What was used to stamp William's authority on laws, serving as his trademark?

• A. A stamp for laws called writs
• B. A royal seal on parchment
• C. A council decree
• D. A public oath

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is that royal authority over laws was enacted through formal written commands issued in the king’s name. These commands were the writs, official documents that commanded action, called juries, or started legal proceedings, and they carried the king’s power across the realm. Writs were authenticated by the royal seal, so they served as a recognizable, authoritative mark of the crown in legal matters. That’s why they function as William’s trademark in stamping authority on laws—the instrument that directly communicates and enforces royal will.

A royal seal on parchment is closely related because it authenticates such acts, but the seal itself is the emblem of authority, not the instrument that issues the laws. A council decree implies a collective decision, which doesn’t capture the unilateral royal command at the heart of this control over law. A public oath is a pledge by individuals, not a standardized legal mechanism that formats and disseminates royal law across the realm.