236 DEBTS AND ROBBERY. 



buy him, the creditor could sell him to any one in the country, 

 though not as a common thrall, and not for a hifi-her amount 



O t- 3 



than the debt. 



If the debtor would not work and was obstinate, then the 

 creditor could take him to the Thing and offer him to the 

 kinsmen of the debtor to redeem ; if they would not, the 

 creditor could kill or maim him. 



" A debtor shall be taken to the Thing. He shall first be 

 offered to his kinsmen, and first to the nearest one if he wants 

 him, or to the one to whom he prefers to sell him. No one is 

 allowed to take a woman thus for the sake of debt, unless with 

 the consent of her kinsmen. ... He (the creditor) shall not 

 drive him to work with blows unless he cannot get his debt 

 from him. The man has no rett towards him (the master) 

 and his wife and all his thralls and each to the other. If 

 others beat him the master has equal rett on him as on his 

 steward ; the debtor owns the rest of his rett according to his 

 birth, and his rett shall be the same as if he had no debt. . . . 

 If a man sells a debtor like a slave he is liable to pay 40 

 marks, unless he has run away from his creditor, and the same 

 must every one pay who sells a free man. ... A family- 

 born man may give his child for debt if he does it at the 

 Thing or at the alehouse or at church, for 3 marks and not 

 more. . . . If the debtor is obstinate to the creditor and will 

 not work for him, he shall be brought to the Thing and offered 

 to his kinsmen to redeem him. If they will not the creditor 

 can maim him on the upper or lower part of the body ' 

 (Gulath. Law, 71). 



Bobbery (Ran) was viewed from a different point, K according 

 as more or less violence was employed in its commission. 



Burdn (burglary) committed with armed force was con- 

 sidered the worst form, and was utlegdarverk (outlawry-work). 

 Robbery of a whole farm was punished with outlawry, and the 

 owner sent an arrow to the men of the Herad that night to 

 pursue the robber. If when he was caught he returned the 

 property, he had to pay indemnity to the king. If robbers 

 defended themselves they were unholy, and no weregild was 

 paid for them if they were killed. 



"If men attack a bondi and rob his farm and take 3 cows 

 or more, or 3 cows' value, then it is bi'm'tn. If the bondi owns 

 only 3 cows, it is biiran if one is taken away. An arrow shall 



