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"? ❋ 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. ❋ Alban Butler (N/A)
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. ❋ 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. ❋ 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. ❋ 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. ❋ Charles Kingsley (1847)
If guilty, the offender has to pay the weregeld, or legal price, set upon the injury he has inflicted. ❋ Charles Kingsley (1847)
And again, servus doctus, an educated household slave, whose weregeld is higher than that of others. ❋ Charles Kingsley (1847)
Tiberius, when he saw that he was so mighty a man of his hands, bade put his eyes out; and how he hid two knives in his sleeves, and slew with them two great chamberlains of the Emperor; and so died, like Samson, says old Paul, having got good weregeld for the loss of his eyes -- a man for either eye. ❋ 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. ❋ 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. ❋ Charles Kingsley (1847)
They tell me now -- monk and priest tell me -- that I have atoned all my sins; that the dread weregeld is paid; that I may enter the world of men with a spirit free from the load, and a name redeemed from the stain. ❋ Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton (1838)
"There is no weregeld for manslaying on the head of him who smiles so in death on his old comrades in life!" ❋ Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton (1838)
"Choose whom thou wilt, Harold," said one of the young thegns, laughing, "but spare thy friends; and whomsoever thou choosest, pay his widow the weregeld." ❋ Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton (1838)
"Steel to steel, and hand to hand," said the Saxon, bluntly, touching the long knife in his leathern belt, "and he who sets gripe on Sexwolf son of Elfhelm, shall pay his weregeld twice over." ❋ Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton (1838)
"but spare thy friends; and whomsoever thou choosest, pay his widow the weregeld." ❋ Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton (1838)
If but by one word thou widen the breach between me and the King, outlaw thou enterest England, outlaw shalt thou depart -- for earldom and broad lands; choose the bread of the stranger, and the weregeld of the wolf! " ❋ Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton (1838)
England, outlaw shalt thou depart -- for earldom and broad lands; choose the bread of the stranger, and the weregeld of the wolf! " ❋ Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton (1838)
