A Source-Book of English Social HistoryJones, M. E. Monckton (Mary Evelyn Monckton)
History
A Source-Book of English Social History
Jones, M. E. Monckton (Mary Evelyn Monckton)
Great Britain -- Economic conditions; Great Britain -- Social conditions
(40) A ceorl’s close ought to be fenced winter and summer. If it be
unfenced and his neighbours’ cattle stray in through his own gap, he
shall have nothing from the cattle: let him drive it out and bear the
damage.
(42) If ceorls have a common meadow, or other partible land to fence,
and some have fenced their part, some have not, and (stray cattle)
eat up their common corn or grass, let those go who own the gap, and
compensate to the others who have fenced their part, the damage which
there may be done, and let them demand such justice on the cattle as it
may be right. But if there be a beast that breaks hedges and goes in
everywhere, and he who owns it will nor or cannot restrain it; let him
who finds it in his field take it and slay it, and let the owner take
its skin and flesh and forfeit the rest.
(43) When anyone burns a tree in a wood, and it be found out against
him who did it, let him pay the full wite; let him give sixty shillings
because fire is a thief. If anyone fell in a wood a good many trees,
and be afterwards discovered; let him pay for three trees, each with
thirty shillings. He need not pay for more of them, were there so many
of them as might be; because the axe is an informer, not a thief.
(44) But if anyone cut down a tree under which thirty swine may stand,
and it be discovered let him pay sixty shillings.
(49) If a man among his mast find unallowed swine, then let him take a
wed[4] of six shillings value.... If pannage[5] be taken for swine, of
those three fingers thick in fat, the third; of those two fingers, the
fourth; of those a thumb thick, the fifth.
(59) A cow’s horn shall be worth two pence; an ox’s tail shall be worth
a shilling; a cow’s shall be five pence; an ox’s eye shall be worth
five pence; a cow’s shall be worth a shilling. There shall always be
given as barley-rent from one wyrhta (a measure of land) six pounds.
(67) If a man agree for a yard of land,[6] or more, at a fixed rent,
and plough it; if the lord desire to raise the land to him to service
and to rent, he need not take it upon him, if the lord do not give him
a dwelling, and let him lose the crop.
(69) A sheep shall go with its fleece until Midsummer, or let the
fleece be paid for with two pence.
ALFRED’S DOOMS
(King of England, 871-901.) (Ibid. p. 20)
[Alfred’s Dooms begin with the Ten Commandments and other regulations
taken from the Old Testament.]
(15) He who stealeth a freeman and selleth him, and if it be proved
against him so that he cannot clear himself; let him perish by death.
(16) If anyone smite his neighbour with a stone or with his fist, and
he nevertheless can go out with a staff, let him get a leech, and work
his work while that himself may not.
(19) If anyone thrust out another’s eye, let him give his own for it;
tooth for tooth; hand for hand; foot for foot; burning for burning;
wound for wound; stripe for stripe.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account