^{page 207 note a} Aleam (quod mirere) sobrii inter seria exercent, tanta lucrandi perdendive temeritate, ut cum omnia defecerunt, extremo ac novissimo jactu de libertate et de corpore contendant. Victus voluntariam servitutem adit: quamvis junior, quamvis robustior, alligari se ac venire patitur; ea est in re prava pervicacia: ipsi fidem vocant. Cæteris servis non in nostrum morem discriptis per familiam ministeriis utuntur; suam quisque sedem, suos penates regit. Frumenti modum dominus, aut pecoris, aut vestis, ut colono, injungit: et servus hactenus paret. Cætera domus officia uxor ac liberi exsequuntur. Verberare servum, ac vinculis et opere coercere, rarum. Occidere solent, non disciplina et severitate, sed impetu et ira, ut inimicum, nisi quod impune. Liberti non multum supra servos sunt, raro aliquod momentum in domo, numquam in civitate, exceptis dumtaxat iis gentibus quæ regnantur; ibi enim et super ingenues et super nobiles ascendunt: apud cæteros impares libertini libertatis argumentum sunt.—Tacit. German, cc. 24, 25.

^{page 207 note b} A very learned dissertation on the Roman agricultural population (Ueber den Römischen Colonat) by Savigny will be found in his Zeitschrift für geschichtliche Rechtswissenschaft, vol. vi. Berlin, 1828. M. Guizot, in his Histoire de la Civilization en France, tom. iii. pp. 387–398 (edit, of 1843), enumerates the titles of the Roman codes which bear on this subject, and has given a very clear and comprehensive abstract, which I follow, and to which I refer.

^{page 208 note a} Such, at least, is the opinion of Savigny, loc. cit.

^{page 210 note a} Bede, Hist. Eccl. i. 15, speaking of the ravages committed at first by the Saxon invaders, says, “Itaque nonnulli de miserandis reliquiis in montibus comprehensi acervatim jugulabantur; alii fame confecti procedentes manus hostibus dabant, pro accipiendis alimentorum subsidiis æternum subituri servitium, si tamen non continuo trucidarentar.”

^{page 211 note a} Gif man mid esnes cwynan ge-ligeð be cwicum ceorle, ii. ge-bete. Leg. Æthel. art. 84.

^{page 211 note b} See the Pœnitent. Theodor. xix. 7, 8.

^{page 211 note c} Quicunque homo cum ancilla sua coiverit, i. annum jejunet. Si ipsa infantem habueret, liberet earn, et nihilominus i. annum jejunet.

^{page 211 note e} Si servum et ancillam dominus amborum in matrimonio conjunxerit, postea liberato servo vel ancilla, si non potest redimi qui in servitio est, libero licet, sicut quibusdam placet, ingenuo conjungere: sed tamen, juxta sententiam Domini, mœchus probatur, &c. Pœnitent. Theodor. xvi. 32. This and the following article are repeated in the Excerptiones Ecgberti.

^{page 212 note a} Si quis liber ancillam, aut suam aut alterius, in matrimonio acceperit, non habet licentiam dimittere eam, si ante cum consensu amborum conjuncti sunt. Pœnit. Theodor. xvi. 33. This is, of course, an ecclesiastical injunction, and proves the existence of the custom.

^{page 212 note c} Quanquam quis prægnantem mulierem liberam fecerit, infans tamen semper erit servus. Ecgbert's Confessional, cap. 25. A similar declaration is found in one of the manuscripts of Theodore's Pœnitential, xvi. 33. Qui ancillam prægnantem mulierem liberet, quem generat est servus.

^{page 212 note d} Non licet homini a servo suo tollere pecuniam quam ipse labore suo adquisivit; si autem fecerit, restituat ei quod injuste abstulit, et pœniteat judicio sacerdotis. Pœnit. Theodor. xix. 30. Non licet pecuniam suam servo auferre, quam ipse labore suo adquisiverit. Pœnit. Ecgberti, p. 392.

^{page 212 note e} Si quis servum proprium, sine conscientia judicis, occiderit, excommunicationem vel pœnitentiam biennii. Pœnitent. Theodor. xxi. 12. Si homo quis servum suum occiderit, et nullum testimonium habeat eum malefactorem fuisse, sed ex furore suo et incuria eum occiderit, ii. annos jejunet. Pœnitent. Ecgberti, lib. ii. c. 3.

^{page 212 note f} Si femina, furore zeli accensa, flagellis verberaverit ancillam suam, ita ut infra diem tertium animam cruciatu effundat, &c. Pœnitent. Theodori, xxi. 13, repeated in Ecgbert's Pœnitential, lib. ii. c. 4.

