Our Legal Heritage: King AEthelbert - King George III, 600 A.D. - 1776 / June 2011 (Sixth) Edition
Produced by Al Haines
Note: This is an updated edition of PG#13376.
Copyright (C) 2004 S. A. Reilly
King AEthelbert - King George III, 1776
S. A. Reilly, Attorney
175 E. Delaware Place
Chicago, Illinois 60611-7715
S-Reilly@att.net
Copyright (C) 2004
Preface
This book was written to appreciate what laws have been in existence for a long time and therefore have proven their success in maintaining a stable society. Its purpose is also to see the historical context in which our legal doctrines developed. It includes the inception of the common law system, which was praised because it made law which was not handed down by an absolutist king; the origin of the jury system; the meaning of the Magna Carta provisions in their historical context; and the emergence of attorneys.
This book is a primer. One may read it without prior knowledge of history or law, although it will be more meaningful to attorneys than to others. It can serve as an introduction on which to base further reading in English legal history. It defines terms unique to English legal history. However, the meaning of some terms in King Aethelbert's code in Chapter 1 are unknown or inexact.
S. A. Reilly
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OUR LEGAL HERITAGE
600 A.D. - 1776
Table of Contents
"THESE ARE THE DOOMS [DECREES] WHICH KING AETHELBERHT ESTABLISHED IN THE DAYS OF AUGUSTINE
[II. THE RELIEF OF THE KING'S TENANT OF FULL AGE]
[III. THE WARDSHIP OF AN HEIR WITHIN AGE. THE HEIR A KNIGHT]
[IV. NO WASTE SHALL BE MADE BY A GUARDIAN IN WARD'S LANDS]
[V. GUARDIANS SHALL MAINTAIN THE INHERITANCE OF THEIR WARDS AND OF BISHOPRICKS, ETC.]
[VI. HEIRS SHALL BE MARRIED WITHOUT DISPARAGEMENT]
[VIII. HOW SURETIES SHALL BE CHARGED TO THE KING]
[IX. THE LIBERTIES OF LONDON AND OTHER CITIES AND TOWNS CONFIRMED]
[X. NONE SHALL DISTRAIN FOR MORE SERVICE THAN IS DUE.]
[XI. COMMON PLEAS SHALL NOT FOLLOW THE KING'S COURT]
[XII. WHERE AND BEFORE WHOM ASSIZES SHALL BE TAKEN. ADJOURNMENT FOR DIFFICULTY]
ASSIZES OF NOVEL DISSEISIN, MORT D'ANCESTOR SHALL BE HEARD ONLY IN THE COUNTY WHERE THE PROPERTY IS SITUATED, AND IN THIS MANNER: WE, OR IF WE ARE NOT IN THE REALM, OUR CHIEF JUSTICIARY, SHALL SEND JUSTICIARIES THROUGH EACH COUNTY ONCE A YEAR, AND THEY TOGETHER WITH KNIGHTS OF THAT COUNTY SHALL HOLD THE SAID ASSIZES IN THE COUNTY.
[XVIII. THE KING'S DEBTOR DYING, THE KING SHALL BE FIRST PAID]
[XIX. PURVEYANCE FOR A CASTLE]
[XX. DOING OF CASTLE-GUARD]
[XXI. TAKING OF HORSES, CARTS, AND WOOD]
[XXII. HOW LONG FELONS' LANDS SHALL BE HELD BY THE KING]
[XXIII. IN WHAT PLACE WEIRS SHALL BE REMOVED]
[XXIV. IN WHAT CASE A PRAECIPE IN CAPITE IS NOT GRANTABLE]
[XXV. THERE SHALL BE BUT ONE MEASURE THROUGHOUT THE REALM]
[XXVI. INQUISITION OF LIFE AND LIMB]
[XXVII. TENURE OF THE KING IN SOCAGE AND OF ANOTHER BY KNIGHT'S SERVICE. PETIT SERJEANTY.]
[XXVIII. WAGES OF LAW SHALL NOT BE WITHOUT WITNESS]
[XXIX. NONE SHALL BE CONDEMNED WITHOUT TRIAL. JUSTICE SHALL NOT BE SOLD OR DELAYED.]
[XXX. MERCHANT STRANGERS COMING INTO THIS REALM SHALL BE WELL USED]
[XXXI. TENURE OF A BARONY COMING INTO THE KING'S HANDS BY ESCHEAT]
[XXXIII. PATRONS OF ABBEYS SHALL HAVE THE CUSTODY OF THEM WHEN VACANT]
[XXXIV. IN WHAT ONLY CASE A WOMAN SHALL HAVE AN APPEAL OF DEATH]
[AMNESTY]
THE END
INDEX