Incorporating suggestions from Thorshof and Friends. In memory of Robert Jones
1: The Thing-Tide, Thingstow and Thing-Folk: A Thing is desirable as part of any Midsummer Moot, or similar gathering, and should be worked for, with Quarterly Things convened as needed by occurrence of strife. It is not needful for disputes to occur to plan and gather for the Thing.
2: The place where the Thing is held, the Thing-Stow, should be a public space, or a space neutral to all parties. It should be hallowed as a Frith-Stead, in which a general truce is kept and no harm is attempted against another. This truce should stand for an allotted time before and after the Thing, say one day and night on either side.
3: The Thing should be hallowed: held within a ritual working, to which the Gods and Goddesses are invited and at which the Gods and Goddesses are assumed to be present. There should be, within the ritual space, a harrow with all needful ritual tools, and a ring of silver (2oz. In weight) on which the oaths are sworn.
4: Folk must be chosen to work the rites of the Thing: the hallowing of the Frithstead, the calling of the Gods, the swearing of oaths, the maintenance of the truce. The duties of the Godfolk should be purely religious and logistical: they should have no part in the judging.
5: One must be choosen to hear all sides in any dispute, to find a right judgement, or 'Doom' and to decide on further action. This person shall be the 'Law-Speaker', and may nominate deputies to help in finding a judgement if needed. The Law-Speaker should be worthy of the respect of all parties involved and during all proceedings should be given great respect. The Law-Speaker for the next Thing can also be chosen before the present Thing is closed.
6: A scribe should be nominated to note the claims, the speaker, and statements made. The scribe should also record faithfully any judgement found, and the agreement or otherwise of all parties.
7: Thing Rights: The following should be held true for all who recognise the Thing:
8: All have a right to be heard at the Thing. Any with a grievance against another heathen has the right to have that grievance heard and a judgement made upon it. Anyone accused has the right to make a denial. All have the right to nominate another to speak in their place.
9: No judgement should be formed without all parties speaking their part.
10: Lodging Claims: Claimants should lodge their claim with the chosen Law-Speaker or Godfolk as soon before the Thing-Tide as possible. Once a claim is made, the claimant should agree to take no further action till the claim is heard. Claims may be retracted at any point, with the Law-Speaker judging whether any apology or penalty be owed. No claims should be made for another without that person's agreement.
11: A Claim might be made on the day itself, with no prior knowledge. The Law-Speaker should allow time for a defence to be prepared or to be given there and then, and may require the claimant to justify the lateness of the claim.
12: The Law-Speaking: At the opening of the Thing, with th Frithstead established and the Thing-Stow hallowed, the Law-Speaker shall state the 'By-Laws' of the Thing - the rules by which the Thing shall operate.
13: The Oath-Taking: All who wish to speak shall be sworn on the ring. Each shall name two others to be witnesses to that oath. The oath shall be:
14: ''I name witness to this, ……… & ………., that I swear my oath on the ring, an oath at law. So help me Freyr & Njord & the All Mighty God, that I shall pursue/defend/bear witness to/pass judgement on the case, as I know to be most just & most true & most in accordance with the law. And all matters that come under my jurisdiction I shall determine lawfully as long as I am at this meeting.''
15: The term 'All Mighty God' may be removed, or the name of the swearer's closest deity be substituted. Otherwise the oath should not be changed, and should be considered binding.
16: The Hearings: Order of proceedings should be decided by the Law-Speaker and arranged by the Godfolk. The Law-Speaker should have a summary of proceedings, with the general nature of each claim. A rough limit of two hours should be set for each claim. No claim should be interrupted once begun unless absolutely necessary.
17: The plaintiff should state the nature of their claim, clearly and succinctly, outlining any harm that has been suffered and what redress, if any, is sought. It should be the duty of the Law-Speaker to restate the claim, to the satisfaction of the claimant, clearly, with any irrelevancies removed.
18: Before any denial is required, the Law Speaker should weigh the worth of the claim and whether it need be answered. The Law-Speaker should dismiss any claim deemed to be unworthy.
19: If the claim is deemed worthy, the defendant should be required to deny or confirm the claim against them as spoken, to state the extent to which they agree/disagree with the claim and to give their view of the case. Should no answer be forthcoming, the claim should stand, though no judgement can be made by the Law-Speaker.
20: Where a claim is made against someone not present at the Thing, the claim should stand with no judgement being made. Friends of the absent party should be allowed to speak on their behalf, should they wish, but this should not count as a defence, nor should it have any bearing on the hearing. The hearing should be adjoined till the next Thing. The accused should be notified as soon as possible of the nature of the claim, and the earliest time at which they might reply.
21: Should no agreement be reached at this stage, the Law-Speaker may allow witnesses to be called up, two for each party.
22: Only the Law-Speaker should put questions to witnesses. The Law-Speaker may be requested to ask a certain question by anyone present. Questions should be relayed to the Law-Speaker via the Godfolk, by spoken or written word. The Law-Speaker should decide which questions to ask.
23: No heed should be given to any past actions of any party that are not linked to the claim.
24: It is possible that during the proceedings the nature of the claim might change; e.g. a third party, previously unmentioned, be named and accused. That party should have the right to speak there and then, or to have time to prepare a defence. The Law-Speaker should allow all parties to change their stand as new information comes to light.
25: The Law-Speaker should try to ascertain where harm has been done or ill has been worked against body, wealth, reputation, rights or freedom; by whom it was done; and the cause. If harm or loss was suffered by both parties, these must be weighed against each other to find where, if anywhere, redress is needed, or recompense is owed.
