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(delwedd B8003) (tudalen ii)
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LAWS OF WILLIAM THE
CONQUEROR.
THE W O F WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR,
WITH
NOTES AND REFERENCES. 2 LAWS OF WILLIAM (being the fame, as the Title
imports, which Edward the Confeflbr observed before him) in three Columns;
viz. the Laws themfeives in the Norman
LAnguage, with Dr. Wilkins's Latui Translation of them in oppofite Columns;
and an £nglish Translation in another Column, with Notes; and alfo References
from each Law, to the Anglo-Saxon Laws. IL The pd, 55th, 58th, 5fth and 63d
Laws, in Latin, of William, which, towards the latter End of his Reign, he
added to those of Edward the ConfeiTbr, and by which he eftabliflied the
Feodal Syftem here; translated into English, with occafional Notes. By ROBERT
KELHAM, OF L I N C O L N S - 1 N N. LONDON: Printed for EDWARD BROOKE,
Succcffor to Meff. W O R R A L L and T O V E Y, in Bell-Yard, near
Temple-Bari MDCCLXXIX. ( iii )
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(delwedd B8004) (tudalen iii)
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PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE, TO TH E
LAWS OF WILLIAM THE
CONQUEROR.
LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQ^UEROR, THE LAWS OF WILLIAM 3
having at various Times engaged Men of very great Learning and Abilities in
different Countries, in tranQating them into foreign Languages; I hope I need
not apologize for endeavouring to give a more perfe(5l Translatiori of them
into our own Tongue, than has yet been done. The great Selden, in his Notes
on Eadmer, was the firft who attempted to render these Laws into
LAtin -, but he left many Parts of them (on account of the Rudenefsof the
Norman Tongue) untranslated as he found them. The very learned Ducange, at
the Instance of Gabriel Gerberon, of the Benedicline Order, who published the
Works of Saint Anfelm, tranf-
LAted the whole of these Laws into the fame Language, which Translation is
added at the End of Gerberon's Edition. Dr. Wilkins, in his Code of antient
Laws, amongft which he has inferted these of William, has likewife translated
them into Latin, neither intirely adopting the Verfion of Selden or Ducange;
but frequently varying from both. a 2 Moaf.
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IV PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE TO THE
Mr. Houard, a learned Advocate of the
Parliament of Normandy, has, among his antient Laws of the French, given u^,
in oppofite Columns, these
Laws of William, with Selden's and Ducange's Tranf-
LAtions in Latin, and his own in French. Mr. Tyrrell and Mr. Mortimer have
translated some of these Laws into English, and given the Subilance of others
of them in their Historics of Eng-
LAnd. They bear a venerable Afpe(51:, and are the only
Laws extant in the Norman Idiom of that Age. The Title prefixed to these Laws
of William, imports that they are the fame * as those which King * They are
conjectured by Selden to have been a Copy of those
LA\vs, *which by public authority had been reviewed and confirmed in the
fourth year of Williain's reign; and that the time ot Ingulphus's taking them
down to his Abby was after the 15th year of William's reign, Seld. ad
Eadmerum, 172; and which Sir Roger Twyfden has fixed at the 21ft, Wilk. 216.
The MSS of Ingulphus's History of Crowland, with these
Laws at the end, were, as Sslden intotins us, in his time, prefcrved at
Crowland, but that, notwithftanding ail his endeavours, he Gould not procure
the ufe of it; that he therefore published these Laws from a MS of them in
his own cufiody ot about 200 years more recent date. Seld. 172, 173. Sir
Roger Twyfden had another MS of the'e Laws, differing but very little from
that of Selden's; as likcwife had Sir Robert Cotton. Wilkins 211. Notes on
Fortefcue de Laudibus Leg, Ang. c. xviii. p. 47. London, 1775. Selden had his
Copy from the Chronicle of Litchfield. Wilk. 215. Nicholfon's Eng. Hilf.
Library fol. edit. Mr. Somner had alio a MS of these Laws, which Wilkins made
great ufe of, and which, when he published his Saxon Laws, was in the Library
at Canterbury. Wilklns's Prctace. But the most authentic Copy is that which
is in the Red Book of the Exchequer. The lit, 17th, i8th, 20th, and 36th of
these Laws (they relating to the Church) are inferted in Wilkins's Concil.
trom the MS of Ingulphus. Wilkins's Concil. torn. i. p. 313, 314. Whelock's
Lamb. Archaion. p. 159. Edward,
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(delwedd B8006) (tudalen v)
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LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
5 Edward, his Kinfman, had observed before him; but ti'is r att being called
in Question by the above learned Advocatf in his Preliminary ^ Dircourle
prefixed to the antient Laws of the French, it will, in order to iDuintain
the 'Jrurh of the 1 itle prefixed to these 1 aws, be neccflary from our own
Lawyers and Historians to give a short Account of tlie principal Founders and
Reftorers of the Saxon Laws j and, to shew how thole Laws Itood at the
Entrance of William I, some Explanatory Notes alfo are added to the Laws of
WilliaT., and References made from each ot them to the Anglo-Saxonic L.iws.
Thelc will mutually illuflrate each other, and we hope will prove that the
AfTertions
LAid down by Houard are not well supporred. The chief Founders and Reltorcrs
of the Saxon
Laws, wer Ina, Alfred, tdgar, and Edward the Confeflbr. Wnen King Alfred
succeeded to the Monarchy of England, founded by his Grandfather Egbert, he
collected the various Customs he found difperfed in the Kingdom, and reduced
aud digefted them into one uniform Sylfem or Code of I, aws in his dome book,
or Liber judicialis; tins he compiled for the Ule oif the Court Baron,
Hundred, and County Court, the Court lect, and the Sheriffs Tourn; Tribunals
which heellablished for the Trial of all Caufes civil and criminal, in the
very Diftrids wherein the Complaint arose; all of them fubje6l however to be
infpedted, controlled, and kept within the Bounds of the univerfal or Common
Law, by the King's own Courts; which were then itinerant, being kept in the
King's Palace, and removing with his Houlehold in those ^ Apctennes Loix des
Fran<jois conservees clans les Coutumes Angloifes recie'illies par
Littleton, par M. David Hon;' rd, Avocat;iu Parlenient de Normandie, en 2
Vols in 4to. u Ruiicn, 1766. roval
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(delwedd B8007) (tudalen vi)
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VI PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE TO THE
6
royal Progrsses, which he continually made from one End of the
Kingdom to the other. And this Book we may probably suppose to have contained
the principal Maxims of the Common Law, the Penalties for Misdemesnors, and
the Forms of judicial Proceedings; but though it is said to have been extant
so late as the Reign of King Edward IV, it is now unfortunately lost. 1 Black.
64. — 4 Black. 404.
This Code was called the JVeJl-Saxon Lage, or Laws of the
Welt-Saxons, and obtained in the Counties to the South and Weft of the Ifland
from Kent 10 Devon shire. The local Constitutions of the antient Kingdom of
Mercia, which were observed in many of the Midland Counties and those
bordering on the Principality of Wales, and probably abounded with many
Britifn or Druidical Customs, were called the Mercen Lage^ or Mercian Laws.
The Customs which had been introduced on the Danifti Invafion and Conquest,
and which were principally maintained in the North, in the reft of the
Midland Counties, and alfo on the Eaftern Coaft, went under the Name of Dane
Lage or Danifti Law. Thefe three Laws were, about the beginning of the nth
Century, in Ufe in different Counties of the Realm; but King Edgar observing
the ill Effe£ls of these three diftindt Bodies of Laws prevailing at once in
feparate Parts of his Dominions, projeded and began one uniform Digeft or
Body of Laws, to be oblerved throughout the whole Kingdom. Edward the
Confeftbr, his Grandfon, afterwards completed this Defign; but probablv this
was no more than a Revival of King Alfred's Code, with some Improvements
fuggefted by Neceffity and Experience; particularly the incorporating some of
the Britiftj, or rather Mercian Customs, and alfo such of the Danish as were
reafonable and approved, into the 2 JVeJi.
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(delwedd B8008) (tudalen vii)
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LAWS OF WILLIAM THE
CONQUEROR.
LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQ^UEKOR. 7 Weft- Saxon- [age, which was still the
Ground-work of the whole: This, Blackftone tells us, appears to him the beft
supported and mod plaufiblc Conjecture (for Certainty is not to be expeded)
of the Hife and Original of that admirable Syftem of Maxims and unwritten
Cufloms, which is now known by the Name of the Common Law, as extending its
Authority univerfally over all the Realm; and which is doubtlefs of Saxon
Parentage. 4 Black. 404, This Edward the Confeflbr effeifted without Tumult
or Contradiction j all these three different Laws holding an Uniformity in
Substance, and differing rather in the Quantity of Fines and Amerciaments,
than in the Courfe and Frame of Justice. Spelra, Rem. 49. Fortelcue, indeed, is
of Opinion, that those Laws could not be at that Time confolidated and thrown
into one Body of Laws, becaufe each of those Species of Laws were in Force
after, and are to be found, not only in Edward the Confefibr's, but all over
William the Firft's Laws. And not only Muldfts and Fines fet, according to
the Dane-Laga, Saxon-Laga, and Mercen-Laga; but Customs and Ufages fet out
to- be observed according to those different Laws. So that he thinks it mud
be meant only, that Edward the Confcffor made a Colledtion out of those Laws
then extant, as Alfred did before him; and that, ordering ihose to be
observed, which had not been observed in the ffiort Reigns of Harold and
Hardicanute, he may well enough be called the Reftorer of the Englifii Laws.
Thus flood the Laws of England at the Entry of William I. -, and it fcems
pbin that the Laws commonly called the I>aws of Edward the Confeffor were
at that Ti-r.e the Handing Laws of the Kingdoni, and confidered as the great
Rule of their Rights and Liberties i and that the English were fo zealous for
them. yill
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(delwedd B8009) (tudalen viii)
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PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE TO THE
8 them, that they were never fatisfied till the said Laws yftrc reinforced
and mingled for the most Part with the Coronation Oath. Hale's Hift. p. 85,
86. Accordingly, we find that this great Conqueror, at his Coronation on the
Chriflmas day succeeding his Victory, took an Oath at the Altar of St. Peter
Wellminster, in Senfe and Substance the very fame with ^hat which the Saxon
Kings ufed to take at their Coronations; adding further, that he would make
no Piftindion between the English and French. Fort. Pref. 26. Arg. Ant. p.
12. Of all the feveral Species of Laws, the Dane Lage pleafed William beft;
and he declared, that as his Ancestors and most of his Norman Barons came
from Norway, and were of Norwegian Extraction, he ought to govern the Realm
by these Laws. However, he was at laft, by Tears, and Prayers, and
Adjurations by the Soul of Edward, who bequeathed him his Kingdom, diverted
from his Purpofe; and at Berkhamftead, in the 4th Year of his Reign, in the
Preftnce of Lanfranc Abp. of Canterbury, for the quieting of the People, he
swore, that he would inviolably observe the good and approved antient Laws
which had been made by the devout and pious Kings of England, his Ancestors,
and chiefly by King Edward; and we are told, that the People then departed in
good Humour. William 1. having now folemnly bound himself to govern chiefly
by the Laws of Edward the Confeflor, ic became neceflary, as his Followers
were Foreigners, and Strangers to the Englifli Laws and Cufl:oms, to have
tht:m aicertained, and for this Purpole he fummoned 1 2 Saxons from every
County, to inform him and his Lonls upon Oath, what the antient L>aws were;
and Alured Abp, of York, who had crowned William, and Hugh, Bishop of London,
by the King's 4 Command,
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(delwedd B8010) (tudalen ix)
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LAWS OF WILLIAM THE
CONQUEROR.
9 Command, wrote down with their own Hands the Keturn made
by these Jurors. And to bring the Matter still nearer Home, Ingulphus, who
was an Englishman, who had been Secretary to the Conqueror, and afterwards
made by him Abbot of Crowland, has tranfmitted to Pofterity this Account of
his Laws. *' I brought this Time ** with me (fays he) from London to my
Monaftery " the Laws of the mod just King Edward, which *' my Lord
William, the renowned King of England, " had proclaimed to be authentic,
and to be always " inviolably observed through the most grievous Pe**
nalties, and commended them to his Justices in the " fame Tongue they
were fet forth, left through Ig** norance we or ours might happen to
offend.'* Ingul. Hift. Seld. Ead. p. 172. Whelock's Edit. of Lambard's
Archaion, 158, 159. Wilk. Leg. Saxon. 216. Having given an Account how the
Laws stood at the Entrance of William I; we will now lay before the Reader
what Houard has advanced in Oppofition thereto, and make some Observations on
thofc Paflages. His AfTertions, amongft others to the like EfFeft, are these:
I. Guillaume le Conquer ant defendit fes nouveaux Sujets de fuivre d'auires
Couiumes que celles de fon premier domaine. Disc. Prelim, p. 23.31. William
the Conqueror forbad his new Subjedls to follow any other Cuitoms than those
of Normandy. Our Observation on this is, that as William at his Coronation
swore that he would govern by the Laws of Edward the ConfefTor, confirmed
these Law^s by his Charter to the Citizens of London, and renewed this Oath afterwards
at Berkhamiled •, it can never be imagined that after such Solemnities all
these l-aws
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(delwedd B8011) (tudalen x)
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X PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE TO THE
Laws were cancelled and abolished: and indeed we have on the contrary, many
Proofs from our Historians of the Observance of the Laws of Edward in his
Reign.
2. Les Loix de Guillaume n’ont rien emprunté des Loix d’ Edward. Discours
Prelim. p. 32.
The
Laws of William have borrowed nothing from those of Edward the Confeflbr.
Here we must remark, that Ducange, who translated thcfe very Laws, fays, that
William did not dictate to the Englifli new Laws, fo much as confirm the old,
especially the Laws of Edward, to which he made Ibme Additions. Ducange,
Di6t. Lex Angl. Vol. ii. p. 265. Thefe
Laws of William 10 comprisethe Ordinances of the Kings Ina and Ethelred, and
more especially of Canute. Wilk. Leg. Angl. Saxon, p. 229. Rapin tells us,
that the Customs now pradifed in England are, for the most Part, the fame as
the Anglo-Saxons brought with them from Germany. Dilferration on Government
of Anglo-Saxons, Vol. ii. Oft. Ed. p. 138. M. Lacombe, in the Preface to his
Supplement to the Diflionary du vieux Langage Francois, fpeaking of William
the Conqueror, fays, " Ses Ordonnances " font les memes que celles
d'Edouard fon Predecef" feur.*' Pref. p. 13. His Laws are the fame as
those of Edward his PredeceiTor. 3. A Vavenement de Guillaume att 1'rone, les
Loix Saxomies etoient abrogees depuis long temps en Angleterre* Celles d'
Edward^ qui ne conservoient aucunes traces de ces Loix, les avoient
remplicees. Prelim. Disc. p. 34. The Saxon Laws had been abrogated a long
Time in England before William L came to the Crown. The Laws of Edward, which
preserved no Traces of those Laws, had succeeded in their Room. Surely
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(delwedd B8012) (tudalen xi)
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LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
11 XI Surely nothing can be further
from the Truth than this. All Historians agree, that the Laws which William
I, swore to observe, were, ** bonas et approbatae an" tiqu;£ Regni
Leges, " the good, approved, and antient Laws of the Realm. Pref. 8 Coke.
That these Laws were no other than the Laws of Edward the ConfefTor •, and
that, fo far from not preserving any Traces of the Saxon Laws, Coke fays,
they contain the Substance of all those; and that what was Law in those Days
is still the fame in fcveral Instances. Pref. to 6 Coke. This will appear
from the Laws themselves, for many of the Laws of Edward the Confeffor are
the very fame as in former Saxon Kings; and many Expreflions and Words, and
most of the Terms in William Ps Laws, are mere Saxon, and derived from that
Language, but put into Norman French, Fortefcue's Pref. to Reports. The
Common Law, though somewhat altered and impaired by the Violence of the
Times, has in a great Meafure weathered the rude Shock of the Norman
Conquest. Black. Vol. i. p. 17. The
Laws of William L are in general little other than Tranfcripts of the Saxon
Laws or Customs. Sullivan, Le(5l. xxviii. p. 288. 292. 4. Lit t let 071
diftingue en cbaque Article de f on Recueil ce qui eji de la commune Loi;
c'eji a dire, de la Lot etahlie par Guillaume le Conqu'rant d^avec ce qui a
ete institus par des Chartes, Statuts, ou Edits pojlerieurs, Discours Prelim,
p. 42. Littleton diftingui flies in every Sedlion of his work, what the
Common Law is; that is, the Law ellablished by William the Conqueror, from
that which has been ordained by Charters or Statutes fmce his Time. Dilc.
Prel. p. 42. This
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(delwedd B8013) (tudalen xii)
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12 PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.
Norman Jurist feems to have a very impcrfc6k and
inadequate Idea of what we underftand by the Common Law^ when he tells us, it
is the Law eftabliflied by William the Conqueror. Let us confult our own
Lawyers and Hiflorians, and they will inform us, it was called Folc-Rigbt in
the Saxons Times-, that Alfred, Edgar, and Edward the Confeffor, were the
great Compilers and Reftorers of the English Laws; and thatthese are the Laws
which our Ancestors struggled fo hardly to maintain under the firft Princes
of the Norman Line, and which fo vigoroufly withftood the repeated Attacks of
the Civil
LAwj and that theie (and not the Law eftablished by "William) gave Rife
and Original to that Collection of Maxims and Customs which is now known by
the Name of the Common Law. i Black, 66. To these Laws, William, at the
latter End of his' Reign added some of his own, which were the Means of eilablifliing
the Feudal System in this Nation; and, by his Charter, he commanded that all
his Subjects should enjoy the Laws of King Edward in all Things, with those
Additions which he had appointed for the Good of the English. Si me errajfe
deprehenderis, in viam revoca; el Ducem fequar manibus pedtbufq^ue, Houard,
Title, Vol. ii.
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(delwedd B8014)
(tudalen 001)
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THE ANGLO-SAXON LAWS REFERRED TO,
As found in WILKINS.
THE Laws of ^thelbirht p. i He was King of Kent, and the
firfl: Chriflian King of the Saxons. He began his reign 5^5 1 and died in
616. The Laws of Hlothare and Eadric p. 7 They were Kings of Kent; the firft
began ' to reign about 67 g, and died 685; the other was his nephew, and
reigned but about a year and half after him. The Laws of VVihtrnsd p. 10 He
succeeded his brother Ladric as King of Kent, and died 725. The Laws of Ina
P- ^4 He was King of the Wefl: Saxons; began his reign 68 8 and died about
728. The Laws of Alfred p. 28 He was grandfon of Egbert and King of the Weft
Saxons; succeeded to the throne in 872 and died 901. Foedus Aifredi &
Guiihruni p. 47 Guchrun the Danifb general was inverted by Alfred wit'i the
title of King of Eall Anglia about 878.
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(delwedd B8015) (tudalen 002)
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B The [ » ] The Laws of
Edward (the elder) p. 48 He succeeded his father Alfred, and afcended the
throne in 901, and died about 924. Foedus Edvvardi & Guthruni p. '^ i The
Laws of Athelftan p. 54 He succeeded his father Edward in 924, and died 940.
