If one of the ten landholders in a tithing is
accused of an offense, the others have to produce him in court or
pay a fine plus pay the injured party for the offense, unless they
could prove that they had no complicity in it. If the man is found
guilty but can not pay, his tithing must pay his fine. The chief
officer is the "tithing man" or "capital pledge". There were
probably ten tithings in a hundred. (King Edward the Confessor).
Everyone was to take an oath not to steal, which one's surety
would compel one to keep.
No one may receive another lord's man without the permission of
this lord and only if the man is blameless towards every hand. The
penalty is the bot for disobedience. No lord was to dismiss any of
his men who had been accused, until he had made compensation and
done right.
"No woman or maiden shall be forced to marry a man she dislikes or
given for money."
"Violence to a widow or maiden is punishable by payment of one's
wergeld."
No man may have more wives than one.
No man may marry among his own kin within six degrees of
relationship or with the widow of a man as nearly related to him
as that, or with a near relative of his first wife's, or his god-
mother, or a divorced woman. Incest is punishable by payment of
one's wergeld or a fine or forfeiture of all his possessions.
Grounds for divorce were mutual consent or adultery or desertion.
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