^{page 213 note a} Si quis liber, jubente domino suo, servum occiderit, quadraginta dies pœniteat. Capitula Theodori, p. 316.

^{page 213 note b} See Ina's laws, cap. 3. Compare on this subject the still more severe laws of Wihtræd king of Kent (A. D. 693–726), cap. 9, 10, 11.

^{page 213 note c} Compare Ina's laws, cap. 47.

^{page 213 note d} Gif man ceorles mennen to nydhæmede ge-þreatað, mid fif scill. ge-bete þæm ceorle and syxtig scill. to wite. Gif þeowman þeowne to nydhæmede ge-nyde, ge-bete mid his eowende.

^{page 214 note a} Ethelred's Laws, I. 2.

^{page 214 note b} Cnut's Secular Laws, cc. 32, 45.

^{page 214 note c} Cnut's Secular Laws, c. 15.

^{page 214 note d} Leges Athelredi, VII. 16. (Thorpe).

^{page 214 note e} Leges Inæ, cap. 3.

^{page 214 note f} Cnut's Constitutio de Foresta, cc. 15, 25.

^{page 214 note g} Leges Inæ, c. 24.

^{page 215 note a} Gif hwylc man bið wite-þeow niwan ge-þeowad, and hine mon betyhð he hæbbe ær ge-þeofade ær hine man ge-þeowade, þonne ah se teond ane swingelan æt him; bedrife hine to swingum be his ceape. Leges Inæ, cap. 48.

^{page 215 note b} Si prægnantem quis liberam comparat, liber est ex ea generatus. Theodori Pœnitent. xvi. 33 (in one MS).

^{page 215 note c} Pater filium suum vii. annorum, necessitate compulsus, potestatem habet tradere in servitium; deinde, sine voluntate filii, licentiam tradendi non habet. Pœnitent. Theodori, xix. 28. Repeated in Ecgbert's Confessionale, c. 27.

^{page 215 note d} Homo xiii. annorum sese potest servum facere. Pœnitent. Theodori, xix. 29.

^{page 215 note e} See Ecgbert's Pœnitent. lib. iv. c. 26.

^{page 216 note a} His itaque completis convocato apud Ardmachiam totius Hiberniæ clero, et super advenarum in insulam adventu tractato diutius et deliberato, tandem communis omnium in hoc sententia resedit: propter peccata scilicet populi sui, eoque præcipue quod Anglos olim tam a mercatoribus quam prædonibus atque piratis emere passim et in servitutem redigere consueverant, divinæ censura vindictæ hoc eis incommodum accidisse, ut et ipsi quoque ab eadem gente in servitutem vice reciproca jam redigantur. Anglorum namque populus, adhuc integro eorum regno, communi gentis vitio, liberos suos venales exponere, et priusquam inopiam ullam aut inediam sustinerent, filios proprios et cognatos in Hiberniam vendere consueverant. Girald, Cambr. Hibernia Expugn. cap. xviii.

^{page 216 note b} See Grimm, Rechts-Alterthümer, vol. i. p. 461.

^{page 216 note c} Si quis Christianus alterum Christianum suaderit, ac in alteram regionem seduxerit, ibique eum vendiderit pro proprio servo, ille non est dignus inter Christianos requiem habere, &c. Pœnitent. Theodor. xlii. 4.

^{page 217 note a} Etiam, magnus labor est, quia non sum liber. Ælfrici Colloquium, in Thorpe's Analecta, p. 102, 103.

^{page 217 note b} Imprimus Æthelstanus Nanvessom (qu. Mannessone) concessit Sancto Benedicto Ramesiæ terram de Chateriz, pro animæ suæ salute, cum dominio et hominibus, etc. … . . Et per omnes terras suas de xxx. hominibus numeratis xiii. manumisit, quemadmodum eum sors docuit, ut in quadrivio positi pergerent quocunque voluissent. Historia Ramesiensis, ap. Gale, c. xxix.

^{page 218 note a} These are the celebrated Exeter Book, still remaining in the Cathedral (and of which a careful fac-simile is in the British Museum); a Missal of Leofric, now in the Bodleian library; and the Gospels belonging to the abbey of Bath, now in the library of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. A few entries of manumissions are found in other manuscripts.

^{page 218 note b} Her krð on þissere bécc Willelm bisceop of Execestre cwæð Wulfric Pig freoh sacc-les of þa lande á Teigtune á þane dæg þe ma dide Osbern bisceop Leofric bisceop of þa gealla minstre inna niwe, hine freode for Godes luve Sanctæ Mariæ ealle Cristes halgena for þara bisceopa saule, for his saule to alisednesse. Exeter Book, fol. 5, v^o.

