PREFACE.
It is worthy of remembrance that one of the chief
authorities for the views advanced in this History
is the celebrated Codex Diplomaticus, the printing
of which occupied nine years of the author’s life.
The re-editing of that great work, under new ar-
rangement, with collations, and incorporation of a
large quantity of newly found material, has now
so clearly become a necessity, that steps should
be taken to re-publish the enormous collection of
documents relating to AngIosaxon times and Anglo-
saxon history.
No one can read the summary of Kemble’s in-
vestigations, which is contained in the concluding
chapter to the FirstVolume, without feeling bound
to acknowledge that its pages contain the heartfelt
convictions of one who has spared no pains to
mature his own knowledge of the inner springs
which actuated the conduct of our forefathers’ lives
and advanced their culture, nor failed in his en-
deavour to impart to his readers a correct view of
these important elements of our own manners and
customs ;—in Kemble’s own words, “ the history of
our childhood, the explanation of our manhood.”
W. de G. B.
London,
Septemberllth, 1876.
CONTENTS
VOL, I.
BOOK I.
THE ORIGINAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ANGLOSAλON
COMMONWEALTH.
Chapteii Itig e
I. Saxon and Welsh Traditions..... 1
II. The Mark............35
III. The Ga or Scir.......... 72
IV. Landed Possession. The Ebel, Hid, or Alod 88
V. Personal Rank. The Freeman. The Noble . 122
VI. The King............137
VII. The Noble by Service........162
VIII. The Unfree. The Serf.......185
IX. The Mutual Guarantee. Mægburh. Tithing.
Hundred...........228
X. Fsehbe. Wergyld.........267
XI. Folcland. Bocland. La⅛land .... 289
XII. Heathendom...........327
Appendix.
A. Marks..............119
B. The Hld..............487
C. Manumission of Serfs.........496
D. Orcy’s Guild at Abbotsbury.......511
E. Laenland..............əɪɪ
F. Heathendom............523