we are struck at once with the excessive amount of that of the nobilis. But if the solidi were of two tremisses, as they should have been, then, translated into solidi of three tremisses, the amounts would stand thus:—
| Nobilis | 960 | solidi, | or | 1440 | bullocks. |
| Litus | 80 | ” | or | 120 | ” |
These amounts appear to be still far too large; whether regarded in cattle or in gold.
The statement of wergelds seems to be in silver solidi.
It seems probable that, in spite of the last clause, the wergelds of the Lex Saxonum, in the text as we have it, are described in Charlemagne’s silver solidi of 12d.—the solidi which at the moment he was trying at a ratio of 1:4 to substitute for gold.
Very nearly contemporary with the Lex Saxonum is Charlemagne’s Capitulare de partibus Saxonie, A.D. 785.[167] In this document no wergelds are mentioned, but other fines are described which may be compared with them. And it will be noticed that three classes are mentioned—nobilis, ingenuus, and litus.
In s. 19, for refusal to baptize an infant within a year of birth:—
| Nobilis | 120 | solidi to the fisc. |
| Ingenuus | 60 | ” ” |
| Litus | 30 | ” ” |
So again in s. 20 for illicit marriage, and in s. 21 for engaging in pagan rites:—