move, for I do not want to be a corner-woman. I shall have 

 my \\ay here.' Then Thorhalla sat down" (Njala, c. 35). 



The high-seats, which were cushioned, were often very 

 beautifully carved with arms on both sides, and two pillars 

 called Ondvegisulur, which were both carved and painted. 



Only in extraordinary cases were there more than two high- 

 scats, but we are told that Ingjald Illradi, in order to receive 

 the guests at his arvel after his father's death, built a new 

 hall with seven high seats. 



" Thordis and Jlodvar went up on to the roof of the hall, 

 took away the window covering to let the smoke out, and 

 looked about the hall ; they saw that the chair of Grima stood 

 in the middle, and that Thor, seated, with his hammer, was 

 carved on the chair-posts, but they did not see Thormod " 

 (Fostbrcedra Saga). 



To sit on the footboard in front of the king was to show 

 submission ; and it seems to have been usual when a subject 

 was invested with the title of jarl to sit thus before the 

 ceremony of investiture began. 



"One day when^King Magnus sat in his high-seat, and had 

 many men with him, Svein Ulfsson sat on the footboard in 

 front of the king. The king said : ' I will make known to the 

 chiefs and all people my intention, which 1 want carried out. 

 Svein Ulfsson, a man prominent both by his birth and deeds, 

 has come to me here. He has become my man, and plighted 

 me his word. You know that all the Danes have become my 

 men this summer, and the land is without a chief; when I 

 am gone, it is, as you know, often attacked by the Yendians, 

 Courlanders, and others from Austrveg (eastern lands) and by 

 the Saxar also. I promised to give them a chief to defend and 

 rule the land. I see no man so well fitted for it in every respect 

 as Svein Ulfsson. By his kin he is a chief. Now I will make 

 him my jarl, and give into his hands Danaveldi to rule over 

 while 1 am in Norway, as Knut the great made his father I' If 

 jarl chief over Denmark while he was in England. . . .' He 

 rose, took a sword and fastened it on Svein's belt ; then he 

 took a shield and fastened it on his shoulder ; then he put a 

 helmet on his head and gave him the name of jarl, and those 

 grants in Denmark which his father Ulf jarl had had there 

 before. Then a shrine with holy things was brought, on which 

 Svein laid his hands, and took oaths of allegiance to King 