Judicia Civitatis Londonise p. 6^ Thefe Laws were published under the reign
of Athelftan. The Laws of Edmund p. 7 2 He was nephew to Athelftan, who died
without iftue, aicended the throne in 940 and died about 948. The Laws of
Edgar P* 7<^ He was youngeft fon of Edmund, and succeeded his brother Edwy
in 959, and died hi 975^ Supplement to the Laws of Edgar p. 79 Canons
publiflied under the reign of Edgar p. 82
Laws of the Northumbrian Preft)yters p. 98 Mr. Johnfon is of opinion these
Laws were made under a Danifti King, between the year 949 and 952. The Laws
of Ethelred p. 102 f-Ie was the youngeft fon of Edgar, and succeeded his
brother Edward in 979, and died abvout 1016. Book of Constitutions 106 Thefe
were ordained int^he reign of Ethelred. Cci;ncii of yiinham p. 119 This v/as
a general Council held between the 28l!i and 35th years of the reign of
Ethelred, at ^^ineham now Ensliam in OxfordHiire., probably
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(delwedd B8016) (tudalen 003)
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Senatus C 3 J Senatus Confultum de Monticolis WalHa* p.
125 This is placed by Dr. Wilkins under the reign of Ethelred. The Laws of
Canute p. 126 He was King of all England, and of Denmark and Norway. He
afcended the throne after the death of Edmund Ironfide, cldeft fon oi'
Ethclred in 1017, and died 1035. Book of Conslicutions p. 147 This is
suppofed to have been compofed about the time of the Conquest. Book of
Ecclcfiaftical Canons p. 153 Thele Canons, or Rules rather, are imagined to
have been made about the time of the Conquest. The Epillles of Allfric p. 161
This ^Ifric was both a Bifliop and Abbot, and is the fame perfon wiiO
compofed the book of Canons. Book of Ecclefiaflical Laws P* ^73 Spelman
conjectures that this Book or Capitulary vvas compiled by some Bishop, The
Laws of Edward the Confedbr p. igy He was the ycungeit Ion of Ethelred by
Elmma his fecond wife, and Ethcired was the \oun"ell fon of Edg-^^r; he
afcended the thione afrer the death ot Canute the 2d, the last Danish King in
io-;.2, and died iot6. 'Ihei'e Laws are luppoled to have been collected after
William Kufus's time. The LaAs of William the Conqueror p. 211 William Duke
of Normandv, having gained a complete vidorv over King Hare hi, the iccond
fon of Earl Godwin, on tiie 14th or OcloDcr 1
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(delwedd B8017) (tudalen 004)
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066 j he was crowntd .i\ e B 2 ChrKlmas [ 4 ]
Cbristmas-day following, and died on the 9th of September 1087. The Laws of
Henry the Firfl: P- ^3 1 He was the youngefl fan of William the Conqueror,
and succeeded his brother William Rufus on the -i^ of August i ico, and died
the 2d of December 1 1 35.
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(delwedd B8018) (tudalen 005)
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5 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
T H E THE A W O F WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
WITH
NOTES AND REFERENCES. References io ibe Anglo-Saxon Lazvs, *** The principal
defign of making the References, from the
LAWS OF WILLIAM the Conqueror to the Anglo-Saxon Laws, and those of Hen. I.-,
is toshew, that the Laws of William, notwithftanding what has been aflerted
by Mof?/. Houard, stand greatly indebted to the Saxon Laws; in the next place
ic is hoped these References will not a little tend towards iliuttrating both
Laws •, and at the fame time, preient the Reader with a (hort view of what
the greateft part of the Public or Common Law in those ages conGfted; as well
as in some degree facilitate, what is greatly to be wished for, a regular
digeft of that molt antienc body of Laws, B ^ [ 6 ]
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6 LEGES GULIELMI
CONQUESTORIS.
LEGES GULIELMI CONQUESTORIS; Hi? funt Leges & Confuetu- Ces font les Les
^ les Ctisdines quas Williel- tumes que li Reis'SViLMus Rex concejfit uni-
liam ^ gran tut a tut le verfo Populo Anglia? Feuple de Engleterre, pqft
fuhailam Terr am, apres le ^ Conqueji de la Eadem funt quas En- Terre.
Ice'^les meifmes' WARDus Rex, cognatus que le Reis Edward ejus, observavit
ante fun Cofin ^ tint devant eum. lui, I. De Afylorum ^ jure ^ immunitate
Ecclefiaftica. Scilicet; Pax San6tiE /^O eft a faveir; ^ Paisa Ecclefiae
cujufcun- V^ Saint Ygliie; de que Forisfafluras qiiis quel forfait que home
out reus fit hoc tempore; & fait en eel tens; e il pout venire potelt ad
San(ftam svenir aSainteYglife; out
NOTES. ^Gva}itut. — In the fourth year of his reign. •> Conqueji de la
'Tcrrc. — According:; to Sir Matbrvv Hale, Blackftone, and others, the word
Conquefl: fignifies no more than Acquifition or Purchafe; but according to
Dr. Brady and many more, it is taken in the fenfe Wilkins here undcrllands
it, tor ahfoluteConquell. Hale'b Hili. Law, p. 86. 2d Black. 48. 242. Bra/h:
* Les meifmes. — They were translated from the Saxon by the command of
William, into the Norman Language, and then confiimed by him; and there are
not any Laws which are wrote in the Norman Idiom of that Age extant befidcs
these. Eut stiil we mult remember, that though these (}allo-Normannic Laws,
as well as some othtrs in Latin ot Kdward tl-.e ConfcHor, have been handed
dov.n to u.s; yet that we inuil ccnfidcr them only as a manual of those Laws,
and that the greater part ot the Laws ot Edward arc the immeaujiial CulTom of
the Realm. Wiik. .tip. Sold. 189. Male's Hilt. p. 80. Sulivan% Let'^t. p.
2^.0^. [S'jc a further account of thcil- Laws in the Preliminary Discourfe.]
4 Eclefiam j C 1 1 T n E
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7 LAWS OF WILLIAM
THE CONQUEROR.
LAWS O F • WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR* ^hefe are the Laws and Cujloms which
William the King granted to all the Feople of England after his Conquefl of
the Realm; being the fame as those which King Edward, his Coufiny observed
before him, viz. I . Concerning the Privilege of Afylums, and Immunity of the
Church. LET Holy Church enjoy her Peace; whatever forfeiture a man hath
incurred to this time, if he can come to Holy Church, let him have Peace of
life and limb j and if any man lay hands on him who
NOTES. '' Tint (levant lu'i. — Observed before him; not tulif, enaded;
therefore some are ot opinion, that these Laws were framed and promulgated by
some of the predeceflbrs or Edward the Confeffor, and especially by Canute.
See VVilkins's Concilia, torn. i. p. 315^ De Ajyhrnm iurr. — The numbers and
titles prefixed to each Law, were added by SlIucu. Seld. 194. Wllk. 215.
REFERENCES. Holy Church, Iv.x, c. v. p. 15. — Alfr. c. 11. v. p. 34, 3^. c.
xxxvili. Jljjlums to tl'C A.'v^, Archblshop, Nolle/fan, BiJJjopy Lib. Condlt*
Temp. Aihel. p. ii», iii, 112, 113. Pf\7rf, Foed. Edw. iv Gutb. p. iji.L.i, —
EJg. p. 76. i. — Can, p« \ z- . ii. ill. — HcM. I. p. 243. xi. B 4 has
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8 LEGES GULIELMI CONQUESTORIS. Ecclefiam; Pacem habeac
vitas & membri. Et fi quis injecerit manum in eum qui matrem Ecclefiam
qujefierit, five fit Abbatia, five Ecclefia Religionis, reddat eum quem
abstulerit, & centum folidos nomine Forisfaduras: et Matri Ecclefice Parochiali
xx folidos: et Capellae x folidos: et qui fregerit pacem Regis in
Merchenelega centum folidis emendet, fimiliter de compenfatione homicidii,
& de infidiis prsecogitatis. pais de vie & de membre. E fe alquons
meift main en celui qui la mere Yglife requireit, fe ceo fust u Abbeie, u ^
Yglife e de Religion, rendift ce que il javereit pris, e cent folz, de
forfait, e de Mer Yglife de ParoifTe xx folz, e de Chappelle x folz, e que
enfraiant la pais le Rei en Merchenelae cent folz les amendes, altrefi de '
Heinfare ^ e de aweit purpcnfed.
NOTES. ' Pais a faint Tglife. — Pax Ecclefis frequently occurs, and
fign'lfies the immunities and privileges the Church was intitled to, and
whoever broke them was said to break the peace of the Church, If any brawls or
contentions arose in the Church, the peace of the Church was violated, and a
double mulcft was to be paid according to the dignity oi the Church; from 5I.
to 30s. ^Ethelbirht, 1. I. Wihtred, p. 10. S. 3. 4. Ina.% 1. 5. Lib.
ConlUtut. p. 151. c. ii. Foedus £dw. & Gut. 1. 1. Canut. 1. 2, 3. Edw.
Conf. 1. 2.7. Edgar 1. i. Concilium TEnhamenfe, p. 121. Sec. ^» 3- ^ . Those
who fled to the Church for refuge, were said to have the peace of the Church.
See next page» note s. Our Saxon and Norman anceilors called those days and
parts of the year that were alligned to God, Dies i'acis et Ecclefiae, and
the refiduc allotted to the King, Dies or tcmpus pacis Regis; and in the Laws
of Edw. the Conf. Term time is called, Dies Pacis Regis; and Vacations Dies
Pacis Dei, etSanc'ta; Ecclefia; Spel. Rem. p. 79. Ed. Con. 1. 3. 2. De
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9 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
LAWS OP WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
9 has fought the protedion of the Mother
Church, whether it be an Abby or a Church of Religion, let him deliver him up
whom he has taken, and pay . 100s. as a forfeiture, and 20s. to the Parochial
Mother Church, and 10s. to a Chapel; and whosoever breaks the King's peace,
the fatisfaiStion, by the law of the Mercians, is iocs; the fame for Hc'mfare
and premeditated aflaulcs.
NOTES. S Venir a fainte ^"^^i/t — Churches had this privilege from the
time of Constantuic, though there are no Laws about it older than Theodofius,
either in the JulVmian or Theodofjan Code. By the nliith Law oi Alired, the
Criminal had Sant^uary for three days, /EtheliVan extended it to nine days.
^E-hehed, I. 9. to nine or more. By the 6th Law of Kdw. the C.uif. he could
kc taken trnm Sanstuary by none but the Pope, or o-;;e authorised by him. The
King, Archbishops, Noblemen, and Biiliops, hiGalfothis privilege. Constitut.
^Ethelred, p. i 10. h T^l:/c tie Rcli^^ioH. — A Monnstery or Church dedicated
to any religious Order. Wilkins. As to ihe de:^recs of Reverence and
Privilci^e, and the puniftiment of violation; Churches were thus differenced,
viz. into Ecclefia Capitalis, Ecclcha Mediocris, Sind Ecclelia Campcuris. Jo.
Biompton 918. ' L'liJ folz. defcrKut e (Jc m(r Y^i':_f' df paroife s.y. fclz.
fapii cediruis Ijo folidorum numeratione pucis EccLli^ violate; paenasluitOj
Leg. Alfr.c. I. ^ Heinfarc — this is sometimes wrote Hainfare and Hamfare—
Lifultiis tactus in Domo; and ieems here to fignit^y the fame as Hamfocen,
and notservi tranlitum, from ilein servus ic firtranlitusi or Homicidii
compenfatiouom, as it someilmies does. Ht.nfoken Sc Haintare are oUen uied as
fyuonymoja in ancient Hilloi.ans; and the amends is the fame. E lie avjeit
p:irp:ii I'd — pro; iidUtatus atfultiis, L. \l:\. \. p. 2 1, 2, 1. to. or it
may figniry any o.^'cnce comniitted by a/.ai:, or jualice prepenfed. The lO
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10 LEGES GULIELMI
CONQUESTORIS.
LEGES GL'LIELMI CONQUESTORIS'. 2. De Hominum HsEC placita pertinent ad
Coronam Regis. Et fi aliquis aut aliqua vexaverit, (moleftaverit aut)
malefecerit hominibus illiiis BallivjE & de hoc fit attinstus per
Justitiam Regis, Forisfa<^ura fit dupla Hlius quam alius quifpiam forisfecerit.
Regis privilegio. Icee plaiz afierent a la Coroune le Rei; & fe alquens ^
u quens uxuoft mefleift as homes de fa ^ baillie, e de eo fuift atint de la
justice du Roi, forfait fust a .duble de ce com me altre full forfait. 3.. De
Pacts puhlica violatoribus. Et qui in Danelega vi- E que en "Danejae
fru- olaverit pacem Regis, cxHv iibris emendet: Et Fortisfadurse Regis quce
pertinent ad Vicecomitem xl folidi in Merchenelega, & I folidi in
Weil-Sexenelega. Et de libero homine qui habct Sac & Soc & ifl^e la
pais le Roi vii viiis livres e iiii ks amendes; e les forfaiz le Roi qui
afierent al Vefcuntexl foiz en Merchenclae, e 1 folz en Weft-Scxenelae. E al
frans home qui avcit " Sac e ° Soc e i' lol e 'J Tem e
NOTES. '' U qvc'ti nxunj! — ♦' Soit Comte foit Pievot, " Hdinrd; whetlier Earl or
I'icvoft; and ipdceJ Qi_icnz (;r Quens frequently fignilies Karl. See Laws ot
Wllliani, xvii. Qjjens de Flandtr.- — Trcatilc oji prcroa. Q^een confort, p.
i i.-Seld. Tit. Hon. p. 115. ' BaiilJe, i. c jurisdi(fti()n, Province, Wilktus.
^' Da;:clai\ — The Danelac, the Mcrclienlae, and the Wcil-Scvelae are all I.
ere taken notice ot, as Forttlcuc has obl'crved; which leenis to ccAHitenance
his opinion, that thoie Lavvs were not all confolidaied or thrown into one
body or Laws; but that Julward tlie CoiiicHor made a coliei^tion ovit ot
thele Laws then extant, as Allied .did bclore him. Fortejcuis fref. zt, . n
vV/f, i'ln-, Tol, Ten, and J>itau^ti.n;f^ contain privilcigcs enivywi t)}'
Liouia 01 Manors, and > icemen. Tol
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(delwedd B8034) (tudalen 021)
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LAWS OF WILLIAM THE
CONQUEROR.
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(delwedd B8035) (tudalen 022)
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22 LEGES GULIELMI
CONQUESTORIS.
LEGE5 <5ULI£LMI CDN(i, rESTORtSf 7. Be rehus forte inventis. Similiter de
Averio vaganti & alia re in?enta. Oftcndatur tribus parcibus Vicineti, ut
tcftimonium habeat de inventione, (i sUiquis veniat ad probationem
adrempoftulandam, det vadios & inveniat plegios fe, fi alius quifpiam
poftulaverit Averium intra annum & diem ad re<ftum exhibiturum in
Curia, id, invenerit. Altrefi de aver 4ndircz e de ajtre troveure ', feit
mustred *de treis pars del veifined, que il eit teftemonie dc la troveure, fi
alquens vienge a pref pur clamer la chose duiftwagc e trove pleges que fe
altre clamud laveir dedenz Jan e un jour qui il ait a droit en la curt, celui
qui LAuerat troved. . 8. De Homicidio £f? Capitis ^Jiimaiione, feu Wera. Si
quis alium occiderit. Si home occitaltre, ^eil feit counfaunt, e e il denie
faire les amcndes, durrad de fa ^Manbote al Seignor pur le franc home x Tolz,
t pur le fcrf xx folz -, la & fit reus tonfiidens, & cmendare
ncgaverit, det de fuo Manbote Domino pro libero homine x folidos & pro
servo xx foli-
NOTES. « Dc trcis pars del veiJimJ — ante EccleJiam ducat, et coram Sacerdotc
Ecclelia-, et prepolito vihas, et inelionbus hominibus totum oftendat
inventum tjuiccjiiid fit. L. Ed. Con. p. 202. 1. 28. ' E il feit counfauKty
and confefles it; or perhaps it may be rendered, and is known; the word stit
feems to anlwer //, and is in other places taken in that fenie. See L.
Ht>i. I. 280. 1. 91, 92. 8 // dt.fiLc — la Ducan;^e's Glollary, ur.ticr
Manbote^ is read // doive — he oujbt. ^ Mad'oti-, Irom Man and Boar.
Cotnpenfation, is that part of the price ot a man killed, which was paid as a
tompenlation to the Lord ul ine uec<;aied. dos.
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23 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
LAWS OP^ WILLIAM THE CONCJUEROU, t^ 7. Concerning Things
found by Chance. What is said of cattle may be applied to any thing clfe
which is found; let it be fliewed in three parts of the vicinage, that there
may be evidence of the finding; and if any one brings proof and lays claim to
what is found, let him give gages and find pledges, that if any other perfon
shall claim the cattle within the year and a day, the perfon who found them
fliall be amenable tojustice. REFERENCE. Edvj. Conf. p 202. xxviii. 8.
Concerning Homicide y and the Were or Price fet on each Man's Head. If one
man kills another, and confcfies it; yet refufcs to pay the ufual
compenfation: there shall be given out of his manbote, to the Lord, for a
freeman REFERENCES, L. 8. Hom/'cide, kinds of^ Hen. f . p. 267* Ixxii.
Committed hy thofc in Orders, Edg, p, 90. ix. xi. Hen. I. p. 26?, Ixxiii. p.
263. Ixvi. Committed on a minijler of the Altar. Canute, p. 14a. xxxvUi.—
Hen. I. p. 263. Ixn. Qn Infants. Alfr. p. 37. viii. Edg. p. 93. xliii. Hen.
I. p. 266. On a ivoman big 'with child. Alf. p. 37. ix. Hen. I. p. 266. In
the Kings Courts, Palme, Sec. ALii\dbr'n, p. 3.xiii, — Hen.T. p. 272.1xxx» On
his Lord, Hen. I. p. 268. Ixxv, On a D^ine, jEtheIr, p. 105 .v. On a
fVetJ};man, Sen. Conf. jx 125. v. On a Frc?iihman, Win. I. p. 22'6. liii. —
H«n. I. p. 269. Ixxv. p. 280. xci, xcii. On an "Enghfjman^ Hen. I. p.
zby Ixix. On a Freeman. jEthelb. p. 2. vi. — Wiht. p. I 2. X. By a Gttcjl,
jEthclb. p. 3. xxvi. p. 4.. xxvii. Where many are affembled, AH. p. 40.
Cafual Homicide, Hen. I. p. 267. Lxxii. p. 27I1. xc. jfujiifiable, Alt. p.
30. xxv. Aj'ylum, /tthel. p. X 13, i. — Alf. p. 29.:;iii. — Edm. p. 74. ir.
furgation., Heu. 1. p. 268. Ixxiv. C 4 1 s. ', 54
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(delwedd B8037) (tudalen 024)
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24 LEGES GULIELMI
CONQUESTORIS.
