LEVY OF SHJI'X. 1X7 



<md the prow plunged forwards so that the sea came in ; the ship 

 was filled and upset " (St. Olaf s Saga. c. 28). 



The country was divided into sJripreida,oi ship levy districts, 

 in Norway, and no doubt there were similar divisions in the 

 other countries of the Northmen. Every skipreida had to 

 build, equip, and man a certain number of ships, some more 

 than others. 



Leidangr was the term applied to a levy of men, ships, and 

 money. A levy when necessary was effected in the following 

 manner. 



" When a ship has been loosened from its fastenings and a 

 man has not come in to his half-room then his oar shall be 

 raised (= stand with its blade into the air), and witnesses 

 called that he is liable to pay a fine of three marks (merkur). 

 If a man goes on board another ship than the one he should go 

 to he shall row in the expedition of the levy and (besides) pay 

 the fine " (Gulath, 301). 



" Olaf summoned a Thing in the town (Nidaros). He made 

 it known to all people that he wanted to have a levy that 

 summer from the country ; he wanted a certain number of men 

 and ships from each Fylki ; he stated how many ships he 

 wished to have from the fjor^ (Trondhjemsfjord). Then he 

 sent word southwards and northwards along the coast and 

 inland, and summoned men for war. He had the Long Serpent 

 launched, and all his other ships, small and large" (Olaf 

 Tryggvason's Saga, c. 107, Heimskringla). 



" Hakon Jaii had also equipped his men, intending to do 

 warfare, and had twelve large ships. After Gull Harald had 

 departed, Hakon Jarl went to the king and said : ' Now we 

 may go on the expedition, and nevertheless have to pay the 

 fine for default in the levy (leidviti). Now Gull Harald will 

 slay Harald Grafeld, and then take the kingship in Norway' 

 (Olaf Tryggvason's Saga, vol. i., Fornmanna Sogur). 



Leidviti was the tax which was paid instead of the leidangr, 

 when the latter was not needed, being originally the fine for 

 neglecting to participate in leidangr. It was also paid by the 

 one who took part in the warfare, but on the wrong ship. It 

 seems to be the latter which the jarl refers to a warfare with 

 loss, in consequence of lack of forethought. 



