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OATHS. 237
name. When the temple-priest (hofgo6i) who was
also Euler of the district (heraSs-hofSingi), was present
at the Thing or in the Assemblies where he
had to appear as Judge of the Court, he wore the
ring upon his arm in order to have it always at
hand in the possible event of administering an oath.
To swear such an oath was called "to take oath
upon the Altar-ring" (vinna ei5 at stallahring), or
" to take Temple-oath " (vinna hofsei5).*
In two places in the ancient Sagas—in the Landnamabok
and in Viga-Glum's Saga—we find a
pretty full exposition of the administration of Oaths
among the heathen Northmen.
In the former, speaking of the heathen laws of
Iceland, it is said that "a ring of two ounces in
weight, or larger, shall lie upon the altar (d stalla)
in every chief-temple ; this ring shall the priest bear
upon his arm at all the assemblies of the people
which he" shall preside over (heya); and he shall
beforehand dip it (rj66ra, properly, redden it) in the
blood of the ox which he himself has sacrificed.
Every man who may have a case to be tried before
the Court (Jiurfti logskil af hendi at leysa at domi),
shall first take oath upon this ring, and name for
himself two or more witnesses :
' I call upon these
men as witnesses,' he shall then say, ' That I take
oath upon the ring (at ek vinna eiS at baugi), lawful
oath, so help me Frey and Njor8 and the Almighty
Xs (Odin), that I will so prosecute—or defend, or
* Eyrb. S. 4, 16, 44 ; Kjalnes, S. 2 ; Dropl. Son. S. 6 ; Landnmb.
IV. IT ; Vig!i-Gl. S. 25,
11*
.