Statute of Westminster I 1275
The Statute of Westminster 1275, also known as the Statute of Westminster I, was a landmark and foundational legal document that codified 51 chapters of existing laws in England, standardizing justice, laid the foundation for modern common law, and established important legal principles still relevant today.
It was enacted under King Edward I shortly after his coronation in 1274, during his first Parliament convened in 1275 at Westminster. Edward, often called the “English Justinian,” sought to bring clarity, fairness, and central control to a fragmented legal system where local lords and sheriffs often wielded excessive power. The statute was drafted largely by Robert Burnell and written in Norman French, reflecting the legal language of the time.
Statute of Westminster, The First (1275)
THESE be the Acts of King Edward, Son to King Henry, made at Westminster at his first Parliament general after his Coronation, on the Monday of Easter Utas, the Third Year of his Reign, by his Council and by the assent of Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Earls, Barons, and [all] the Commonalty of the Realm, being thither summoned: Because our Lord the King had great zeal and desire to redress the State of the Realm in such Things as required Amendment for the common profit of Holy Church, and of the Realm: And because the State of the Holy Church had been evil kept, and the Prelates and Religious Persons of the Land grieved many ways, and the People otherwise intreated than they ought to be, and the Peace less kept, and the Laws less used, and the Offenders less punished, than they ought to be, by reason whereof the People [of the Land] feared the less to offend; the King hath ordained and established these Acts underwritten, which he intendeth to be necessary and profitable unto the whole Realm.
AND because Elections ought to be free, the King commandeth upon great Forfeiture, that [no Man] by Force of Arms, nor by Malice, or menacing, shall disturb any to make free Election.
Chapters
The Statute of Westminster I is composed of 51 chapters:
| Chapter | Subject | Repealing act (if any) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England & Wales | Ireland | Queensland | New Zealand | India | |||
| 1 | The Peace of the Church and the Realm shall be maintained. Religious Houses shall not be overcharged. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | In force by Imperial Laws Application Act 1988 | |||
| 2 | A Clerk convict of Felony, delivered to the Ordinary, shall not depart without Purgation. | Criminal Statutes Repeal Act 1827 (7 & 8 Geo. 4. c. 27) | Criminal Statutes (Ireland) Repeal Act 1828 (9 Geo. 4. c. 53) | Criminal Law (India) Act 1828 | |||
| 3 | No Penalty for an Escape before it be adjudged. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 4 | What shall be adjudged Wreck of the Sea, and what not. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 5 | There shall be no Disturbance of the Free Elections. | In force | |||||
| 6 | Amerciaments shall be reasonable, and according to the Offence. | ||||||
| 7 | In what manner, and of whom, Purveyance shall be made for a Castle. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 8 | Nothing shall be taken for beaupleader. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 9 | All Men shall be ready to pursue Felons. | Coroners Act 1887[9] | |||||
| 10 | What sort of Men shall be Coroners. Sheriffs shall have Counter-Rolls with them. | Coroners Act 1887 | |||||
| 11 | Replevin by the Writ of Odio & Atia. Who shall be triers of Murther. | 10 Geo. 4. c. 34 | |||||
| 12 | The Punishment of Felons refusing lawful Trial. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 13 | The Punishment of him that doth ravish a Woman. | 10 Geo. 4. c. 34 | |||||
| 14 | Appeal against the Principle and Accessary. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 15 | Which Prisoners be mainpernable, and which not. The Penalty for unlawful Bailment. | Criminal Statutes (Ireland) Repeal Act 1828 (9 Geo. 4. c. 53) | |||||
| 16 | None shall distrain out of his Fee, not drive the Distress out of the county. | ||||||
| 17 | The Remedy if the Distress be impounded in a Castle or Fortress. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 18 | Who shall assess the common Fines of the county. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 19 | A Sheriff having received the King's Debt, shall discharge the Debtor. | ||||||
| 20 | Offenses committed in Parks and Ponds. Robbing of tame Beasts in a Park. | Criminal Statutes Repeal Act 1827 (7 & 8 Geo. 4. c. 27) | Criminal Statutes (Ireland) Repeal Act 1828 (9 Geo. 4. c. 53) | Criminal Law (India) Act 1828 | |||
| 21 | No Waste shall be made in Wards Lands; nor in Bishops, during the Vacation. | ||||||
| 22 | The Penalty of an Heir marrying without Consent of his Guardian. A Woman Ward. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 23 | None shall be distrained for a Debt that he oweth not. | Theft Act 1968[10] | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 24 | The Remedy if an Officer of the King do disseise any. | Civil Procedure Acts Repeal Act 1879 | |||||
| 25 | None shall commit Champerty, to have Part of the Thing in Question. | Statute Law Revision Act 1983 | |||||
| 26 | None of the King's Officers shall commit Extortion. | ||||||
| 27 | Clerks of Officers shall not commit Extortion. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 28 | Clerks shall not commit Maintenance. | Criminal Law Act 1967 | Statute Law Revision Act 1983 | ||||
| 29 | The Penalty of a Serjeant or Pleader committing Deceit. | ||||||
| 30 | Extortion by Justices Officers. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 31 | The Penalty for taking excessive Toll in a City, &c. Murage granted to Cities. | ||||||
| 32 | The Penalty of Purveyors not paying for what they take. The King's Carriages. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 33 | No Maintainers of Quarrels shall be suffered. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 34 | None shall report slanderous News, whereby Discord may arise. | ||||||
| 35 | The Penalty for arresting within a Liberty those that hold not thereof. | Civil Procedure Acts Repeal Act 1879 | |||||
| 36 | Aid to make the Son Knight, or to marry the Daughter. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 37 | The Penalty of a Man attainted of Disseisin with Robbery in the King's Time. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 38 | An Attaint shall be granted in Plea of Land touching Freehold. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 39 | Several Limitations of Prescription in several Writs. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 40 | Voucher to Warranty, and Counter-pleading of Voucher. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 41 | The Champion's Oath in a Writ of Right. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 42 | Certain Actions wherein after Appearance the Tenant shall not be Essoined. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 43 | The shall be no Fourcher by Essoin. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 44 | In what Case Essoin ultra mare shall not be allowed. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 45 | In what Cases the great Distress shall be awarded. Where the Justices Estreats shall be delivered. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 46 | One Plea shall be decided by the Justices before another commenced. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 47 | In what Case the Nonage of the Heir of the Disseisor or Disseisee shall not prejudice. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 48 | The Remedy where a Guardian maketh a Feoffment of his Ward's Land. Suit by Prochein Amy. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 49 | The Tenants Plea in a Writ of Dower. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
| 50 | Saving for the Crown | In force | |||||
| 51 | Assises and Darrain Presentments at what Time taken. | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125) | Statute Law (Ireland) Revision Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98) | ||||
The above table can be seen at Everything Explained Today and Wikipedia, and I suspect a number of other places.
Chapter 13 The Punishment of him that doth ravish a Woman.
The word “ravishing” appears in the context of sexual violence in the Statute of Westminster I (1275), specifically in relation to offenses of rape. According to historical legal analysis, the statute distinguishes two principal offenses:
- Ravishing a damsel under the age of 12 years, with or without her consent.
- Ravishing any other woman against her will.
These provisions are part of the statute's treatment of criminal acts involving abduction and sexual assault. In medieval legal terminology, “ravishing” referred to forcibly carrying away a woman, frequently associated with non-consensual sexual activity. The statute regulated such acts by imposing fines and imprisonment, although initially with relatively lenient penalties. This explicit use of “ravishing” marks one of the earliest codified appearances of the term in English statutory law.
