written in about 602, the law of æthelberht (athelbert of kent) is the oldest example of anglo-saxon law, or of law in any germanic language. anglo-saxon law was based on ancient germanic law which was a system of laws based on kinship. the kinship group was responsible for the acts of their members as well as for their protection. wrongs against another were paid by weregild, a value placed on every person and piece of property. by the 10th century these had changed into a system of hundreds. no longer based on kinship, they organized themselves to protect others in the hundred and to enforce the laws. a hundredsmann was in charge of a hundred and was responsible to see that all disputes were settled.