LEGES OULIELMI dos. Wera Thani eft xx librae In Merchenelega, & in
Wed-Scxenelega. Et Wera Villani c lolidi in Merchenelega, atque eti^m ia
Weft-Sexcnelega. CONQ.UESTORIS. * Were del Thein xx li. en Merchenlae e en
Weftr Sexenelae, e la wer del Vilain c folz en Merchenelae, e eufement en
Weft-Sexenelae. R EFERENCES. L. 8. Ho-M compenshted or punisheti, ^thelbirt,
p. 5. 20, 21, 22. — .'Ethelr. p. 1 1 1, iv. p. 105. V. — InsB, p. 25, Ixx. —
Edm. p. 72. Hi. p. 73. i. — Canute, p. 134. vi. Murder^ '■.vbat. Hen. I. p. 280- xcli. Ho-jj pun;J];ed, Alfr. p. 29. xiii. —
Hen. I. p. 267. Ixxi. p. 278. Ixxxix. Th^ Muld on the Kill or Hundred vj/jere
the Murderer could not hefound^ £dw. Cont. p. 199. XV. — Hen. I. p. 280..
xci. xcii. 9. ^ihus Capitis ajiimatio feu 'W^vdifolvenda. Quod ad Weram
attinet, primo reddat is qui eft de nobili knguine Vidu2B& Orphanis x
folidos, & quod supereft Orphani & Cognati inter fc dividant. De la
were, primerement rendrat Turn de halt Sainc a la Vidue a as Orphanins x
folz, e le furplus Orphanins e les Parens departent entr'els.
NOTES. ' JVcrr, Wcrciy'dd, Wcrrgcld. ^uiinatio capitis — Head money. The
price or fuin (when certain crimes were punishtd hy pecuniary mulch inl;c:id
or deatii) fct en every mons head, accordins^ to his condiri(;n .uul
fiuaiity, who had been guilty of I'uch offences as were redeenublc. 10. Ani'
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(delwedd B8038) (tudalen 025)
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25 LAWS OF WILLIAM
THE CONQUEROR.
LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
25 los. i and for a villain 20s. The
Were of a Thane in the Mercian and Welt Saxon Law is 20I. and by the fame
Laws, the Were of a villain is loos. 9. To ivhom the Price of ihe Head or
Were is to be paid. As to the Were; for one who was of noble extraflion, let
there be paid to the widow and orphans X s.; and let the orphans and the kindred
divide the remainder between them.
NOTES. This custom was derlveJ to us, in common with other northern nations,
from our anceilors, the ancient Germans. In the Laws of King Athelftan, we
find the feveral WeregiUs for homicides ellablished in progrelTive order from
the death of the ceorl orpealant, up to that of the Kinsj himfelt; the
Weregild of a ceorl was 266 thrymfa-, that of the King 50, 000; each thrymla
being equal to about one shilling of our prefent money; and in the Laws of
Hen. I. we have an acountof what oSfences were then redeemable by Weregild,
and what were not fo. When the ranfom was fettled, the otfendcr was to find
Were Pledt^es for the payment of it at stated times, and then he was reftored
to the King's peace; but if he could not find any pledges, he was doomed to
perpetual bondage. This U'cregiUl^ when the crime was homicide, was divided
into Several parts, and paid under different denominations; one proportion of
it was paid to the kindred, another to the King, and another to the Lord. It
the party denied the faiff, then he was to purge himself by the oaths of
feveral perfons, according to his degree and quality. 10. What 26
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26 LEGES GULIELMI
CONQUESTORIS.
LEGES GULIELMI CON^UESTORIS. 10. Animalium aliquot valor, in Capitis
aJUmatione tenfenda. In Wera reddcre pote- En la were purra il renrit quis
Equum non caf- draChival qui ad la cuille tratum pro xx iolidis, & pur xx
Iblz, c t{-.r pur x Taurum pro x folidis, & iblz, c afer pur v lolz.
Jumencum pro v Iolidis. II, De percujfore. Si quis alium percuf- Si home fait
plaie a alfcrit, & negaverit ultra tre, e ii denie otrei fair les
cmendare, pnmo illi red amendes, primeren-ent li dat caput fuum (id eft,
rende fun k cheie, e li capitis pretium^vulgotVer- plaiez jurraz ^ur lentez,
gi/dum) & illi percufibr qui pur n>C3 nel pot fair jurcc super Sansta
quod ne pur tiaur (i chjer nel aliter non potuerit facere, fift defarbore
choeft de la nee ex mai^na quacunque dulor. ille fueiit in terram dejedtus,
id quod (caufa) doloris eft. 12. De vulnere indito. Si plaga alicui eveniat
Si la plaie lui vicnt a vifui apertp, capite toto vis en defcuuert al polz
vifo JY dcnarios det per- tote veie iv den, & de tanz
NOTES. ^ J!/er, Dr. Wilkins reads uf/rr, which he renders yumfnfuiti; Durangc
and Houard traullate \t Ferrem j but it is fubtnitted to the Beader, wlicthcr
7/c/-, as in Lair.bard, is not the true reading, and whether Lcr in ly not,
rrom ^/ifi, fignify a ram, cujjbr
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27 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
LAWS OP WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
tj 10. fFhat Beajis may he taken
injlead of the IVeres. Instead of the were of xxs. A stone horfe may be
rendered; a bull for that of X5. 5 and a rani for that of vs. REFERENCES. L.
10. Were^ xxs. Hen. I. p. 270. latter end of the Lavr. Ofajfaulting another^
Altr. p. 38. xiii. xv, . II. Of one Jiriking another » If one wounds another
and refufes to make him amends, in the firft place let him pay his Were, and
alfo swear upon the Gofpels to the perfon wounded, that he could not avoid
doing it, and that it was not through hatred. 12. 0/ the wound given. If any
one is wounded, fo as that the fcuU is laid open, there (hall be paid 4d.;
and alfo the likefum
NOTES. ' E U plaiez jarraz.^ &c. Ducangc translates the pafTage thus, *'
Et plagatus jurabit super fancta, quod pro minori (emenda) non "
poteitiacere, nee proodio caiiorem (vcl majoiem) tecerit de far" bota,
id ell de dolore." Houard has tolluwed Ducange, but I have aciopred the
translatlon of VVilkinsi though this mull be con felled to be a very obscure
Lu'tV. for 28
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28 LEGES GULIELMI
CONQUESTORIS.
LEGES GULIELMI CONQ, UESTORIS. cuffor^ & de omni ofTe, os cum horn trarad
de la quod quis traxerit ex pla ga, ofie toto vifo iv dcnarios, poftea
compofitio ei fiat, fccudum honores quos ei (cs vel caput) fecerint; hoc cum
fecerit, fi cor fuum ei benevolum monstraverit, & confilium fuum ei
donaverit, accipiat ab illo quod ei obtulerit. 13. Memhrorum praciscrum
^fiimalio. plaie al os tote veie iv den. pois acordement fi li metrad avant
honours qui li illiont fait, co quil ad fait a lui, fe Ton queur li
purporrail, e fon confeil li donaft, })rendreit de lui ce quil ofFre a lui.
Si acciderit ut quispugnum cujufpiam ablciderit aut pedem, reddat ei
medietatem Werie, fecund um id quod fa£lum elt. Sed pro pollice reddat
medietatem manus. Pro digito qui pollici proximus XV folidos, de folido
Anglicano, hoc eft, quatuor denarios. Pro digito longo xvi folidos. Pro akero
qui portac annuliim xvii folidos. Pro diorito miniino V folidos. Si ungucm
quis priEcidcrit, pro quoJibet V folidos de folido Ant^Jicano, cr pro ungue
diaiti njiiiiiiii iv denarios. Si CO avent qui alqiien coipe le poin a altre,
u le pied, fi li rendra demi were, fu luc ceo q'il efl.
Mezdelpochierrendradla meite de la mein, del dei apres le pokier xv folz de
folt Engleis, co eft quer dcners; de lunc dei xvi folz, del altre qui ported
I'anel xvii folz, del petit dei v folz, del unglc fi il colpc de cafcun v
folz de' folt Engleis; al ungle de petit dei iv den. 14. De
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29 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
LAWS OF Wit LI AM f HE- CO^QXriTROR; *9 for every bone
which appears to be extracfted from the wound; but if the wound be afterwards
compounded for by his Lords, at his own instance, and with his own confent,
then let him accept what is offered. 13. '^he Rates to be paid for the lofs
of Limbs , &c. If any perfon happens to cut off the fift or foot of
another, let him render to him the half of a Were according to the condition
of the perfon; for a thumb he fliall render the half of the price for a hand;
for the forefinger 15s. English, that is 4d. to every fliillingj for the
middle finger i6s.; for the ring finger 17s.; for the little finger 5 s. If a
nail is cue off, for every nail 5 s. of the English (hilling; and for thenail
of the little finger, 4d. REFERENCES. L. 12, 13. Wounds f Compenfatlon for,
^Ethelbirt, p. 4. Law 33d. and the 38 followinu; Laws. — Alfr. p. 44. xl. —
Hen. I. p. 281. xclii. U. Of so
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30 LEGES GULIELMI
CONQUESTORIS.
LEGES OULIBLMI CONCtUESTORIS. 14. Be adulter to, Qui desponfatam altcrius
vitiaverit, forisfaciat Wcram fuam Domino fuo. Ki altrei espoufe pufgift, fi
forfaic la were vers fun Seignor. 15. De Judice corrupto. Etiam qui falfum tulerit
Judicium, Weram fuam perdat, nifi super facrofandta ( Evangelia) probare
poterit, fe melius judicare nefcivifife. Altrefi qui faus jugement fait, pert
fa were, fi il ne pot prover for Saintz qui melz ne pot juger. 1 6.
Depurgatione ilUus qui Furti reus eft. Si quis alterum appellet de Latrocinio
&; is fit liber homo, & habeat exinde verum teftimonium de
legalitate, purgec fe perplenumSacramentum, & alter qui infamis ante
fuerat per Sacram.entum nominatum videlicet xiv homines legales; atiamen fi
is habere eos poterit purget fe Si home apeled altre de
LArcin, & il fot francz home, & il ait ondca verre teftemonie '"
de lealte, fen efcoudirad per plein ferment, & altre qui blafmed ait
efted per ferment nomed, CO eft a favoir, quacorte homes Icals, per non fi il
aver Ics pot, fi fen efcoudirad lei dudzime
NOTES. "• Be lealte, legality, that is, of his being; reBus in curia,
not out-
LAwed, excommunicated, ike. Hence legality is taken tor tb.c condiiionot such
a man. Leg. Edw. Conf. p. 20i.xviii. the oppolice is Dcleaute, perfidy,
difloyalty, infamy. Lciral'ty lometimes fignifies judiciary di>;n!iy,
power of judging, and jurisdi<ftion or tranchife. Decern Scrrpinn 5. Ttie
f.'vpiex Lada here corrcfponds w ith iiacra, " ''nm plmir^^ and fignil-es
a [ ofgutif n or excufe by the limpb oai.; ■,;i il'.j; .:.y accufed.
Ducangc^ Lada,
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31 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
3 1 14. Of Adultery. If one violates
the wife of another, let him forfeit his Were to his Lord. REFERENCES, L. 14.
Adultery, punishment cf //, ifithelbirht, p. 4. Xxxii. p. 7. Ixrxlr.— Wiht.
p. 10. V. — Alfred, p. 37. x. — Edmund, p. 73. iv. — Edgar, p. 90. xvii. p.
91. xviii, xix, xx. xxlv. p. 92. xxxiii, xxxiv, xxxv, — Canut.p. 134, . vi.
p. 141. xlvil. p. 142. i. li. — VVm. Conq, p. 225. xxxvii. 15. Of a corrupt
Judge. Alfo he who pronounces a falfe Judgment, (hall lose his Were •, unlcfs
he can prove, by swearing on the Gnlpcls, that his fentence was according to
the beft of his Judgment. REFERENCES. L. 15. Edg. p. 77. iii. — Wm. Conq. p.
226. xli. 16. Ho'w one is to purge himself who is guilty of Larceny. If on?'
.: jpenls another of Larceny, and he is a Freeman, and lias all along had
good proof of his Legality, let hini clear himself per pleln ferment; and if
the accufed !;as I.er^jcofore been rendered infamous, per ferment nomed^ that
is to fay, by 1 4. lawful men named; Ice him, if he can, clear himfc If by 1
2 comREFERENCES. L. 16. Plenum Sacrameyifv.m. Hen. I. p. 263. Ixvi.
Nonf.>iat!tm Sacrament urn, Edvv. p. 48. i.— Athelllariy p. ^8. Ix, — Hen.
I. p, 263. Ixvi. p. 264. Ixvii. purgato.'s;
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32 LEGES GULIELMI
CONQUESTORIS.
E6ES GULIELMI duodecima manu, & fi habere non poffit, fe defendat per
judicium, & Appellator jurabit (p raster cum jurent vii homines nominati)
quod propter malitiam non fecerit nee propter aliam caufam, quam quia jus
fuum per^ lequeretur. CONC^JESTORIS. main, & fi aveir nes pot, fi fe
defende per ivis, e li apeleur jurra fur lui jur fet homes nomes, qui pur
haur nel fift, ne pur altre chofe, fi pur fon dreit non purchacer. 17. De eo
qui Te'/nplum aut Bomum fregerii. Et fi quis appellatus fuerit de fradione
Monaiterii aut Cubiculi, neque fuerit infamis a retro, fe purget per xlii
legales homines nominates duodecima manu, & fi alias infamia nocatus
fuerit, purget fe per triplum, videlicet per xlviii homines legales nominates
trigefima fextu manu, & fi illos habere nequierit eat ad judicium per
triplum fi audeat ad triplex plenum Sacramentum, & Ci is a retro
latrocinium emendavit, eat ad aquam E fi alcons eft apelez de muster
fruifler, u de chambre, e il ne efted blamed enarer, fen efcoudit per xlii
leals homes nomez fei dudzime main, c fil eit altre fiee efled blamed, feu
efcoudied a treis dubles, ceo a fa voir per xlviii homes lea!s nomes fei
trentefifte mein, e fil aveir ncs pot, aut a
LA ivife a treis dubles, fi coil doufi a treis du plein ferment, e fil ad
enarer
LArcin amended, alt al ewe. Li Arcevefque averad de forfaiture xi folz
REFERENCES. L. 17. Church, hrcah'ing intn; pun[ll:mcnt^ Athclll. p. 30. XXV.
— EtliiHUul, ■ p. 74. vi. — Canut. ji. 142. lix. isfa-flura
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33 LAWS OF WILLIAM
THE CONQUEROR.
LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONC^yEROR. gj pAirgators; and it' he cannot, then let
him defend himself by ordeal. Let the Appellant alio himself, with feven
others named, swear that what he did was not through hatred, or any other
motive, than that of profecuting his Right, ry. Concerning him who breaks
into a Church or Houfe, If any one, who has not in Times pad been rendered
infamous, (hall be appealed of breaking into a'^Church, or ° Monaftery, or
inner part of a Houfe; let him clear himself by p xlii lawful Men named, he
himlelf making the twelfth \ and if he has at any other Time been adjudged
infamous, let him clear himself by *5 three times that Number, that is to
fay, by "^ xlviii lawful Men named, he ' himself making the 36th; and if
he cannot procure that Number, let him go to the triple ordeal, as he muit
have three times taken the plein Serment. And if he. has heretofore made
Satisfadlion for a Larceny, he must undergo the water 'ordeal. \vi
NOTES. "^ il'/a/frf—The Party here being accufed of a Crime of a deeper
dye than that in the former Law, he muit in the fird infrance tiear
himfelt" by twelve Compargators, though his Charader till that time
flood unimpeai^hed. " DeMuster fruijjer^ u de chavilre — for breaking of
a Monaftery, or of any private Room in it. Johnfon's Colkaion of Canons,
&c. Vol. I. 1065. P xlii hah /wwi-— this ihould be xii, as appears by the
duodedma n:a>iu, and Ducangc has rendered it fo, °^ A treis dubki~\tg<i
dudzis; thrice 12. Ducangc Juiiium, p. 140. ' xknii—'W\% I apprehend (liould
be xxxvl, I.e. 3 times 12; the Purgation being tri^efima st.xta ma>'.u,
that is ^c Compuri:ators and the Party acculld. ^ ^ ' '>/—/* hiinlelr; the
l*arty heina Included in the 36th. ' Ant a la Jui/i a 'reis duhk —h is ap
'ehended, this was fo be Fhr Ordeal, as being more reputable than that of
Water., and the Party accused had been only detained before, but not
consicftd. The triple Fire OrJad was by tne iuipeCted Perlon carryin"-
in his Hand a Bar or red hot Iron of three PcMuids VVciolit; ' the stmbU I
ire Ordeal, ot one Pound onl\-. Laws Hen, L p. 64, 67. 1^ this 54
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34 LEGES GULIELMI
CONQUESTORIS.
LEGES OULIELMI CONQUESTORlt. (i, e, judicium aqua). Ar- en Mercheneale, e lui
chiepiscopus habebit de Evefques xx fo)z, c lui forisfadtura xl folidos in
Quinz xx folz, e le Baron Merchenelega, & Episco- x lolz, e li Vilain xl
den. pi XX folidos, & Comes xx folidos, & Baro x folidos, &
Villanus xl denarios. '' REFERENCES. L. 17. Church, breaking ittto;
funishment, Athelft. p. 57. v. Houfe, Alfred, p. 30. xxv. — Edmand, p. 74.
vi. — Canute, p. i42.1Ix« 18. Be Denariis S, " Petri, feu VeSligali
Romano. Liber homo qui habu- Franc home qui ad '"aver erit averia
campeftria xxx denarii arftimanda, dabit denarium S. Petri. Pro iv denariis
quos donaverit Dominus, quieti erunt Bordarii ejus & ejus Scabini &
ejus Servientes. Burgenfis qui de propriis Catallis habet id quod di-
champeflcr trente deners vailaunt, deit doner le"dcner Seine Pere. Le
Seignur pur iv den. que il dourrard fi erent quletes fes ° Bordiers e
fesPfionerz & fes Serjanz. Li Burgeis qvi ad en foud propre chatel demi
marc
NOTES. * Aver champcjler—^mmi qui habuerit xxx denaritus vivas pecuniae, in
domo fua de fuo proprio, dabit Denarium Sansti Petri. Leg. Edvvardi, p. 198.
x. n Le dener Selnt Pere, -— Peter Pence, Romcfoe, Romiscot, Rome pennving. A
yearly Penlion or Alms of id. out of every family; firll granted by Ina King
ot the Weft Saxons for lui)port oi an English College founded by him at Rome;
it was called Pclcr Pence, becaufc colleiSted yearly on the feall of St.
Peter ad Vincula, i. e. on the lilofAugust. This REFERENCES. L. 18 and 20.
Peter-Pence — Romfcot. Forfeiture for non-payment. Feed. Edw. & Guth. p.
