hold free lands in the counties, by whom the causes and of individuals must be dealt with by the presentation in turn of complaint and defense." Anyone who violates or subverts the written law shall forfeit his wergeld on the first occasion; on the second occasion the penalty is twice the wergeld; and anyone who ventures to do it a third time shall lose whatever he possesses. "Each person is to be judged by men who are of equal status and from the same district as himself." "No one of high status shall be condemned by the judgment of lesser men." "Whoever gives an unjust judgment shall forfeit one hundred and twenty shillings and shall lose his judicial authority unless he redeems it from the king." If there are contrary opinions among the judges in serious pleas, the decision of the most substantial men and that with which the royal justice has concurred shall prevail. "Some persons are slaves by birth, others become slaves subsequently; of the latter, some are enslaved by purchase, some by way of satisfaction for an offence, some give themselves in slavery or are given by another person, and some become slave by falling under any other classifications, all of which we may wish nevertheless to be included in that one category of slavery, for which we propound the description `accident' - so that the position has been expressed in this way: some are slaves by accident, others by birth." Church law provided that only consent between a man and woman was necessary for marriage. There needn't be witnesses, ceremony, nor consummation. Consent could not be coerced. Penalties in marriage agreements for not going through with the marriage were deemed invalid. Villeins and slaves could marry without their lords' or owners' permission. A couple living together could be deemed married. Persons related by blood within certain degrees, which changed over time, of consanguinity were forbidden to marry. This was the only ground for annulment of a marriage. A legal separation could be given for adultery, cruelty, or heresy. Annulment, but not separation, could result in remarriage. Fathers were usually ordered to provide some sustenance and support for their illegitimate children. The court punished infanticide and abortion. Counterfeiters of money, arsonists, and robbers of pilgrims and merchants were to be excommunicated. Church sanctuary was to be given to fugitives of violent feuds until they could be given a fair trial. Judicial Procedure