Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 April 1884 — Ancient English Laws. [ARTICLE]

Ancient English Laws.

' Tfae following are a few of the laws of England nearly twelve hundred years ago: If any servant, by command of the master, shall do any servile work after the sun shall be set on Saturday, or on Sunday, the master shall pay 80 shillings for the task. -If a servant shall travel on either of those days, he shall pay 6 shillings, or be whipped. If a freeman shall travel on a day forbidden, he shall stand in the pillory, and the informer shall have half, as well of the mulct as of the wirgil. If a husbandman, without the knowledge of his wife, shall offer anything to the devil, he shall forfeit his estate and , stand in the pillory; but if both of them shall offend, she also shall lose all her goods, and stand in the pillory. If a servant shall offer anything to the devil, he shall lose 6 shillings, or be whipped. If any person shall give flesh to his servant to be eaten on a fast day, his servant shall be free. If any servant shall voluntarily eat it, he shall either pay 6 shillings or be whipped. If a secular man shall kill a thief, ho composition shall be mode by she kinsman of hida that is slain. If any freeman carry away anything that is

stolen, the King shall choose any one of these three punishments: Either that the thief shall be slain or banished beyond the seas, or rather his wirgil (which was the value of his head or life), and he who apprehended him shall have half his goods; but if he shall kill him, he shall pay 70 shillings. If any servant shall be robbed, and shall suffer the thief to escape, he shall pay 70 shillings, or , which the King pleases; but if any one shall slay him, his master shall have half his goods. If any stranger shall wander privily through the country, and shall neither cry aloud nor sound his horn, he shall be taken for a thief, and shall either be slain or banished.