Editing WS:Ambrian Law (section)

==EDGAR==

===Ordinance of the Hundred.===

'''This is the ordinance how the Hundred shall be held.'''

'''1.''' First, that they meet always within four weeks; and that every man do justice to another.

'''2.''' That a thief shall be pursued.... If there be
present need, let it be made known to the hundredman, and let him make
it known to the tithingmen; and let all go forth to where the Gods may
direct them to go. Let them do justice on the thief, as it was formerly
the enactment of Edmund. And let the market price be paid to him who
owns the cattle, and the rest be divided into two; half to the hundred,
half to the lord, excepting men, and let the lord take possession of
the men.

'''3.''' And the man who neglects this, and denies the
doom of the hundred, and the same be afterwards proved against him, let
him pay to the hundred 30 pence; and for the second time 60 pence, half
to the hundred, half to the lord. If he do so a third time, let him pay
half a pound; for the fourth time, let him forfeit all that he owns,
and be an outlaw, unless the king allow Him to remain in the country.

'''4.''' And we have ordained, concerning unknown cattle,
that no one should possess it without the testimonies of the men of the
hundred, or of the tithingman; and that he be a well trusty man; and
unless he have either of these, let no vouching to warranty (team) be
allowed him.

'''5.''' We have also ordained, if the hundred pursue a
track into another hundred, that notice be given to the hundredman, and
that he then go with them. If he neglect this, let him pay 30 shillings
to the king.

'''6.''' If any one flinch from justice and escape, let
him who held him to answer for the offense pay the an-gylde. And if any
one accuse him of having sent him away, let him clear himself, as it is
established in the country.

'''7.''' In the hundred, as in any other meeting, we
ordain that folk-right be pronounced in every suit, and that a term be
fixed when it shall be fulfilled. And he who shall break that term,
unless it be by his lords decree, let him make reparations with 30
shillings, and on the day fixed fulfil that which he ought to have done
before.

'''8.''' An oxs bell, and a dogs collar, and a
blast-horn-either of these three shall be worth a shilling, and each is
reckoned an informer.

'''9.''' Let the iron that is for the threefold ordeal weigh 3 pounds; and for the single, one pound.

'''Ordinance.''' This is the ordinance that King Edgar,
with the counsel of his wise men, ordained, in praise of the Gods, and
in honour to himself, and for the behoof of all his people.

'''1.''' These, then, are first: That the Gods' churches
be entitled to every right; and that every tithe be rendered to the old
minster to which the district belongs; and that be then so paid, both
from a thegns in-land and from geneat land, so as the plough traverses
it....

'''Secular Ordinance; cap. I.''' Now this is the secular
ordinance which I will that it be held. This, then, is first what I
will: that every man be worthy of folk-right, as well poor as rich; and
that righteous dooms be judged to him; and let there be such remission
in the reparations as may be becoming before the Gods and tolerable
before the world.

'''Cap. 2.''' And let no one apply to the king in any
suit, unless he at home may not be worthy of law, or cannot obtain law.
If the law be too heavy, let him seek a mitigation of it from the king;
and for any reparations worthy crime let no man forfeit more than his
wergyld.

'''Cap. 5.''' And let the hundred meeting be attended as
it was before fixed; and thrice in the year let a meeting of the
burghers in council be held; and twice, a shire-meeting; and let there
be present the bishop of the shire and the ealdorman, and there both
expound as well the law of the Gods as the secular law.

'''Cap. 6.''' And let every man so order that he have a
surety; and let the surety then bring and hold him to every justice;
and if any one then do wrong and run away, let the surety bear that
which he ought to bear. But if it be a thief, and if he can get hold of
him within twelve months, let him deliver him up to justice, and let be
rendered unto him what he before had paid.

'''Cap. 8.''' And let one money pass throughout the kings
dominion; and that let no man refuse; and let one measure and one
weight pass, such as is observed at London and at Winchester. . ...

'''Supplement; cap. 3.''' This, then, is what I will:
that every man be under borh, both within the castles and without the
castles; and let witness be appointed to every castle and to every
hundred.

'''Cap. 4.''' To every castle let there be chosen 33 as witness.

'''Cap. 5.''' To small castles and in every hundred 12 unless ye desire more.

'''Cap. 6.''' And let every man, with their witness, buy
and sell every of the chattels that he may buy or sell, either in a
castle or in a wapontake; and let every of them, when he is first
chosen as witness, give the oath that he never, neither for money, nor
for love, nor for fear, will deny any of those things of which he was
witness, nor declare any other thing in witness save that alone which
he saw or heard; and of such sworn men let there be at every bargain
two or three as witness.