Some differences in the old Anglo-Saxon legal code

In two particular features he law differed from the present. The wergild, for homicide, was determined without regard to those considerations of motive which now result in varying penalties for first-degree and second-degree murder, manslaughter, and justifiable homicide. Then, too, it was necessary for the injured party to hale the offender into court, to prosecute the case, and to collect the fine.

(from A History of England and the British Empire)