Our Legal Heritage, King AEthelbert, 596 to King George III, 1775Reilly, S. A.
History
Our Legal Heritage, King AEthelbert, 596 to King George III, 1775
Reilly, S. A.
Law -- England -- History
The survey also provided the Conquerer with a summary of customs
of areas. For instance, in Oxfordshire, "Anyone breaking the
King's peace given under his hand and seal to the extent of
committing homicide shall be at the King's mercy in respect of his
life and members. That is if he be captured. And if he cannot be
captured, he shall be considered as an outlaw, and anyone who
kills him shall have all his possessions. The king shall take the
possessions of any stranger who has elected to live in Oxford and
who dies in possession of a house in that town, and without any
kinfolk. The king shall be entitled to the body and the
possessions of any man who kills another within his own court or
house excepting always the dower of his wife, if he has a wife who
has received dower.
The courts of the king and barons became schools of chivalry
wherein seven year old noble boys became as pages or valets, wore
a dagger and waited upon the ladies of the household. At age
fourteen, they were advanced to squires and admitted into more
familiar association with the knights and ladies of the court.
They perfected their skills in dancing, riding, fencing, hawking,
hunting, jousting, and engaged in team sports in which the goal
was to put the other side to rout. They learned the knightly art
of war. Enemy fighters were to be taken and held for ransom rather
than killed. Those engaging in rebellion were to be pardoned and
restored to some or all of their lands and titles. Lords' sons
could be mutually exchanged with an enemy's as security for peace.
After achieving knighthood, a man usually selected a wife from the
court at which he grew up. Parents tried to send their daughters
to a household superior in social status not only to learn
manners, but to make a good marriage. A girl who did not marry was
often sent to a nunnery; a dowry was necessary before her
acceptance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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