The Beginnings Of English Law (toronto Medieval Texts And Translations)

Annotated edition of the early Kentish laws, with facing page translation and commentary. The laws of Aethelbert of Kent (ca. 600), HloÞhere and Eadric (685-686), and Wihtred (695), are the earliest laws from Anglo-Saxon England, and the first Germanic laws written in the vernacular. They are of unique importance as the only extant early medieval English laws that delineate the progress of law and legal language in the early days of the conversion to Christianity. Aethelbert's laws, the closest existing equivalent to Germanic law as it was transmitted in a pre-literate period, contrast with HloÞhere and Eadric's expanded laws, which concentrate on legal procedure and process, and again contrast with the further changed laws of Wihtred which demonstrate how the new religion of Christianity adapted and changed the law to conform to changing social mores. This volume updates previous works with current scholarship in the fields of linguistics and social and legal history to present new editions and translations of these three Kentish pre-Alfredian laws. Each body of law is situated within its historical, literary, and legal context, annotated, and provided with facing-page translation. Preface xi Acknowledgments xiii Map of early Anglo-Saxon England 2 1. Background 3 An outline of the history leading up to Æthelberht's reign 3 Historical background to Æthelberht's laws 8 ÆEthelberht, Augustine, and the conversion of Kent 8 The role of kingship and Christianity in the promulgation of law 14 The manuscript 20 Archaic traces in the language of the laws 25 Orthography 26 Phonology 27 Morphology 29 Syntax 30 Word division 34 The question of dating 34 Remnants of oral transmission 34 Chronological layering of Æthelberht's laws 41 2. The Laws of Æthelberht 52 Notes on the edition 52 Editorial conventions 53 Edition and translation 59 Commentary 82 Monetary system 82 Rubric 83 The church and the public assembly 83 The king 85 Fines payable to an eorl 89 Fines payable to a freeman 89 Freedmen 91 Theft 93 Killing 96 'Rihthamscyld' 97 Personal injury 99 Women and children 105 Maidens 106 Women 109 Widows 111 Servants 114 Slaves 116 The Laws of HloÞhere & Eadric 117 Historical background 117 Some notes on the language 120 Archaisms 121 Modernizations 122 Dialect features 122 Abbreviations 123 Edition and translation 125 Commentary 134 Rubric and prologue 134 Fines 135 Legal responsibilities in hospitality 138 The process of bringing a charge 139 The regulation of commerce 141 Oath supporters 144 The Laws of Wihtred 147 Historical background 147 Some notes on the language 148 Archaisms 148 Modernizations 149 Dialect features 149 Edition and translation 151 Commentary 164 Rubric and prologue 164 Rights of the church 166 Unlawful matrimony 167 Abuses by ecclesiastics 168 Manumission 169 Transgressing the laws of the church 170 Exculpation 174 Theft 177 Conclusion 180 Appendix I: Diplomatic Transcription 181 Appendix II: Comparison of Restitution According to Amount in Æthelberht 195 Appendix III: Comparison of Restitution According to Status in Æthelberht 199 Appendix IV: Payment to the King for Disturbance of the Peace 201 Notes 203 Glossary 235 Concordance of proper names 249 Previous editions and translations of the Kentish laws 251 Bibliography 257 Index 277 "The laws of AEthelberht of Kent (ca. 600), Hlophere and Eadric (685x686), and Wihtred (695) are the earliest laws from Anglo-Saxon England, and the first Germanic laws written in the vernacular. They are of unique importance as the only extant early medieval English laws that delineate the progress of law and legal language in the early days of the conversion to Christianity. AEthelberht's laws, the closest existing equivalent to Germanic law as it was transmitted in a pre-literate period, contrast with Hlophere and Eadric's expanded laws, which concentrate on legal procedure and process, and contrast again with the laws of Wihtred, which demonstrate how the new religion of Christianity adapted and changed the law of conform to changing social mores.". "This volume updates previous works with current scholarship in the fields of linguistics and social and legal history to present new editions and translations of these three Kentish pre-Alfredian laws. Each body of law is situated within its historical, literary, and legal context, annotated, and provided with facing-page translation."--BOOK JACKET. The laws of Æthelbert of Kent (ca. 600), Hlohere and Eadric (685x686), and Wihtred (695), are the earliest laws from Anglo-Saxon England, and the first Germanic laws written in the vernacular. They are of unique importance as the only extant early medieval English laws that delineate the progress of law and legal language in the early days of the conversion to Christianity. Æthelbert's laws, the closest existing equivalent to Germanic law as it was transmitted in a pre-literate period, contrast with Hlohere and Eadric's expanded laws, which concentrate on legal procedure and process, and again contrast with the further changed laws of Wihtred which demonstrate how the new religion of Christianity adapted and changed the law to conform to changing social mores.This volume updates previous works with current scholarship in the fields of linguistics and social and legal history to present new editions and translations of these three Kentish pre-Alfredian laws. Each body of law is situated within its historical, literary, and legal context, annotated, and provided with facing-page translation. The laws of thelbert of Kent (ca. 600), Hlohere and Eadric (685x686), and Wihtred (695), are the earliest laws from Anglo-Saxon England, and the first Germanic laws written in the vernacular. They are of unique importance as the only extant early medieval English laws that delineate the progress of law and legal language in the early days of the conversion to Christianity. thelbert's laws, the closest existing equivalent to Germanic law as it was transmitted in a pre-literate period, contrast with Hlohere and Eadric's expanded laws, which concentrate on legal procedure and process, and again contrast with the further changed laws of Wihtred which demonstrate how the new religion of Christianity adapted and changed the law to conform to changing social mores. This volume updates previous works with current scholarship in the fields of linguistics and social and legal history to present new editions and translations of these three Kentish pre-Alfredian laws. Each body of law is situated within its historical, literary, and legal context, annotated, and provided with facing-page translation. Annotated edition of 7th century Kentish laws, with facing page translation and commentary