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Life under the Normans - Coggle Diagram
Life under the Normans
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Baron and Bishops
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The barons and bishops did not own land, they held it in tenure.
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Peasants
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Most were not freemen but slaves reduced in number because they were expensive to keep. Many previously free peasants lost their freedom because of higher rents.
Legal system
Courts
Shire court: Supervised by the sheriff - dealt with land disputes, theft or violence
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Honourial court: Lord dealt with his tenants - dealt with crimes or property transactions on his land
Law enforcement
Hue and cry: Everyone had a duty to raise the alarm if they saw a crime. Everyone who heard the hue and cry had to help catch the criminal
Tithing: Group of 10-12 freemen. promised to prevent each other from committing a crime. If they failed they were all punished
Watchmen: ensured people kept curfews, prevented crime and caught criminals. Usually volunteers or had to be done as a duty -most did not take it seriously
Murdrum fine: If a Norman was killed and the murder was not found in 5 days the whole hundred was fined.
Constables: power to arrest, break up fights and prevent fires. Not paid well and many had other jobs
Trying of suspects
Trial by ordeal:
Trial by cold water: Guilty would float and the innocent would sink
Trial by hot iron: carry a hot iron in their hand for 3 paces, hand was bound and after if it was infected they were guilty and if not they were innocent
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Domesday book
1085 William instructed his officials to carry out a survey of all the property and resources in England
The findings were written up in 2 books little and great domesday