^{page 218 note c} Her cyð on þisse bec þa Osbern b. halgode Sancta Maria portic þa freode Folcard þær Agelwine his man his ofspring Criste to lofe Sancta Maria his sawle alisednisse let him ceosa hlaford-loc hwær hig wolde. hæbbe he Godes curs ealra halgena þe þis æfre undo. Amen. Exeter Book, fol 6, r°.

^{page 218 note d} Noverint omnes tam futuri quam præsentes quod Willelmus Debuz, consensu uxoris et Johannis filii ejus pro æterna retributione coram justitia Exoniæ Edwine Spileman ab omni servitude absolvit et absolutum provida deliberatione sub præsentia Willelmi episcopi et pur nobilium tam clericorum quam laicorum matri ecclesiæ præsentavit, ut præsens ingenuitas tantorum astipulatione roborata omni tempore maneat inconvulsa. Exeter Book, fol. 5, r^o.

^{page 219 note a} Noverit ergo præsens ætas omniumque posteritas, quod Ranđ. Avenel in Dei nomine pro remedio animæ suæ et parentum suorum, coram justitia regis in hundredo civium Exoniæ hunc Edricum filium Leowini de Alfintona ejusque liberos ab omni vinculo servitutis emancipavit, ita ut ab hac die et deinceps ingenuus sit, et ingenuus permaneat, tanquam si ab ingenuis parentibus procreatus fuisset, eam partem pergat vel remaneat quam maluerit, nulli autem hæredum suorum ac pro-hæredum nec cuique personæ aliæ quicquid debeat servitutis vel libertatis obsequium, nisi soli Deo cui omnia subjecta sunt. (Then follow the anathema, and names of witnesses). Exeter Book, fol. 3, v°. This entry is dated in 1143, in the reign of Stephen.

^{page 219 note b} Her swutelað on þisse Cristes bec Ælfric Scot Ægelric Scot synd ge-freod for Æ1-fsiges abbodes sawle to ecan freote. þis is ge-don on ealles hiredas ge-witness. The Bath Gospels, printed in Hickes, Dissert. Epistolaris, p. 22.

^{page 219 note c} Her kið on þissere béc Waltere Wulwordes sune vreode Aþelune inna Sces. Petres mynstre over his fader-lic, his feder saule to alisednisse his. Exeter Book, fol. 4, v°.

^{page 219 note d} Her cið on ðissere bec þæt Alvric se canonica of Execestre alisde Reinold at Herberdi and at his cilden at geal hira ofspringe, mid ii. scill, Alvric hine clipað freon and sacc-les a tune and of tune, for Godes luve. And ðis is seo ge-witnesse, Joanne Alvrices sune, Nicole, and Ailric, Randolf, Alword Cild, Osbern Clopeles sune, Ricard a Paules stret, Ricard þeod. One of Leofric's books, in the University Library, Cambridge, described in Wanley, p. 152.

^{page 220 note a} Her kyð on þissere bec Teolling ge-bohte Ælword Stamera Edwine his broðor æt Coluwine to vii. mancson to cepe to tolle. Exeter Book, fol. 6, r°.

^{page 220 note b} Her cyð on þissere bec Bruning Cola sunu ge-bohte Roting æt Colewine æt Leofa freoh sacleas ut of Sceftbeara, on Særla ge-wytnisse þæs portgereva, on Huberdes, on Ælwerdes, on Ælgares Paiardes, on Wyllelmes his suna. hebbe he Godes curs þe þis æfre undo. Amen. Exeter Book, fol. 6, r°.

^{page 220 note c} Her kyð on þissere bec Leowine Lundenisca Ealdgrð his wif ge-bohton Ælfilde æt Tovie to feower sixtuge penegon, Ælfric Hals nam toll innan Tovies bure for þæs kynges hand. her-to is ge-witnesse Roðfalin p., Ailword diacon, Alwine diacon, Dunstan Peoning. Exeter Book, ibid.

^{page 220 note d} Her sutelað on þissere Cristes bec Ælfrig se red hæfð ge-boht silfne ut æt Alsige abb. eallum hirede mid anon punde. þar is to ge-witnes eall se hired on Baðan. Crist hine ablende, þeis ge-writ awende. Bath Gospels, C.C. Col. Camb.

^{page 220 note e} Her cyþ on þissere bec Huscarl lisde hine silfne wið Ealuwb. … mid. xl. p. on Godwines ge-witnesse p. on Alwordis portirefa, on Ealdrides his suna, on Osbernes, on Walteres his broðra, on Sæmæris; Godwine p., Swegn, Wulfet namon toll for þas cinges hand for Særlas þe þa was portigerefa. Godes curs he habbe, þe hit æfre undo. Amen. Exeter Book, fol. 6. v°.

