APPENDIX I.

271

own independent authority, entered into formal Appendix,confederacies with each other, and composed a kind 1 .of separate community, which rendered itself for-midable to all aggressors. Dr. Hickes has preserv-ed a curious Saxon bond of this kind , whichhe calls a Sodalitium , and which contains manyparticulars characteristical of the manners andcustoms 6f the times ". AU the associates are theresaid to be gentlemen of Cambridgeshire; and theyswear before the holy reliques to observe theirconfederacy, and to be faithful to each other:

They promise to bury any of the associates whodies, in whatever place he had appointed; tocontribute to his funeral charges ; and to attendat his interment; and whoever is wanting in thislast duty, binds himself to pay a measure ofhoney. When any of the associates is in danger,and calls for the assistance of his fellows, theypromise, besides flying to his succour, to giveinformation to the sheriff; and if he be negligentin protecting the person exposed tct danger, theyengage to levy a fine of one pound upon him :

If the president of the society himself be wantingin this particular, he binds himself to pay onepound; unless be has the reasonable excuse ofsickness, or of duty to his superior. When anyof the associates is murdered, they are to exacteight pounds from the murderer; and if he refuseto pay it, they are to prosecute him for the sumat their joint expence. If any of the associates,

J * Dissert. Epift._p. ai>