List of English statutes facts for kids

This article is about some of the oldest laws in England, made a very long time ago, even before the country had a proper Parliament. These laws were usually created by the King or Queen to help manage the country and keep things fair. They are different from the laws made later by Parliament, which you can find in the List of acts of the Parliament of England.

Early Laws in England

These early laws helped shape how England was governed. They covered many parts of daily life, from how people bought and sold things to how crimes were handled. Kings used these laws to show their power and to try and bring order to the kingdom.

Laws from the 11th Century

The 11th century saw laws from kings like William the Conqueror, who became King of England in 1066. His rules helped blend the English and Norman ways of life after the Norman Conquest.

• Laws of William the Conqueror (1070–1087)
  • These laws aimed to keep peace between the English and the Normans.
  • Everyone had to promise loyalty to the King.
  • The King's peace and safety were very important and protected.
  • French people living in England had to pay taxes, just like everyone else.
  • Animals like cattle had to be sold in towns, not secretly.
  • There were rules for fair trials, especially for French people accused of crimes.
  • The King wanted people to follow the older laws of King Edward.
  • Free people had to promise to follow the law and be responsible.
  • It became illegal to sell people (like slaves) outside of England.
  • Rules were put in place to stop unlawful killings and punishments.

• Writ concerning spiritual and temporal courts (around 1072)
  • This rule separated church courts from regular courts. This meant that religious matters would be handled by church officials, and other issues by the King's courts.

• Writ concerning conduct of sheriffs (around 1077)
  • This rule gave instructions to the King's local officers, called sheriffs. It told them how to do their jobs properly.

• Coronation Charter (1100)
  • This was a special promise made by King Henry I when he became king. It aimed to fix some unfair rules made by his brother, King William II.
  • It promised freedom for the Church.
  • It set fair rules for inheriting land.
  • It covered rules about marriage and a wife's property rights (called "dower").
  • It aimed for fair money production (mintage) across the kingdom.
  • The King forgave many debts owed to his brother.
  • It set rules for what happened to a baron's property after they died.
  • It explained what happened if a baron or the King's men broke the law.
  • Fines for serious crimes before the King's crowning were cancelled.
  • Rules about royal forests were kept.
  • It eased the burden on knights who held land from the King.
  • It promised peace throughout the kingdom.
  • It aimed to bring back the good old laws of King Edward.
  • It also covered the return of lands that belonged to the King.

Laws from the 12th Century

The 12th century saw more laws that helped organize the kingdom and its legal system.

• Charter concerning the holding of courts of shire and hundred (1108–1111)
  • This rule explained how local courts, called shire and hundred courts, should be run. These courts handled local disputes.

• Charter on confirmation of laws (around 1135)
  • This was a document that confirmed or officially approved existing laws.

• Charter on liberties of church (1136)
  • This document confirmed the freedoms and rights of the Church in England.

• Charter describing the Treaty of Winchester (1153)
  • This charter officially recorded an important agreement. This agreement helped end a long civil war in England.

• Charter on confirmation of liberties (1154)
  • This document confirmed various freedoms and rights for people in England.

• Constitutions of Clarendon (1164)
  • These were a set of rules made by King Henry II. They aimed to control the power of the Church and make sure the King had more authority over religious matters.

• Writ of Henry II addressed to the bishops of England (1164)
  • This was a message from King Henry II to the Church leaders, telling them about the new rules.

• Assize of Clarendon (1166)
  • This was a very important law that changed how crimes were investigated. It introduced the idea of a jury (a group of people) who would say if someone was likely guilty or innocent. This was an early step towards modern trials.

• Charter of Henry II granting Meath to Hugh of Lassy (1172)
  • This was a special document where King Henry II gave land in Ireland to one of his loyal followers.

• Assize of Northampton (1176)
  • This law built upon the Assize of Clarendon. It added more rules for how judges should travel around the country to hear cases and enforce laws.

• Assize of Arms (1181)
  • This law made sure that all free men in England owned weapons and were ready to fight for the King if needed. It specified what kind of weapons they should have based on their wealth.

• Assize of the Forest (1184)
  • This law set rules for the King's forests. These forests were special areas where hunting was often reserved for the King, and there were strict rules about trees and animals.

• Ordinance of the Saladin Tithe (1188)
  • This was a special tax collected to fund a crusade to the Holy Land, led by King Richard I (Richard the Lionheart). It was one of the first taxes on income and goods.

• Capitula Itineris (Articles of the Eyre) (1194)
  • These were instructions for royal judges who traveled around the country to check on local government and justice. They helped the King keep control over his kingdom.

Laws from the 13th Century

The 13th century brought some of the most famous and important laws in English history, including the Magna Carta.

• Magna Carta (1215, 1216, 1217, 1225)
  • The Magna Carta is one of the most famous documents in history. It was an agreement between King John and his powerful barons.
  • It limited the King's power and protected certain rights for free men. For example, it said that no free man could be arrested or have his property taken without a fair trial by his equals.
  • It was reissued and changed a few times in 1216, 1217, and 1225, each time becoming a more permanent part of English law.

• Charter of the Forest (1217, 1225)
  • This charter was a companion to the Magna Carta. It dealt specifically with the royal forests.
  • It aimed to reduce the harshness of forest laws, allowing common people more rights to use the forests for things like grazing animals or collecting wood.

• Statute concerning the Jews (1233)
  • This law dealt with the Jewish community in England, often placing restrictions on them.

• Statute of Jewry (1253)
  • This was another law that placed more restrictions on Jewish people, including rules about their interactions with Christians.

• Royal ordinance on alienation by tenants-in-chief (1256)
  • This rule made it harder for people who held land directly from the King to sell or give away their land without the King's permission.

• Proclamation of 18 October 1258
  • This was an important announcement from the King, often related to political changes or new rules.

• Assize of Bread and Ale (1267)
  • This law set rules for the quality and price of bread and ale (a type of beer). It made sure that bakers and brewers sold fair products at fair prices.

• Grant of custom on exported wool, woolfells and hides (1275)
  • This law introduced a tax on goods like wool, sheepskins, and animal hides that were sent out of the country. This tax helped the King earn money.

• Statute of the Jewry (1275)
  • This was a very harsh law that further restricted the rights of Jewish people in England. It banned them from lending money for interest and forced them to wear special badges.

• Distraint of knighthood (1278)
  • This rule forced wealthy landowners to become knights or pay a fine. It was a way for the King to raise money and ensure he had enough knights for his army.

• Statute of Mortmain (1279, 1290)
  • These laws prevented land from being given to the Church without the King's permission. The King wanted to stop land from being taken out of the feudal system, where he could collect taxes and services from it.

See also

• List of acts of the Parliament of England