lder] died before his wife, she got half this
property. If there were minor children, she received all this
property.

Inheritance of land to adult children was by the custom of the
land held. In some places, the custom was for the oldest son to
take it and in other places, the custom was for the youngest son
to take it. Usually, the sons each took an equal portion by
partition, but the eldest son had the right to buy out the others
as to the chief messuage [manor; dwelling and supporting land and
buildings] as long as he compensated them with property of equal
value. If there were no legitimate sons, then each daughter took
an equal share when she married.

In London, one-third of the personal property of a decedent went
to his wife, one-third went to his children in equal shares, and
one-third he could bequeath as he wished.

"If a man dies intestate [without a will], his lord shall have
heriot [horses, weapons, shields, and helmets] of his property
according to the deceased's rank and [the rest of] the property
shall be divided among his wife, children, and near kinsmen."

A man could justifiably kill an adulterer in the act with the
man's wife, daughter, sister, or mother. In Kent, a lord could
fine any bondswoman of his who had become pregnant without his
permission [childwyte].

A man could kill in defense of his own life, the life of his
kinsmen, his lord, or a man whose lord he was. The offender was
"caught red-handed" if the blood of his victim was still on him.
Self-help was available for hamsocne [breaking into a man's house
to assault him].

Murder is punished by death as follows: "If any man break the
King's peace given by hand or seal, so that he slay the man to
whom the peace was given, both his life and lands shall be in the
King's power if he be taken, and if he cannot be taken he shall be
held an outlaw by all, and if anyone shall be able to slay him he
shall have his spoils by law." The king's peace usually extended
to important designated individuals, churches, assemblies, those
traveling to courts or assemblies, and particular times and
places. Often a king would extend his peace to fugitives from
violent feuds if they asked the king, earls, and bishops for time
to pay compensation for their misdeeds. From this came the
practice of giving a portion of the "profits of justice" to such
men who tried the fugitive. The king's peace came to be extended
to those most vulnerable to violence: fore