Legal Definitions - cheapgild

Cheapgild

Cheapgild is a historical legal term, primarily found in Anglo-Saxon law. It refers to a payment or compensation made for the loss or theft of livestock, such as cattle, sheep, or horses. Essentially, it was a form of restitution paid to the owner for the value of animals that were stolen, killed, or otherwise lost due to another's actions or negligence within the legal framework of the time.

• Example 1: Restitution for Theft

  Imagine a farmer named Æthelred in 9th-century England discovers that three of his prize oxen have been stolen from his pasture overnight. After a local investigation, a neighboring villager, Beorn, is identified as the thief. According to the customary law of the time, Beorn would be ordered to pay cheapgild to Æthelred. This payment would compensate Æthelred for the monetary value of his stolen oxen, ensuring he received restitution for his significant loss.

• Example 2: Compensation for Accidental Loss Due to Negligence

  Consider a scenario where a drover, Cynric, is transporting a flock of sheep across a lord's land. Due to Cynric's negligence, a portion of the flock strays into a bog and is lost. The lord, whose land the sheep were crossing, might demand cheapgild from Cynric as compensation for the lost animals, especially if Cynric was responsible for their safe passage. This illustrates cheapgild being applied not just for direct theft, but also for significant loss due to a party's carelessness.

• Example 3: Penalty for Intentional Harm to Livestock

  Suppose a dispute arises between two villagers, Eadwig and Finn, over grazing rights. In a fit of anger, Finn intentionally drives Eadwig's pigs into a dangerous forest, resulting in several pigs being attacked by wolves and killed. A local reeve (a historical administrative officer) might rule that Finn must pay cheapgild to Eadwig for the value of the lost pigs. Here, cheapgild acts as a specific financial penalty for causing harm and loss to another's livestock, beyond any other potential punishments.