^{page 220 note e} Her cyþ on þissere bec Huscarl lisde hine silfne wið Ealuwb. … mid .xl. p. on Godwines ge-witnesse p. on Alwordis portirefa, on Ealdrides his suna, on Osbernes, on Walteres his broðra, on Sæmæris; Godwine p., Swegn, Wulfet namon toll for þas cinges hand for Særlas þe þa was portigerefa. Godes curs he habbe, þe hit æfre undo. Amen. Exeter Book, fol. 6. v°.

^{page 220 note f} Her cyð on þissere bec Leowine Feala sunu bohte hine silfne his ofspring æt Wulfworde, Alfrices sunu, æt Jacobes cyrca to healfe punde, on Willelmes ge-witnesse preostes, on Godwies pr., on Arnoldes pr., on Edwines pr., on Bartholomeus Floheres suna, on Floheres, on Algares Pagardes, on Cona Algares Leoflæde suna, Haim Oter Dirlinges sunu, Edwacer, Agelword Alfstanes sunu, Osber …. Alwordes sunu, Alfsta on Wunforda, Edwi Nobol . . cing, Agelword Pudding diac. on ealles þas hundredes on Excestre, to ceosende him hlaford hig ofspring swa hwær swa hig woldon. Alword portgerefa Alwine Dirlunges aþum fungon to þam tolle for þæs cynges hand. habbe he Godes curs ealra halgena þe þis æfre undo. Ib.

^{page 221 note a} Her kyð on þissere bec Godwine Blaca bohte hine sylfne his wyf his ofspring æt Willelme Hosethe mid. xv. scill. Leofric's Missal, in the Bodleian Library, as printed in Hickes' Diss. Epist. p. 13.

^{page 221 note b} Her kyð on ðys bec Edwy Beorneges sunu lysde hine and his wif and his cild on Edwerdes dæge cynges æt Hunewine Hega suna ut of Toppesham lande. Ib.

^{page 221 note c} Her cyð on þissere bec Ediþ Leofrices docter Locces bohte hi silve hire ofspring at Hul.… to .iiii. .xx. p. on Willelmes ge-wittnisse stiwerdes, on Agilwerdes Wudinges, on Edmeres preistes, on Edwies Hreawa sun., on Huscarles, on Algeres þr …ge Godwines preost. on Leowines Lundeniscea. habbe he Godes curs ealra halgena þe hit æfre undo. Exeter Book, fol. 6, v°.

^{page 221 note d} Her swutelað on þisse Cristes bec Edric æt Fordan hæfð ge-boht Segifu his dohtor æt Ælfsige abb. æt þam hirede on Baðan to ecum freote ealle hire ofspring. Bath Gospels, in C. C. C. Camb.

^{page 222 note a} Her kyð on þissere bec Gesfræg Feala sune ge-bohte Gidið Edwiges docter æt Alpsta on Wunforda at Neæle pinceune to .x. scill. freoh sac-les ut of Wunforda, Gyldeberd portgerefa nam toll far þas kinges hand, &c. Exeter Book, fol. 4, v°.

^{page 222 note b} Her kið on þissere bec Regenere bohte Alfriðe at Regenolde þam muneke at Cuicu wrð .v. scill. freoh sac-les uppan Cuiclande to beonde on fridome, on Edmæres ge-witnesse p. on Edwines þas ge-reva, on Rodberdes, on Agelrices at Stanlince, on ealles þas hundredes on Cuicu, Alfric Hals nam toll, habbe Godes curs þe hit æfre undo. Amen. Exeter Book, fol. 6, r°.

^{page 222 note c} Her kyþ on þissere béc Liveger se bacestere on Excestre alysde an wifman Ediþ hatte Godrices dohter Cocraca ut of Clist-lande at Gosfreige Bisceope to .xxx. p. æfre má freoh sacc-les heo eal hire ofspring. Gesfreig Bisceop wæs hlaferd ofer Clist-land on þam dagum. þær-to is ge-witnis Colswein, Roger on Buin, Hereberd on Clist, Edric se cipa. se þe þis undo hæbbe he Godes wræðe a butan ende. Amen. Exeter Book, ib.