57, vi. — Northum. Prelbyt. Leges, p. loi. Iviii. lix' — Lib. Constit.
temp.y^ithel. p. 114. iii. — Canute, p. 130. ix. Edw. Conf.p. 198. x. In
'xhat prnportion to he paid, Edw. Conf. p. 198. x. By ^jj.h'jm to be coUc3id,
North. Prclb. Leg. p. loi.lvii. midia
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35 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
^5 this Cafe the Archbishop, by the
Mercian Law, shall have for his Share of the Forfeiture xls. the Bifliop XX
s. the Earl xxs. the Baron xs. and the Villan xld. 1 8. Of Peter Pence. A
Freeman who has Beads for Agriculture, to the value of ^o d. ought to give i
d. to St. Peter. The Lord, for 4d. which he shall give, shall have his
Bordmen, the Overlookers of his Cattle and his Servants quit. A Burgels who
has Chattels of his own
NOTES. This was afterwards by succeeding Kings extended throughout all
England, and fettled at £.201 6s, a year; and in procefs of time, the Popes,
pretending n was a tribute paid to St. Peter and his succeflbrs, coliefled it
to their own ufe, till it was prohibited by 25 Hen. VIII. and entirely
aboliilied by t Eliz. ° Borciiers. Tenanrs who held;i Bord or Cottage under
the service of Bordage from Bcfib, domus; they are diitinguiilied from
servants and villains, and were liable to the most abje«St services. Ducange.
f Bc-vrrs. Whelock's Edit. i?o«frj. Those who held Bonnaria, or
LAnds fet out by certain Bounds. Id. Tenants who lived in cottages on the
Lord's wade. Juhnfon's Canons. D z to 36
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36 LEGES GULIELMI
CONQUESTORIS.
LEGES GULIELMI midia Marca seftimandum eft, dare debet denarium S. Petri.
Qiii in Danelega eft liber homo, & habet averia campeftria qujE dimidia
marca in argento seftimantur, debet dare denarium S. Petri. Et per denarium
quern donaverit Dominus, erunt quieti ii qui refident in iuo Dominio.
CONQUESTORIS. valiant, deir doner le dener Seint Pere. Qui en Danelae francz
home eft e il averad dcini marc en argent vailant de aveir champeftre, fi
devrad doner le dener Seint Pere. E per le dener qui li Seignur durrat fi
crent quietes ceals, qui meinent en fon demainer. 19. De muliere vi comprejfa
£5? pudicitia lud amine tentata. Qui fceminam vi compreflerit, forisfacit
membra fua. Qui proftraverit foeminam ad terram & ei vim inferat, miilfla
ejus Domino eft x Iblidi. Si vero earn comprederit, forisfacit membra. Ki
purgift femme per forze forfait ad les membres, ki abate femme a terre, pur
faire lui force,
LA mukc al Seignur x folz, fil la purgifte, forfait eft de '5 membres.
NOTES. «) Forfait eft de Membres. Under our Saxon Kings, the punishment of
Rape was only pecuniary, and the only exprefs Laws on this head are those of
^thelb. p. 7. Ixxxi. — AUr. p. 40. xxv. and Canute p. 142. xlix. 2C. De
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37 LAWS OF WILLIAM
THE CONQUEROR.
AWS OF WILLIAM THE CONC^teROR. 37 to the value of half a Mark, ought to give
i d. to St. Peter. By the Danilli Law, a Freeman who has Bealh for
Agriculture, to the value of half a Mark of Silver, ought to give i d. to St.
Peter, And for the 1 d. which the Lord fliali give, thofc who dwell in his
Domain, shall be quit. i^. Concerning Rape^ and an Attempt on a Woman* s
Chajiity, Whoever shall forcibly defile a Woman, shall be punished by lofs of
his Members; and whoever throws a Woman on the Ground, with an Intent to
violate her, the Mulifl: to the Lord is ids. But if he defiled her, he
forfeits his Members. REFERENCE*. L. 19. Of Rape the PuMiJhment. ^Ethelbirht,
p. 7. Ixxxi, Ixxxli, Ixxxiii.— Alfred, p. 40. XXV. — Canure, p. 14.2. xlix.
Of Foniuation^ pun''Jl}mcnt. Altr. p. q6 vlii. With a Nun. Edin. p. 73. iv. —
Edgar, p. 92. xxxii. — Northum. Pretbyt. Leg. p. 102. Ixlii. — Condi. jEnham.
p. 123. iv. Hlth others. j5itheibirhc, p. 2.x. p. 3. xi.xii. xiv. xvi. —
Alfred, p. 31. xxix. p. 40. XXV. — Edgar, p. gi. xxiv, xxv. — Concil. ^nham.
p. 123. iv. Fornication to be anjoided. Lib. Con Hitur. temp. Ethelr. p. io8.
iv. Concil. jEnham, p. 120. viii. — Canute, p. 132. xxiv. Chaflity
folicitation of punishmc.t, Alfred, p. 37. xi. p. jS.Xviii.— • Edgar, p. 92.
xxx.ii, xxxiv, xxxv, xxxvi. Adultery^ pnnif}:mcnt. See L. 14. D 3 20. Con' 38
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238 LEGES GULIELMI CONQUESTORIS.
LEGES GULIELMI CONQUESTORIS. 0. De Us qui veJffgal Romanum feu D. Petri non
pendunt. Qui retinet denarium S. Petri, denarium reddat per Justitiarn S.
Ecclefi^ & XXX denarios tbrisfactura?. Et Ti de ea re eft implacitatus
per J ustitiam Regis, forisfaciat Episcopo XXX denarios, & Ki retient le
dener Seint Pere, le dener rendra par la justice de Seint Eglife e XXX den.
forfair. e fi il en eft plaide de la justice le Rei, le forfait al Evefique
xxx den, deu. e al Rei xl folz. Regi xl Iblidos. 2 1. De Oculo effojTo. Si
quis alteri oculum cffoderit infortunio quocunque, emendet Ixx folidis
folidorum Anglicanorum. Et ii vifus ei reftiti.iatur, dimidiumduntaxat
reddatur. Si al alquns criene'^roil al altre per aventure quel que feit, fi
amendr?d Ixx iblz del folz Engleis, e fi
LA purvele i eft remis, fi ne rendra lui que la meite.
NOTES. ' Crime V oil. The Law of Alfretl is very finil!ar tn this — " Si
*' oculos a!ic li cxcutiaujr, dentur ei fexaginra iex folldi et fcx de•'
narii, et terria pars denarii pro compenratiotic. Si ocuKis in ca" pite
iir, et iiie tair.en videre nequeat, retlncatur tertia pars coni*' penfati'onis
illiiis." 20. De
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39 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
39 20. Concerning the Refufalto pay
Peter Pence. He who witholds Peter Pence, shall be compelled by Holy Church
to pay it; and shall forfeit 30 d. And if he shall be impleaded for it in the
King's Court, he shall forfeit to the Bishop 30 d. and to the King 40 s. 2 1
, ^he Punishent where an Eye is put out. If any one, by what Accident it
will, shall put out the Eye of another, let the Amends be 70 s. English. And
if the Ball of the Eye remains, only half that fum shall be payed.
REFERENCES. L. 20. See 18. L. 21. JEthelbirhl^ p. 5. xliv. p. 7. Ixxxvi. —
Alfred, p. 30. xlx, xx. p. 45. — Hen. I. p. 281. cxiii. L. 22, 23, 24. 29.
40. Heriot — ivhat to he paid, Canute, p. 144. Ixix. — Hen. I. p. 244. xir.
Where the Tenant died in Battle by the Side of his Lord^ Canute, p. 145,
Ixxv, — Edw. Conf. p. 205. D 4 22.0/ f
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40 LEGES GULIELMI CONQUESTORIS. 2 2. De Relevto feu
iiorhiKliKUi^Comitis. De Relevio Comitis, quod ad Regem pertinet viii Equi
cphippiati &: frasnis ornati, iv Loric£e, & i'/ GalciE, & iv
Scuta, & iv HailiE, & iv Enfes, alii casteri iv Neredi & Palfredi
cum fnenis & capiHris. 2 2. Df Relevio Baroms. De releif al Cunte, que al
Rei afiert viii chivalz fclez, e enfrenez, les iv Halbers, c iv f lanimes, e
iv Elcuz, e iv Launces, e iv lifpes, * les altres iv Chaceurs e * Palfreis a
frenis e a cheveftres. De Relevio Baronis iv Equi cum fellis & frsenis
ornati, & Loricx ii, & ii Galese & Scuta ii & ii Knits, &
ii Enfes; & alii caeteri ii unus Veredus & ynusPalfredus cum frseno
& capiflro. De releif a Barun ivr Chivalz enfeles eenfrenes, e ii
Halbers, e ii hammes, e ii Efcus, e ii Launces, e ii Efpes, e les altres ii
un Chaceur, e un Pale f rei a frenis e a clievedres. 24. Ds Vavaforis
Relevio, De Relevio Vavaforis De releif a Vavafour a ad legidmum fuum Do- fon
ligeSigneur, deitee(Ires minum. Qiiietus ti^o. quite per le Chival fon
NOTES. • Lrs ahres IF, This part of the Law feems to have been
tn'ifunderllood; the words /< i altres IF. plainly refer to foine former
part or rhe La a'; therefore we apprehend that after the vvords inil.
ihivals, there followed in the original text, les iv. that is four of them
were to be horfes f >r war with all their furniture; a-vJ the other four
were to 1 e humcis, and paltreys. The 6g'h Law of King Canute w^Il, we hope,
jultify tliis reniiirk. debet
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41 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
4I 2 2. Of the Relief of an EarL The
Relief which an Kirl'is to p3|f to the King, is 8 Horfes faddled and bridkd, 4
Coats of Mail, 4 Helmets, 4 Shields, 4 Spears, and 4 Swords; the other 4
Horfes for hunting and palfreys, with Bridles and Head Stalls. 23. Of the
Relief of a Baron. The Relief of a Baron is 4 Horfes faddled and bridled, 2
Halbcrts, > Flelmets, 2 Shields, 2 Lances, ^nd 2 Swords; of the other 2,
one 'hall be for hunting and one a palfrey, with Bridle and Head Stall. 24.
Of the Relief of a Vavafor. Of the Relief of a Vavafor to his lawful Lord; he
ought to be quit, on yielding up the Horle of his
NOTES. The Heriot of an Earl by that Law was 8 equi, 4 fellati, 4 infellati,
S«:c. Of the Kind's Thane, 4 equi, 2 fellati, 2 non fellati, &c. See alio
the Lawa of Hen. I. ch. XIV. The names ol Couuf^ Baron, Vavafour, and
Villain, were Norman, and were iubilituted in the room of tlic Saxon titles
or Earl, Thane, Thcoden (or leller Tiiaiie) and Churl, wht n:he Laws of Edw.
the Contclfir were tranliared into the Noniuui toague. So likewife the
Normans conceiving the Saxon Heriot to be the fame that their Norman Reiiet
was, they ttanllatei the word Heriot by the Rcleviamfufi'm or Re'evium, and
raifmii the torr«i of their Feudal Law in England, drew the Saxon Cuiloms to
cohere therewith as much as niif^ht be; but as Sir Henry Spelman observes,
there is vrcat ditfercnce between Heriots and Reliefs. Spel. Rem. 32. 2
Black. 65. 8;. SuU. LccTr. .-81. • PaJfrcli, The Palfrey was a horfe of
parade; ladies in Rcffi^mces are always mourned on a Pallrey, as were Priuces
oiien, w!)cn they made a public entry. Father, 4.i
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42 LEGES GULIELMI
CONQUESTORIS.
LEGES GULIELMI CONf^UESTORIS. debet per Eqnum patris peipe tel quil
aveitajour de fa more, e per fon H albert, e per fa Launcc, e per Sespe, fil
fust des apeille, quil ne ont ne Chival ne les armes per c folz. Ibi talem
qualem habuerit tempore ijiortis fuae, & per Loricam ("nam, &
per galeam fuam & per Icutum fuum, & per haftam fuam, & per cnfem
fuum, & fi adeo fuerit inermis uc nee equum habueric nee arma, per ceri'.
turn folidos. 25. De re intejiata^ aut de rebus ereptis penes alium
deprebenfjs. De averio quod quis in manibus habet, qui velit poftulare furto
fublatum, & ilie vult dare vadios & invenire plegios ad profequendum
appellum fuum, tunc incumbit ill! qui rem habuerit in manibus, nominare
warrantum fuum, De entremeins aveir kil voldrad clamer emblet, e il volge
doner wage trouver plege a perfuir fon appel, dunt li fcuverad a celui quil
auverad entre meins nomer fon guarant ful lad, e fi il nel ad dunt nomer ad
fon " Heuvelborh
NOTES. h.2;, " Hruvel horh. Fidejuflbr, trom healp, dimidius, and bopsh,
debitor, v;! etiam fidejullbr; unlefs this flioiild be the fame as
Hcadbonnif^h. Ducan^e. * Si'ififte main. See Leg. Athel. p. 58. 1. 9, ei ex
vicinis nomirantor viri quinque. X i\on pjfuerat fuum Warrantum, The original
is, ne fet, non fcit, — docs not knoiv. REFERENCES. Ina^ p. 22. xlvli. p. 26.
Ixxv. — ^thelft. p. 58. ix. — ^thelred, p, 103. iv. p. 105. ix. p. 106. X. —
Camt?, p. i 37. xxi. xxii. — Euvv. Conf. y. 202. XXV. — Ilea. I. p. 248.
xxxi. p. 254. xlix. fl
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43 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
LAWS OP WILLIAM THE CONQ^UEROR. 43 Father, such as he had
at his death, and his Halberr, his Helmet, his Shield, his Lance, and his
Sword; but if he died fo unfurnished with these Things as to have neither
Horfe or Arms, then he mull pay loos. 25. 0/ Goods Jlolen, and challenged by
the lunr. With respeft to Goods found in the Hands of another; if any one
will challenge them as stolen, and i's ready to give Gages, and find Pledges
to profecute his Appeal, then the Pofielfor of the Goods mufl: name his
Voucher, if he has one, and if not, his Heuvelbcrth and his Witnefles, and
produce them,
NOTES. y 0(1. I rather think this (hould be translated, I'.'ith, instead of
OHo. 8. as in Wilkins. See the fame word in L. 46. 2 Ses iejlimoniei. ty the
Law ot Athelll. if the goods were under the value of 20 d, then the party,
under whole cultody the things were found, and only one ot his wirneil'es;
and the c!aimi;nt and two of his were to be sworn; if abore zod. then the
whole number that were chofen were to be sworn. Leg. AtheU!:. p. 53. 1. ix. »
Plein frment. See note on L. xvi. ^SonSeign'r — I.e. to his landlord or owner
of the farm. Ethelr. 103. iv. JVUi'.ctam (cul jure debetur) peifohito.
Canute, p. 137. 1. xxii. <^ De fa Nurture. Ex propria re pecunria nataai
pecudem. Leg. Athelit.p.sB. 1. ix. if 44
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44 LEGES GULIELMI
CONQUESTORIS.
fi eum habueric, &: fi non habuerit eum, nominabit futim vadcm primarium,
& cedes luos, &: habebit eos ad diem, &z ad terminum fi ecs
habeat aut eos habere poterir, & interriator tradet in vadium fe fv.^xta
manu, & alter mittatur in manum fui warrant! aut fui vadis primarii,
& habeat ille telles quod tradet mercatul Regis, & quod ille non ^
pofuerat fuum warrantum in plegio vivo nee mormo id jurcnt odo tcflium fuorum
per plenum Sacramentum; aji perdat catallum luum, fi is teftimonium perhibeat
quod vadem primarium accufaverir, & fi non poterit habere warrantum nee
teftem, perdat & pro debiro perdat We ram luam Domino fuo. Hoc obcinet in
Merchenele^a^bc in Danekga, ik. in J^eJ}Sexenelega. Non vocabit quis Dominum
luum ad Warrantum de hoc quod pofitum ell in vadio, & in Danelega
confiniiec in e fes tellemonles e ait les a jur e a term, fil les ad, u fil
les pot aver, e li enterceur liveriad en guage fei fiitc ^ main, e li altre k
mettrad en la main ion warrant va fon Heuvelhorth, & il ait tcfii monies
que il lacharad al marchied du Rei, e quil ne let fon warrant en Ic plege vif
ne mort, CO jurad y od ■" fes teftimonies per ^ plein
ferment i fi perdra fon Chatel fi il reftimonient qui il Heuvishorh empufed,
e fil ne pot aveir guarant ne teflimonie fi perdrad, & pur foldrad pert
fa werre vers fon Seignur, coeft en Mcrchenelae e en Danelaee en Wefr
Sexenelae. Kcvocherad une ^fon Seignor warrant iceo qui feit mis en guage, e
on Danclae mettred en vele difli la, qui il feit derained e fil pot prover
qui ceo foit de fa '^ nurture per treis partz fon ^ vigued fe il avcrad
derained. kar puis que ferment li eft jugied ^ Per ireis partz fon i':
compare this with 1. vli. TOTES. 'yucJ. Three parts of his neighbourhood:
faciem
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(delwedd B8058) (tudalen 045)
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45 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
if he has them, or can have them, at the Day and Place assigned. And the
Party challenging the Cattle shall offer himself and five others as Gages;
and as for the other, let his Voucher or his Heuvelborth be answerable for
him; and let him bring Witnesses that he bought them at the King's Market,
and that he does not know his Voucher or Pledge dead or alive. This he shall
swear with his Witnesses per plein ferment; but let him lose his Chattels if
his Witnesses declare that it is in his Power to produce his Voucher. And if
he can neither produce Voucher or Witness, the matter shall be determined
against him, and let him, as he deserves, forfeit his Were to his Lord. This
is the Law of the Mercians, Danes, and West-Saxons. One need not vouch his
Lord to warrant that which is put in Pledge, and by the Danish Law he may put
it in, till the matter is determined; and if he can prove by three parts of
his Neighbourhood, that the Cattle were of his own bringing up, Judg- ment
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46 LEGES GULIELMI CONQUESTORIS.
faciem difVum ibi, quod is ne len pot pas puis lever
fitdifrationatusj&fipoteft per le jugement de Engprobare quod hoc fit de
leterre. fua nutritione, per tres partes fui vidus illi fuerit difrationatum.
Nam poft quam Lex facramenialis fibi eft adjudicata, inde non poteft poftea
quasftio moveri per judicium Anglise. 26. De centuriie muWa^ ubi reus
hom'icidii judicio non fifiitur. De Murdo Francigenas De murdre freceis ^
ococcifi, & homines hun- cift, e les homes del hundredi non prehendunt
& dred nel prengent e ameducunt ad Justitiam infra nent a la justice de
denz viii dies ut oftendat ob les ^oit jours per mustrer quam caufam fecerit,
red- spurqui il la fait, fm renddant murdri nomine xlvii runt le murdre'^
xlvii Marc. Marcas.
NOTES. L. 26. e preceis occijl. Diicange, and Houard drop the word freceis.
Selden places it in Italic, as difficult to be made out; but comparing this
Law with the 53d ot Wni. I. and gift of Hen. I. and others, it feems to
relate to the murder of a Frenchman or Norman, as "Wilkins has rendered
it; and to have been added when these Law» were translated — it not, it
fignifies a recent murder. The title of the 53d Law is De Normanni feu Francigenae
caede. L. Wm. L p. 228. 1. liii. Si quis Francigena, vel Normannus occidatur.
