Heirs (but not widows) were bound to pay the debts of their fathers and ancestors. A man who married a woman who had inherited land could not sell this land without the consent of its heirs.
When a man dies, his wife shall take one-third and his heirs shall take one- third of his chattels [moveables]. The other third he may dispose of by will. If he had no heirs and no will [intestate], all his chattels would escheat to his lord. Any distribution of chattels would take place after all the decedent's debts were paid from the property.
A will required two witnesses. The testator could name an executor, but if he did not, the next of kin was the executor. A will could not be made by a man on his death bed because he may well have lost his memory and reason. Also, he could not give to a younger son if in so doing, he would deprive his lawful heir. But he could give a marriage gift to a daughter regardless of the lawful heir.
Usury was receiving back more than what was lent, such as interest on a loan of money. When a usurer died, all his moveables went to the King.
A villein may not buy his own freedom (because all that he has is his lord's), but may be set free by his lord or by someone else who buys his freedom for him. He shall also be freed if the lord seduced his wife, drew his blood, or refused to bail him either in a civil or criminal action in which he was afterwards cleared. But a freed villein did not have status to plead in court, even if he had been knighted. If his free status were tried in court, only a freeman who was a witness to his being set free could avail himself of the duel to decide the issue. However, if the villein remained peacefully in a privileged town a year and a day and was received into its guild as a citizen, then he was freed from villeinage in every way.
A freeman who married a villein lost his freedom. If any parent of a child was a villein, then the child was also a villein.
All shipwrecked persons shall be treated with kindness and none of their goods or merchandise shall be taken from them.
If one kills another on a vessel, he shall be fastened to the dead body and thrown with it into the sea.
If one steals from another on a vessel, he shall be shaven, tarred and feathered, and turned ashore at the first land.
Passage on the Thames River may not be obstructed by damming up the river on each side leaving a narrow outlet to net fish. All such wears shall be removed.