If any one be slain let him be paid for according to his birth. And it is right that the slayer after he has given wed for the wer find in addition a werborh according as shall thereto belong, that is to a twelve-hynde’s wer twelve men are necessary as werborh, viii of the paternal kin and iv of the maternal kin.
This is in accordance with the clause in Alfred and Guthrum’s compact, which, however, makes the additional provision by way of precaution that one of the twelve co-swearers must be a king’s-thane. The clause continues:—
The king’s mund.
Ðonne ꝥ gedon sy þonne rære man cyninges munde, ꝥ is ꝥ hy ealle gemænum handum of ægðere mægðe on anum wæpne þam semende syllan ꝥ cyninges mund stande.
When this is done, then let the king’s mund be established, that is, that they all of either kindred, with their hands in common upon one weapon, engage to the mediator that the king’s mund shall stand.
The king’s mund-byrd, as we have seen, was equal to five pounds according to both English and Kentish custom.
The heals-fang.
Of þam dæge on xxi nihtan gylde man cxx scill. to heals-fange æt twelf-hyndum were. Heals-fang gebyreð bearnum broðrum ⁊ fæderan ne gebyreð nanum mæge ꝥ [feoh] bute þam þe sy binnan cneowe.
In xxi days from that day let cxx shillings be paid as heals-fang at a twelve-hynde’s wer. Heals-fang belongs to the children, brothers and paternal uncles: that money belongs to no kinsman except to those that be within the knee.
The manbot and fightwite and then the wergeld.