L. Hen. I. p. 280. 1. xci. ' Oit jours. — This is the time afligned by the
Law of Edw. Conf. p. 199. 1. XV, — By the Laws of Wm. L in Latin 5 days. —
Wm. L p. 228. 1. liii — by the Laws of Hen. L 7 days. Hen. L p. 280. 1. xci,
xcii. i Pur qui. Ob quam caufam; Selden and Wilkins j butDucange a quo,
uliich lail I have follo'.ved. " xlvii Marc — By all the above Laws 46
marks. 5 27. De
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47 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
47, ment (hall be in his Favour; for
after he has been put to his Oath, the Question, by the Law of Eng-
LAnd cannot be agitated again. 26. Of the Mul5l on the Hundred , where the
Murderer is not amenable to Jujlice. "Where a Frenchman is killed, and
the Men of the Hundred do not apprehend the Murderer and bring him to Justice
within eight Days fo as that it may appear who committed the Murder, they
shall pay, in the Name of Murder, 47 Marks, REFERENCES. L. 26. Ed-x\ Conf. p.
199. XV. p. 200. xvi. — Wm. Conq. p. 228. lili.— HeD. I. p. 280. xci. xcii.
7' Of 4?
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(delwedd B8061) (tudalen 048)
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48 LEGES GULIELMI
CONQUESTORIS.
. 27. De clientis a 51 tone v erf us
Dominum, Si quis vukdirrationare conventionem de terra fua verfus Dominum
fuum per pares fuos eadem tenuraquos vocavit in teftimonium, debet iliud
difrationare. Nam per extraneos non potell difrationare. 28. De Flacito, Si
home volt derainer covenantdeterre vers 'fjn Seignor per Jes pcrs ^ dela
tenure meimes que il apelerad a teftimoines ieicuverad derainer. Kar per
eftranges nel purra pas dereiner. Qui placitat in Curia, cujulcunque Curia
fit, excepto ubi perlbna Regis eft, & quis eum fiftat super eo quod
dixerir, rem quam nolit conficeri, fi non poteft dilrationare per ii
intelligentes homines qui interfuerunt placito & videntes, quod
nondixerit, recuperet juxta verbum fuum. Home qui plaide en Curt, a qui Curt
qui co feit fors la ou le cors le Rei eft, e home li mettid fur quil ait dit
chose qui il ne voille coinillre, fe il ne pot derainer per ii entendable
home del pleidant & veantqui ilnel aurad dit ^ re* covered a la parola.
2g. De Servorum Relevio, De Relevio Villani. De relief a *" Vilairt* Le
Melius animal quod ha- meillur aveir quil avera u
NOTES. L. 37. ^ Fcrsfon Seignor —Vi^ Lord, here, is meant only the Proprietor
of an ellate, not a Lord ot a fee. Hoiiardpreuves, lufr. p. i::o. ^ ^er Jes
Pers de la tenure ttieimes — /. e. by freehuldcrs within the fanne Hundred. '
Recoi'eraei a fa parola — Rcciirretur ad ejus Sacraincntum. Ducange; Houard —
In mifericordia domini Regis remauet. GlanViU, 1. X, c. 12. buerit
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(delwedd B8062) (tudalen 049)
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49 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
49 1^'Of the Client ary AElion of
Covenant againjl the Lord* If a Tenant would deraign an Aflion of Covenant
concerning Land against his Lord, he must deraign it by his Peers of the fame
Tenure as he produced foi* Witneflcs \ for it cannot be deraigned by
Strangers* 28. Concerning T leaders. If a Perfon pleading in a Court,
(whofefoever the Court is, except the King is prefent) be charged with having
said something which he will not own; if he cannot in such Cafe prove by two
intelligent Men, who were prefent at the Plea and faw him, that he did liot
fpeak the Words he is charged with, he must have Recourfe to his Oath. 29. Of
the Relief of a Villain, As to the Relief of a Villain, he fliall give to his
Lord the bcft Beast he has (whether Horfe, Q^ or
NOTES. L. 29. n Vilaln, The Villain mentioned in this Law is not to be
underftood a Bondman, but a i2eorl. Churl, or HujbarJman. He was of tree
condition, and was valued as a member ot the Commonwealth in the Saxon Lawsj
whereas a bondman was not valued;t all, but was part of his mailer's
fubliance, therctore could have nothing whefeo'jt to pay a Heriot or Rel/ef.
Spc!. Rem. 14, 15. Sec note, Law zz. Judicia Civitatis Lundcnia;, p. 71.
REFERENCES. L. 27, 2S. Hen, L p. .''53. xlviil. L. 29. See L. 22. • F d-v ■ Cofif, p, igg. xii* xSluldfor !wt vetcv:ng thc^r., Cunute, p.
J4J. Ixiii K Cow) §0
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50 LEGES GULIELMI CONQUESTORIS. buerit id (five Equus fit,
Chival, u Buf, u Vache, " five Bos, five Vacca) donabit Domino fuo pro
Relevio, & poftea fint omnes Villani in franco plegio. donrad a fon
Scignor de releif & puis fi ferait touz les Vilains en franc plege. 30.
De viispublicis. De tribus viis, videlicet Wetlingftreet^ & ErmingJlreet
& ° Foje. Qui in aliqua harum viarum hominem itinerantern five occiderit
five infilicrit, is paccm Pvegis violat. De iii chemins co eft a faveir
JVetlingJlreet & Ermingjlreet & Fos» Ki en alcun de ces chemins oceic
home qui fcit errant per le pais u afalt, fi enfreit la pais P le Roi. 3 1.
Df Latrone, mm latrocinio feu. ivruvjopopM, prehenfo. Si latrocinium fit
inventum in cujufcunque terra fit & latro fimul, Dominus terrae &
Uxor ejus habebunt medietatem bonorum Latronis & vendicatores eorum
Catalla fi ijla invenerint, & alteram tnedietatem, fi repertum fit intra
Sacbe & Soche perdat Uxor, & Dominus habeUt. Si larecin eft troved,
en qui terre qui ceo feit & le
LAron "^ ovefque, leSeignor de la terre, & la fern me averunt la
meited del aveir a Laron, e les chalenurs lor chatel fe ille trovent e
LAtre meited fil eft trove dedanz "^ Sache & Soche^ fil perdra la
femme & la Seignor lavcrad.
NOTES. o F.^ljl- — there was another public Way called Iktnil^Jiree'. Hen. i.
p. IU9. 1. xii. xiii. r La pals le Rot — Thefe four loyal Vfays were said ♦'o have the Peace of the Kino',
bcaiulc wholoever coir.mitied any Offence on them wag to be puniiheti la the
K.ing'i Couit only. Ducange, Ermingfircct. 32. Vt
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51 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
5I Co\V) for such Relief; and
afterwards let all such Villains be admitted into Frank Pledge. 30. Of the
ptihlic IVajs. Of the three public Ways, viz. Watling-flreet, Erming-ftrect,
and Fofs; whosoever kills or afiauks a Man travelling on either of these
Ways, he is guilty of a breach of the King's Peace. 31. Of a ^hkf taken with
the 'Thing Jiokn upon him. If a Thief be apprehended with the Goods flolen
upon him, let it be on whose Land foever, the Lord of the Land and his Wife
fliall have a Moiety of the Goods of the Thief; and the Challengers their own
Goods, if they find them, and the other Moiety; but if found within Sache and
Soche, the Wife fljiall lose her Share, and the Lord have it.
NOTES. L. 31. s Et U Laron <n.'(y^'.7<'— Sclden underftnnds this Law of
a Thief taken with the Manour; in the Saxon Law?, called Han' dchiiid, and
BacUercnd; and hy those Laws it the Thief was under 12 Years of Age, or the
Thing stolen not of the value of 8d* he was to be pardoned for the firft Ofience.
Athellh p. ^6. 1. i. Hen. \. p. 2!; 7. 1. lix. ' Sachc t^ Sod-c. See Law IIL
REFERENCES. L. 3t. ff''iif. p. 12. Ix.— Athclll. p. ^6. i.—CanutCi p. 143,
Ixi.—Hen. I" p. 259. lix* E 2 32. 0/ 52
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(delwedd B8065) (tudalen 052)
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52 LEGES GULIELMI CONQUESTORIS. 32. t I^^ A Senefchallo de
iinaquaque Hidarum Hundredi, homo intra feftum S. MichaeliSy & S.
Martini^ & Ballivus habebit xxx hidas quietas pro labore luo, & fi
averia superent limites, aut aqua iis denegetur, & non poflit quis
ortendere nee clamorem nee vim quje eis facfta fuerit, reddat averia.
Senefchallo, De'^Strewarde de chefcon des hides del hundred un home dedenz la
fefteSeint Michiell & le Seint Martin^ & JVardireve fi aurad ' xxx
hides quites per fon travaile, & fi aveir ' tres paffent'per ilot "
u il denient waiter, e il ne puflent mustrer ne cri ne force, qui lour fust
faite, fi rendifent laveir. 33. De colonis 6? gleba Afcriptitiis, Eos qui
colunt terram Cil qui custinent la terre ne dcit l*um travailer, fe de leur
diotre cenfe. Non ne leift a * feignurage non debet quis moleftare,
prasterquam de corum debito cenfu. Nee licet
NOTES. •f This is a very obscure Law. s Stre-zvarde^ this feems to be the
Officer who ^vns to take care that the Cattle did not eftray, therefore I
have not followed Wilkin*, but Lambard, where the Text is Strevjard^ and not
Stewarde^ Sencfchalkis. ' Si aurad xxx hides qidtcSy "Aura, a railbn de
chaque charrue «* de terre de I'Hundred ou il tera la garde, I'exeniption de
la♦' boiirer 30 hides;"
(hall have for every Plow Land of the Hundred where he guards the Cattle, an
Exemption from tilling 30 Hides, Houard, Preiives Just. p. 103. » Tres
pajfcut — moriautur, die. Seidell, Ducangc. * Per ilot — periclitentur —
expofed to Danger. Ducange. « JJ il dciiiait IVaitcr — vcl labc al^qiia
intedta lint, or become infected with awy Diforucr. Diitangc. Seldeji reads,
dcvient. a Domino
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(delwedd B8066) (tudalen 053)
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53 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
53 32. Of Stray Wards y and IVard
Reeves, A Stray Warde and Ward Reeve shall be appointed out of every Hide of
Land of the Hundred between Michaelmas and St. Martin, and he shall have 3u
Hides quit for his Labour; and though some of the Cattle died, were expofed
to Danger, or caught some infc6lious Diforder, yet unlefs proof can be given
of some violence being offered to them, let him be acquitted, on the Cattle
being reftored in the Condition they are in. 33. OftheColoni andNaifs, No one
ought to exast more from those who till the Land than their due Tafk, nor is
ic lawful for
NOTES L. 33. * Selgnurage. Selden paHes over this Word; Ducarige and Wilkins
underrtand it as ot the Lords of the Fee; but Houard fays it has no relation
to them, and that in order to comprehend the force of this Expreffion, we
ought to recoUett that a Hundred was compofed of iod Families. That every one
ot:he!e Families made a Roll of the Freemen, Slaves, and Children belonging
to them, of above 12 Years old, and prefented this to the Governor of the
Hundred; that the Governor, with 12 of the most discreet, chofen out ot all
the Families, twice a Year made provifional and oeconomical Regulations for
the Dillribution of the Works neccilary tor the Cultivation of the L.mds; and
that the Head of every Familv was obliged to fee thcfe Regulations executed
within his own Diftrist. Now these Heads ot Families, fays Houard, were what
they called the Seignurage; and they could not exatt ot the Coloni, who were
fubordiuate to them, greater Talks than the Hundred had appointed thetn to
do; and that these Coloni depended fo little on the H^ads ot the Families, that
they could not difmifs them while REFERENCES. L. ^^, Servants — Homicide
committed by them on their £, (7r^— -punishrnent. Hen. I. p. 26S. 75. On a
'Sohleman^ Hlothar. & Eadr. p. 7. i, E 3 Lord 54
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(delwedd B8067) (tudalen 054)
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54 LAWS OF WILLIAM
THE CONQUEROR.
LEGES GULIELMI a Domino feodi amovere Cultores de terra fua quamdiu reftiim
servitium fuum facere poffint. Nativi qui discedunt a terra fua non debent cartam
falfe nativiuatis qua[rrcre, ut non faciant fuum rectum servitium quodfpedac
ad terram fuam. Nativum, qui discedic a terra unde €il Nativus & venit ad
CONqUESTORIS. departir les cultiuurs de lur terre per rant cum il pufTent le
dreit servife taire. Les y naifs ki departet de fa terre, ne de« vient cartre
faut naiviric quere, qui il ne facenclur dreit service, que apend a lor
terre. Li naifs ki departet de fa terre dunt il eft nez, e vent a autri
terre, ^ nuls nel retenget
NOTES. they were about their Work; and when any of them died or ran a ^ ay,
they were obli-ed to I'md otheis in their stead; or in cafe of their Negleft,
the Hundied Court did it. Houard.Preuves Jullificat, p. 122.: but with
Deference to Houard, the Subjed Matter of this Law feems to be the Tenures of
Villan-Socage and pare Villenage. The f^iUain-Socbtian at that Time, as well
as when Brafton wrote, was diftinguished from the pure Fillcin, in that he
could not be removed irom his Eliate at the Will of the Lord, " a gJeba
*♦. amoveri non debet,
quaindiii velit et poilit facere debitum Icrvi*' tium." Bracl. 1, i. c.
ii. S. L — 1. iv. p. aog. Blacktlone's Conf. on Copyholders, p. 122, &cc.
y Les Naifs, i. e. Nutivi or Villeins by Birth held in pure Villenage; they
could not quit their Lands without their Lords Per-- iffion, and were obliged
to do whatloevcr their Lords com-^ manded them. Bracft. ut sup. ■'' Nuls iicl rttengct. Si quis aVeat a Domino fuo absque venia
Ipfius, vel in aliam provinciam tuijiat, et ille deprehendatur, abeat wb
prius fuit. Leges Ina?, p. 21. xxxix. Nemo fufcipiat alterius Servum absque
vcnia ejus quern antes lc(]ucDatur, Leges Athcllluni, p. 60. x-'ui. alteram.
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(delwedd B8068) (tudalen 055)
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55 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
LAWS or WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
55 Lords to c]c6t them, fo long as
they perform their right Service. Naifs who leave their Land ought not to
procure a Charter of falfe Naifty, on purpose to avoid the Service appendant
to their own Land. If a Naif abandons the Land of which he is a Naif, and
goes to another, let no one retain either him or REFERENCES. L. 33On a
Freeman or others, iEthelbirht, p. 7. Ixxxv. — Hlothar. & Eadr. p. 8.
iii. By covimaniloshh Lord — Penance — what, Hen. I. p.265. Ixvlil.— Thefty
by them — punishment, jlithelbirht, p. 7. Ixxxviii. Ixxxix.— Wiht. p. I^. xi.
— Ina, p. 18, xxlv. — Athelllan, p. 57. iii, Jud. Civ. Lond. p. 66. viii. p.
67. i. Lying in 'vait fir their Lord — j)Unifliment, Athelll. p. 57. iv. Edg.
p. 78. vii. Deferting their Lord in Battle — punifliment, Can. p. 145. Ixxv.
— Hen. I. p. 144.. xiii. JVorking on the Lord's Day, or not ob/cr''jing Fajl
Days — punifliment, Wiht. p. 1 1. iv, v. ix. x. — Feed. Edr. & Gut. p.j;3.
viii.— Canut. p. 140. xlli. 141. xliii. Purgation and Examination, hy Ordeal
— piiDifliment, Leg. Wight, p. 12. V. vi. vii. — jlithelred, p. 103. iii. —
Canute, p. 139. xxix. "b^ot to quit their Service voithont leave, Ina,
p. 2 1, xxxix. — Edw. p. 50. X. — Hen. I. p. 251. xli. Killing a Servant,
Mulct, Wiht. p. 12. xi. — Alfr. p. 29. xvii.— Hen. I. p. 264. Ixviii. Beating
him, or putting him in Chain:, ^thelhirht, p. 7. Ixxxvi. Ixxxvii. Not to he
fold into a foreign Country. Win. Conq. p. 226. xli. p. 22g. Ixv. ManumiJJion
— what would intitle him to it. Wiht, p. 11. iii, — Alfr, p. 39. xii. p. 30.
XX. — Canut. p. 141. Ixii. — Wni. Conq, p. 229. Ixvi. 7'he Form nf it. Win.
Conq. p. 229. Ixv. — Hen. I. p. 270. Ixxviii, Dying in Defence of his Lord —
the Ileriot to bc remitted, and his Inheritance cefcendible. Canut. p. 149.
Ixxv, F.i;l.>r:ng in dfinee of his Lord, jutlifiable. Altr, p. 44.
xxxviii— ilen. I. p. 274. E 4. his 5^
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(delwedd B8069) (tudalen 056)
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56 LEGES GULIELMI
CONQUESTORIS.
LEGES GULIELMI alteram, nullus rctineat, neceum, nee catalla ejus, fed redire
cogatur ut faciat fcrvitium fuum tale quod ad eum fpedat: fi Domini non faciunt
alterius colonum venire ad terram fuam, Jullitia id faciat. CONQTESTORIS. '
ne li, ne fe chatels, cnz le facet venir arere a faire ion servife tel cum *
a li apend, fi ies feignurages ne facent akri gainnys venir a lot terre,
•> la justile le facet. T^ O T E S. * All apend. Ad eum rpe<n^at. The
Villein by Birth, performed his Services in respecl of his own peifonal
Condition. Blackfione's Confiderations on Copyholders, p. 119. '' La yujiife
le facet. Breve de nativo habendo. Reg. Br, p. 87. Pe villanis Regis
fubtradis reducendis, p. 87. vi. 34. Ne quis Domino fuo dehitas ■prajlattones fubtrabat^ Nemo Domino fuo fubtrahat reftum servitium
fuum, propter ullam remiflionem quam ci antea feccrit. Nullui ne toille a fon
Senior fun dreit servife, 'pur nul relais, que ilii ait fait en arere.
NOTES. ^ Pur nul relais. On account of any relaxation of his Services. If the
Villein ran away, and the Lord put in his Claim within the Year, fo as to
fliew he did not wave his ibveieign Power, the Villein dill not by his
Absence gain his Freedom. Non currit Tcmpus pontra Dominum, cum Res per
claiiicum appofitum elficiatur litigiola. Erac. 1. i. c. x. f. III. 34. Di
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57 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
57 his Goods, but compel him to go
back to perform his due Service; if Lords don't make such as till the
LAnds of others return to their Land, Justice must do it. REFERENCES. L.
S3Lord ansiverahk for their E/cape. or Flight. Hlothar. & Eadr. p. 8, ii.
iv. — Athelft. p. 57. iii. p. 60. xxii. — Jud. Civit. Lond. p 67. iii. —
^^thelred, p. 102. i.— Canur. p. 139. 28.— Edw. Conf. p. 202. xxi. — Wm.
Conq. p. 227. xlvii, xlix.— Hen. I. p. 241. viii. p. 258. lix. Entertaining
the Servants of others '■j.iithout Leave, Inae, p. i g. xxx.
— Athenian, p. 60. xxii. p. 62. i. Servants not -under the Prote^iun of any
Lord, how confidered.— uEihelftan, p. 56. ii. p. 57. viii. — Hen. I. p. 257.
iviii. 34. Of Services witbeld from the Lord, Let no one withold from his
Lord his due Service, on account of any Indulgence his Lord may have before
shcwn him. 35- Of 58
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(delwedd B8071) (tudalen 058)
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58 LEGES GULIELMI CONQUESTORIS.
