Medieval Sourcebook:
English Regulations on Exchange, 871-1087
From Laws of King Alfred, 871-904.
34. It is also directed to chapmen, that they bring the men whom they take up with
them before the king's reeve at the folk-mote, and let it be stated how many of them there
are; and let them take such men with them as they may be able afterwards to present for
justice at the folk-mote; and when they have need of more men up with them on their
journey, let them always declare it, as often as their need may be, to the king's reeve,
in presence of the "gemot."
From Laws of King Edward the Elder, 901-925.
10. And let no man exchange any property without the witness of the reeve, or of
the mass-priest, or of the land-lord, or of the hordere, or of other unlying man.
If any one so do, let him give 30s., and let the land-lord take possession of the
exchange.
13. And we ordain: that every burh be repaired 14 days over Rogation
Days. Secondly: that every marketing be within port.
24. And he who buys property with witness, and is after obliged to vouch it to
warranty, then let him receive it from whom he before had bought it, whether he be free or
bond, whichsoever he be. And that no marketing be on Sundays; but if any one so do, let
him forfeit the goods, and pay 30s. as wite.
From Laws of King Athelstan: Council of Greatanlea, 930.
12. And we have ordained, that no man buy any property out of port over 20d.; but
let him buy there within, on the witness of the port-reeve, or of another unlying man; or
further, on the witness of the reeves at the folk-mote.
From Laws of William the Conqueror, 1066-1087.
45. Let no one buy anything living or dead to the value of four pence without four
witnesses either from the city or the country vill. But if anyone afterward make charges
against the exchange and he have no witnesses or warranty, let him return the property and
pay a fine to whom the property by right belongs. But if he have witnesses, let them see
the property three times, and on the fourth time let him vindicate his claim or lose it.
Source.
From: (1, 2, & 4) Benjamin Thorpe, ed., Ancient Laws and Institutes of England, (London:
Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1840), pp. 83, 205-213, 483; (3) William Stubbs & H. W. C.
Davis, eds., Select Charters of English Constitutional History, (Oxford: Clarendon
Press, 1913), p. 74, reprinted in Roy C. Cave & Herbert H. Coulson, A Source Book
for Medieval Economic History, (Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Co., 1936; reprint
ed., New York: Biblo & Tannen, 1965), pp. 99-101.
Scanned by Jerome S. Arkenberg, Cal. State Fullerton. The text has been modernized by
Prof. Arkenberg.
This text is part of the Internet
Medieval Source Book. The Sourcebook is a collection of public domain and
copy-permitted texts related to medieval and Byzantine history.
Unless otherwise indicated the specific electronic form of the document is copyright.
Permission is granted for electronic copying, distribution in print form for educational
purposes and personal use. If you do reduplicate the document, indicate the source. No
permission is granted for commercial use.
© Paul Halsall, September 1998
halsall@murray.fordham.edu
The Internet History Sourcebooks Project is located at the History Department of Fordham University, New York. The Internet
Medieval Sourcebook, and other medieval components of the project, are located at
the Fordham University Center
for Medieval Studies.The IHSP recognizes the contribution of Fordham University, the
Fordham University History Department, and the Fordham Center for Medieval Studies in
providing web space and server support for the project. The IHSP is a project independent of Fordham University. Although the IHSP seeks to follow all applicable copyright law, Fordham University is not
the institutional owner, and is not liable as the result of any legal action.
© Site Concept and Design: Paul Halsall created 26 Jan 1996: latest revision 20 Oct 2025 [CV]
|
