The name is absent

2ββ         THE SAXONS IN ENGLAND. [book x.

A further inquiry now arises, as to the basis upon
which all calculations as to satisfaction between
man and man were founded ; in othèr words to the
system of Wergylds and its various corollaries:
this will form the subject of a separate chapter.

267

CHAPTER X.

FÆ'HDE. WERGYLD.

The right of private warfare, technically called f<⅛h¾>e
or feud¹, was one which every Teutonic freeman
considered inalienable ; and which, coupled with
the obligations of family, was directly derived from
his original position as a freeman² : it was the pri-
vilege which he possessed before he consented to
enter into any political bond, the common term
upon which all freemen could meet in an equal
form of polity. It was an immediate corollary from
that primæval law of nature, that each man may
provide for his ωvn defence, and use his own ener-
gies to secure his own well-being, and the quiet
possession of his life, his liberty and the fruits of
his labour. History and tradition both assure us
that it did exist among the tribes of the North :
and it is reasonable to suppose that it jnust have
done fo, especially in ally case where we can con-
ceive separate families and households to have main-
tained at all an independent position toward one

Fa⅛h‰ is etymologically derived from fa, a foe : it is the state or
condition of being fa with any one. “ Gif hwa ofer <5æt stalige sÿ he
fâ w⅛ ^ιδone cyning and ealle his freond.’¹ “ If after that, any one steal,
be he foe (at feud) with the king, and all that love him.”

Tacit. Germ, xxii.

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