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.
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