It came to denote
the decisions, enactments, or instructions made at such.
Henry's government practiced a strict economy and he never
exploited the growing wealth of the nation. He abhorred bloodshed
and the sacrifice of men's lives. So he strove diligently to keep
the peace, when possible by gifts of money, but otherwise with
armed force. Robbers were hanged and any man who raped a woman was
castrated. Foreign merchants with precious goods could journey
safely through the land from fair to fair. These fairs were
usually held in the early fall, after harvesting and sheep
shearing. Foreign merchants bought wool cloth and hides.
Frankpledge was revived, now applying to the unfree and villeins.
No stranger could stay overnight (except for one night in a
borough), unless sureties were given for his good behavior. A list
of such strangers was to be given to itinerant justices.
Henry had character and the foresight to build up a centralized
system of government that would survive him. He learned about the
counties' and villages' varying laws and customs. Then, using the
model of Roman law, he gave to English institutions that unity and
system which in their casual patchwork development had been
lacking.
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