Note 84 — Chapter IV · THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
Reading edition
Laws of King Alfred, 42. (Thorpe’s Ancient Laws and Institutes of England, I. 91): “We also command that he who knows his foe to be at home fight not before he demand justice of him. If he have such power that he can beset his foe and besiege him, let him keep him within for seven days, and attack him not, if he will remain within.... But if he have not sufficient power to besiege him, let him ride to the ealdorman, and beg aid of him. If he will not aid him, let him ride to the king before he fights.”