Kentish customs and laws

Translations of laws, customary lore and practices attested in Kent.

Æthelberht’s Code

c.600 CE

These are the judgements which King Æthelberht set down in Augustine’s day. Translated from Old English by Christopher Monk. Read

The Laws of Hlothere and Eadric

c.673-c.686 CE

These are the judgements which Hlothere and Eadric, kings of the Kentish people, set down. Read

The Laws of Wihtræd

695 CE

These are the judgements of Wihtræd, king of the Kentish people. Read

Concerning Laws of the Mercians

Probably 9th century

The anonymous tract known as Be Mircna Laga (‘Concerning Laws of the Mercians’) provides information on the payment of wergild (the legal value set on a person’s life according to rank) within Mercian society. Read

The Danelaw

9th-11th century

Dr Alexander Thomas introduces the Danelaw; an 11th-century name for the areas of Northern and Eastern England in which the laws of the Danish Viking empire from the late 9th century until the early 11th century. Read

Alfred’s Book of Judgements

After 893

Known as Alfred’s Domboc (‘Book of Judgements’), this is the largest piece of legislation issued by Alfred the Great, king of Wessex from 871–899. Read

How the person must swear an oath

c.900

Hu se man sceal swerie (‘How the person must swear an oath’), c.900. Read

Æthelstan’s Grately Code

c.900

Concerns thievery, treachery to lords; the selling and buying of goods, Sunday trading, the punishments for arson and ‘secret’ murder by means of witchcraft; and the treatment of slaves. Read

Edmund’s First Code

942-6

The code’s chief concerns are ecclesiastical: clerical celibacy, church dues and alms, and restoration of church buildings. Read

Laws of the Northumbrians

Mid-10th century

Concerns thievery, treachery to lords; the selling and buying of goods, Sunday trading, the punishments for arson and ‘secret’ murder by means of witchcraft; and the treatment of slaves. Read

Trial by Ordeal

Mid-10th century

Textus Roffensis contains the code concerning the infamous administering of trial by ordeal: by water, by fire, and by bread and cheese. Read

It He Bequeathed

c.975-c.1025

Hit becwæð (‘It he bequeathed’), a c. 975–c.1025 formula for asserting the right to hold bequeathed land. Read

Corpse Robbery

Late 10th century

This anonymous law fragment Walreaf (‘Spoil of the Slain/Corpse Robbery’) forbids the robbery of corpses. Read

The King's Peace

Late 10th century

Pax (‘Peace’) relates to physical boundaries or limits of the ‘King’s peace’. Read

Æthelred’s Woodstock Code

997 AD

‘This is the decree which King Æthelred and his council decreed at Woodstock for all the people as a remedy of peace in Mercia…’ Read

The Peace of Edward and Guthrum forgery

c1002-23

Dr Alexander Thomas introduces The Peace of Edward and Guthrum forgery, Textus Roffensis, folios 40r-41v. Read

Concerning the Mercian Oath

Early-11th century

Several codes within Textus Roffensis provide information on the payment of wergild (the legal value set on a person’s life according to rank) within Mercian society. Read

Concerning arsonists and murders

Probably 10th century

Concerning arsonists and murders (Be blaserum ⁊ be morðslihtum), anonymous, probably the 2nd quarter of the 10th century. Read

Forfang: a reward for retrieving stolen property

Probably 10th century

Forfang: a reward for retrieving stolen property. Anonymous, probably 2nd quarter of the 10th century. Read

Æthelstan modifies the penalties for theft

c.930-39

Concerning both the age at which a thief could be executed and the lower limit of the value of property stolen for which a thief could be put to death. Read

Concerning a woman’s betrothal

Early 11th century

Be wifmannes beweddung (‘Concerning a woman’s betrothal’) (early-11th-century). Read

Articles of William I

1066-1087

‘Here is shown what William, king of the English, with his principal men, decreed after the conquest of England…’ Read

King William's statute