4. Ordeal by combat
Ordeal by fire
Ordeal by water

5. How was law and order kept in Norman England?
Learning outcomes:
Identify the different ways law and order was kept in Norman England.
Explain the elements of change and continuity from Anglo-Saxon England.
Evaluate the significance of any change.

6. Lord’s Court (Honorial courts)
Church courts which dealt only with religious disputes after 1070.
The legal system kept many features from Anglo-Saxon England for two reasons;
It was practical and worked well.
It was symbolic helping to prove that the Normans were legitimate rulers.
The King’s Court
Shire Courts
Hundred Courts
Lord’s Court (Honorial courts)
Manor Courts
A new court introduced by the Normans for a Lord to deal with his tenants.

7. What sort of crime was dealt with.
1. Investigate how law and order was kept in Norman England by completing the A3 sheet. For each court make a note of;
What each court did.
How often did they meet.
What sort of crime was dealt with.
What changed and what stayed the same.
Who this change affected – peasants, knights, barons etc.
2. Once you have completed the sheet you need find out how the laws in England changed under the Normans. Answer these questions in your book;
How did the law on inheritance change? Page 49 Oxford
What changes were there to the language laws were written in? Page 50 Oxford
What were the Forest Laws? Page 51 Oxford

8. Were there any significant changes to law and order in Norman England?
Why do you think there was mostly continuity?

9. How convincing is this interpretation about the Norman legal system?
Explain your answer using the interpretation and your contextual knowledge
(8 marks)
You need to use your knowledge to evaluate the content of the picture. There is no need to evaluate the provenance.

10. Is this accurate and convincing? Use your contextual knowledge here.
P1: What does the interpretation suggest about the Norman legal system?
Is this accurate and convincing? Use your contextual knowledge here.
Primitive, violent and militaristic, based on religious beliefs. Suggests Normans made significant changes.
Trial by battle, new element introduced by Normans. Not used very often and only for serious offences so interpretation could be misleading. Only if a nobleman accused, if a poorer person sticks would be used. Does suggest a religious element to the law which is accurate and is true in other types of trials.
P2: What doesn’t the interpretation tell you about the Norman legal system? What isn’t convincing?
Doesn’t tell us about all the elements of continuity in the trial system and that they kept many elements from the Anglo-Saxons – oath, water, hot iron used much more frequently.
Legal system more complex; variety of courts which heard cases and evidence was presented. In Shire Courts juries were even introduced in some cases.