Reading Beowulf in the eleventh century
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Extracts from Cnut's law codes
II Cnut (Secular)
Taken from Whitelock, §50 pp.419-30. Old English texts to follow, at which point I'll also retranslate.
Prologue: This is now the secular ordinance which I, with the advice of my councillors, wish to be observed over all England…
5. And we earnestly forbid every heathen practice.
5.1. It is heathen practice if one worships idols, namely if one worships heathen gods and the sun or the moon, fire or flood, wells or stones or any kind of forest trees, or if one practises witchcraft or encompasses death by any means, either by sacrifice or divination, or takes part in such delusions.
68.1 For the weak man must always be judged and prescribed for more leniently than the strong, for the love of God.
68.1a For we know full well that the feeble cannot bear a burden like the strong, nor the sick man like the sound.
68.1b And therefore we must moderate and distinguish reasonably between age and youth, wealth and poverty, freedom and slavery, health and sickness.
68.1c And these things are to be distinguished both in religious penances and in secular judgements.
68.2 Also in many a deed, when a man acts under compulsion, he is then the more entitled to clemency in that he did what he did out of necessity.
68.3 And if anyone acts unintentionally, he is not entirely like one who does it intentionally.
74. And neither a widow nor a maiden is ever to be forced to marry a man whom she herself dislikes, no to be given for money, unless he chooses to give anything of his own freewill.
76. And if any man brings home stolen property to his cottage, and he is found out, it is right that he [the owner] should have what he has tracked.
76.1 And unless it has been brought under the wife’s lock and key, she is to be clear.
76.1a But she must look after the keys of the following: namely her store-room, her chest and her coffer; if it is brought inside any of these, she is then guilty.
The law of the Northumbrian priests (probably 1020-1023)
Taken from Whitelock §53 pp.434-39 - Old English text and my translation to follow.
41. If a priest practises drunkenness or becomes a gleeman or a tavern-minstrel, he is to compensate for it.
47. We must all love and honour one God and zealously hold one Christian faith and entirely cast out every heathen practice.
67. We must all love and honour one God and zealously hold one Christian faith and entirely cast out every heathen practice.
