Weregild

s in old English law, a pecuniary satisfaction paid to a party injured, or to his relatives, to expiate an enormous offense, most commonly homicide.'" The custom originated with the ancient Germans. For homicide, Athelstan (and other rulers) graded the "2 Bancroft, Const. 208 (1882), abr. ed.

368 (1884), quoting Washington. "United States v. Cruikshank, 92 U. S. 649 (1876), Waite, C. J.; 1 Story, Const. §§ 497-506.

3 Johnson v. Eayner, 6 Gray, 110 (1856), Bigelow, J. See Mixer v. Reed, 25 Vt. 257 (1863). • Chesley v. King, 74 Me. 170-71 (1882), cases; Buckingham V. Elliott, 62 Ga. 296 (1884). » Trowbridge v. Brookline, 144 Mass. 141 (1887), cases; Ballard v. Tomlinson (Eng.), 24 Am. Law Rev. 634, 638- 40 (1885), cases. « 91 U. S. 536; 2 Black, 523. ' 14 Wall. 83. » 7 Pa. 530. » Were'-glld. A. S. were, a man; geld, money: the amount according to the rank of the deceased, from peasant to kingi In the time of Henry I, other offenses were made redeemable. A private process seems to have been allowed for recovering the amount.

See Appeal, 3; Caput, ^stimatlo.