26: The Law-Speaker should be able to call for comment and opinion from those present who are not involved in a claim. This would not count as evidence, nor need it be sworn, and the Law-Speaker can discount what is said.
27: The doom: It is hoped that by this process, in accord with the oaths all have sworn, the Thing shall reach a true judgement. The Law-Speaker should give the Judgement or 'Doom' boldly, with a mind to the well- being of all concerned and of Heathendom also.
28: Should no agreement be found and contraditions in each account be too great, the Law-Speaker should deem that the truth of the matter is hidden from the Thing. Despite the lack of a resolution, each party should be urged to accept their differences and pursue the case no further. All have the right to refuse this.
29: The Doom should state clearly the findings of the Thing, acknowledging all harm or loss suffered by all parties involved, and outlining all dues and where redress is needful. All parties should be asked whether they agree with the Doom offered, and whether they will sign their name to it. Whilst being mindful of their oaths, all have the right to refuse it.
30: Gield: Redress, or 'Gield', should be set by the Law-Speaker and may range through monetary payment to the value of the loss, the payment of a token amount, a period of service or deed done, to a full retraction or an open apology. Once the Doom of the Thing has been accepted by all parties, it is binding; no further action on the claim so settled should be taken. Nor should the same claim be brought a second time. Failure to make good the Gield should prompt a new claim.
31: Other Business: The Thing is also a place in which any may speak their heart. All should be clear what, if anything, they want from the Thing. Not all things spoke at the Thing will need further action: the saying may be enough.
32: The Laws of the Thing should be agreed, with amendments proposed and discussed, within the Thing amnd applied at future Things. Changes to the Laws should take place after the hearings and should not affect the current Thing. The Laws of the Thing bind only those who have accepted their worth by attending the Thing, and by attendance they should be deemed to have accepted those Laws.
33: The Thing and the Law of the Land: Consideration should always be given as to whether a claim should go to the Law of the Land. Some crimes should always go to the Law, and all should have the right to legal recourse with no blame given them for 'going outside'. Obviously, some claims brought to Thing would not be recognised as illegal, and some, against the Law of the Land, would not be recognised by the Thing. It may be beneficial to deal with ramifications of legal proceedings as part of a Thing. It is hoped that where an agreement has been found, no legal proceedings will follow.
Thing Laws
This Thing is called to work frith where there is feud, to find agreement where there is discord, to bring redress where there is loss.
This Thing is set within the bounds of a Frithstead - with a truce to be held one night on each side. If any bear weapons, let them be yielded up. If any bear evil, let them be free of it. Let none break the truce! Let none bring harm to the Thing!
This Thing owns itself a holy Thing: a Holy Deed done in a Holy Stead at a Holy Tide - know that the High Ones are with us and look to your deeds! Let all be worthy of the High Ones!
This Thing holds that all heathen folk, by birth or adoption, have the right to be heard, to speak their heart. If any is aggrieved they may speak their grievance and have a doom made upon it. If any is accused they may make a denial.
This Thing will hear claims by true folk for harm done against one's body, or freedom, or wealth: against one's rights, or good name. A finding of harm needs requital in Gield.
Folk may speak their own part, or may chose another to speak in their stead.
No Doom can be made but that all sides are heard. None shall be doomed without a defence being heard. Where claims are made against folk not here, while friends may speak to their good this will not count as a defence and the claim shall stand unjudged.
This Thing holds that all who speak in the hearings shall be sworn on the ring, berfore two witnesses of their choosing, and all who so swear shall be deemed to speak true. The Oath is binding and shall be:
''I name Witnesses to this, ........... & .................., that I swear my oath on the ring, an oath at law. So help me Freyr & Njordr & the All Mighty God, that I shall pursue/that I shall defend/that I shall bear witness to this case, as I know to be must just & most true & most in accordance with the law. And all matters that come under my jurisdiction I shall determine lawfully as long as I am at this meeting.''
The swearer's dearest god may stand for the All Mighty God; no other change may be made.
This Thing owns ........ as Godfolk and .......... Law-Speaker (and ................ as deputy/deputies). The Law-Speaker (with deputies) shall seek to find where harm has been done and where debt is owing, and shall offer a Doom on the findings. The Godfolk shall keep the rightful working of the Thing and have no part in the judging. The Scribe shall rist a record.
Each shall be called to state their claim, and the worth of each claim shall be weighed. The accused shall then be called to give their yea or nay.
If needful, witnesses may be called, two for each speaker to give their rede. Questions shall be asked by or though the Law-Speaker only. The Law-Speaker may ask the rede of the folk at his/her wont. A claim shall take two hours at most with no interruption.
The Doom shall be made by the Law-Speaker alone, upon what has been spoke at the Thing. Those who are owed shall receive Gield; those in debt shall pay it. Gield might be gold or fee, deeds or service, a retraction or apology as the Law-Speaker lays down. None is bound to accept a doom against their will, but a doom agreed to is binding. The claim is then settled and will not be heard again, but non-payment of Gield shall spark a new claim.
By this time, all claims should be known to the Speaker. New claims may now be made, though time may not wait their hearing. A claim may be retracted at any time, or may be changed as new knowledge comes to light.
The folk of the Thing; the Law-Speaker, the God-folk, the Scribe, chosen attorneys; all shall be deemed free of blame for the findings of this Thing. None shall be harmed for upholding this Thing and its findings.
These are the laws of the Thing. Changes to the law shall be made only when all claims have been heard and shall not apply to this current Thing. Changes may be proposed by any, and all may speak their heart. These are the laws of the Thing. If any refuse them, may they leave this moot. All who stay, having heard and accepted, shall be deemed to be bound by these laws.