286 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

Appendix This short abstract contains the history of thei. criminal jurisprudence of the northern nations for

several centuries. The state of England in thisparticular , during the period of the Anglo-Saxons,may be judged of by the collection of ancientlaws, published by Lambard and Wilkins. Thechief purport of these laws is not to prevent orentirely suppress private quarrels, which thelegislator knew to be impossible, but only toregulate and moderate them. The laws of Alfredenjoin , that, if any one know , that His- enemyor aggressor, after doing him an injury, resolvesto keep within his own house and his own lands * 1 ,he shall not fight him , till he require compensationfor the injury. If he be strong enough to besiegehim in his house, he may do it for seven dayswithout attacking him; and if the aggressor bewilling, during that time, to surrender himselfand his arms, his adversary must detain himthirty days , but is afterwards obliged to restorehim save to his kindred, and be content with the.compensation. If the criminal fly to the temple Tthat sanctuary must not be violated. Where theassailant has not force sufficient to besiege thecriminal in his house, he must apply to thealderman for assistance; and if the alderman refuse

master of a slave or vassal a sum as a compensation forhis loss. This was called the Manboic. See Spell. Gloss,in verb. Frednm , Mauhot.

The addition of these last words in Italics appearsnecessary from what follows in the fame law.