3 i8 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



made, " So help me God ! " or " So help you God ! " Many a modern 

 Englishman puzzles over this obscure form of words. "When the 

 question is asked what the meaning of the oath is, the official inter- 

 pretation practically comes to saying that it means the same as the 

 Scotch oath. But neither by act nor word does it convey this mean- 

 ing. So obvious is the discrepancy between what is considered to be 

 meant and what is actually done and said, that Paley, remarking on 

 the different forms of swearing in different countries, does not scruple 

 to say that they are " in no country in the world, I believe, worse 

 contrived either to convey the meaning, or impress the obligation of 

 an oath, than in our own." 



This remark of Paley 's aptly illustrates a principle of the science 

 of culture which cannot be too strongly impressed on the minds of all 

 who study the institutions of their own or any other age. People 

 often talk of mystic formulas and mystic ceremonies. But, the more 

 we study civilization in its earlier stages, the more we shall find that 

 formulas and ceremonies, both in law and in religion, are as purposeful 

 and business-like as can be, if only we get at them anywhere near 

 their origin. What happens afterward is this, that, while men's 

 thoughts and wants gradually change, the old phrases and ceremonies 

 are kept up by natural conservatism, so that they become less and 

 less appropriate, and then, as their meaning falls away, its place is apt 

 to be filled up with mystery. Applying this principle to the English- 

 oath formula, we ask what and where it originally was. It was Teu- 

 tonic-Scandinavian, for, though corresponding formulas are known in 

 Latin {Ita me adjuvet JDeus) and in Old French (Ce rrCait Diex, etc.), 

 these are shown by their comparatively recent dates to be mere trans- 

 lations of the Germanic originals. Now, although ancient English 

 and German records fail to give the early history of the phrase, this 

 want is fortunately supplied by a document preserved in Iceland. 

 Some while after the settlement of the island by the Northmen, but 

 long before their conversion to Christianity, the settlers felt the urgent 

 need of a code of laws, and accordingly Ulfliot went to Norway for 

 three years to Thorleif the Wise, who imparted to him his legal lore. 

 Ulfliot went to Norway a. d. 925, so that the form of judicial oath he 

 authorized, and which was at a later time put on record in the Ice- 

 landic Landnamabok, may be taken as good and old in Norse law. 

 Its pre-Christian character is, indeed, obvious from its tenor. The 

 halidome on which it was sworn was a metal arm-ring, which was 

 kept by the godhi or priest, who reddened it with the blood of the ox 

 sacrificed, and the swearer touching it said, in words that are still 

 half English : " Name I to witness that I take oath by the ring, law- 

 oath, so help me Frey, and Niordh, and almighty Thor (hialpi mer 

 sva Freyr, ok Niordhr, ok hinn almattki Ass) as I shall this suit fol- 

 low or defend, or witness bear or verdict or doom, as I wit rightest 

 and soothest and most lawfully," etc. Here, then, we have the full 



