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From the History of the British Legislature

THE COMMON LAW

Insert the articles (…) or prepositions (_) if necessary (20).

Insert the past forms of the verbs (20).

_very early times – before King Alfred the Great – there (be) no system _ justice that applied _ the whole of … country. England was divided up _ several kingdoms, each ruled _ a different king. …. Population was small. There was, of course, no transportation as we know it today and communications (be) available to … few. … most people never travelled more than … few miles from their homes, and only … tiny number (can)read and write. There (be) no law books. It was not possible for … whole country to be ruled according _ a single set of laws. Nevertheless, despite the limitations of … time, … Anglo-Saxons (create) the Kingdom of England and its counties headed _ sheriffs.

When William _ Conqueror (invade) …England in 1066, he (take) over … most efficiently governed kingdom _ Europe, but he soon grasped the need to reinforce its system _ central government. This (mean) trying to provide some central system of justice _ which the king had control. William (understand) that it was only by making laws which had to be obeyed and could be enforced throughout … land that he could exercise real power and control over his subjects.

_centuries, English monarchs had governed the riches _ their kingdoms through sheriffs and their officials, but to secure their authority they would have to travel through the country taking his court _ them. When William’s court (travel), he would listen _ those who (come) _ him with their grievances (complaints or accusations) and they would give judgment. The king would literally sit … a bench to hear cases in his own court. This is why one of … most important courts today (become)known as the Court of King’s Bench. But not every monarch (make) a good judge. In the years that followed, kings (delegate) their work in courts _others. They and their advisers in the King’s Council (set) up royal courts, appointing men who (become) known as judges to sit in them.

King Henry II was particularly interested _ law and order and (play) … outstanding part _ the development of the legal system. He (understand) better than his predecessors that … single system of justice for the whole land _ the control of the king would not only help to unify the country, but give him great power. He (study) how best to achieve it.

Henry (set) the foundation of professional judges. There (be) then 18 judges in the country. He (order) five of them to remain _ London and take over from him the task of deciding cases. That (result) _ the creation of the King’s Bench of judges, who (sit) at Westminster. … remaining judges should be sent out on circuits to travel_ different parts of the country. When they (do) so they had to apply … laws that had been made _ the judges _ Westminster. In this way many local customary laws were replaced _ new national laws. As these national laws would apply _ everyone, they would be common _ all. These laws therefore (become) known as the common law.

Henry Ii himself (fall) foul of the law. He was accused _ ordering the death _his Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket. The murder of Becket _four of Henry’s knights (make) the king very unpopular, and in an effort to make amends, and avoid a rebellion, Henry (accept) the punishment of a public whipping – perhaps one of the first very dramatic illustrations of the principle that even king are not _ the law.

Henry (die) in 1189, and was succeeded _ Richard I “the Lionheart”. The year 1189 is a date of some legal interest, for it is … origin of … phrase “from time immemorial”. This is because in the reign of Edward I Parliament (decide) that “legal memory” should run from … date of Henry’s death, and the courts would take no account of any legal transaction which (take) place before it. With the passage of time, this was also taken to mean that the courts would not recognize any laws made_ 1189.

According to the text, are the sentences true or false? (10)

The system of justice applied to the whole country came into being before King Alfred the Great. ______

In spite of lack of law books the Anglo-Saxons created the courts headed by sheriffs. ______

Every monarch made a good judge. _______

Henry II set foundations of the Bench of judges. _______

Henry accepted the punishment of a public whipping to regain his popularity. ________

Richard Lionheart succeeded Henry II. ________

British monarchs ruled the riches though sheriffs. _______

All the judges had to travel then. ______

The court decided that legal memory should run from the date of Henry’s death. _____

The courts would not recognize any laws made in 1189. ________