216 THE KING'S MIRROR 



to the mast * will be serviceable along with these and 

 many other defenses, as is also a beam cloven into four 

 parts and set with prongs of hard steel, f which is drawn 

 up against the mast. A " prow-boar" J with an ironclad 

 snout is also useful in naval battles. But it is well for 

 men to be carefully trained in handling these before 

 they have to use them; for one knows neither the time 

 nor the hour when he shall have to make use of any 

 particular kind of weapons. But take good heed to col- 

 lect as many types of weapons as possible, while you 

 still have no need of them; for it is always a distinction 

 to have good weapons, and, furthermore, they are a 

 good possession in times of necessity when one has to 

 use them. For a ship's defense the following arrange- 

 ment is necessary: it should be fortified strongly with 

 beams and logs built up into a high rampart, through 

 which there should be four openings, each so large and 

 wide that one or two men in full armor can leap through 

 them; but outside and along the rampart on both sides 

 of the ship there should he laid a level walk of planks 

 to stand upon. This breastwork must be firmly and 



* Probably some sort of a cage placed at the top or near the top of the mast 

 from which men with bows and slings could fight to better advantage. See 

 Aarboger for nordisk Oldkyndighed, 1872, 242; Falk, Altnordische Waffen- 

 kunde, 197. 



t Only one end of the beam was cloven in this way. See the Sorb edition, 394- 

 395. The beam was apparently fastened to the mast and used to crush the 

 sides of the enemy's ship in much the same way as the ram was used against 

 a castle wall. See Talk, Altnordische Waffenkunde, 199. 

 J The prow-boar (rdftrgoltr) was not a beak but apparently some device 

 fastened to the prow which served much the same purpose, namely to run 

 down and sink an opposing ship. See the Soro edition, 395-396; Falk, Altnor- 

 dische Waffenkunde, 198-199. 



See the Soro edition, 397-399; Falk, Altnordische Waffenkunde, 196. This 

 rampart was built of logs and planks and raised on the gunwales. Sometimes 



