weregeld

Would it indeed be possible, for instance, to convey a notion of the customs and manners of our Saxon forefathers without employing words so mixed up with their daily usages and modes of thinking as "weregeld" and "niddering"?

Harold : the Last of the Saxon Kings — Complete Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton 1838

The king is said to have been miraculously terrified by seeing a ray of bright light dart from the heavens upon their grave, and, in sentiments of compunction, he sent for their sister Eormenburga, out of Mercia, to pay her the weregeld, which was the mulct for a murder, ordained by the laws to be paid to the relations of the persons deceased.

The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Principal Saints January, February, March Alban Butler

Alfred's laws unquestionably show a tendency to enforce loyalty to the king, and to enhance the guilt of treason, which, in the case of an attempt on the king's life, is punished with death and confiscation, instead of the old composition by payment of the royal weregeld.

Lectures and Essays Goldwin Smith 1866

We trace, however, an advance from the barbarous system of weregeld, or composition for murder and other crimes as private wrongs, towards a State system of criminal justice.

Lectures and Essays Goldwin Smith 1866

On the whole, woman's condition seems inferior to man's on some points: but superior on others. e.g. A woman's weregeld -- the price of her life -- is 1200 solidi; while the man's is only 900.

Roman and the Teuton Charles Kingsley 1847

A slave's tooth, on the other hand, is worth but 4s.; and in every case, the weregeld of a slave is much less than that of a freeman.

Roman and the Teuton Charles Kingsley 1847

If guilty, the offender has to pay the weregeld, or legal price, set upon the injury he has inflicted.

Roman and the Teuton Charles Kingsley 1847

And again, servus doctus, an educated household slave, whose weregeld is higher than that of others.

Roman and the Teuton Charles Kingsley 1847

Moreover, you must leave no sharp stakes standing out of the hedge; for if a man or beast wounds himself thereby in passing, you have to pay full weregeld.

Roman and the Teuton Charles Kingsley 1847

If a man had lain in wait for a freeman, 'cum virtute et solatio,' with valour and comfort, i.e. with armed men to back him, and had found him standing or walking simply, and had shamefully held him, or 'battiderit,' committed assault and battery on him, he must pay half the man's weregeld; the 'turpiter et ridiculum' being considered for a freeman as half as bad as death.

Roman and the Teuton Charles Kingsley 1847