CIVIL PROCEDURE.--"Oaths" are an important art of early procedure, and
noticed by Saxo; one calling the gods to witness and therefor, it is
understood, to avenge perjury if he spake not truth.

"Testification", or calling witnesses to prove the steps of a legal
action, was known, "Glum's Saga" and "Landnamaboc", and when a manslayer
proceeded (in order to clear himself of murder) to announce the
manslaughter as his act, he brings the dead man's head as his proof,
exactly as the hero in the folk-tales brings the dragon's head or tongue
as his voucher.

A "will" is spoken of. This seems to be the solemn declaration of
a childless man to his kinsfolk, recommending some person as his
successor. Nothing more was possible before written wills were
introduced by the Christian clergy after the Roman fashion.




STATUTE LAWS.

"Lawgivers".--The realm of Custom had already long been curtailed by the
conquests of Law when Saxo wrote, and some epochs of the invasion were
well remembered, such as Canute's laws. But the beginnings were dim, and
there were simply traditions of good and bad lawyers of the past; such
were "Sciold" first of all the arch-king, "Frode" the model lawgiver,
"Helge" the tyrant, "Ragnar" the shrewd conqueror.

"Sciold", the patriarch, is made by tradition to fulfil, by abolishing