1. All power relating thereof to the creation of laws and statutes is the responsibility of the King alone. Under his Royal prerogative, granted by God the Almighty, His Majesty may employ and establish any rules deemed useful to the correct and proper running to the Kingdom. Therefore it is established that the King, and him alone is the supreme fount of power, honour and justice in the Kingdom of England, below only God himself.
2. The King may appoint and revoke any titles of nobility, knighthood and any other marks of Royal Favour. However, any Lord of the Land may also appoint any man up to to the title of Knight and may reccomend any man suited for a fief of his own. The King's word is final on such a matter, and while all vassals must swear oaths to their liege lords, they must also include words to protect the King's majesty and temporal body. All Lords may create titular titles for their children to highlight their positions with fiefs. A Duke may create Earldoms, Baronies and Knighthoods for his male children, Earls may create baronies and knighthoods for their male children and Barons may give knighthoods to their male children. These titles confer only dignity and no added income or men at arms, and can be revoked by either the father or the King at will.
[b]3.[b/] The Church in England is the sole responsibility of His Majesty the King and his Bishops. His Majesty the King is the sole leader of the Anglican Church, and wields full secular and religious authority in the Kingdom. No man may use the law of England to intefere with its role and rules, and should any man or woman seek sanctuary in a Chapel, Church, Abbey, Convent or Cathedral they may not be touched. However, should a criminal leave Church land, he may be immediately seized and prosecuted under the law of the land. Any man that disrespects the Church, and therefore also God, shall be subject to the strictest law possible and may face death.
4. The Administration of Justice is formally that of the King alone, however due to the size of his realm, and the many subjects within it, the power of prosecution and punishment may be delegated, however his word is final. All men have the unalienable right to a trial by their peers, as laid down in earlier statutes. Every Baron, Earl and Duke is also a Justice of the Peace and may pass punishment on any offence besides Adultery, Treason, High Treason, Extreme Arson and Murder. They may levy any fine or punishment including death, however only with a death warrant signed by the King or his most trusted Lord Chancellor. Higher offences must be tried by the King or his most trusted Lord Chancellor and in the cases of extreme offences, can result in death and banishment of any family.[/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT]
5. Punishable offences, and their reccomended punishments in England are as follows:
- Breaches of the Peace, as determined by judges and to be punished with fines and the stocks
- Burglary and petty offences, to be punished with mutilation, the stocks and fines
- Robbery of assets of value, to be punished with branding, imprisonment and fines.
- Bribery, to be punished with imprisonment.
- Petty Arson and any offence against property, to be punished with Imprisonment and branding
- Adultery and any other crime of moral turpitude, to be punished with banishment
- Grave Arson and any major offences against property, to be punished with seizure of assets and imprisonment
- Murder, Treason and High Treason are to be punished with death.
6. To Flee the King's justice is an additional crime and can be punished at the Judge's will. However should a criminal charged with anything bar Murder, Treason, High Treason or Extreme Arson be free from capture for two years and one day, then they shall go free and unhindered by magistrates. Should a man or woman know where an absconded criminal is, it is an offence not to report it to the authorities of England, such sedition shall be punished with heavy fines and in grace circumstances, imprisonment.
7. The Gravest Crime of all is to gather resentment and rebellion against the King, and any such actions shall result in immediate execution and seizure of assets. This is also applicable to the Heirs of the King, and the Queen Consort.
8. To hunt in any forest belonging to the King, or any Park declared by His Majesty is a crime and may be punished by the local liege Lord with a time in the stocks, and the seizure of any profits made from the Hunt. All Swans within the lands of England shall also belong to the King, and are the responsibility of the Lord High Steward. Any sea monster or whale that should wash up upon England's shores shall also be forfeit to the King, and he may deal with it as he wills.
9. The False giving of measurements, weights and moneys is an offence against the Crown and the law and shall be punished at the will of the Lord Constable. It is also declared that the only acceptable unit of currency in official actions is the Crown. Any milling of a coin or debasement of it is punishable by mutilation.
10. Any man who is not an Esquire or senior to that, may not display a Coat of Arms, shield or banner which declares an assumption of arms. Any such act shall result in immediate fines and a time in the stocks. All men who have recently become Esquires, Knights or otherwise have become men of lay or church nobility may seek out the King himself or his appointed Heralds for a Grant of Arms, at the cost of 25 Crowns.
11. Great Officers of State are men appointed by the King to fulfil the key roles within the Kingdom. New offices may be established and old ones revoked at any time. In order of seniority, they are Lord Chancellor, Lord High Steward, Lord High Constable. The Lord Chancellor is responsible for the managing of the laws of the Realm, and the nobles of England and represents the King in diplomacy. The Lord High Steward is firstly responsible for the Royal family and its property. The Lord High Constable is the man who dispenses the King's justice and can issue warrants of arrest and rewards without consultation with the King, they are also responsible for the King's prisons and gaols.
11. Should the King declare war against an enemy of England, he may render whatever assistance he deems necessary from his vassals, should they not comply, the punishment is at His Majesty's discretion.
12. Any amendment or addition to these laws is solely the right of the King, and may be exercised at any time.
Given at our Court in Greenwich in the Year of Our Lord 1154, and in the first year of Our Reign. Signed with our own Hand.
Henricus Secundus Dei Gratia, Rex
The Laws of the Land.
Originally Posted by Henry II
OOC: These may be altered at will by any future King, unless he limits his own power
