They served on the
committees which reviewed the presentments of the hundreds and
village, and carried the record of the county court to Westminster
when summoned there by the kings' justices. They served on the
grand assize. As elected representatives of their fellow knights
of the county, they assessed any taxes due from each hundred.
Election might be by nomination by the sheriff from a fixed list,
by choice, or in rotation. They investigated and reported on local
abuses and grievances. The King's justices and council often
called on them to answer questions put to them on oath. In the
villages, humbler freeholders and sokemen were elected to assess
the village taxes. Six villeins answered for the village's
offenses before the royal itinerant justice.
Reading and writing in the English language was taught. The use of
English ceased to be a mark of vulgarity. In 1258 the first
governmental document was issued in English as well as in Latin
and French. Latin started falling into disuse. Boys of noblemen
were taught reading, writing, Latin, a musical instrument,
athletics, riding, and gentlemanly conduct. Girls were taught
reading, writing, music, dancing, and perhaps household nursing
and first aid, spinning, embroidery, and gardening. Girls of high
social position were also taught riding and hawking. Grammar
schools taught, in Latin, grammar, dialectic (ascertaining word
meaning by looking at its origin, its sound (e.
Pages:
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279