niddering

A niddering who flies for his life at the first approach of danger is not fit to wield a sceptre in these lands.

"Let but a man stir towards me and this spear flies through thy heart, Niddering," cried Eric.

If so, I have been told both ways; in some visions, running like a niddering, in others standing firm as a pyramid.

As to Mr. William Morris, he might be fabled to render Α δειλοί “niddering wights,” but beyond that, conjecture is baffled.