^{page 222 note d} Her kyþ on þissere béc Huberd on Clist cræfede anne wifman þe Edit hatte Livegeres wif, mid unrihte, for þam Liveger hig alisde ut at Gosfreige Bisceope eal swa man sceolde freohne wifman, eal swa hit hriht wæs on þam dagum ælcne freohne man, wiþ .xxx. p. Huberd wæs leosende þære wifmanne for his unriht cræfinge þá æfre m[a], hig eal hire ofspring. þær-to is ge-wittnis Willm. de Buhuz, Ruold se cniht, Osbern Fadera, Unfreig de Tettaborna, Alword portereva, Johan se cniht, Rau Folcard. þeos spæc wæs innan Willelmes bure de Buhuz on Excestre ge-spæce. Exeter Book, fol. 4, v°.

^{page 223 note a} Geatfleda geaf freols for Godes lufa for heorasawla þearfe, is Ecceard Smið, Ælstan his wíf, eall heora ofsprinc boren unboren, Arcil, Cole, Ecferð Aldhunes dohter, ealle þa men þe heo nam heora heafod for hyra mete on þam yflum dagum, swa hwa swa þis awénde hyre sawla þises bereafie, bereafige hine God Ælmihtig þises lífes, heofona rices, sy he awyrged dead cwic áá ón ecnysse. eac heo hafað ge-freod þain þe heo þigede æt cwæs Patrike, is Ælfwald, Colbrand, Ælsie, Gamal his sune, Eðred Tredewude, Uhtred his steop sun, Aculf þurkyl Ælsige, hwa þe heom þises bereafie, God Ælmihtig sie heom wrað sce. Cuðberh. MS. Cotton, Domitian VII. fol. 43, r°.

^{page 224 note a} William's Laws, III. 15, 16.

^{page 224 note b} See Grimm, Rechts-Alterthümer, vol. i. p. 336.

^{page 224 note c} On the condition of the Frankish serfs, see M. Guizot's Histoire de la Civilization en France, tom. iv. Leçon viii.

^{page 225 note a} Gulielm. Gemmitic. lib. v. c. 11. Wace, Roman de Rou, vol. i. p. 303. Benoit, vol. ii. p. 389.

^{page 225 note b} Per idem tempus Britanni iterum in seditionem versi, bella commoverunt. Nam rustici insurgentes contra dominos suos congregantur. At nobiles juncto secum comite Alano, agmina rusticorum invadunt, trucidant, dispergunt, persequuntur; quoniam sine duce et sine consilio venerant in prælium. Monac. Anon. Ruyens, de Vita S. Gildæ, ap. Mabill. Act. SS. Ord. Bened. Sæc. I. p. 149.

^{page 225 note c} For an account of the state of the French agricultural class in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, see the admirable Prolégomfènes of M. Guérard to his edition of the chartulary of the abbey of St. Peter at Chartres, published by the Comité Historique.

^{page 225 note d} The following remarkable picture of the social distress of the Roman provinces when exposed to the invasions of the barbarians is not inapplicable in some respect to England during the first period of the Norman rule. It shows the free-man, unprotected, and exposed by his position to every kind of plunder, extortion, and oppression, compelled to become a serf in order to seek the protection of a master for his person which was not safe while in the enjoyment of freedom. Itaque nonnulli eorum de quibus loquimur, qui aut consultiores sunt, aut quos consultos necessitas fecit, cum domicilia atque agellos suos aut pervasionibus perdunt, aut fugati ab exactoribus deserunt, quia tenerc non possunt, fundos majorum expetunt et coloni divitum fiunt: ac sicut solent aut hi qui hostium terrore compulsi, ad castella se conferunt; aut hi qui perdito ingenuse incolumitatis statu ad asylum aliquid desperatione confugunt: ita et isti qui habere amplius vel sedem vel dignitatem suorum natalitium non queunt, jugo se inquilinae abjectionis addicunt: in hanc necessitatem reducti, ut extorres non facultatis tantum, sed etiam conditionis suae, atque exulantes non a rebus tantum suis, sed etiam a seipsis, ac perdentes secum omnia sua, et rerum proprietate careant, et jus libertatis amittant. Salvian. de Gubern. Dei, lib. v.

^{page 226 note a} Observandum, ut ad patrem non ad matrem generatio dirigatur. Leg. Hen. I. lxviii. 3. Si quis de servo patre natus sit et matre libera pro servo reddatur. … quia semper a patre non a matre generationis order texitur. Ib. lxxii. In this latter law there is an additional clause, Aliquando autem erit sicut dominus ejus voluerit: vitulus autem matris est, cujuscunque taurus alluserit.

^{page 226 note b} Leges Henrici I. lxxv. 3. quia videlicet ad serviendum non ad occidendum servus erat.

^{page 227 note a} Leges Henrici I. lix. 23, &c. Ib. lxxxv. 4.

