Mord took witness. “I take witness,” he said, “to this, that I
take a Fifth Court oath. I pray God so to help me in this light
and in the next, as I shall plead this suit as I know to be most
truthful, and just, and lawful. I believe with all my heart that
Flosi is truly guilty in this suit, if I may bring forward my
proofs; and I have not brought money into this court in this
suit, and I will not bring it. I have not taken money, and I
will not take it, neither for a lawful nor for an unlawful end.”
The men who were Mord’s vouchers then went two of them before the
court, and took witness to this — “We take witness that we take
an oath on the book, a lawful oath; we pray God so to help us two
in this light and in the next, as we lay it on our honour that we
believe with all our hearts that Mord will so plead this suit as
he knows to be most truthful, and most just, and most lawful, and
that he hath not brought money into this court in this suit to
help himself, and that he will not offer it, and that he hath not
taken money, nor will he take it, either for a lawful or unlawful
end.”
Mord had summoned nine neighbours who lived next to the
Thingfield on the inquest in the suit, and then Mord took
witness, and declared those four suits which he had set on foot
against Flosi and Eyjolf; and Mord used all those words in his
declaration that he had used in his summons. He declared his
suits for outlawry in the same shape before the Fifth Court as he
had uttered them when he summoned the defendants.
Mord took witness, and bade those nine neighbours on the inquest
to take their seats west on the river bank.
Mord took witness again, and bade Flosi and Eyjolf to challenge
the inquest.
They went up to challenge the inquest, and looked narrowly at
them, but could get none of them set aside; then they went away
as things stood, and were very ill pleased with their case.
Then Mord took witness, and bade those nine neighbours whom he
had before called on the inquest, to utter their finding, and to
bring it in either for or against Flosi.
Then the neighbours on Mord’s inquest came before the court, and
one uttered the finding, but all the rest confirmed it by their
consent. They had all taken the Fifth Court oath, and they
brought in Flosi as truly guilty in the suit, and brought in
their finding against him. They brought it in such a shape
before the Fifth Court over the head of the same man over whose
head Mord had already declared his suit. After that they brought
in all those findings which they were bound to bring in all the
other suits, and all was done in lawful form.
Eyjolf Bolverk’s son and Flosi watched to find a flaw in the
proceedings, but could get nothing done.
Then Mord Valgard’s son took witness. “I take witness,” said he,
“to this, that these nine neighbours whom I called on these suits
which I have had hanging over the heads of Flosi Thord’s son, and
