Henry then became king.
- The Law -
The Norman conquerors brought no written law, but affirmed the
laws of the nation. Two they especially enforced were:
Anyone caught in the act of digging up the King's road, felling a
tree across it, or attacking someone so that his blood spilled on
it shall pay a fine to the King.
All freemen shall have a surety who would hand him over to justice
for his offenses or pay the damages or fines due. If an accused
man fled, his surety would have a year to find him to obtain
reimbursement.
The Conquerer proclaimed that:
No cattle shall be sold except in towns and before three
witnesses.
For the sale of ancient chattels, there must be a surety and a
warrantor.
No man shall be sold over the sea. (This ended the slave trade at
the port of Bristol.)
The death penalty for persons tried by court is abolished.
- Judicial Procedure -
"Ecclesiastical" courts were created for bishops to preside over
cases concerning the cure of souls and criminal cases, in which
the ordeal was used. When the Conquerer did not preside over this
court, an appeal could be made to him.
The hundred and county courts now sat without clergy and handled
only "civil" cases. They were conducted by the King's own
appointed sheriff. Only freemen and not bound villeins had
standing in this court.
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