^{page 227 note b} A number of these charters are printed in Madox's Formulare Anglicanum, and, without doubt, many others might be collected. A selection of early charters illustrating the manners and condition of the different classes of society in the Middle Ages would be a valuable and interesting work.

^{page 227 note c} Totam illam terram quam Ricardus de Graftona tenuit de me in eadem villa, et ipsum Ricardum cum tota sequela sua. Madox, Formul. Angl. p. 188.

^{page 227 note d} Pro homagio et servitio suo et pro novem marcis sterlingorum quas mihi dedit in gersumam, Stephanum del Hel et “Willelmum filium ejus de Ardlegh, cum tota sequela eorum, et totum tenementum quod prædictus Stephanus tenuit de me in eadem villa, cum omnibus pertinentiis, et quicquid ego in prædicto Stephano et Willelmo filio suo et sequela eorum, et in prædicto tenemento cum pertinentiis, habui, &c. Madox, ib. p. 189.

^{page 227 note e} Totam propartem meam omnium terrarum, tenementorum, et reddituum, cum omnibus suis pertinentiis, in villa et territorio de Grlanton, simul cum omnibus nativis meis in eadem villa, catallis et eorum sequelis, quam quidem propartem prædictam dictarum omnium terrarum, tenementorum, ac reddituum, simul cum nativis prædictis, habui ex dono et concessione Johannis de Glanton. Madox, Form. Angl. p. 315.

^{page 228 note a} Willelmum filium Roberti de Enestrode nativum meum, et omnem sequelam suam, et omnes possessiones suas, pro sexdecim sol. esterlingorum. Madox, ib. p. 417.

^{page 228 note b} Cum omni sequela sua et omnibus catallis suis. Madox, p. 418.

^{page 228 note c} Hugonem Bercharium nativum nostrum de Certelle, cum omnibus catallis et cum tota sequela sua. Madox. ib.

^{page 228 note d} Hominem meum cum omnibus catallis suis et cum tota sequela sua, et quietum clamavi de me et de hæredibus meis in perpetuum omne jus et clamium quod habui vel habere potui in ipso Ricardo et in catallis suis vel in sequela sua. Madox, ib.

^{page 228 note e} Madox, Formul. Angl. ib.

^{page 228 note f} Sciant omnes tam præsentes quam futuri, quod ego Emma de Dumard, concessu hæredum meorum liberavi Willelmum nativum meum filium Baudewini, et concessi illi et hac carta mea confirmavi liberum esse ab omni servitute, et iturum et rediturum libere et quiete ut liber homo quocunque voluerit. Et pro hac libertate et confirmatione dedit mihi pro illo Ricardus filius Hugonis quindecim solidos argenti. Et si aliquis illum calumpniabit, ego et hæredes mei warantizabimus illum contra omnes homines. Madox, Formul. Angl. p. 417.

^{page 229 note a} Sciant præsentes et futuri quod ego Ricardus del Hoc dedi et concessi et quietum clamavi Ricardum filium Hendrici ex omni naivitate et servagio, Ricardo de Hamelledon et hæredibus suis, liberum et quietum imperpetuum. Pro hac autem donatione et concessione et quieta clamatione dedit mihi prædictus Ricardus dimidiam marcam argenti. Madox, ib. p. 417.

^{page 229 note b} Pateat universis per præsentes me Johannem Wyard de Alspach manumisisse et liberam fecisse Johannam Watervylle de W. in parochia de Aston Caunteloup, nativam meam, cum tota sequela sua procreata et procreanda, cum omnibus bonis et catallis suis, ita quod nec ego prædictus Johannes nec hæredes mei de prædicta Johanna cum tota sequela sua, bonis suis, et catallis, ut præmittitur, aliquid juris ratione bondagii seu servitutis cujuscunque de cætero exigere poterimus quoquo modo. In cujus rei testimonium huic præsenti scripto manumissionis sigillum meum apposui, dato apud Alspach die Dominica in festo S. Trinitatis, anno regni regis Ricardi secundi a conquesto secundo. Madox, ib. p. 419.

^{page 229 note c} Madox, ib. p. 420.

Wace, Roman de Rou, i. p. 304, 305. Benoit, Cronique

des Dues de Normandie, ii. pp. 390, 391.

^{page 230 note c} Lichewite. Hoc est quod capiatis emendam ab ipso qui corrumpit nativam vestram sine licentia vestra. Childante. Hoc est quod capiatur garson (l. gersom) de nativa vestra corrupta et pregnata sine licentia vestra. Expositio Vocabulorum, &c. copied by Bréquigny from a record in England, and printed by M. Champollion-Figeac, Documents Historiques Inédits, 4to. Paris, 1841, vol. i. p. 668.

