What Laws Did They Have To Stick To?

People in the middle ages had many laws that they had to stick to, if they didn't they were forced to endure terrible punishments. Peasants had to pay many taxes; the death tax, the gersum and the tallage. All of these taxes were to be payed to the lord of the manor and they could be paid using crops, animals, household goods, or money. It was against the law for peasant not to pay taxes just as it is now, they would be sent to prison if they didn't pay them.

Peasants were not allowed to grow food on the lord’s land, to collect wood in his forest, or to let their animals graze in his pasture. Town laws also forbade people from selling goods that they knew were stolen. Laws to do with food included that butchers couldn't sell the meat of an animal that died of a disease, merchants had to measure goods accurately, charge customers a fair price and sell goods of high quality. Merchants needed to have a license to sell anything.  Many other things such as assault, spitting, being extremely violent, murder and manslaughter were also against the law. Plotting to overthrow royalty was treason was the most serious crime and it was punishable by death.

Some laws were laws from the church, holding beliefs that went against Christian teachings, and gambling and dancing in the churchyard were all outlawed by the church. The most serious crime against the church was heresy, it was against the law. These are some of the laws in the Middle Ages that the people had to keep and the punishments were quite severe as well.