Source.—Thorpe, Ancient Laws and Institutes of England.

These are the dooms which Ethelbert the King gave forth in Augustine’s days:

1. The property of God and of the church, twelve-fold; a bishop’s property, eleven-fold; a priest’s property, nine-fold; a deacon’s property, six-fold; a clerk’s property, three-fold; right of sanctuary, two-fold.

2. If the king call his people to him, and any one there do them evil, a two-fold amends, and 50 shillings to the king.

5. If a man slay another in the king’s “tun,” let him make amends with 50 shillings.

6. If any one slay a freeman, 50 shillings to the king as a fine.

8. The king’s fine for a breach of the peace, 50 shillings.

9. If a freeman steal from a freeman, let him make three-fold amends, and let the king have the fine and all the chattels.

13. If a man slay another in an eorl’s tun, let him make amends with 12 shillings.

15. A ceorl’s fine for a breach of the peace, 6 shillings.

17. If any one be the first to break into a man’s tun, let him make amends with 6 shillings; let him who follows, with 3 shillings; afterward, each man a shilling.

19. If highway robbery be done, let the amends be 6 shillings.

20. If a man then slay a man, let him make amends with 20 shillings.

28. If any man take indoor-property, let him make a three-fold amends.

33. If there be seizing of the hair, let there be 50 sceatts for amends.

34. If there be an exposure of the bone, let amends be made with 3 shillings.

35. If there be a bite into the bone, let amends be made with 4 shillings.

38. If a shoulder be lamed, let amends be made with 30 shillings.

39. If an ear be struck off, let amends be made with 12 shillings.

43. If an eye be out, let amends be made with 50 shillings.

45. If the nose be pierced, let amends be made with 9 shillings.

50. Let him who breaks the jaw-bone pay for it with 20 shillings.

51. For each of the four front teeth, 6 shillings, for the tooth which stands next to them, 4 shillings; for that which stands next to that, 3 shillings; and then afterwards, for each, a shilling.

52. If the speech be injured, 12 shillings.

53. Let him who stabs through an arm make amends with 6 shillings. If an arm be broken, let him make amends with 6 shillings.

54. If a thumb be struck off, 20 shillings. If a thumb-nail be off, let amends be made with 3 shillings. If the shooting-finger [fore-finger] be struck off, let amends be made with 8 shillings. If the middle finger be struck off, let amends be made with 4 shillings. If the gold-finger [ring-finger] be struck off, let amends be made with 6 shillings. If the little finger be struck off, let amends be made with 11 shillings.

55. For every nail, a shilling.

57. If any one strike another with his fist on the nose, 3 shillings.

69. If a foot be cut off, let 50 shillings be paid.

75. For the “mund” [money paid by a bridegroom to the bride’s father] of a widow of the best class, of an eorl’s degree, let the fine be 50 shillings; of the second, 20 shillings; of the third, 12 shillings; of the fourth, 6 shillings.

86. If one esne slay another unoffending, let him pay for him at his full worth.

87. If an esne’s eye and foot be struck out or off, let him be paid for at his full worth.

89. Let the highway robbery of a slave be 3 shillings.

90. If a slave steal, let him make twofold amends.