LEGES OULIELMI CONQUESTORIS. ' 35. De
Fcsmiaa gravida qu^ capiiali supplicio damnatUT. Si morti damnata fit Si
femme eft jugce ^ aut membrorum niutilati- more, u a defacum des oni fcemina
imprsegnara, membresjcifeitcnceincee, de ea non fiat jultitia ne faced kim
justice des priufquam parturient. quele feit delivcre. 36. De Inti fiat or um
bonis. Si quls inteftatus obi- Si home mort fans dcerit, liberi ejus
ha&re- vife, fi departent les enditatem ^qualiter divi- fans ^ I'erite
entre fei per dant. W wcl.
NOTES. i Si (departent la enfans Verite entre fc'u A succiniT: Account bow
Lands have t'efcencled in England from the Time of the Britons to our Davs
may not be ii;:plcariiig to the Reader. The SucceiTion of all the Sons was
the ancient customary Law among the British in Wales, and was continued to
them by the Stat. Wallis, 1 2th Edw. I. Halt's Hlft. p. 221, By the Law of
Fnghir.d in the Saxons Times, Lands defcended equally to all the Male?, the
Relicks of which remain in the Gavel* kind of Kent, Hale 221. Sull. Lert. p.
149. Our fubsequent Danish Predcceflbrs feem to have made no DiftiniSion of
Sexes, luttohave admitted all the Children at once to the Liherltance. 2
Black, p. 213. De mteltato mortuis. Sive quis jncuria, five morte repentina
fuerit inteftato mortuus, dominus tamen nullam return fuaruin partem
(praeteream qu-ne jure debetur Hereoti nomine) fibi allbmito. Vtrum eas judicio
fuo iixrii, liberis, et cognatione pioximis, juste (pro fuo cuiqne jure)
diftiibuito. Canut. p. 144. 1. 68. The above 36th Law ut Wiliiain's is the
only one touching De{ccnts; and Lord Chief Jultice Hale fays, that from this
Law, it kcms that, until the Conqueil, the Deilcnt of Lands was at leart to
all the Sous alike, and, for aught appears, to all the Daughters alio; 37. Be
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59 LAWS OF WILLIAM
THE CONQUEROR.
LAWS OP WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
" S9 35. Of a Woman enceinte, condemned to Death, If a Woman quick with
Child is condemned to Death, or Lots of Limb, lee Execution be respited till
after her Delivery. 36. Of the EffeSls of Intejlates. If a Man die inteftate,
let his Children divide the ttiheritanc^ equally between them.
NOTES. and that there vvns no Difference in the hereditary Tranfmlflion of
LAnds and Goods, at leall in reference to the Children. Hale's liill. p. 222.
Afterwards, when William, by Confent of Pnrliament, eftab* liflied the Feudal
S)ilc:n, Lands defccnded to the eldeilSon only. Henry the firfc moderated
thi?, and direfted the eldeft Son to hare only the principal Eftate, "
priinum patris feudum;" the rtll of his Ellate, if hs had any others,
being equally divided among them all. Hen. I. 1. Ixx. p. 266. 4 Black. 414.
In the Reign ot Henry 11. the Right of Primogeniture feems to have tacitly
revived, being tound more convenient for the Pubhc, than the pat celing of
Eftates into a Mulrimde of minute Subdivifions; but it there was any
uncertainty and unfettlednefs in the Bufincfs of Deicents or Hereditiry
Succeflioni in his Time, yet in the Reign of Hen. IIL the Law fcems to be
unquellionably fettled, that the eldeft Son was of common Right Heir, not
only in Cafe* of Knight Service L.mdi, but alfo of Socage Lands, unlefs \here
wete a ipecial Cultom to the contrary, and has continued lb down to these
Days. Hale's Hill:, p. 232. REFERENCES. ^' -^>- . }f eman hi^ -ivltb Child,
Jirikiii^, — panishmcnt. Alf. p. 33. xviil, L. 36. Of Svccfjion, Can. p. 144.
Ixviii.— Hen. I. p. c66, Ixx. 37. Of ■^■^ 6o .
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60 LEGES GULIELMI
CONQUESTORIS.
LEGES GULIELMI C<5nQUEST0RIS. 37. Be adult era apatre deprchenfa. Si patef
deprehendcrit Si le Pcre trovet fa file filiam in adukei io indomo en
adulterie en fa mailbnn, fua, leu in domo generi u en la maifonn fon genfui,
bene licebit ei, occi- dre ben li leiil occire latere adulterum. dultere. 38.
Deja5lu velut ad Legem Rhodiam, Si quis ex neceflltate Si ^ home en puifluned
alteram occiderit aut pro- altre feit occis, u per mapter gubernationem faci-
nablement eiflilled, Jo liorcm, ego jecero res tuas jettai voz chofez de la
nef de navi ob metum mortis, pur pour de mort, & d'eo de hoc non potes me
Implacitare. Nam licet alteri damnum inferre ob mortis metum quando periculum
evadcie non ne me poez enplaider, kar leift a faire damage a altre pur pour
de mort quant parele ne pot efchaper, e fi de CO me mcfcez, qui poteft, &
fi de hoc me pur pour de mort nel feilTe accufes quod ob metum de co
mespriorai, e les mortis nihil feci de hoc contemptu & ea qu<£ in navi
reftant dividantur in communi fecundum Catalla, & fi quis jecerit Catalla
extra navim, absque neceflltate ea reflituat. N O chofes qui funt remife en
le nef, feient departis en comune fulun les chateis, e fi alcun jetted les
chateis hors de la nef, fenz bufun, fil rendet. T E S. e , ^/ hnme eyi
piajTiiverl nlfre felt occis, u per manahlc7nent eijjilltd.— Si quis alteruin
impofionavciit, imerficiatur, vel perpctuo Exilio uam.ieiur. Ducant^e. One
would iinagine this was a diflind Law, it having no Countction wiih what
tollows. Vemfi-i reltgcntur ex Terra. Edw. & Guthrun. p. 55. 1. xi. Ste
other Laws de Vcncficis. 39. T>i
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61 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
6i 57. Of a Daughter taken in Adultery
hy the Father. If a Father (hall take his Daughter in the Aft of Adultery in
his own Houfe, or in that of his Son in
LAw, it is lawful for him to kill the Adulterer. 38. Of cajling Goods Over
-hoard agreeably to the Rhodian Law, If one poifon another, let him fuffer
Death, or perpetual Banishment. If I call your Goods Over-board through fear
of Death, you cannot implead me of this -, for we may justify doing an
Injur}^ to another, when there is no other Way of avoiding the Danger of
Death: and if you accufe me of having done this, not through Fear of Death; I
will exculpate myself of it; and the Goods, which remain in the Ship, mud be
divided in common, according to the Quality of them; and if any one cafls
Goods Over-board when Nccclliry does not require it, he (hall render the
value of them. REFERENCES. L. 37, See L. 14. L. 38. foifun — the Punifliment
of tho'.e.who by Poifon ivroiu^ht perniclou*Effe*Ss on others. Ina?, p. 26.
ixxvii. — Fa;d. hd. ic Gut. j). 53, xi. — Athelft. p. 57. vi, — Evigai. p.
92.;xxxix. p. 03 xi!, — Northum. Pref. i.eg. p. loo. xKiii. foliation of
Goods ^ puiiishnieiit. yK.hclrai, p. 1^4. iv. 19' Of 62
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62 LEGES GULIELMI
CONQUESTORIS.
EGES GULIELMI CONC^tJEStOftl** 39. Dejudicio infocium absentenu Duo funt
participes ejufdem Pacis, & unus corum implacitatus absque altero, fi
negligentia fua perdit, non inde debet damnum cedere alteri, qui absens fuit.
Nam quod judicatum eft inter eos non debet prjejudicare iis qui absentes
fuerunt. Dous funt percertefS d'un 'jfiife, e eft lun enplaide fans laltre
& per fa^ folie fi pert, ne dit per co
LAltre eftre perdant, qui prefent fud, kar chose juge entre eus, ne fors juge
pas les altres, qui ne funt a prefent. 40. Be Rekvio eorum qui cUentes cenfum
pendunt* Eorum qui fundum fuum tenent ad cenfum, fit redum Relevium tantum
quantum cenfus aniiuus eft. 41. De Caute profpiciant ii quibus cura incumbic
ju dicia facere, ut judicent uti petunt quando dicunt dimitte nobis debita
mjlray & prohibemus ut homo christianum extra terram Cil qui tenent lur
terre Ba cenfe, foit lurdroit'releif a tant cum a cenfe eft d*un an.
Judiciis. Ententivement fe pufpenfent cil qui les jugementz unt a faire, que
fi jugent cum defirent quant ii dient ^ dimitte nobis debita nojlra^ &
nous defendonz qui lum Chri^
NOTES. ' XiYi\])C. Larobanl, Selden, and Houard, read Crkbci inlkad of
Jfii))e, and Houard renders Crichet^ a Horfe. g A Cenfe. This was free
Socage. W'liere the Service was by Fealty only, or by Rent and Fealty only,
Scc. that Tenure was called liherum Socagium ox free Socage, Blackltonc's
Conrulcraiions on Copyholders, p. 114. 7 non
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63 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
6^ 39. Of Judgment againfi an absent
Partner, Two Perfons are equally interefted in the fame Contrad:, and one of
them is impleaded without the other i if Judgment through his Negligence is
given against him; yet the other, who was not prefent, (hall not lose his
Right; for a Judgment between them ought not to affedt those who were absent.
40. Of the Relief of those who hold by a certain Rent, Those who hold their
Land at a flipulated Rent, let their right Relief be fo much as the annual
Rent is. 4 ' • ^/ P'^'^'^S Judgment. Let thofe, whose office it is to
pronounce Judgment, take particular Care they judge, in like Manner as they
pray; when they fay — " Forgive us our *' Trespafies.'* And we forbid
any one to fell aChriN O T E S. L. 41. * D'tmhte nolis peccata nqftra, Is^
?ious Acfinihn-z. qui lum Chrifiicn, &:c. See Leges Canuti, p. 133. ii.
aiul p. 134. iii. trora whence this is plainly taken. REFERENCEL. 39. lltn, L
p. 248. xxxi. L. 40. See L. 29^ \ flian «4 non vendat, nee prsefertim in
paganifmum. Caveat homo quod quis animam ejus non perdat quam Deus vita fua
redemit. Qui injuriam elevaverit, aut falfum judicium hinc proferet aut odii
aut avaritisB gratia, fit in forisfactura Regis de xl folidis; fi non poteft
allegare quod plus re6ti facere noluerit, perdat libertatem fuam, nifi juxta
beneplacitum Regis illam ab eo redimcre queat. Et fi fit in Danekgay fit
Forisfadura
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64 LEGES GULIELMI
CONQUESTORIS.
EGES GULIELMI C0NQ.UE9T0RIS. stien fors de li terre n6 vende nen fiirchetut
enu pairumne. Wart lum qui lum lamne ne perde qui Deu rcchatat de fa vie. Ki
tort eflevera, u faus jugement fra purcurruz, ne per hange * u pur aveir,
felt eh forfeiture le Rei d' ^xl folz, fil ne pot aleier qui plus dreit fair
^ nel font, fi perdre fa Franchife, fi al Rei nel pot rachater a fon plaifir,
e fil eft en Danelae feit forfait de "" Laxlite, fil alaier ne fe
pot qui il melz faire nc
NOTES. * Uper aveir. — Si quis ira, vel odio, vel timore, vel amore, rei
cupiditate, &c. injustum judicet, L. H. I. c. xxxiv. therefore the word
aveir may probaLly be rendered tear; en azvcry in doubt Kritton, 13. a. —
aivcure, Donht Reg. zzq. b. ^^Is. — By the Laws ot Hen. I. cxx s. Qtji
injiifii judicabit cxx 9. folid. reus fit, et dignitatem judicandi perdat,
nili redimat erga Regem. Hen. I. c. xxxiv. p. 249. c. xiii. 1. p. 244. ' Nel
Jofit, — See Law 4. "> Laxlite, Lali/l:tc, LafJ/iite, — ruptio Legis,
tranfgredlo Legis, poena violatae Legis, from laj^h Lex, ]-Iit;, ruptio,
violatio. It denoted the Danifn Common For feituie, which was 12 Ores, or one
Pou.id flerling; but it varied according to the Condition of the OrtVndt.T. A
Thane paid 5 M nkf. He that had Bocland 3 Marks, and a Ceorl 1 2 ores. I
.nhJJitc; and Overfeioicfs^ Overfamrjfa and OverherniJJh aie fonietimcs put
as fynonymous; but the lalt more j)articularly fignifits a Contumacy or
Contempt of the Ct)i)rf, or a neglect ot Duty; it alio fignitics the
Forfeiture for such Oftencf, from the Saxon o):eji supcr, and hv yan audiic,
aufcultare. DucantjC, Glcff. X Sciipt. de
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65 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
6^ {lian out of the Land, but more
especially into a Paganish Country; let us take care that that Soul whLh God
redeemed with his own Life, be not loft. Whofoever pronnotes InjuRice, or
pronounces falfe Judgment, through Anger, Hatred, or Avarice, iball forfeit
to the King 40 s. •, and if he cannot prove he did not know how to give a
more right Judgment, Ice him alfo lose his Franchife, unlefs he can redeem it
at the King's good Pleafure: And if he lives under the Danish Law, he (hall
forfeit LahJlIiUf if he cannoc R£FERENCES» L. 41. Sci L. i^. I)omhec, nr
hller judlcialhy what. Edvv. p. 48. i.— Athelflan, p. 57. V. — Edgar, p. 77.
iii. Judgment to be impartial. Alfr. p.-»32. xliii. — Edu'. p. 48. i.— Edgar,
p. 77. 1. — Canut. p. 1 33. i.— Hen. I. p. 247. xxviii. U/yuJl Judyfr/cnt^Cne
Mulct. Edgar, p. 77. iii. — Canut. p. 13^. xiv.— Hen. I. p. 249. xxxiv.
J'ffiice, the Denial, or OhfiruElion of it; Mul^l'. Edw. p. 49. il.— .
AthelUan, p. 56. iii. Concil. /Enham. p. 123. iii. p. 1^4. ii, Caniit. p. J 3
5. xiv. — Hen. I. p. 249. xxxiv. Mercy, to be exerclfed ivith fud^mcnt.
Caniir. p. 135. ii. Appeals to the Ki/.g, ill what Cafe allowed. Edg. p. 77.
ij. — Canut, p. 136. xvi. Jvd^ci, who ought to be. Hen. I, p. 2:j.i. ix. p.
247. xxix. prov« 66
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66 LEGES GULIELMI
CONQUESTORIS.
LEGES GULIELMI de Lahjlite, fi allegare non poteft quod melius facere non
voluerit & quod rectam legem & redtum judicium recufaverit, fit
forisfa^lura erga ilium ad quern jus hoc pertinucriti hoc eft, fi fit ergo
Regem, vi libr^, fi fit erga Comitem xl folidi, fi fit in Hundredo xxx
folidi, & erga omnes eos qui Curiam habent in Anglia, hoc elt, juxta
iblidos Anglicanos. In Danelega qui redum judicium recufaverit, fit is in
mifericordia de fuo Lahjlile, nee bene faciat querelam Regi de hoc quod quis
ei defecerit in Hundredo aut in Comitatu. CONQUESTORIS. folt, e qui dreite
leie dreite jugement " refuferad, feit forfait envers celi ki dreit, CO
eft a aveir, fi co eft envers li Rei vi°Livres, fi CO eft envers Cuntexl
folz, fi CO eft en hundred xxx folz, e envers touz i cons ki Curr unt en
Engkterre^ CO eft al folz Englen. E en Dafjelae qui dreit jugerr^eni refulei
ad, feit en la mercie de fa Lahflite, e ne faceP bon plainte a Rei dici qui
km li feit de faili el hundred u el Conte. N O T E S. »> Rifuferad — with
great deference, I think this fliould rather be iranslated, ga'inCay, call in
ipicjlron^ or oppoff, than rccufat'erit^ as in Wilkins. The Law of Hen. I.
wili throw some Light on this Paflage. Qiii jiirciimjudit-iuin ordinahiliter
habitum, et legitime redditi'm imprcbaverit, h Regis Actio fit, pTcrfeuiieJfc
judicetur, i. L fol. in Wcft-Sexa. L. Hen. I. Chap, xxiiv. p. 249. See alfo
Leg. Canut. p. 135. xiv. 42. De
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67 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
6^ prove that he could not judge
better -, and whosoever shall oppose right Law, and right Judgment, let the
Forfeiture go to him who ought to have had that Right; that is, if the King,
vil.; if an Earl, xl s. If it be within a Hundred, xxx s. •, and to all those
who have a Court in England, this mull be according to the English Shilling.
By the Danish Law, he who oppofes right Judgment, shall be amerced his
LahQite; and he will very improperly appeal to the King's Court under a
Pretence that there has been a Failure of Justice in the Hundred or in the
County.
NOTES. ° vi Livres, Law Hen. I. 1. 41. P Bonpla'pitc — Et nemo apud rcgem
proclamatlonem faciat de aliquo qui ei fecundum legem redtum offerat in
Hundredo fuo. Leg, Hen. I. p. 250. Leg. Edgar, p. 77. ii. Canut. p. 136. xri.
10. Ccn~ 68
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68 LEGES GULIELMI
CONQUESTORIS.
LEGES GULIELMI CONQUESTORIS. 42. D^ pignore quod Namium vocant capiendo. Non
capiat quis Na- Ne q prenge hum 11ammium aliquod in Comi- mil en Conte, ne de
fors tatu, ncc extra ufque dum d'ici quil eit tresfois deter redum petierit
in mand dreit el hundred u Hundredo, aut in Comi- el Conte, e fil a la tercc
tatu, & fi ad tertiam vicem fiee ne pot dreit aver, alt redum non poteft
habere, a Conte, e le Conte len a eat ad Comitatum & Co- fete le quart
jurn, e fe ciii
NOTES. L. 42. ' Ne prenge hum namm'il — Houard endeavours to prore that this
LAw is Noiman; but we hope to (hew that it is ot Saxon Origin. The
Paflageruns thus, Ait. 63. "DesLoix recueillies parSelden, le *'
Conquerant, en recommendant d'observer les Statuts d'Edouard, *' avoue qu'il
y a ajoute plufieurs difpofuions, AdauSlis bis qiias *♦ cotiftituimiis^ l^c. Et on ne peut
douter que celle du 42 Article *' ne Ibit de ce nombre. II eft intitule De
Pignore quod namium *' 'vacant. LeGageconnu fous le nom de narnps parmi les
Nor*' mands, ne I'etoit pas dcs Anglois, puifqu'en leur impofant *' I'ufage,
le Lcgiilature eft oblige de leur donner en Tinter** preration." Disc.
