HO H'JA' CV.V7VO/X. 



the commonwealth asked that others might enter, it would 

 not help. They now sat in the burgh in good peace and kept 

 their laws well. Every summer they went out and made war 

 in different countries, got high renown, and were looked on as 

 the greatest warriors; hardly any others were thought their 

 equals at this time, and they were always, after this, called 

 .Tomsvikings " ( Jomsvikinga Saga, c. 23, 24). 



Fridthjof s Laivs. Fridthiof, after being outlawed from Nor- 



/ / ' 



way, for causing the burning of Baldr's temple, went on Viking 

 expeditions. 



" He obtained much property and honour wherever he went ; 

 he killed criminals and Vikings, but bcendr and traders 

 he left in peace. He was then again called Fridthjof the 

 bold" (Fridthjof s Saga, c 11). 



" It has been the custom (shortly before the time of Harald 

 Fairhair, 800 A.D.) for powerful men, kings, or jarls, our equals, 

 to be in warfare, and acquire property and honour ; and that 

 property must not be inherited, nor son get it after his father, 

 but be placed in their mound with themselves. Though their 

 sons got the lands (powerful men, kings, or jarls), they could 

 not uphold their position, even if they got dignity with them 

 (the lauds), except they placed themselves and their men in 

 danger and warfare, thus earning property and honour one after 

 another, and thus stepping into the footprints of their kins- 

 men. I suppose that the laws of warriors are unknown to thee, 

 and I could teach thee them ; as thou now art come to such 

 an age that it is time for thee to try what luck will grant thee " 

 (Vatnsdcela Saga, c. 2). 



Hjalmar s and Orvar Odd's Laws. '' Hjalmar said : ' I will 

 have no other Viking laws but those I have had hitherto.' 

 Odd replied : ' When I hear them I will know how I like 

 them.' Hjalmar said : ' First I will never eat raw food, nor 

 shall any of my men, for it is the custom of many men to 

 squeeze meat under their clothes and then call it cooked ; 

 that is acting more like wolves than men. I will never rob 

 traders or bcendr except when I must make a raid upon land 

 for my men when in need, and then I will pay full value. 

 Never will I rob women, though we find them on land witli 

 much property, nor shall women be brought on board against 

 their will ; if a woman can show that it has been done against 

 her will, the man shall lose his life for it, whether he is power- 

 ful or not ' " (Orvar Odd's Saga, c. 9). 



