Ælfr. § 42. I have slightly varied the form of expression in the last sentences, on account of the difficulty of rendering the adjective _orwige_. Ælfred says in these cases a man may fight _orwige_, literally, _without incurring the guilt of making war_, without becoming obnoxious to the penalties assigned to the crime of war-raising. ----- The inconveniences of this state of society induced Eádmund, about the middle of the tenth century, to release the kindred from the consequences of fǽhðe: he thus commences his secular laws: “Eádmund the king makes known to all the people, old and young, that are in his dominion, what I have deliberated with the counsel of my Witan, both ordained and laic. First how I might best promote Christianity. Then seemed it to us first most needful that we should most firmly preserve peace and harmony among ourselves, throughout all my dominion. Both I, and all of us, hold in horror the unrighteous and manifold fightings that exist among ourselves: we have therefore decreed: If henceforth any one slay another, let him bear the feud himself, unless by the assistance of his friends, and within twelve months, he make amends with the full _wer_, be he born as he may. But if his kindred forsake him, and will not pay for him, it is my will that all the kindred be _unfáh_ [out of feud] except the actual perpetrator; provided that they do not give him either food or protection. But if afterwards any of the kindred harbour him, he shall be liable in all that he possesses to the king[506] and bear the feud with the kindred, because they had previously forsaken him. But if any of the other kindred take vengeance upon any man save the actual perpetrator, let him be foe to the king and all his friends, and forfeit all that he has[507].” ----- Footnote 506: A forfeiture of this kind is recorded in the Codex Diplomaticus, Nos. 714, 719, 1304. A lady had harboured her brother, while an outlaw for murder. Her lands were all forfeited and given to the king. Footnote 507: Eádm. Sec. Leg. § 1. Thorpe, i. 246. ----- It is probable that this right thus reserved to the kindred of deserting their guilty kinsman, was not often exercised, nevertheless the subsequent laws of Æðelred and Cnut[508] may be considered to have been understood in connexion with it, and subject to its limitations. ----- Footnote 508: See above, cap. ix. p. 264. -----