Prelim, p. 33. Tom. I. Note 39. " II ne fut done pas difficile a
ceSoverainde faire inferer dims *' les Statuts d'Edouard quelques Maximes
relatives aux Coutumes ** dc Normandie cm'il avoit refolu de leur fubstitucr;
et la traduc** tion qu' il fit faire de ces Statuts en lungue Normande, lui
four" nit un Moyen aisc de parvenir a ce but. Car, fous pretexte de *'
rendre intcliigibles certains droits particuliers a I'Angletterre, on ♦* fe servlt dc noms qui eioient
confacrcs a dcfigner des droits Nor** mands qui n'avoient avec les premiers
c)ue des rapports fort *' eloigUL'S; et instnfibleinent lacontormitedes noirs
fit confondre *♦ CCS diti'erens droits auxquels on les avoit indiftindement .ip*'
pliques." jbid. p. n. The; Conqueror, (fays Houard) in the 63d of his
Laws given us by Seiden, avou': his having made feveral Additions to the
Laws ot Kdward; Adauclh his auas constituimus, isc. and there is no doubt bu.
that the 42d Law is one of that Number. It isintitled *'■ Dc Pignnre (jund ]\a/}!!um •vacant.^'* The Pledge, known undec the Name nt ^ar'-ps
among the Normans, could not have been in rjc amun; the Kngl !h, linte at the
Time ot instituting this Ufage, tlie Legillature was obliged to ^ivc them au
Interpretation of it. r mitatus
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69 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
" 69 42. Concerning taking a Bijirefs, which is called Namium.
Let no one take a
Diftrefs either within the County or out of it, till he has demanded Right to
be done him three Times in the Hundred or County Court 5 and if he cannot
have Right the third Time he demands it, then let him apply to the County
Court, which shall appoint him a fourth Day; and if the
NOTES. It was not difficult then for this Monarch to caufe to be inferted
among the Statutes of Edward some Maxims which bore Relation to the Curtoms
of Normandy, which he had refolved to fubliitute in their Place; and the
Translation which he caufed to he made of thcfc Statutes into the Norman
Language turnished him with an eafy Means of attaining that End. For, under
Pretence of rendering intelligible certain Rights peculiar to the Englifli,
he made ufe ot Terms which were appropriated to lignity some Norman Rights
which had only remote Connections with the others; and the Conformity in
Terms infenlihly occalioned these difterent Ri;4hts, to which they had been
indiscriminately applied, to be confounded. Our answer to thesc Alfertions
is, that it is very true that William added the Laws, by which feudal Tenures
were eftablished, to those of Edward; but then heat the fame Time exprefsly
ordained that the Laws ot Edwaid should " in omnibus rebus, " with
those additional Laws, be observed; these last are suppofed to have been
enaded fcvcral Years atter the Publication ot Edward's
Laws, and they are in Latin, and not in Norman French. The Titles make no
Parr ot the Oiiginal, they being added by Selden; out if they were, it is
prefumed that the /^zd Law cannot be one of those new Laws, as this learned
Author conjeclures; for the Term Namps a Difirefs, though made ufe ot by the
Normans, comes from the Saxon Verb namian, caperc, to take; and like many
other ot our
LAwTeims, which althou, q;h they feem to be French, are only difguifed in a
Norman Drefa, and leally have a Saxon Original; and as in the Grand
Culhuniere or Normandy there is a Chap'er of Kanipes, there is great Reafon
to believe that the Normans borrowed this and many other of their Laws from
the Ei^.giifii, inltead ot the PLnglish from them, as INIonf. Houard would
penuade us. SclJ. taum.er. 194. Fort. Pref. p. 46. Arg. Ante Norm. 121. Pret.
6.Rep. REFER ENQES. Canute, p. 136. xviii.' — Wm, Conq. p. iz()> \x\\\ F 3
Perron yO
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70 LEGES GULIELMI
CONQUESTORIS.
LEGES GULIELMI CONQUESTORIS, mitatus praefigat ei diem defait dc ki il fe
claime. quartiim & fi ipfe defecerit de quibus ipfe poftulat, tunc
licentiam accipiat, ut pofTit Namium capere pro fuo homine & teftimonio.
dunt prenge conge qui il pufle nam prendre 'pur le ion lum e pref.
NOTES. ' Pwr le fon lum epref—1 have followed Ducnnge— Pro fua utiiitate et
proficuo. — Canute, p. 136. 1. xviii.->— Ut proprium fuura perquirat. 43.
Ne quis rem aliquam imat fine tcjiihus. Nemo emat quantum iv Ne nul achat le
vailidenariis £eftimatur, neque ant de iv den. de mort, de re mortua neque de
vif, fans teibmonie ad iv viva absque fcftim<>nio iv. hommes u de Burg,
u de hominum aut de Burgo, Vile; e lelum le chalange aut de Villa. Et fi quis
e il nen ait teltimonie, fi rem vendicat, & is non nad nul Warrant rende
hab( at tedimonium; fi lun al hum Ton chatel, e le nulluiiihdbeatWarrantum
forfait ait, ki averledeit; relpondirat a'ceri C'acallum e fi teftimonie ad,
fi cum luum, & forisfaduram nous eviz defunes * voefl habeat qui habere
debet, Ics treis foiz, c a la quart & fi tcltimonium habtat foiz le
dereinet, u il Ic ut jam diximus advocet rende. tribus vicibus & vice
quarta dilrationct, aut rem reddat.
NOTES. L. 43. • Vi\fl /<--• t>rr<i f>iz — Ducangc and Hour.id, in
their Translations, fcem t;. h ". -ike:! this i^afl;ij, e. Seldt-n IcFt
it imtendered; but uiieii the Words '■^ njccjl Us ticisforJ' are aucndal
to and ^4 . De
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71 LAWS OF WILLIAM
THE CONQUEROR.
LAWS OF WILLIAM THE C0N(iUER01t. Jt Perfon against whom he complains, makes
Default; then let him have Leave to take a Diitrefs fufficient to make
himself Amends. 43. That nothing Jhall he h ought hut in the Prefence of
Witnejfes, Let no one buy either dead or live Goods of the Value of 4d.
without the Teftimony of four Men, either of the Borough or Vill; and if the
Thing be challenged, and he has no such Teftimony, he shall not be allowed to
litigate the Matter, but mufl: reftore the Goods to the Owner, and let the
Forfeiture go to him to whom it belongs; and if he has such WitnelTcs as
above mentioned, let him vouch them three Times, and at the fourth either
prove his Right to the Goods, or reftore them.
NOTES. L. 43. compared vnth the Law of Canine, which fays, ^^ tunc Advocatlo
•* Jiat ifr^'' the Difficuhy feems to vanish. Canute, 1. xxii. p. 31 7.
REFERENCES, L. 43. Lothar. & Eadr. p. g. xvi. — Edw. p. 48. i. Athelftan,
p. 58. xii. p. 61. xxiv. — Ed^ar, p. 80. vilu— ^Ethelred, p. 103. iv.—
Caiiut. p. J 37. xxii. — Wm.Comj. p. 218. ii. p. 229. Ix. F 4 45- Of 72
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72 LEGES GULIELMI
CONQUESTORIS.
LEGES OULIELMI CON<itrESTORIS, 44. De appropriatione rei. Nobis ration!
confonum Nus ne femble pais non videtqr, ut quis pro- raiibn que lum face
prupriationem faciat supra vance fur teftimonie ki teftimonium qupd cogno-
conufient co que entre eft verit id quod intereft, & e qui nul nel prust
devant quod nihil quis proprium le terme de vi meis, apres faciat ante terminum
vi ico qui laveir fu emble. menfium poftquam averi- . • vim furto fit
ablatum.
NOTES. L. 44. This Law was totally unintelligible to Selden; and Ducangt,
Wilkins, and Houard, differ very much in their Interpretation of it; but I
think the following Law of Canute explains it belK Nobis etiam non videtur
justum, quod cjuis poffideat aliquid, cu'n adfit teftimonium, et cognofcere
poffint, quod furto fit ablatum; quod nemo pollic appropviare fibi aliquid
citius quam poft fex meufcs pcllquani furto fuerat ablatum. Leges Canut. p.
137. xxii. 45. De vadimon'io deferto, Et qui retatus eft, & E cil qui eft
redte, e teftibus conviclus de re- teftimoniet de ^ deleaute, bellione, &
implacitatus ele plait tres foiz efchuite tribus vicibusvitavit, &ad al
quart mustrent li fu
NOTES. L. 45. * De deleaute — Spelman, Ducange, and Houard, read, tie haute;
but I apprehend it fliould be de dclcautr, as in Wilkins, and that such
R.ra.;ing will be warranted by the Laws of Edgar, ^thelred, and Cfl.) c. Si
qui- (cujus apud omnem populum labefafta eft fide;::;puis fuerit incuiatus.
Leg. Edgar, p. 78. 1. vii. iEthelr. p. .03. V. Canute, p. 137. 1. xxiii. See
Note on L, xvi. quartam
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73 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQJJEROR
73 44. Of claiming Things Jlokn, It does not feem just
that any one fliould keep what is stolen, when there is Evidence of its being
fo; or that he should gain any Property \r\ the Thing, till fix Months after
it has been stolen. REFERENCES. L. 44. Inx, p. 23. xlvi'i. — iEchelred, p.
106, x, — Canut. p. 137. xxH.— ^ Hen. I. p. 262. Ixiv. 45. How to proceed
againji contumacicus Offenders* If any one who has forfeited his Charadter
among his Neighbours stands accufed of any Crime, and has avoidREFERENGES. L.
45. See L. 50. Pdgar, p. 78. vii. — jEthelred, p. 103. v. — Canute, p.
i37.xMlii. p. 138. xxvii. p. 139. XXX. p. 136. XX.
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74 LAWS OF WILLIAM
THE CONQUEROR.
LEGES GULIELMI 74quartam vicem oftendat fummonitor tria ejus crimina,
nihilominus mandetur homini ut plegium inveniac & vcniat ad jUs, & fi
nolir, fi nan viderit homineni vivum aut mortuum, capiat quantum habet &
reddat petenti catallum fuLim & Dominus habeac medieratem refidui, &
Hundredum medietatem. Et fi nullus Parens auc amicus iftam Justitiam
deiorciaverint, forisfaciant erga Regem vi libras: Et quaerat latro quicquid
poterit invenire, non hiabeat warrantum de vita fua, nee per prciiibitum
placifum poterit allquid recuperare.
NOTES. L. 45. " Li She ail k mrite — alteram bonorum partem fondi
dominus, altenim centuriuti habcp.to, Lea;. Ed^ar. 1. vii. p. 78. Hoiiard is
of opinio!!, that the Sire in this Law is not he urderflood of a Lord of the
Fee, but ot the Land; and that the i'erlon acciilidis not:o be coiifiderd as
a VafT'al, but as a Member of the Hundred; and that for this Feafon the
Hundred is intitled to the remaining Halt of his Etiedts. Lluuaid pieuves
JuUilicat. L. xlv. p. 123. CONQUESTORIS. menour de fe treis defautes, uncore
le mande lum que 11 plege trule, e vlenge a dreit, e fil ne volt, fi ne vlft
lum vif u mort, fi prenge lum quanque il ad e fi rende lum al chalangeur fun chatel,
e " li Sire ait la meite del remenant, e le Hundred la meite. Et ^ fi
nul parent nami cefle justice ^^ det'orcent, feient torfeit envers li Rei de
y vi lib. e quergent le
LArun nen en ki poefte, il feit trove neit warrant de fa vie, ne per defenfed
plait nait mes recourer. 46. De
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75 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
y§ ed appearing at three Courts, and
his three Defaults are proved by the Summoners at the fourth Court; then let
him be cbmmanded to find Fledges, and (land to Jultice i but if he will not,
nor can be found either alive or dead; then let all which he hath be feized
and the Value of the Thing claimed be paid out of his Effects to the
Claimant; and let one half of the Refidue go to the Lord, and the other half
to the Hundred. And if any of his Kindred or Friends obstruct such Judgment,
let the Forfeiture be 61. to the King, and Search made after the Thief; and
in whosoever Custody he be found, no Pledge shall be taken for his Life, nor
shall he ever after be allowed to plead any thing in his Defence.
NOTES. L. 45. ^ Et /i fiul parent nami cejle juflice Jeforcent — the
Forfeiture here feems to ariie Irom relifting the Law; therefore 1 have taken
the Liberty ot diftering trom Se.den, Dacaii^e, and 'louard, by tranf-
LAting *' fi nul parent n'ami, '* — if miy of his Kindred or Fricndsy instead
ot //''/o/iT; nul being irequeiuiy ulVd inthisSenle. A nut, to any one,
Mir.:53a. Haw. Star. i. 26—// 7iu!, it any one, Prynn 400 — Sclden chol'e to
leave this i^arc ot the Law from the word ««//, as he tound it. * Defo'c rit
— ciitforciarc reftum; dicltur is qui contra rectum agit, Ducan;e,
ditforciare. L. Hen. L p. 26* 1. Ixi, y VL lib. See Law 41. 46. Of yS
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76 LAWS OF WILLIAM
THE CONQUEROR.
LEGES OULIELMI CONQ.UESTORIS. 46. De Hofpitibus. Nemo alium recipiet Nuls he
receit horn ultra iii nodtes nifi is eum ultre iiPniiis, fi til ne li ill!
commendaverit, qui command od qui il full ejus fuerit amicus. amy.
NOTES. « Ultre Hi nuts — This Law is plainly taken from Canute^s, *' Nemo
alterum fufcipiat diutius quam tres Diey nili ille cuj *♦ sntea servivit, eum commendaverit."
Can. 1. xxv. p. 138. 47. De famulis. Nemo hominem fuum Ne nuls nelait fun hum
a fc discedere patiatur an- de li partir, pus qui il elt tequam ''retatus
fuerit. * rete.
NOTES. » Rete — with this nearly agrees the Law of Canute, " Nemo **
servum fuum a fe amoveat, antequam fe purgaverit ab omni *' fi'Tpicinne,
cujus prius accufatus erat." Canute, 1. xxv. p. 138. Brai^. I 24.. !.
iii. c. x. S. I. ^ Antcqimm — \2.'Cs\t\ fojlquam^ agreeable to the Text, pus
qui. 48. Be
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77 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
^^ 4<5. OfGueJis, Let no one
harbour another more than three Nights, unlefs recommended by him who last
entertained him. REFERENCES. L. 46. Stranger^ entertaining three Nights^ to
he anshverahle for him. Hlothar. & £adr. p. g. xv. — Canute, p. 138. xxv.
— Edw. Conf. p. zoz. xxvii. Jf only tivo NightSy not ans'Meralle. £d. Conf.
p. 202. xxvii. Kiilain Fugitive harbouring^ to be ansiver able for him, Inae,
p. 15. XXX. Violator of the Peace — what Purgation. iEthelred, p. 118. x. 47.
Concerning those of a Man's Houshold, Nor let any one fufFer his Man to quit
his Service, after he has been fufpecled of any Crime. REFERENCES. L. 47. See
L. 33. AthclHan, p. 60. xxii. — CaiiUt. p. 138. xxv, — -Hen. I, p. 2^1, zii.
37. 1'ht 78
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78 LEGES GULIELMI CONQUESTORIS. 48. De eo qui furibus
obviam dederit^ ^ abire per miferit, Et qui Latroni occurrerit, & fine clamore
eum permiierit abire, emendet juxta valorem Latronis, aut fe purget plena
lege, quod ilium Latronem efle nefcivit: Etqui clamorem audierit &
superfederit, superfeflione Regis emendet, aut feipfum purget. E ki larun
encontre, c fanz cri a acient li leic aler, fi lamend a la vai-
LAunce de larun, u fe nespurge per ' pkner lei, qui il larun nel fout -, e ki
le cri orat e furfera, la^furfife li Rei amend, u fen espurget.
NOTES. ' Tlener let — This is the fame as Lex plenaria, and Lex apparem; viz.
the Trial by Ordeal or Battle, and calleil fo, becaufe from the Event, the
Truth of the Matter in Controverfy, as was believed in ihose Days of
Ignorance and Superftition, evidently appeared. This Law is borrowed almost
Word for Word Irom the 26th Law of Canute; and adopted by Hen. L in his 65th
Law. d Surfisc — in Saxon Opejnj-ennyj-j-e, in the LL. Hen. I. Overfeunejja.
See Note on Law 41. 49. De hero ut familiajijlenda fidejujforjlt. Quilibet
etiam Dominus habeat servientem fuum aut plegium fuum, quern, fi non retatus
fuerit, habeat ad reftum in Hundredo. E chafcun Seniour eit fon Serjant, u
fun plege ^ que fi nele rete, que ait a dreit el Hundred.
NOTES. ' ^e fi nele rete — qucm, fi non retatus fuerit, Wilkins — but I
apprehend there must be some Miflake, the Senlc being quite the contrary; and
the Law of Hen. L is " Ut ornnis Dominui fecum *' tales habeat, qui
justiciabiles fmt, ct teneat himiham luani in *• plegio fuo, et li accufetur
in aliquo, respondcat in Hundredo fuo, »* &c." L. Hen. L p. 251.
>:!i. I 50. De
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79 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
tAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
79 48. ^he Mul5i for letting a Thief
go without raijing the Hue and Cry. And whosoever meets a Thief, and fuffers
him to cfcape without raifing the Hue and Cry j he (hall make Amends to the
Price of the Thief, or clear himself by Plener Lei that he did not know he
was a thief: and whosoever hears the Hue and Cry and negleds to purfue it, he
(hall make Amends to the King for the Negled:, or clear himself. REFERENCES.
L. 48. See L. 33. In^, p. 20. xxxvl. — Canut. p. 138. xxvi. — Hen. I. p. 263.
Ixr, p. 244. xii. 49. Every Lord to answer for his Servant heing amenable to
Jujlice. Let every Lord be Pledge for his Servant, fo that if he shall be
accufed of any Crime, he (hall be amenable to Justice in the Hundred.
REFERENCE. L. 49. See L. 33. (Ethclr. p. 103. i.— Canut. p. 139. xxviil. —
Edvv. Conf. p. 202. XXI. — Hen. 1. p, 251. xii. 5c. Horn 8o
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80 LEGES GULIELMI CONQUESTORIS.
50. De incred'ibili accufato in Hundredo, Si quis intra
Hundredum incufatus fuerit, iv homines eum retineant, fe duodecima manu
purger, & fi aufugerit pendente accufatione, Dominus reddat Weram fuam,
& fi Dominus 'incufetur quod per eum abire permittitur, fe purget fexta
manu, & li non poflet, emendct verfus Rcgem, & fit udagatus. Sieflalquonqui
blamet feit de dinz le Hundred iv humes le retent, fei xii main s'espurget, e
fi il kn fuift dedenz la chalcnge, li fire rende fijn were, e fi lun chalenge
le Seignour qui per le fen feic ale fi s'efcundie *^f6i vi main, t fil ne pot
envers li Kei
LAment, e s cil foit utlage.
NOTES. f Set vi mahi^ i. c. He himfclf making the 6th. See L. 17, S E cil
folt ullage — et fit utlagatus. Lambard, Seiden, Ducange, Houard. This lait
Part of the Law does not feem to have been thoroughly attended to by any of
the above learned Authors; for by comparing the Words •' cil foit utlage'^''
with the LL. ot ^thelred, Canute, and Hen. I. J it ij evident, "
cil" mull ictcr to the Party accufed, and not to the Lord; as the
Punishment by Out-
LAwry would not only be too I'evere, but aWurd alio, afier making Amends. Sit
Fur exlex. yEthelred, L. i. p. 103 — Sit HoniD exlex, Canut. Lr. xxviii. p.
139 — Qyi.lugit, Utlaga lit. Hen. 1. L. xii. p. 351.
