., 13). 



The breaking of a betrothal by either party was severely 

 punished, and the laws on the subject were strict. 



" If a man will not take his betrothed he shall be summoned 

 home to take her, and a day be fixed. Thereupon he shall be 

 summoned to the Tiling because he flees from his betrothed. 



1 Cf. Gunnlaug Ormstunga, c. 4. 



