[The Man Who Laughs by Victor Hugo]@TWC D-Link book
The Man Who Laughs

BOOK THE NINTH
35/87

His word suffices; he says, Upon my honour.
"By a law of Edward the Sixth, peers have the privilege of committing manslaughter.

A peer who kills a man without premeditation is not prosecuted.
"The persons of peers are inviolable.
"A peer cannot be held in durance, save in the Tower of London.
"A writ of supplicavit cannot be granted against a peer.
"A peer sent for by the king has the right to kill one or two deer in the royal park.
"A peer holds in his castle a baron's court of justice.
"It is unworthy of a peer to walk the street in a cloak, followed by two footmen.

He should only show himself attended by a great train of gentlemen of his household.
"A peer can be amerced only by his peers, and never to any greater amount than five pounds, excepting in the case of a duke, who can be amerced ten.
"A peer may retain six aliens born, any other Englishman but four.
"A peer can have wine custom-free; an earl eight tuns.
"A peer is alone exempt from presenting himself before the sheriff of the circuit.
"A peer cannot be assessed towards the militia.
"When it pleases a peer he raises a regiment and gives it to the king; thus have done their graces the Dukes of Athol, Hamilton, and Northumberland.
"A peer can hold only of a peer.
"In a civil cause he can demand the adjournment of the case, if there be not at least one knight on the jury.
"A peer nominates his own chaplains.

A baron appoints three chaplains; a viscount four; an earl and a marquis five; a duke six.
"A peer cannot be put to the rack, even for high treason.

A peer cannot be branded on the hand.


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