Wemustplaceinthesamecategoryallmeasuresintendedtopreventdirectlyorindirectlythepassageofthepeasantryfromoneplacetotheother。TheinstructionsissuedforthemanagementoftheAbbotofGloucester’sestatesabsolutelyforbidthepracticeofleavingthelord’slandwithoutleave。(56*)
Still，emigrationfromthemanor。fromtimetotimethecouldnotbeentirelystopped，inhabitantswanderedawayinordertolookoutforfieldworkelsewhere，ortotakeupsomecraftortrade。
Inthiscasetheyhadtopayakindofpoll-tax(chevagium)，whichwas，strictlyspeaking，notrent：veryoftenitwasveryinsignificantinamount，andwasreplacedbyatriflingpaymentinkind，forinstance，bytheobligationtobringacapononceayear。(57*)Theobjectwasnotsomuchtogetmoneyastoretainsomeholdoverthevillainafterhehadsucceededinescapingfromthelord’simmediatesway。Therearenotracesofasystematicattempttotaxandransomtheworkofdependentswhohaveleftthelord’sterritorynothingtomatchthethoroughsubjectioninwhichtheywereheldwhileinthemanor。Andthusthelordwasforcedinhisowninteresttoacceptnominalpayments，toconcentratehiswholeattentiononthesubjectsunderhisdirectcontrol，andtopreventthemasfaraspossiblefrommovingandleavingtheland。Inregulationsforthemanagementofestatesweoftenfindseveralparagraphswhichhavethisobjectinview。Sometimestheyoungermengetleavetoworkoutsidethelord’spossessions，butonlywhiletheirfatherremainsathomeandoccupiesaholding。Sometimes，again，thelicenceisgrantedundertheconditionthatthevillainwillremaininoneofhislord’stithings(58*)，anobligationwhichcouldbefulfilledonlyifthepeasantremainedwithineasyreachofhisbirth-place，Specialcareistakennottoallowthevillainstobuyfreelandinordertoclaimtheirfreedomonthestrengthofsuchfreepossession。(59*)Everykindofpersonalcommendationtoinfluentialpeopleisalsoforbidden。(60*)
Notwithstandingalltheserulesandprecepts，everyofthedocumentstestifiestofrequentmigrationsfromthemanorsinoppositiontotheexpresswillofthelandowners。Thesurveystellofserfswhosettleonstrangelandeveninthevicinityoftheirformerhome。(61*)Itisbynomeansexceptionaltofindmentionofenterprisinglandlordsdrawingawaythepopulationfromtheirneighbours’manors。(62*)Thefugitivevillainandthesettlerwhocomesfromafarareawell-markedfeatureofthisfeudalsociety。(63*)
Thelimitationsofrightsofpropertyhaveleftasdistincttracesinthecartulariesasthedirectconsequencesofpersonalunfreedom。Thesetwomattersareconnectedbytheprinciplethateverythingacquiredbytheslaveisacquiredbyhismaster；andthisprinciplefindsbothexpressionandapplicationinourdocuments。OnthestrengthofittheAbbotofEynshamtakesfromhispeasantlandwhichhadbeenboughtbythelatter’sfather。(64*)Thecasedatesfromthesecondhalfofthefourteenthcentury，fromatimewhenthesocialconflicthadbecomeparticularlyacuteinconsequenceoftheBlackDeath，andoftheconsequentattemptsonthepartoflandlordstostretchtheirrightstotheutmost。Butwehaveacasefromthethirteenthcentury：thePriorofBarnwellquotestheabovementionedruleinsupportofaconfiscationofhisvillain’sland。(65*)——Inbothinstancestheprincipleislaiddownexpressly，butinothercasespeasantsweredeprivedoftheirpropertywithoutanyformalexplanation。
Ofcourse，onemustlookuponsuchtreatmentasexceptional。
Butanimportantandconstantresultofthegeneralconceptionistobefoundinsomeoftheregularfeudalexactions。Thevillainhasnopropertyofhisown，andconsequentlyhecannottransmitproperty。Strictlyspeaking，thereisnoinheritanceinvillainage。Asamatteroffactthepeasant’spropertydidnotgetconfiscatedafterhisdeath，buttheheirshadtosurrenderapartofit，sometimesaveryconsiderableone。Adifferenceismadebetweenchattelsandland。Astothefirst，whicharesupposedtobesuppliedbythelord，thedutyoftheheirisespeciallyonerous，OnthelandoftheBishopricofLichfield，forinstance，hehastogiveupasheriotthebestheadofhornedcattle，allhorses，thecart，thecaldron，allwoollencloth，allthebacon，alltheswineexceptone，andalltheswarmsofbees。(66*)ThevillainsofSt。Alban’shavetogivethebestheadofcattle，andallhousefurniture。(67*)Butinmostcasesonlythebestbeastistaken，andiftherebenocattleonthetenement，thenmoneyhastobepaidinstead。