obility and those cases which had not received justice in the
hundred or shire court. The witan had a criminal jurisdiction and
could imprison or outlaw a person. The witan could even compel the
king to return any land he might have unjustly taken. Specially
punishable by the king was "oferhyrnesse": contempt of the king's
law. It covered refusal of justice, neglect of summons to gemot or
pursuit of thieves, disobedience to the king's officers, sounding
the king's coin, accepting another man's dependent without his
leave, buying outside markets, and refusing to pay Peter's pence.

The forests were peculiarly subject to the absolute will of the
king. They were outside the common law. Their unique customs and
laws protected the peace of the animals rather than the king's
subjects. Only special officials on special commissions heard
their cases.

The form of oaths for compurgation were specified for theft of
cattle, unsoundness of property bought, and money owed for a sale.
The defendant denied the accusation by sweating that "By the Lord,
I am guiltless, both in deed and counsel, and of the charge of
which ... accuses me." A compurgator swore that "By the Lord, the
oath is clean and unperjured which ... has sworn.". A witness swore
that "In the name of Almighty God, as I here for ... in true witness
stand, unbidden and unbought, so I with my eyes oversaw, and with
my ears overheard, that which I with him say."

If a theow man was guilty at the ordeal, he was not only to give
compensation, but was to be scourged thrice, or a second geld be
given; and be the wite of half value for theows.

- - - Chapter 4 - - -

- The Times: 1066-1100 -

William came from Normandy to conquer England. He claimed that the
former King, Edward, the Confessor, had promised the throne to him
when they were growing up together in Normandy, if Edward became
King of England and had no children. The Conquerer's men and
horses came in boats powered by oars and sails. The conquest did
not take long because of the superiority of his military expertise
to that of the English. He organized his army into three groups:
archers with bows and arrows, horsemen with swords and stirrups,
and footmen with hand weapons. Each group played a specific role
in a strategy planned in advance. The English army was only
composed of footmen with hand weapons such as spears and shields.
They fought in a