NORMANDY: VERNEUIL

In the eleventh and twelfth centuries the towns of Normandy were not very different from French towns with respect to their liberties, government, and laws. The classic example of a Norman city charter is that granted to Verneuil by Henry I, Duke of Normandy and King of England from 1100 to 1135.

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(bourgeois) was to receive three acres of land and garden, for which he was to pay twelve deniers annually, no matter how many houses he put up. He was also to pay an initial fee of seven deniers to become a citizen, plus an annual sum of four deniers toward upkeep of the watch. These were small amounts. He owed no military duty unless the king personally commanded the army. He could not b e ordered on royal business except for the king's own service. He could not be required to extend cred it even for the benefit of the king himself. He was to be free of all customs duties on imports for three years, and from certain customs duties, such as on food and clothing to satisfy personal needs, permanently. The king could tax sales in the local market, including sales of livestock, wine, salt, grain, fish, leather, and cloth. Milling, baking, brewing, and wine_making were to be open to citizens on payment of specified sums. Justice was to remain in the hands of the prevot, but trials were to be held in the town except when pleas were taken to the king in person. In Stephenson's words, "Elaborate articles limit[ed] the fines and punishments that [could] be inflicted in certain cases, prescribe[d] methods for the collection of debts, restrict[ed] appeals to combat, and [made] provision for the dozen other judicial matters considered important by an urban population." 17______________________________________________________________

In the course of time, the liberties of Verneuil were extended to various other Norman cities.