(68*)TheCartularyofBattleisexceptionallylenientastooneoftheAbbey’smanors：(69*)itliberatesfromalldutyofthekindthosewhodonotownanyoxen，Itsometimeshappens，ontheotherhand，thatthepaymentisdoubled；onebeastistakenfromthelateoccupierbywayofheriot，andtheotherfromhiswidowforthelifeinterestwhichisconcededtoherafterthedeathofherhusband。(70*)Such’freebench’isregulatedverydifferentlybydifferentcustoms。Themostcommonrequirementis，thatthewidowmaynotmarryagainandmustremainchaste。InKentthewidowhasarighttohalfthetenementforlife，evenincaseofasecondmarriage；inOxfordshire，ifshemarrieswithoutthelord’sleave，sheisleftinpossessiononlyduringayearandaday。(71*)
Inalltheseinstances，whenasecondpaymentarisesalongsideoftheheriot，suchapaymentreceivesalsothenameofheriotbecauseofthisresemblance，althoughthetwoduesaregroundedondifferentclaims，ThetrueheriotisakininnameandincharactertotheSaxon’here-geat’——tothesurrenderofthemilitaryoutfitsuppliedbythechieftohisfollower。Infeudaltimesandamongpeasantsitisnotthewar-horseandthearmourthataremeant，oxandharnesstaketheirplace，butthedifferenceisnotintheprinciple，andonemayevencatchsometimesaglimpseoftheprocessbywhichonecustomshadesoffintotheother。OnthepossessionsofSt。MaryofWorcester，forinstance，wefindthefollowingenactment：(72*)Eachvirgatehastogivethreeheriots，thatisahorse，harness，andtwooxen；
thehalf-virgatetwoheriots，thatisaharnessedhorseandoneox；otherholdingsgiveeitherahorseoranox。Insuchconnexionthepaymenthasnothingservileaboutit，andsimplyappearsasaconsequenceofthefactorassumptionthatthelandlordhasprovidedhispeasantwiththenecessaryoutfitforagriculturalwork。Andstilltheheriotisconstantlymentionedalongwiththemerchetasaparticularlybasepayment，andthoughitmightfallonthesuccessionofafreemanholdinginvillainage，itisnotcommonlyfoundonfreeland。thefactthatthisoldSaxonincidentofdependencebecomesinthefeudalperiodamarkofserviletenure，isafactnotwithoutsignificance。
Itisotherwisewiththerelief(relevium)，thedutyleviedfortheresumptionoftheholdingbytheheir：itextendsequallytomilitarytenureandtovillainage。Althoughtheheriotandreliefgetmixedupnowandthen，theirfundamentaldifferenceisrealisedbythegreatmajorityofourdocumentsandwellgroundedonprinciple。Inonecasethechattelsareconcerned，intheotherthetenement；oneisprimarilyapaymentinkind，theotheramoney-fine。Astotheamountofthereliefthesamefluctuationsmaybetracedasinthecaseoftheheriot。themostcommonthingistogiveayear’srent；butinsomeinstancestheheirmustsettlewiththelordatthelatter’swill，orransomthelandasastranger，thatisbyaseparateagreementineachsinglecase。(73*)Fixedsumsoccuralso，andtheyvaryaccordingtothesizeandqualityoftheholding。(74*)
Ontheboundarybetweenpersonalsubjectionandpoliticalsubordinationwefindtheliabilityofthepeasantrytopaytallage。Itcouldbeequallydeducedfromtheprinciplethatavillainhasnothingofhisownandmaybeexploitedatwillbyhismasterorfromthepoliticalgrantofthepoweroftaxationtotherepresentativeoffeudalprivilege。thepaymentofarbitrarytallageisheldduringthethirteenthcenturytoimplyaservilestatus。(75*)Suchtallageatwillisnotfoundveryofteninthedocuments，althoughthelordsometimesretainedhisprerogativeinthisrespectevenwhensanctioningthecustomaryformsofrendersandservices。Nowandthenitismentionedthatthetallageistobeleviedonceayear，(76*)althoughtheamountremainsuncertain。
Asaholderofpoliticalpowerthelordhasarighttoinflictfinesandamercementsontransgressors。(77*)TheCourt-rollsarefullofentriesaboutsuchpayments，anditseemsthatoneofthereasonswhyverygreatstresswaslaidonattendanceatthemanorialCourtswasconnectedwiththeliabilitytoallsortsofimpositionsthatwasenforcedbymeansofthesegatherings。tenantshadtoattendandtomakepresentments，toelectofficers，andtoserveonjuries；andineverycasewheretherewasadefaultoranirregularityofanykind，finesflowedintothelord’sexchequer。
Lastly，wemayclassifyundertheheadofpoliticalexactions，monopoliesandprivilegessuchasthosewhichwerecalledbanalitesinFrance：theywereimposedonthepeasantrybythestronghand，althoughtherewasnodirectconnexionbetweenthemandtheexerciseofanyparticularfunctionoftheState。
