Book 2, Chapter 5, 878 AD to 901 AD – Saxon Laws
The Saxon legislators distinguished between the different wounds to which the body is liable, and which, from their laws, it may be inferred that they frequently suffered. In their most ancient laws these were the punishments;
The loss of an eye or of a leg appears to have been considered as the most aggravated injury which could arise from an assault, and was therefore punished by the highest fine, or fifty shillings. To be made lame was the next most considerable offence, and the compensation for it was thirty shillings. For a wound that caused deafness, twenty five shillings. To lame the shoulder, divide the chine-bone, cut off the thumb, pierce the diaphragm, or to tear off the hair and fracture the skull, were each punished by a fine of twenty shillings. For breaking the thigh, cutting off the ears, wounding the eye or mouth, wounding the diaphragm, or injuring the teeth so as to affect the speech, was exacted twelve shillings.
For cutting off the little finger, eleven shillings. For ‘cutting off the great toe, or for tearing off the hair entirely, ten shillings. For piercing the nose, nine shillings. For cutting off the forefinger, eight shillings. For cutting off the gold-finger, for every wound in the thigh, for wounding the ear, for piercing both cheeks, for cutting either nostril, for each of the front teeth, for breaking the jaw bone, for breaking an arm, six shillings. For seizing the hair so as to hurt the bone, for the loss of either of the eye-teeth, or of the middle finger, four shillings. For pulling the hair so that the bone became visible, for piercing the ear, or one cheek, for cutting off the thumb-nail, for the first double tooth, for wounding the nose with the fist, for wounding the elbow, for breaking a rib, or for wounding the vertebrae, three shillings. For every nail (probably of the fingers) and for every tooth beyond the first double tooth one shilling. For seizing the hair, fifty sceattas. For the nail of out the great toe, thirty sceattas. For every other nail ten sceattas.
Chapter 5, Alfred’s Fortifications
Alfred’s Measures for the Defence of the Country
Chapter 5, Revolt in the Danelagh
Chapter 5, Alfred’s Educational Efforts
His care for Internal Prosperity of the Country
His Computation and Division of Time
Chapter 5, Alfred’s Industry and Zeal
Chapter 5, Saxon Laws
Saxon Laws
Alfred’s Watchfulness over the Executive
Chapter 5, Summary of Alfred’s Character
Categories: Book 2
Leave a Reply