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15 and not where the perpetrator lives. The priest shall withhold holy
offices, and close the church door, to all those who have broken
the sanctity of God, for excommunication always follows Sabbath-
18 breaking. The ban shall subsequently be lifted immediately he
pays the fine stipulated, and the parishioners consider it advisable.
All are obliged to bring the action for the fines, and all should take
21 a share in them. Parishioners are to have one third of the fines,
the church another, and the priest a third, provided that fines
are not payable to the general assembly. But fines to the
24 general assembly are not payable for Sabbath-breaking, unless a
man is killed inside a church, in which case there is a fine of forty
7/14 B; A omits.
7/16 in land B omits.
8/1 B: 7
8/9 B; A omits.
8/21 of the fines B omits.
THE LAW OF THE GOTLANDERS
13
marks. This fine is paid to the general assembly. The rural dean
27
has three marks of this for pronouncing excommunication.
All churches in the province are equally sacred, if a man is
killed inside them. Three churchyards, however, are considered
in law to be the most sanctified. In these a fugitive should have 30
protection both on rectory land and in the churchyard. There is a
fine of forty marks if a fugitive is killed in this sanctuary. But of
33
all other fines, those that are smaller, and those that are not payable
to the general assembly, the parishioners are due one third, and
the church a second part, and the priest another. If you strike a
man in a church with a staff or an axe hammer, or wound him in 36
a churchyard, the fine for this is six marks. If you punch a man
with your fist or push a man or take him by the hair in a church, or
39
strike him in a churchyard with a staff, or an axe hammer, the
fine is three marks. If you punch a man with your fist in a
churchyard, or take a man by the hair, the fine is twelve öre for
Sabbath-breaking. The one who has desecrated the church shall 42
always be liable for the reconsecration, and cleanse that which
he has made unclean by a payment of three marks.
Concerning the universal sanctity
Now there are, moreover, two other periods of peace and security,
which principally exist in order that one should observe an 3
individual s right to protection. In these cases there is no
excommunication and no fine to the bishop, unless the deed was
done on a holy day. This is the universal sanctity. It runs from 6
fourteen nights after Easter and five nights after Midsummer and
lasts for ten nights and ten days in each case; it both starts and
8/26 marks B adds or in a churchyard, in which case there is a fine of twelve
marks
8/32 killed B; A: captured
8/33 not B omits.
8/34 due B: always due
8/35 another. B: another part.
8/39 or an axe hammer B: or with an axe hammer
8/41 churchyard B adds or push a man
9/1 B: 8
14 GUTA LAG
9 ends at sunrise. If you kill a man during these periods of peace
and security, the fine to the general assembly is as great a wergild
as he whom you killed is worth. No peace circle will protect you
12 before you have paid the fine. If you wound a man or strike him
during these periods of peace and security, the fine is three marks.
During these periods of peace and security no one may destroy
15 another s house or boundary fence, without being liable for a fine
of three marks.
Concerning the springtime sanctity
Now there is then, in addition, the springtime sanctity. It runs
3 from a fortnight before the general sowing time, and lasts until a
fortnight thereafter. During that period of peace and security no
one may seize from another either horse or ox in payment of debt,
6 since a farmer needs these every day on his fields, without being
liable for a fine of three marks. If a debt is [outstanding] between
men and it is legally claimed, the one is to claim from the other
9 his house, cattle or possessions, and not his working beasts, which
he needs at the time.
Concerning the assembly sanctity
Next there is in addition men s assembly sanctity. The assembly-
3 men must prosecute the action for [breaking] the assembly
sanctity. If you take a man by the hair, or punch him with your
fist, at the assembly, the fine is three marks for breaking the
6 assembly sanctity and in addition a legal fine (i.e. for the assault).
If you strike a man with a staff, or an axe hammer, or cause
injury, the fine is three marks. If you kill a man, or maim him, the
9/10 is as great B: is always as great
10/1 B: 9
10/6 these B: both these
10/8 it is B omits.
11/1 B: 10
11/2 in addition B omits.
11/7 8 cause injury B: cause a man injury
THE LAW OF THE GOTLANDERS
15
9
fine is six marks, unless the man was killed in revenge. A criminal
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