[216]. Cf. also Eyrbyggja Saga, c. 43.
[217]. Cf. Svarfdæla Saga, c. 5, and Magnus Barefoot, c. 8.
[218]. The hird or hirdmen were so called because they guarded their lord or king; the word being derived from hirda, to guard or preserve. The hird of a king was often very considerable: King Harald Fairhair sometimes had a hird of 400 men.
[219]. Fignarklœdi = dignity-clothes; clothes of highborn men.
[221]. The name of Ælgyva, mentioned on the tapestry, is evidently the same as the Northern Alfifa.
“Svein, son of King Knut and Alfifa, daughter of Alfrun jarl, had been put in Jomsborg to rule Vindland” (St. Olaf’s Saga, c. 252).
[222]. Hlad seems to mean band rather than lace, as it is sometimes translated; the finds show that gold bands or diadems were worn.
[223]. Among the objects made of gold were spurs, see Völsunga Saga, c. 27; gold chairs, Hrolf Kraki’s Saga, c. 18; gold chests, Fornmanna Sögur, vii.; gold horse-shoes, Fornmanna Sögur, vii.; gold dog-collars, Gautrek’s Saga, c. 9; gold ring-coats of mail, Sigurdarkvida, iii.; gold tablets, Orvar Odd’s Saga, c. 26; cows’ horns occasionally seem to have been covered with gold, as we see from Thrymskvida, st. 23, Helgakvida Hjörvardssonar.
[224]. Cf. Hrolf Kraki’s Saga, c. 10–12.