The View of Frankpledge was a biannual gathering where all freemen above the age of 12 were required to attend and demonstrate their loyalty to the king. They also had to present nine other freemen who could vouch for their good behaviour. Frankpledge involved a commitment made by a group of ten freeholders to behave properly and ensure the collective’s good conduct. In case any member of the group committed an offence, the others were responsible for producing them for trial. This practice aimed to maintain peace and ensure compliance with the rules by everyone.
The View of Frankpledge was a biannual gathering and inspection of every freeman over 12 years old in a district. Its purpose was to ensure that each person had taken the oath of allegiance and had found nine freeman pledges for their peaceful behaviour. On the other hand, Frankpledge was a promise made to the sovereign by a group of ten freeholders (a tithing) to ensure good conduct within the group. For example, in medieval England, the king’s officials would hold a View of Frankpledge to ensure that every freeman had taken the oath of allegiance and had found nine freeman pledges for their peaceable demeanor, in order to maintain law and order in the community. The frankpledge system required a group of ten men to be responsible for each other’s good behaviour, and if one member committed a crime, the others were responsible for producing the wrongdoer for trial, ensuring accountability and maintaining law and order in the community.
The View of Frankpledge was a system of law enforcement in medieval England where every male over the age of 12 was required to be part of a group, or tithing, responsible for maintaining law and order in their community.
No, the View of Frankpledge was abolished in England in the 16th century and is no longer a legal requirement.
Members of a tithing were responsible for reporting any crimes or suspicious activities within their community, as well as ensuring that their fellow members upheld the law.
Yes, individuals who failed to fulfill their obligations under the View of Frankpledge could face fines or other punishments, as determined by the local authorities.
In most cases, women were not directly involved in the View of Frankpledge. However, they could be indirectly affected by the system through their male relatives’ participation.
By requiring every male to be part of a tithing, the View of Frankpledge ensured that communities were actively involved in policing themselves, thereby deterring crime and maintaining order.
Certain individuals, such as clergy members, knights, and nobles, were exempt from the requirement to participate in the View of Frankpledge due to their higher social status.
While the View of Frankpledge itself is no longer in effect, it laid the foundation for the concept of community policing and the idea that individuals have a responsibility to help maintain law and order in their communities.
Yes, members of a tithing were not authorized to carry out punishments or enforce the law themselves. Their role was primarily to report any violations to the appropriate authorities.
As society evolved and centralized law enforcement systems were established, the need for the View of Frankpledge diminished. It was eventually abolished as it became impractical and outdated in the face of changing legal structures.
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This glossary post was last updated: 16th April 2024.
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