“Hrafnkel claimed the godiship from Helgi Asbjarnarson, his kinsman, and did not get it.
“In the spring people went to the Spring-thing. Helgi Asbjarnarson then named An Trud into the court (dóm), though it was to be concealed, for An had given to Helgi seven stud horses. When An was seated in the court Helgi put on his head a felt-hood to disguise him and asked him to speak little. Thereupon Hrafnkel with the sons of Droplaug and many men walked up to the court. Helgi Droplaugarson walked up to the seat of An Trud in the court; he jerked up the felt-hood with the guards of his sword and struck it down and asked who sat there. An told his name. Helgi said: ‘Who named thee into the court on the behalf of his godiship?’ He answered: ‘Helgi Asbjarnarson did it.’ Helgi Droplaugarson then asked Hrafnkel to name witnesses and claim that Helgi Asbjarnarson had forfeited the godiship; he said all his cases were made void as he had named An into the court. Then there was great pressing forward and a fight nearly ensued, but Hólmstein intervened and tried to reconcile them. The agreement was that Hrafnkel should have the godiship as long as Helgi had had it before, and thereupon they should have it both together; Helgi should, however, help Hrafnkel in all cases at Things and meetings of men and wherever needed. Helgi Droplaugarson said to Hrafnkel: ‘Now it seems to me I have helped thee.’ He answered that it was so. Then people rode home from the Thing” (Droplaugarsona Saga).
The godis seem to have worn long beards, which apparently was the custom among rulers, for Edward is represented on the Bayeux tapestry with a beard.
“Rolf was a great chief and a most powerful man; he had to keep the temple of Thor on that island (Mostr), and was a great friend of Thor, on which account he was called Thorolf. He was tall and strong, fair of face, and had a large beard, wherefore he was called Mostrarskegg; he was the most prominent man on the island” (Eyrbyggja Saga, c. 3).
When the heir to the godiship was a minor, the fittest Thingman took the office till he came of age.
“It was law at that time that when the heirs were minors the Thingman who was thought the fittest should keep the godiship (until they were of age)” (Vatnsdæla, c. 41, 42).
The men of Vatnsdal had a meeting at Karnsá about the godiship.
“They spoke about the godiship and did not agree; every one of them wished to become godi. Then they laid lots in a cloak-skirt, and the lot of Thorkel Silfri (a chief) always came first, for he was skilled in witchcraft. Thorgrím (a kinsman of the deceased godi) walked out and met Thorkel Krafla (his own illegitimate son) in the entrance with other boys. Thorgrím said: ‘Now I want thee to pay the price for the axe.’ Thorkel answered: ‘I should like very much to have the axe, and can easily pay its price now, though I have not the ware thou likest.’ Thorgrím said: ‘Other things than ware will be taken.’ Thorkel asked: ‘Dost thou want me to slay Silfri?’ ‘Yes,’ answered Thorgrím. The lot of the godiship had then been drawn by Silfri. Thorkel walked into the room, and so near Silfri that he touched his foot; Silfri pushed him away and called him the son of a bondmaid. Thorkel jumped up on the next seat and struck his head with the axe (taparöx); Silfri at once died, and Thorkel said the axe was not too dear. Thorgrím said the boy had been badly tempted, and did not stand it well, but had shown himself to be a kinsman of the Vatnsdælir (by his bravery), and he would acknowledge that he was his son. Thereupon Thorgrím got the godiship, and was called the godi of Karnsá” (Vatnsdæla, c. 41, 42).
“The godi if he likes shall go upon the Thing-slope at the Spring-thing and name witnesses that he asks all Thingmen of his district (thridjung) to go to the Althing, and they shall decide it with lots or in other ways. Every ninth of his Thingmen shall go. The Spring-thing shall be dissolved at mid-day when men have been four nights at it, but not before, unless all the Thingmen agree otherwise and all cases brought before it are decided” (Grágás, i. 116).
Every Thing-district had a fixed Thing called Herad-thing, which was presided over by the three godis of the Thing-district.