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79
LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
79 50. How one of had Chara^ier^ if accufed
in the Hundred, is to purge himself If any one, whose Characfter has been
impeached within the Hundred by four Men, stands accufed, let him acquit
himself by 12 Compurgators; and if he flees, depending the Profecution, the
Lord shall pay his Were; and if the Lord be charged with being privy to his
Efcape, he mull clear himself by the Oaths of fix Perfons j and if he cannot
do that, he shall make Amends to the King; and let the accufed Perfon be
outlawed. REFERENCES. L. 50. See L. 45. jEthelred, p. 102. i.— Canut. p. 138.
xxvii. — Hen. I. p. 263. bcv. p. 264. Ixvii. C 80 ] INTRODUCTORY PREFACE To
the 52^, 55th, 58th, 59th, and 63d,
MY firft Intention was only to have
translated the
LAWS OF WILLIAM L which are in the Norman Tongue; but as the Landed Piopcrty
of England underwent fo great an Alteration by his Eftrblifnment of the
Feudal Syfleni, I judged it rni'sht afTord loine Entertainn-ent to the Reader
to take a View of the above Laws of William in L.itiii, which efFefted this
great Change; for this purpose I have given a Translation of them, and added
some Notes from various Auihors who have confidered tliefe L.^.w?. William I.
foon after his Conqucil transferred alinoil all the Lands of England to his
Followers, and nr^de them Inheritances dcicendible according to the Norman
Law; but as those which remained inEr!::liili Hands Vv'ou!d have tj;onc on in
the old Courfc, and b^er. free from tiic Eurdien of feudal Tenure, it was
ncceli'arv to proceed fonievvhat further; for this Purpofe, in foinc lubsci;nent
P,;rt vi his i^eign, liie coffimune C'onciiiumo'i ih^i Natiop. was
coi'.vened, and Laws made, which, in the Event, akvred the Military Policy of
the Kingdom, aboiitiicJ tlie trlno'Iu Xr'Cr'J/iius^ and made the
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80 LAnds of the ErigUlh and of tl:c Ch.urcU '.iablc to
Knights Service, as he had u<jne the L'.nd.: granted to the Normans j and
the Syll-jui w^s thereby lenJ-iied uiii'onn. The Jt'lrs of fc;-!:i:i'lv
i:;uod.Ain;j; the I'eotlal Tenures by
LAw into tlfio Na.icn, is not hxc irr.;! I'.ircrtainty. Sulliv;in places
tiiis in \hc ^lii Year of Kirg William's Reign; but Blacklloac. frouj tl;e
S;ixon Chronicle, is of Opinion it was in the ic:b, the latier fc ad of tlie
Year 1086, wiien Wilii:3m was aitei^ded bv all his Nobles at Sarum, and all
the principal Lanuljoldcrs did h:m Homage and Fealty; and he thinks it
probable that ih.c verv ?.av.- thus ni^clc at that Council, is the 5v.d Law
of this Ki;g;;in.;l that the Performance of the Militiiry Feudal Services, as
ortlained by that general Council, arc exacted by tlio 5Hth Law. Syil, 2B7. —
2d Biaci-^floae 49. 2
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81 LAWS OF WILLIAM THE
CONQUEROR.
LAWS OV WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
8l L. 52. Statuimus " ut omnes
liberi '' homines fcedcre*^ et Sacramento assirment, quod intra et ^ extra
univerfiim regnum Anglise Regi Willielmo Domino We ordain that all Freemen
shall oblio-e themselvcs by Homage and Fealtv, that within and out of the
Dominions or England, they will be NOTE S. * Stataimiis — This implies it was
not by the King alone, but by the commune Concilium, or Parliament; for the
Style of the King of England, when i'peaking or himfeli, was for Ages after
in the lingular Number, bull. 288. Wright. 2 Black, p. 49. See Law b Lileri
Homines — Thefe were Ter.ants in Military Service, and were the only Men or
Honour, Faith, Trust, and Reputation, in the Kingdom; and trom fiich as
these, which were not Barons, the Knights did chufe Jurymen, fcrved on Juries
themielves, bare Oshccs, and difpatched all Country Bufmefs. Brady's Anfwer
to Petir, p. 39. ' FectUre et Sacrarnento assirmait. — Fauius is the Homage,
and &ieramentwn the Oath of Fealty, and they arc placed in the Order they
are fo be done. Sull. 2SS. ^ Intra et extra univerfum regnum AiigUtT — -Thefe
Words are particularly to be obscrvec; for thev made a Deviation from the general
Principles ot the Feudal Law, and one highly advantageous to the Kingly
Power. By the Feudal Law, no Vaflal was obliged to serve his Lord in War,
unlefs it was a delcnlive War, or one he thought a jull one; nor tor any
Territoiies belonging to his Lord tr-at was not a P;>rt or the Seigniory
ot which he held; but this would not ctfecluaily serve for the Defence ot
William. He was Dukeot Normandv, which he heUi trom France; and he knew the
King of that Country vvas very jealous ot ttie extraordinary Acttlfion of
Power he had gidned by his new territorial Acquilition, and would take ever)-
Occallon, juil or unjust, of attacking him there; in Oiorr, th;.t he must be
alv/iys in a State ol War. Sjch an Obli5;ation oil his ■ren;.nts, 01 serviiig every wliere, u'as oi the higheft
Confeuuencj tor him to obtain: nor was it dishcult; as most of thern alfu had
Kibites in Normandy, wa'^, wore by S."!f-intereft ent^JijCd in its
Dc'.cuce. ^ull. rS.-). G fuo 82
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82 LAWS OF WILLIAM
THE CONQUEROR.
LAWS OF WILLIAM * luo fidcles ^ elTc volunt, terras et honores illius omnifidelitate
ubiquei'ervare cumeo, et contra inimicos ct alienigcnas dcfendere. L. Volumus
etiam ac firmiter prsecipimus et concedimus ut omnes liberi homines totius
Monarchise regni noftri prsedidli habeant et teneant terras fuas et
pofiefTiones fuas bene ct in pace, libere ab omni Exadione s injusta, et ab
THE CONQUEROR.
faithful to King William their Lord,
his Lands and Honours, with all Fidelity every where with him will prelcrve,
and against all Enemies, foreign and domeftic, will them defend. 55- We will
and firmly command and grant that all Freemen of the whole Monarchy of our
aforefaid Kingdom may have and hold their Lands and Poffeflions well and in
Peace, free from all unjull Exadtions and Tallage; fo as
NOTES. e WtlUelnio Domino fun — not Re?ii not the Oath of Allegiance as King,
but the Oath or Fejlty, iiom a Tenant to a Landlord, tor the Lards he holds.
Still. 288. i TiMes — this is th? very technical Word of the Feudal Law for
& VafTal. Bull. 288. GloH. XV. 2 Kxafiione injujia et ab omni taUagio —
that is, from all extraordinary hard Impolifions and Taxes; not their
ordinary Scutage or Aids. Anfwer to Petit, 38. Notwithflanding this Law, by
which Reliefs were made certain, the Military Fees hereditary, and heed from
all extraordinary Taxes, &CC. VViili'im, and his Son Rufus, had
introduced many ill Culioms, and opprefied the Military Tenants to a great
Degree; fo tlia' Hen. I. in order to ingratiate himlelt with his
Subje<5ls, granted the.n, on the Day ot his Coronation, a Charter, by
which all ill Cufioms, ^c. were 'o be removed. This Charter, Dr. Brady
thinks, was in'cnde.i as a l-lelaxation or Abatement ot the Feudal Normaa
LAw prat':t, fed by his Father and Broth-r in exacting great Reliefs, and
concerning she Wmdlhip ot Orjshans, and difpoiins; ot them and Widows in
Marriage; hut that, at tlie lame time, this Charter was an Indulgence granted
to the Norman Kn^li/h, such as livt'd w England, rather than to the ancient
Nii\.'i\ts, or i:axon Kn^l'JJj. Brad)''slnts-educt. Vo .1. p. 265. omni
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83 LAWS OF WILLIAM
THE CONQUEROR.
LAWS OF WILLIAM omni Tallagio -, ita quod nihil ab eis exigatiir vel capiatur
nifi lervicium fuum liberum quod dc jure nobis facere debent & facere
tenentur; et prout flatutum eft eis et illis a nobis datum et conceffum jure
hasreditario iinpertum per commune Confilium totius Regni Boftri pr^didli. L.
Statuimus * etiam et firmiter prsccipimus ut omnes Comites, et Barones, et
Milites, et Servientes, ^ et univerfi liberi THE CONQUEROR.
S^ nothing be exafted or taken favc
their free Services, which of Right they ought and are bound to perform to
us, and as it was appointed to them, and given and granted to them by us, as
a perpetual Right of Inheritance by the common Council of the whole Kingdom.
58. We ordain alfo, and firmly command, that all Earls, and Barons, and
Knights, and Servants, and all the Freemen of our
NOTES. ^ » Statuimus — This new Poliry feenis not to have been impofed by the
Conqueror, but nationally and freely adapted by the general Ailenibly of the
whole Realm, in the fame Mani-ier as other Nations ot Europe had before
adopted it, upon the iarne Prmiiple ot Seltiecurity. And, in particular, they
had the recent Example ot the French Nation before their Eyes; which had
gradually furrendered up all it5 allodial or rrcc Lands into ihe King's
Hands, who relfored them to the O.vr.crsas a Boiefidum or Feud, to be held to
them and such of their Heirs as they previoully nominated to the King, 2
Black. 50. S'eLaw 52. 59. '' Sei-'vientes — And their Servants and Efcuyers.
Anfwer to Petit, 38. According to Mr. Sullivan, these vvere *' the lower
Soldiers not *' knighted, who had not yet got Lands, but were quartered on
the " Abbeys." SuU. 289. Li our Year Books, in the Time of Edward
IIL the Name of Si-'jeunt (the lame with Scri'-ais) is v^k'i for the next to
Knighr. As where the Court gives Direction to the four Knights to choose tUc
grand Airiie in a Writ or Right, 7:1: ijlies (lay the) ) nul Serjeant homines
84
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84 LAWS OF WILLIAM
THE CONQUEROR.
LAWS OF WILLIAM fHE CONQUEROR.
homines totius regni noftri praedifli
habeant et tencant fe femper bene in Armis et in equis ut d;;cct et oportet,
et quod fini femper prompt! et bene parati ad servicium fuum integrum nobis
explendum et peragendum cum femper opus adfuerit, fecundum quod nobis debent
de feodis ""■ et tenemcntis fuis de jure facere,
et ficut iliis statuimus per commune Concilium totius regni noftri prsdifti,
whole Kingdom aforefaid shall be always fitted with Horfe and Arms as they
ought to be, and always ready and well prepared to perform their whole
Service to us when there shall be Need, according to what they ought by
LAw to do to us by reafon of their Fiefs and Tenements j and as we have
ordained to them by the common Council of our whole Kingdom aforefaid; and
have given and grant- N O T E *S. /aitt come vous poies avcz Chivalitrs
convenient. Do not chule any Sej^eanf as lontj; as you can find a proper
Number ot Knights, 2 2d Ed. III. 18 3.-^26 Ed. III. 57. a. Sdd.Tit. Hon.
adEd. p. 832. So likewife in the Ordinances of the Parliament of the 46 Ed.
III. respetting Knights of the Shire, Serjeant is placed next to Knight,
" voejl le Roy que Cbivalers Cs" Scyjant% des meulx vaues du **
paies fo'icnt rctournez defore Chivakrs en Parlemeniz." The King wills,
that Knights and Serjeants of the mod Substance in the County be from
hencctorth returned Knights in Parliament. Rutf. Appcn. 43* It began to grow
out of Ufe about this Time, and the Title of F.fo.uire succceded. Sdd. B32.
Others are of Oj/mion that l)y Servicntes arc meant those who held by Grand
or Petit Serjcnnty. ' De Feodis ct Teticmcntiifr.is — for their Fecs and
Tenures. Anf.ver to Petit, p. 39. ec
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(delwedd B8100) (tudalen 085 = 087)
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85 LAWS OF WILLIAM
THE CONQUEROR.
LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQJJEROR. 85 ct illis dedimus et concef- ed to them in
Fee in herefimus in fcedo jure «* hx- ditary Right, reditario. L. 59.
Scatuimus etiam et fir- We ordain alfo and miter prgecipimus utom- firmly
command, that all nes liberi = homines totius Freemen of our whole regni
noftri pr^edidi fint Kingdom aforefaid be fratres conjurati ad Men- Iworn
Brothers, manfully archiam noftram et ad reg- to preserve and defend our num
noftrum pro viribus Monarchy or Governfuis et facultatibus contra ment, and
our Kingdom inimicos pro pofle fuo with all their Power, defendendum et
viriliter Force, and Might, against
NOTES. ^ yure hareJlfan'o — The great Effc£l of this Law was to fettle twq
Things, not exprefsly mentioned in the former; the firrt, to (hew the Nature
of the Service now required, Knijsht Service on Horfcback; and the other, to
afcertain to all his Tenants, Saxons as well as Normans, the Hereditary Right
they had in their Lands; for if that had not been done by this Law, as now
all Lands were made feudal, and their Titles to them confequently to be
decided by that
LAw, they might otherwife be liable to a Conllru^tion, according to its
Principles; that any Man, who could not fliew in his Title Words of
Inheritance, which the Saxons generally could not do, was but Tenant for
Life. This general Law pin all on the fame Footing, and gave them Inheritances,
as they had before, but of another Nature, the feudal one, and confequently
made them fubjcft to all its Regulations. Sull. 284. zSg. a Black. 50. Anfwcr
to Pctir, 38. See Law 55. * L:l>cri Homines — The Freemen in this I^i'.v
are the fame as are mentioned in the ^^d, 55th, and 53th Liws, and the)' were
such as held in Militiiry Tenure, thoa-^h not kuig'ueu; tor such as were, are
called Milihs, and the other ul^i^ri Hofniiu"', -.nvl sometimes they are
taken promlfcuoufly one for another; but thty were very diiieren: troni our
ordinary Ficeholuas at this D.iv. Anfwer to Petit, p. 38, 39. Glolfiry, Dy
the fr.ne Author, p. 32. Sec Law 53. According to Sullsv.in, tlii'y were
" t!ic S r:on FrccholJers, and the Ten:\nt3 of the Cluiich, whii-h no.v
was fubjevltcJ to Knight. Service." Sull. 2S5. G 4 fcrvanJumj S6
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(delwedd B8101) (tudalen 086 = 088)
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86 LAWS OF WILLIAM
THE CONQUEROR.
LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
servandum, Pacem et Dignitatem Coronae
noftra^ integram observandam, et ad judicium ^ redum et justitiam constanter
omnibus modis pro poflfe fuo fine dolo et fine dilatione faciendam.
HocDecretum fancitum eft in Civitate London, Enemies, and keep entire the
Dignity and Peace of our Crown, and to give right Judgment, and constantly to
do Justice by all Ways and Means, according to their Power and Ability,
without Fraud or Delay. This Law was enabled in the City of London, L. 6 3-
"Hoc quoque przeci- This we alfo command pimus ut omnes habeant ct that
all our Subjects have teneant Legem s Edwardi and enjoy the Laws of
NOTES. f Judicium reElum et Justitiam — The Judgment they were to give, ■and the JulHce they were to do by this Law (befides that in their
own Courts and Jurisdidions) was principally as they were Jurors or
Recognitors upon Aflize, &c.; though some of the greateft of their
Milites were often Slieriifs, Hundredaries, and other under Judges, and
minifterial Officers of Justice in the feveral Counties. Anl'wer to Petit, p.
40. GlanvlUe, I. 2. ex. 11. 1. 9. c. vii. 3. lib. xiii. £ Legem Edv^ardi
Regis. — We have before (hewn that Williarw the Conqueror, at his Coronation,
sworc to the Obscrvation of the
Laws oi Rdivard the Confcjfor; and with rcfpect to such of them as did not
clash with his Delign ot introducing the military Feudal Syftem, he now again
conrirnis them in otiinibui rebus j adding thereto the above Laws and lome
others. Regis
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(delwedd B8102) (tudalen 087 = 089)
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87 LAWS OF WILLIAM
THE CONQUEROR.
LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
87 Regis in omnibus rebus. King Edward
in all adauffis ^ bits quas con- Things; with the Additi-
NOTES. •• AdauBii bitS'^'Wc hope it will be no improper Concluiion of these
Notes to prefent the Reader with the very striking View which Blackftone and
Sullivan give U8 of the prodigious Alterations these few additional
LAWS OF WILLIAM made in the Properties of Landed £(lates here, from what was
their Nature and Qualities before that Time. Thefe Eftates, in the Saxon
Times, had, in general, been the ab» folate Propenies of the Owner; they
could be aliened at Plcafurc, they could be devifed by Will, were fubjc<ft
to no Exadions on the Death of the Owner, but a very moderate fettled Heriot
paid by the Executor. In the mean Time, on the Death of the Ancestor, the
Heir entered without waiting for the Approbation of the Lord, or paying any
Thing for it; and his Heir, if there was no Will, was all the Sons jointly.
No Wardship or Marriage was due or exadted, if the Heir was a Minor. Now, by
the Feudal Customs being introduced, no Alienation without an exorbitant Fine
for a Licence, no Will or Teftament concerning them, availed any Thing:
/^icis towards knighting his eldcft Son, or marrying his eldcil Daughter, not
to forget the Ranfom of his own Perfon, are become Indifpcnfable Duties. The
Heir on the Death of his Ancestor, if of full Age, was plundered of the firft
Emoluments arifing from his Inheritance, by way of Relief and primer feifin;
and, if under Age, of the whole ot his Eftatc during Infancy. And then, as
Sir Thomas Smith very feelingly complains, " when he came to his own,
after h« *' was out of Wardjljip^ his Woods decayed, Houfes fallen down,
" Stock wafted and gone, Lands let forth and plous^hed to be *' barren,
" to make Amends, he was yet to pay Haifa Year's Pro* fits as a Fine for
fuing out his Livety; and alfo the Price or Value of his Marriage^ if he
refufed such Wife as his Lord and Guardian had bartered for, and impofed upno
him; or twice that Valqe if he married another Woman. Add to this, the
untimely and expenfive Honour of Knighthood, to make his Poverty more
compleatly fplendid. And when, by these Dedudions, his Fortune was fo
stiattered and ruined, that perhaps he was obliged to fell his Patrimuny , he
had not even that poor Priviledge allowed him, without paying as above an
exorbitant Fine for a l^icence of Alienation. H stituimiis S8
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(delwedd B8103) (tudalen 088 = 090)
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88 LAWS OF WILLIAM
THE CONQUEROR.
. sticuimus ad utilitatem on of tbose
which we have Angiorum. appointed for the Benefit of the English,
NOTES. But at length, as Bladjtone observes, we were happily freed from this
complicated Slavery; and Military Tenures with all their heavy Appendages,
were deftroyed at one Blow by the Statute of 12 C. IF. c. 24. and all Sorts
of Tenures held of the King, or others, arc turned into Free and Common
Socage; fave only Tenures in Frankalmoign, Copyholds, and the honorary
Services of Grand Serjeanty. ' A Statute, which, was a greater Acquilition to
the Civil Property of this Kingdom than even Ma-^na Charta itself. Sull. 291.
zd. Black, p. 76, 77. THE END.
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