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gersemum not of manufactured valuables specifically excludes
such items, but covers manufactured household chattels of gold
and silver. Gradually, (lös)öre came to apply to all movables (see
Ruthström 2002, 141 42, 180). Later sumptuary laws (Chapter 65)
forbade the purchase of gold and silver items, presumably since
this would constitute tax avoidance, as they were non-taxable as-
sets (cf. Notes to 2/35, Addition 9/5 6).
53/4 5. The word gørsomme in the sense valuables was still found
in Danish dialect when Lis Jacobsen produced her translation in
1910 (GGD, 108 note 1).
Chapter 54: Af varþi
Provisions relating to the watch are to be found in UL Kgb 12,
SdmL Kgb 12 and HL Kgb 9. Farmers in coastal areas carried a
particular responsibility. The duty of the watch was to light beacons
to summon troops in case of an attack. Those sitting watch paid
their own expenses, and any fines due if they failed in their
duty. The level of the fine is not given in GL, but in UL it is forty
marks. In SdmL and HL the fine varies depending on the nature
of the failure in duty. The Danish translation (daGL) records an
increasing level of responsibility with the increase in the age of
the person from eighteen to twenty-two years. Another aspect of defence
was the laiþingr, referred to in Guta saga (GLGS, 68).
54/2 4. Although Pipping (GLGS, Ordbok) defines the varþpenningar
as en årlig skatt, som erlades af alla vapenföra män (an annual
tax, paid by all men capable of bearing arms), comparison with
NOTES 173
mainland provincial laws suggests that it refers to fines payable
for not keeping proper watch.
54/3. The skyldir expenses were usually communal taxes, but it seems
more likely that expenses incurred in keeping watch are intended here.
Chapter 55: Af husum ok husþiauþum
55/1. The husþiauþ household servants were people working in
the (farm)house itself, perhaps specifically as opposed to those
doing outside farm work, referred to in the following chapter.
55/4. Wessén (SL IV, 288 note 2 to Chapter 55) observes that the
scribe of manuscript B 65 (tyGL) has here mistaken (hus)þiauþ for
þiaufr thief and inserted a new chapter heading, Van husdyben
Concerning house thieves . This provision probably refers to per-
manent members of a household, rather than seasonal workers, but
the reason for it is obscure. Since those who did not grow their
own crops could be pressed into service by any farm for harvest-
ing, it might have been regarded as unethical to subsume people
into one s household, thus making them unavailable for this work.
Chapter 56: Af byrslufulki
56/4. The payment for a day s hire is set out in the following provi-
sion, Chapter 56a. The byrslufulk harvesters were hired seasonal
workers who received daily wages.
Chapter 56a:
56a/1 and footnote. This new chapter (75) in the B-text (and in
tyGL) is not signalled in the A-text, although the chapter title
appears in the table of contents.
56a/2. The seþalaust fulk (with no arable land) were crofters, as
described in the notes to Chapter 48.
56a/3 5. Payment was according to the area worked and the grain
harvested and did not include provisions. The barley and rye would
have been for flour and food and the oats possibly to feed horses and
perhaps make porridge and soup (see KL s. v. Havre; Korn; Råg).
Chapter 57: Af ikornum
57/2 3. Only the winter pelts (gråverk) of squirrels were valued as
currency, so the close season coincides with the period when they
were in their summer coats (routhskyn). The open season was usually
174
THE LAW OF THE GOTLANDERS
from 13th October (28th October in Gotland, 1st November in
Uppland) to 14th April (25th March in Västmanland and in Gotland,
2nd February in Södermanland). Forty skins were equivalent in
value to one timber. Sources from 1235 mention rights granted to
four Gotlandic fur traders to trade toll-free in England for three
years, and payments to Gotlandic merchants for these skins are
recorded in 1237, 1242, 1244, 1248 and 1250 (cf. HansUB I, 270,
283, 322, 359, 333, 395).
Chapter 58: Af herum
58/2 3. Once again the close season for hare trapping was the
summer half year. Although a gin is referred to, the usual method
for catching hare in the winter was in a snow-pit, loosely covered
with brushwood (see KL s. v. Harar; Jakt). GL is the only provin-
cial law that specifies a close season for catching hares, although
hares are mentioned in ÄVgL Fnb 7 1, YVgL Utb 15 and ÖgL Bb
36 5 in relation to who owned a hare that had been caught.
Chapter 59: Af skafli
59/1. The word ska(f)vel is used in Gotlandic dialect for fruit from
trees, e.g. apples (cf. GO s. v. skavel). Schlyter (CISG, 550) and
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