822
THE SAXONS IN ENGLAND.
[BOOK I.
the tenth, and nevertheless pay for common of mast-
ing, if mast there be1.”
Unquestionably these are heavy dues, and much
aggravated by the circumstances of the estate or
yardland being but small, the tenant born free, and
some of the services uncertain, ɪ shall conclude this
chapter with a few lines translated from that most
valuable document called “ Bectitudines singularum
personarum2 ; ” as far as the cases of the Geneat,
Cotsetla and Gebur are concerned3. First of the
Geneat or comrade.
“ The Geneat-right is various, according to the
custom of the land. In some places he must pay
Iandgafol, and a grass-swine yearly ; ride and carry,
lead load; work and feed his lord4; reap and mow;
hew deer-hedge and hold soeteb ; build and enclose
the burh [or mansion] ; make new roads to the
farm ; pay church-shot and alms∙fee ; hold head-
ward and horseward; go on errand, far or near,
whithersoever he is directed.” This is compara-
tively free, and it is only to be regretted that we
do not know what amount of land in general could
be obtained at such a rent. We next come to the
Cotsetlan, whom Ælfred in a passage already cited
states to be on Iaenland, and who are obviously poor
freemen, suffered to settle on the lord’s estate.
“ The Cotsettler’s right is according to the cus-
tom. In some places he must work for the lord, every
1 Cod. Dipl. No. 4G1. 2 Thorpe, i. 432.
s The ancient Latin version calls them Villanus, Cotsetle and Gebur.
4 Feormian, firmare ; give so much as pastes.
° Help to make park-paling, and perhaps keep watch for game.
CH. XI.]
LÆ'NLAND.
323
Monday throughout the year ; or three days every
week in harvest ; he need pay no Iandgafol. He
ought to have five acres ; more if it be the custom.
And if it be less, it is all too little, for his service
is often called upon. He must pay his hearth-penny
on holy Thursday1 as it behoves every freeman to
do ; and he must acquit2 his lord’s inland, on sum-
mons, at seaward and at the king’s deer-hedge 3 ;
and at such things as are in his competence : and
let him pay his church-shot at Martinmas.
“ The customs of the Gebur are very various ; in
some places they are heavy, but in some moderate.
In some places it is usual that he shall do two days
week-work, whatever work may be commanded him,
every week throughout the year ; and three days
week-work in harvest, and three from Candlemas
to Easter. If Jie carries4, he need not work him-
self as long as his horse is out. He must pay at
Michaelmas ten gafol-pence, and at Martinmas
twenty-three sesters of barley, and two hens5 ; at
1 AsceneionDay. Observethatthecotsetlaisdistinctlyassertedto
be free,
2 “ Werige his Wafordes,” etc. ; that is, perform for his lord, the
duty of coast-guard, and attending the king’s hunt : from which it
follows that, where there was no special exemption, these services could
be demanded of the lord : that is in case of folcland. The old Latin
translates werian by acqu,ietare, which I have adopted.
3 Either in repairing the park-paling, or in service during the hunt.
Aferian, auerian, facit averagiam, averiat.
5 This seems an immense amount of barley, but the Saxon clearly
reads as I have translated. The old Latin version has, “ Dare debet in
festo Saneti Michaelis x. den. de gablo, et Sancti Martini die xxiii et
Sestarium ordeι et ii gallinas.” Twenty-three pence at Martinmas is
a considerable sum ; however as a sester of corn must even in ordi-
nary j ears have been worth quite that sum, it is more reasonable to
follow the Latin than the Saxon.
γ 2