Englishmedievaldocumentsoftenrefertotheprivilegedmill，towhichallthevillainsandsometimesthefreemenoftheSokewereboundtobringtheircorn。(78*)thereisalsothemanorialfoldinwhichallthesheepofthetownshiphadtobeenclosed。(79*)
Inthelattercasethelandlordprofitedbythedungformanuringhisland。Specialattentionwasbestowedonsupervisingthemakingofbeer。Court-rollsconstantlyspeakofpersonsfinedforbrewingwithoutlicence。EverynowandthenwecomeacrossthewondroushabitofcollectingallthevillagersonfixeddaysandmakingthemdrinkScotale，(80*)thatisalesuppliedbythelord——foragoodprice，ofcourse。
Letuspassnowtothoseaspectsofmanorialusagewhicharedirectlyconnectedwiththemodeofholdingland。ImayrepeatwhatIsaidbefore，thatitwouldbeoutofthequestiontodrawanythinglikeahardandfastlinebetweenthesedifferentsidesofonesubject。Howintimatelythepersonalrelationmaybeboundupwiththelandmaybegathered，amongotherthings，fromthefactthatthereexistedanoathoffealtywhichinmanyplaceswasobligatoryonvillainswhenenteringintopossessionofaholding。Thisoath，thoughconnectedwithtenure，bearsalsoonthepersonalrelationtothelord。(81*)Theoathoffealtytakenbythetenantinvillainagedifferedfromthattakenbythefreeholderinthatitcontainedthewords，’Iwillbejustifiedbyyouinbodyandgoods；’andagainthetenantinvillainage，thoughhesworefealty，didnohomage；therelationshipbetweenhimandhislordwasnotamerelyfeudalrelationship；thewords，’Ibecomeyourman，’wouldhavebeenoutofplace，andtherecouldbenothoughtofthelordkissinghisvillain。Buthoweverintimatetheconnexionbetweenbothaspectsofthequestion，inprinciplethetenurewasquitedistinctfromthestatus，andcouldinfluencetheconditionofpeoplewhowerepersonallyfreefromanytaintofservility。
Thelegaldefinitionofvillainageasunfreetenuredoesnottakeintoaccounttheservicesoreconomicqualityofthetenure，andlaysstressbarelyontheprecariouscharacteroftheholding。(82*)Theownermaytakeitawaywhenhepleases，andalteritsconditionatwill。TheAbingdonChronicletellsus(83*)thatbeforethetimeofAbbotFaritiusitwasheldlawfulonthemanorsoftheAbbeytodrivethepeasantsawayfromtheirtenements。Thestewardsandbailiffsoftenmadeuseofthisright，ifanybodygavethemafeeoutofgreed，oroutofspiteagainsttheholder。Norwasthereanysettledmodeofsuccession，andwhenamandied，hiswifeandchildrenwerepitilesslythrownoutoftheirhomeinordertomakeplaceforperfectstrangers。
AnendwasputtosuchalawlessconditionofthingsbyFaritius’
reforms：hewasverymuchinwantofmoney，andfounditmoreexpedienttosubstituteasettledcustomforthedisorderlyruleofthestewards。Buthedidnotrenouncetherebyanyofhismanorialrights：heonlyregulatedtheirapplication。Thelegalfeatureofbasetenure——itsinsecurity——wasnotabolishedontheAbingdonestates。Ourdocumentssometimesgothelengthofexplainingthatparticularplotsareheldwithoutanysortofsecurityagainstdispossession。WefindsuchremarksintheWarwickshireHundredRollsforinstance。(84*)Sometimestherightisactuallyenforced：intheCartularyofDunstablePriorywehavetherecordofanexchangebetweentwolandlords，inconsequenceofwhichthepeasantswereremovedfromeighthidesoflandbyoneofthecontractingparties。(85*)
Thevillainisinnowaytobeconsideredastheowneroftheplotoflandheoccupies；hispowerofdisposingofitisstintedaccordingly，andheissubjectedtoconstantcontrolfromtherealowner。Hecannotfelltimber。oaksandelmsarereservedtothelord。(86*)Hecannotchangethecultivationofthelandofhisownaccord；itwouldbeoutofthequestion，forinstance，toturnagarden-closeintoarablewithoutaskingforalicence。(87*)Heisboundtokeephedgesandditchesingoodorder，andisgenerallyresponsibleforanydeteriorationofhisholding。Whenheentersintopossessionofit，hehastofindapledgethathewillperformhisdutiesinasatisfactorymanner。(88*)Therecanbenothoughtofapersonsosituatedalienatingthelandbyanactofhisownwill；hemustsurrenderitintothehandofthelord，andthelattergrantsittothenewholderafterthepaymentofafine。Thesamekindofprocedureisfollowedwhenatenementispassedtotherightheirinthelifetimeoftheformerpossessor。(89*)Adefaultinpayingrentsorintheperformanceofservices，andanyothertransgressionagainsttheinterestsofthelord，mayleadtoforfeiture。(90*)
