Note 50 — Front matter

Snorro Sturleson’s Historia Rer. Norvegicar. Havn. 1777. vol. ii. in the Life of King Oluf. The king dissatisfied with some great men in the county of Thrundhem, which then laboured under scarcity, forbid the inhabitants of the southern parts of Norway to give even the least relief to their brethren in the north. A near relation of the famous Einar Thambeskielfer came to him, and asked for corn; Einar having fully explained the impropriety of complying with desires contrary to the proclamation of their royal master, said, “My slaves, for whose actions I am by no means legally bound, possess corn in plenty; it is their property, and they can dispose of it according to their own pleasure.” It seems as if the slaves in Denmark have enjoyed the same privilege, for Elnoth, in the life of Saint Canute the king, says, “Servos manumissos et proprii sudoris labore pretio acquisito redemptos libertati publicæ adjudicavit.” See J. Langebeck’s Script. Rer. Danicar. t. iii. p. 352.