After that they went to the Hill of Laws, and Mord Valgard’s son
took witness. “I take witness to this that I summon Flosi
Thord’s son, for that he gave money for his help here at the
Thing to Eyjolf Bolverk’s son. I say that he ought on this
charge to be made a guilty outlaw, for this sake alone to be
forwarded or to be allowed the right of frithstow (1), if his
fine and bail are brought forward at the execution levied on his
house and goods, but else to become a thorough outlaw. I say all
his goods are forfeited, half to me and half to the men of the
Quarter who have the right by law to take his goods after he has
been outlawed. I summon this cause before the Fifth Court,
whither the cause ought to come by law; I summon it to be pleaded
now and to full outlawry. I summon with a lawful summons. I
summon in the hearing of all men at the Hill of Laws.”
With a like summons he summoned Eyjolf Bolverk’s son, for that he
had taken and received the money, and he summoned him for that
sake to the Fifth Court.
Again a second time he summoned Flosi and Eyjolf, for that sake
that they had brought forward that witness at the Thing which had
nothing lawfully to do with the cause of the parties, and had so
been guilty of contempt of the Thing; and he laid the penalty for
that at lesser outlawry.
Then they went away to the Court of Laws, there the Fifth Court
was then set.
Now when Mord and Asgrim had gone away, then the judges in the
Eastfirthers’ Court could not agree how they should give
judgment, for some of them wished to give judgment for Flosi, but
some for Mord and Asgrim. Then Flosi and Eyjolf tried to divide
the court, and there they stayed, and lost time over that while
the summoning at the Hill of Laws going on. A little while after
Flosi and Eyjolf were told that they had been summoned at the
Hill of Laws into the Fifth Court, each of them with two summons.
Then Eyjolf said, “In an evil hour have we loitered here while
they have been before us in quickness of summoning. Now hath
come out Thorhall’s cunning, and no man is his match in wit. Now
they have the first right to plead their cause before the court,
and that was everything for them; but still we will go to the
Hill of Laws, and set our suit on foot against them, though that
will now stand us in little stead.”
Then they fared to the Hill of Laws, and Eyjolf summoned them for
contempt of the Thing.
After that they went to the Fifth Court.
Now we must say that when Mord and Asgrim came to the Fifth
Court, Mord took witness and bade them listen to his oath and the
declaration of his suit, and to all those proofs and steps which
he meant to bring forward against Flosi and Eyjolf. He bade them
by a lawful bidding before the court, so that the judges could
hear him across the court.
In the Fifth Court vouchers had to follow the oaths of the
parties, and they had to take an oath after them.
