Appendix

'i.

Rules, of

2y3 HIS TORY OF ENGL A X D.

Rebellion , to whatever excess it was carried,was not capital, but might be redeemed by a sumof money The legislators, knowing it im-possible to prevent all disorders, only imposed ahigher fine on breaches os the peace committedin the king’s court , or before an alderman. Analehouse too seems to have been considered as aprivileged place ; and any quarrels that arose therewere more severely punished than elsewhere

If the manner of punishing crimes among theAnglo-Saxons appear singular, the proofs werenot less so ; and were also the natural result ofthe situation of those people. Whatever we mayimagine concerning the usual truth and sincerityof men , who live in a rude and barbarous state,there is much more falsehood, and even perjuryamong them , than among civilized nations:Virtue, which is nothing but a more enlargedand more cultivated reason , never flourishes toany degree , nor is founded on steady principlesof honour, except where a good education becomesgeneral ; and where men are taught the perniciousconsequences of vice, treachery, and immorality,liven superstition, though more prevalent amongignorant nations , is but a poor supply for thedefects in knowledge and education : Our Euro-

" LL. Ætbelst. § 2. Wilkins, p. 63.

LL. Ethelredi, apud Wilkins, p. iio. LL. Ælf. §4.Wilkins, p. 35,

LL. Hlotb. et Eadm. § 12, 13. LL. Ethelr. apudWilkins, p. iir.

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