The power of a master over his slaves was not unlimited among the
Anglo-Saxons, as it was among their ancestors. If a man beat out his
slave's eye or teeth, the slave recovered his liberty:[****] if he
killed him, he paid a fine to the king, provided the slave died within a
day after the wound or blow; otherwise it passed unpunished.[*****] The
selling of themselves or children to slavery, was always the
practice among the German nations,[******] and was continued by the
Anglo-Saxons.[*******]
[* General Preface to his Hist. p. 7, 8, 9, etc.]
[** LL. Edg. sect. 14, apud Spel. Concil. vol. i.
p. 471.]
[*** Spel. Gloss, in verbo Servus.]
[**** LL. AElf. sect. 20]
[***** LL. AElf. sect. 17.]
[****** Tacit, de Mor. Germ]
[******* LL. Inse, sect. 11. LL. AElf. sect. 12.]
The great lords and abbots among the Anglo-Saxons possessed a criminal
jurisdiction within their territories, and could punish without appeal
any thieves or robbers whom they caught there.[*] This institution must
have had a very contrary effect to that which was intended, and must
have procured robbers a sure protection on the lands of such noblemen as
did not sincerely mean to discourage crimes and violence.
Pages:
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346