Citation

Groot RD. J. Legal Hist. 2000; 21(1): 1-20.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Informa- Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/01440362108539602

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In their book, Royal Justice and the Medieval English Countryside, the DeWindts note a case from 1286 in which the royal justices ordered forfeiture of the chattels of an insane suicide. They cite Bracton for the proposition that the chattels of insane suicides were not subject to forfeiture, describe the noted case as 'abnormal', and challenge historians to investigate the matter.1 I have taken up the challenge and have concluded that the DeWindts are right about Bracton but are wrong about what was normal. 1A.R. and E.B. DeWindt, Royal Justice and the Medieval English Countryside, 2 vols., Toronto, 1981, vol. I, 52 & nn. 95, 96. © 2000, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Language: en