^{page 231 note a} Unus eorum cum esset ad aliquam villam ad faciendum inquisitionem de dicta taxa, convocari fecit tam viros quam mulieres, et puellulas (quod dictu horribile est) esursum impudice elevavit, ut sic experiretur utrum corruptæ essent et cognitæ a viris, ut sic more artaret amicos et parentes pro eis solvere taxam; et plures potius elegerunt solvere pro suis filiabus quam videre eas tam turpiter attractari. Henr. de Knyhton, ap. Twysden, col. 2633.

^{page 231 note b} Leges Henrici I. cap. lxxxix.

^{page 232 note a} Early Mysteries, and other Latin Poems of the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries. 8vo. London, 1838, pp. 94, 95.

^{page 233 note a} Les Olim, publiés par le Comte Beugnot, tom. i. pp. 626, 707, 764.

^{page 233 note b} This fabliau will be found in Meon's Supplement to Barbazan, and in Jubinal's Nouveau Recueil de Contes, Dits, Fabliaux, &c. vol. i. p. 128.

^{page 234 note a} M. Guérard, in his Prolégomènes to the Chartulary of the Abbey of St. Peter at Chartres, pp. xlviii, xlix, has given several instances of serfs holding the offices of provosts or maires of vills.

MS. Cotton, Vespas. A. III. fol. 53. r°.

Halliwell's Early History of Freemasonry in England, p. 14.

^{page 236 note b} One of the first oaths of a scholar admitted to Merton College, Oxford, was, Item, tu jurabis quod liber es et legitimus. As late as the time of Henry VI. a naif or villan was excluded from Eton School, Nolentes tamen quod aliquis qui nativus sit, aut illegitime natus fuerit, …. in dictum nostrum collegium regale [de Etona] quomodolibet admittatur. Statutes of Eton Col. cap. iii. Qui et quales sunt eligendi in scholares.

^{page 236 note c} Et nemo sub servitute natus ante legitimam libertatem sacris ordinibus admittatur. Leges Hen. I. lxviii. 4. This law was probably made for the purpose of repressing an existing practise; a secular baron would naturally be willing to have clerks and chaplains who were his own bondsmen, and the church would as naturally oppose a system which placed members of the clergy in a position of absolute subjection to laymen. There is a curious entry of manumission of the tenth century, in MS. Cotton. Tiberius B. V. fol. 76, whereby King Edwy enfranchised a sacrist or church-keeper of Exeter, but I am not sure whether the person holding that office must necessarily have been in orders:—Eadwi cing het ge-freon abunet Æfnoð cyrc-weard an Exanceastre fryo fære-wyrþe on Aþelwoldes ealdermannes gewitnesse Daniel biscopes Byrhtrices profastes on Wulfrices cyrc-weardes, Eadwi cing het hit bryg … Bryhtri … on Cristes bec.

La Bible Guiot de Provins, Barbazan, ii. p. 340.

Benoit, Chron. des Dues de Normandie, ii. p. 387. Wace, Roman de Rou, i. p. 302. Compare the story De rustico in my Selection of Latin Stories, p. 84, and its counterpart in the collection of Legrand d'Aussy, iii. 219, Du vilain asnier, and the Fabliau in Barbazan, iii. 28,Des Ch evaliers, des Clercs, et des Vilains.

^{page 238 note a} The fabliaux abound in instances of this feeling. See, among others, in Barbazan, Le vilain mire, iii. p. 1; Li lais de l'Oiselet, p. 114; La male Honte, p. 204.

^{page 238 note b} Li vilaines entés, si est cius ki prent gentil feme tout ausi com on ente une poire de sainte ens. j. chol, u en .j. perier sauvage, u en .j. naviel. Des xxiii. Manieres de Vilains, p. 11.

Des xxiii. Manières de Vilains, p. 8.

^{page 238 note d} Published in the interesting little volume by M. Jubinal, Jongleurs et Trouvères, p. 107.

^{page 238 note e} Vilain ment volontier toz tens.—Roman de Renart, vol. ii. p. 234.

^{page 238 note f} Le Roux de Lincy, Livre des Proverbes Français, vol. ii. p. 82.

^{page 239 note c} Deus qui multitudinem rusticorum ad servitium clericorum venire fecisti et militum, et inter nos et ipsos discordiam seminasti, da nobis quesumus de eorum laboribus vivere, e eorum uxoribus uti, et de mortificatione eorum gaudere. Reliquiæ Antiquæ, vol. ii. p. 209.

