Legal Definitions - henfare

Definition: Henfare is a historical term that refers to a fine that had to be paid by someone who fled from an accusation of murder.

For example, in medieval England, if someone was accused of murder and they fled the scene, they could be fined a henfare if they were caught. This fine was usually paid to the victim's family as compensation for the harm caused.

Another example is in Icelandic law, where a person who was accused of murder could pay a henfare to avoid being outlawed and banished from the community.

These examples illustrate how henfare was used as a way to hold people accountable for their actions and provide some form of justice for the victim's family. It also shows how different cultures had their own variations of this practice.