NationStates Jolt Archive

The UK government has decided to make its database of laws freely available (see http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/). Now, England's been around for a long time, so we have some pretty ancient laws, such this 740-year-old statute, translated from the original French into the English of the time (it's mainly preamble; the actual law is the final paragraph):

PROVISIONS made at Marlborough in the Presence of our Lord King Henry, and Richard King of the Romans, and the Lord Edward eldest Son of the said King Henry, and the Lord Ottobon, at that Time Legate in England .

In the Year of Grace, One thousand two hundred sixty–seven, the two–and–fiftieth Year of the Reign of King Henry, Son of King John, in the Utas of Saint Martin, the said King our Lord providing for the better Estate of his Realm of England, and for the more speedy Ministration of Justice, as belongeth to the Office of a King, the more discreet Men of the Realm being called together, as well of the higher as of the lower Estate: It was Provided, agreed, and ordained, that whereas the Realm of England of late had been disquieted with manifold Troubles and Dissensions; for Reformation whereof Statutes and Laws be right necessary, whereby the Peace and Tranquillity of the People must be observed; wherein the King, intending to devise convenient Remedy, hath made these Acts, Ordinances, and Statutes underwritten, which he willeth to be observed for ever firmly and inviolably of all his Subjects, as well high as low.

Also Fermors, during their Terms, shall not make Waste, Sale, nor Exile of House, Woods, Men, nor of any Thing belonging to the Tenements that they have to ferm, without special Licence had by Writing of Covenant, making mention that they may do it; which thing if they do, and thereof be convict, they shall yield full Damage, and shall be punished by Amerciament grievously.

('fermors' are farmers, if you hadn't guessed)

Now I'm off to find a technicality that allows me to crush my enemies without retribution...

Give us the bill of rights.

Give us the bill of rights.

Does 'Magna Carta' mean nothing to you? Did she die in vain?

The UK government has decided to make its database of laws freely available (see http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/). Now, England's been around for a long time, so we have some pretty ancient laws, such this 740-year-old statute, translated from the original French into the English of the time (it's mainly preamble; the actual law is the final paragraph):



('fermors' are farmers, if you hadn't guessed)

Now I'm off to find a technicality that allows me to crush my enemies without retribution...


Yeah and I'm fairy certian that we are still allowed to kill treaspasing Frenchmen, and if caught short in the street, you can ask a policeman to shiled your modersty with his cloak whilst you piss up against the rear wheels of a cab. Anybody that attends church is still required by law to practice arechery in the church grounds after the service, all london cabs must carry a bale of hay. Man there are loads.

Also Fermors, during their Terms, shall not make Waste, Sale, nor Exile of House, Woods, Men, nor of any Thing belonging to the Tenements that they have to ferm, without special Licence had by Writing of Covenant, making mention that they may do it; which thing if they do, and thereof be convict, they shall yield full Damage, and shall be punished by Amerciament grievously.

sounds like something John Prescott might say ;)


we had some pretty weird old rules at my school. it was founded in 1553 and had charters and rules, etc, up on display in the library. one of my favourites was that you were allowed to carry your sword into school as long as it was sheathed (sp?) and was carried, not on the waist. you could also bring your pigs into school on thursdays...

You are allowed to shot a scotsman with a crossbow so long as you are standing on the walls of York.

I do believe there is one for shooting a welshman in the city centre somewhere too.

You are allowed to shot a scotsman with a crossbow so long as you are standing on the walls of York.

I do believe there is one for shooting a welshman in the city centre somewhere too.

There was a similar law in Reykjavík untill two years ago. The sheriff would pay you a certain amount of money for every dead turk you brought to him.

Does 'Magna Carta' mean nothing to you? Did she die in vain?

The Magna Carta is utterly meaningless today. It was NOT the beginnings of democracy, pluralism or any other -ism.

we had some pretty weird old rules at my school. it was founded in 1553 and had charters and rules, etc, up on display in the library. one of my favourites was that you were allowed to carry your sword into school as long as it was sheathed (sp?) and was carried, not on the waist.
Do think if someone went mediaeval postal they'd blame Marilyn Manson still, or Lord Of The Rings instead?

You are allowed to shot a scotsman with a crossbow so long as you are standing on the walls of York.

I do believe there is one for shooting a welshman in the city centre somewhere too.

Shrewsbury, but only using a bow and arrow, and only after dark iirc. I'm sure they don't, but as a Welshman I haven't exactly made a beeline to the place;)

There was a similar law in Reykjavík untill two years ago. The sheriff would pay you a certain amount of money for every dead turk you brought to him.
Why would there ever be a Turk in Reykjavik?

there's an ancient law in jersey, never amended, which says you call legally kill a frenchman with a crossbow on a particular beach on a particular day of the year. i believe it was enacted to allow the killing of a particular frenchman who was bothering some landowner (or more likely, bothering a fisherman seeing as they still have their petits guerres out on the reefs today).

To rain on this parade, there are of course statutes that have been enacted that make these former laws moot...you wouldn't necessarily be able to use them at all to defend your killing of Frenchmen, fucking of sheep or raiding of Arab villages in Greenland.

Why would there ever be a Turk in Reykjavik?

he was very very lost

Shrewsbury, but only using a bow and arrow, and only after dark iirc. I'm sure they don't, but as a Welshman I haven't exactly made a beeline to the place;)
Chester, actually.

Cestrians are often perceived (partly-jokingly) of being 'anti-Welsh' although many have Welsh ancestors. This is exemplified by the fact that the Town Hall clock does not face west, towards Wales, and an archaic law which states any Cestrian may shoot a Welshman with a longbow if he loiters within the walls after sunset when the curfew bell chimes (although this law no-longer offers legal protection against prosecution for murder).:(

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester#Present_day

Why would there ever be a Turk in Reykjavik?
Turkish pirates attacked alot of villages on the icelandic coasts in the 1600's.

One rule I remember from my tour of Oxford University is that you cannot take a goat into the library. Makes sense not to leave goats in libraries, though whether anyone would do such a thing...