To an extent, criminal law was considered to provide reasonable solutions to what were previously considered petty crimes. Before the Norman Conquest, crime was viewed as a abuse of the victim’s rights and therefore was rewarded for such wrongs by the people who committed the crimes. If some type of payment could not be made or agreed upon, the victim’s family would try to collect damages by force or seek revenge, and the families would start a blood feud. The crimes committed that would cause such an action were basically the same as today. Treason, homicide, rape, property theft, assault, and battery were all crimes, and the punishments were very harsh. If someone committed treason for example, then he or she could be put to death. A thief would be made into slavery and depending what was stolen, his whole family could be brought down with them. A scale of compensation was made for lesser criminal acts, like the loss of an arm or an eye. If you happened to be of some importance, such as a member of the church, and someone wronged you then your compensation would be much higher than the lowly peasant. However, if you were of some importance and you committed a crime, you also had to pay a much higher price.
The Norman Conquest happened in 1066. After William concurred England, he proclaimed himself king and declared all the land, and all land based rights, including the administration of justice, were now vested in the king. King William did not change the laws right away, letting the church handle the acts that were considered sinful, and hundreds now called manorial courts dealt with most material crimes. William did however; secure control of the countryside and to ensure military superiority recognized in the royal courts, who dealt with the more serious break of peace.
