war, for the knighthood of his lord's eldest
son, and for the marriage of his lord's eldest daughter. The aid
was theoretically voluntary. Land could be held by an heir only if
he could fight. The eldest son began to succeed to the whole of
the lands in all military tenures. Younger sons of great houses
became bishops. An heir of a tenant had to pay a heavy "relief" on
succession to his estate. The relief replaced the heriot. If there
was a delay in proving heirship or paying relief, the lord would
hold the land and receive its income in the meantime, often a
year. If an heir was still a minor or female, he or she passed
into his lord's wardship, in which the lord had guardianship of
the heir and possession of the estate, with all its profits. The
mother was not made a minor's guardian. No longer was the estate
protected by the minor's kin as his birthright. A female heir was
expected to marry a man acceptable to the lord. The estate of an
heiress and her land was generally sold to the highest bidder. If
there were no heirs, the land escheated to the lord. If a tenant
committed felony, his land escheated to his lord. The word
"felony" came from the Latin word meaning "to deceive" and
referred to the feudal crime of betraying or committing treachery
against one's lord.

Astrologers resided with the families of the barons. People went
to fortune tellers' shops. There was horse racing, steeple races,
and chess for recreation. Girls had dolls; boys had toy soldiers,
spinning tops, toy horses, ships, and wooden models.

The state of medicine is indicated by this medical advice brought
to the nation by William's son after treatment on the continent:

"If thou would have health and vigor Shun cares and avoid anger.
Be temperate in eating And in the use of wine. After a heavy meal
Rise and take the air Sleep not with an overloaded stomach And
above all thou must Respond to Nature when she calls."

The Conquerer allowed Jewish traders to follow him from Normandy
and settle in separate sections of the main towns. Then engaged in
long distance trade, money changing, and money lending. They
loaned money for interest for the building of castles and
cathedrals. Christians were not allowed by the church to engage in
this usury. The Jews could not become citizens nor could they have
standing in the local courts. Instead, a royal justiciar secured
justice for them. They could practice their own religion.

William the Conquerer w