^{page 239 note d} See, for an example, the tale of king Edward and the Shepherd, in Hartshorne's Ancient Metrical Talcs, p. 35.

^{page 239 note e} See Piers Ploughman, the new edition, p. 68.

^{page 240 note a} Vilains tous dis pourquiert abaissier gentillesse. Le Roux de Lincy, Livre des Proverbes Français, vol. ii. p 81.

^{page 240 note b} Ausi grant cop fiert uns vilains

C'uns quens fait u c'uns castelains. Roman de Renart.

^{page 240 note c} Li vilains princes si est cil qui va plaidier devant le baillif por les autres vilains …. einsi gaaingne bien .c. sols as vilains. Des xxiii. Manières de Vilains, p. 10.

^{page 241 note a} Rolls of Parliament, vol. ii. p. 180. Pur çeo qe sovent foiz avant qe les neifs empledont lour seignurs par brefs ou billes en foreyn contée par là où ils ne nasquirent pas, pur les enfranchier par gentz de mesme le countée qe ne purront en nule manere avoir cognissance de lour nestre ne de lour sank, en desheritance des seignurs q'ount neifs, qele heure q'ils soient par eux ensi empledez; et plusours gentz de ley sont en divers oppinion, lequel excepcion de villenage, si ele soit aleggé contre les neifs, serra triée par gentz de contée en quel les neifs nasquiront, ou par gentz de forein countée, en quel les neifs empledont lour seignours, &c.

^{page 241 note b} Rolls of Parliament, ib. p. 192.

^{page 242 note a} Rolls of Parliament, vol. ii. p. 242.—A conseil nostre seignur le roi monstre la commune, que come brief de neiftée soit porté el noun des plusours seignurs par lour neifs noun sachantz les ditz seignurs, et sur çeo brief de libertate probanda, les niefs par tiels briefs enfraunchez tant que en eyre; endes heritance des plusours seignurs: prie la commune, que ordeiné soit, que les seignurs ne soient forsbarrez par tiel brief q'ils n'cient respons devers lour neifs, à dire q'ils sont vileins, et ne deivent estre responduz, et lour corps seisir come lour vileins. Et si nulle tiele fause suyte soit faite noun sachantz les ditz seignurs, q'il soit tenue pur nulle, aussi bien des tieles sutes faites einz ces heures come de celles que sont à faire.

Responsio.—Acordé est, que niencontreesteant l'ajournement fait en eyre par tiel brief de libertate probanda, neintmeins les seignurs soient receuz d'alegger exception de villenage contre lour villains en touz briefs, lequel que les ditz briefs de libertate probanda soient portez par deceit ou en autre manere. Et que les seignurs puissent seisir les corps de lour villains, aussi bien come ils purroient devant que tiels briefs de libertate probanda furent portez.

^{page 242 note b} Rolls of Parliament, vol. ii. p. 319. This was in 1373.

^{page 242 note c} Rolls of Parliament, vol. iii. pp. 212, 296.

^{page 243 note a} Et pur sustenaunce desqueux errours et rebellions, y ount coillés entre eux grauntz sumez de deniers, pur mettre costages et despences.—Rolls of Parliament, vol. iii. p. 21. Et que plus est, ils se coillient ensemble à grantz routes, et s'entrelient par tiel confederacie que chescun aidra autre à contrestre lours sires à fort man. — Statutes of the Realm, vol. ii. p. 2.

^{page 243 note b} Froissart, Lib. ii. c. 105. Et pour la grand'aise et abondance de biens en quoi le menu peuple étoit lors et vivoit, s'émut et éleva cette rebellion.

^{page 243 note c} Froissart, lib. ii. c. 106. Ces méchans gens, dedans les contries que j'ai nominées, se commencérent à élever pour ce qu'ils disoient que on les teuoit en trop grand servitude, et que au commencement du monde n'avoient été nuls serfs, ni nul n'en pouvoit étre, si ils ne faisoient trahison à leur seigneur, ainsi comme Lucifer fit envers Dieu.

^{page 243 note d} The most striking picture of the misery of the peasantry in the reign of Richard II. is given by the writer of Piers Ploughman's Crede. See my edition, p. 475–477.

^{page 243 noet e} Froissart, lib. ii. c. 106. Nous sommes appelés serfs, et battus si nous ne faisons présentementleur service. Et si n'avons souverain à qui nous nous puissions plaindre, ni qui nous en voulsist ouir ni droit faire; allons au roi, il est jeune: et lui remontrons notre servitude, et lui disons que nous voulons qu'il soit autrement, ou nous y pourvoirons de reméde.