Often a king would extend his peace to fugitives from
violent feuds if they asked the king, earls, and bishops for time
to pay compensation for their misdeeds. From this came the
practice of giving a portion of the "profits of justice" to such
men who tried the fugitive. The king's peace came to be extended
to those most vulnerable to violence: foreigners, strangers, and
kinless persons.
"If anyone by force break or enter any man's court or house to
slay or wound or assault a man, he shall pay 100s. to the King as
fine."
"If anyone slay a man within his court or his house, himself and
all his substance are at the King's will, save the dower of his
wife if he have endowed her."
If a person fights and wounds anyone, he is liable for his wer. If
he fells a man to death, he is then an outlaw and is to be seized
by raising the hue and cry. And if anyone kills him for resisting
God's law or the king's, there will be no compensation for his
death.
A man could kill a thief over twelve years in the act of carrying
off his property over 8d., e.g. the thief hand-habbende [a thief
found with the stolen goods in his hand] or the thief back-berend
[a thief found carrying stolen goods on his back].
Cattle theft could be dealt with only by speedy pursuit. A person
who had involuntarily lost possession of cattle is to at once
raise the hue and cry. He was to inform the hundred-man, who then
called the tithing-men.
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