Chapter XXII: Appendix: C

MANUMISSION OF SERFS.

The following examples of Manumission are illustrative of the assertions in the text.

And he wylle ðæt man freoge æfter And it is his will that ye shall his dæge ǽlcne wítefæstne man ðe on manumit, after his life, every his tíman forgylt wǽre.—_Archbishop convict who has been ruined by Ælfríc_, 996-1006. crime, in his time.—_Cod. Dipl._ No. 716.

Bútan ðæt heó wylæ be ðínre Except that she wills, with thy geþafunga ðæt man freoge on ǽlcum permission, that they shall túnæ ǽlcne wíteþeównæ mann ðæ under manumit, in every one of her farms, hiræ geþeówud wæs.—_Queen Ælfgyfu._ every convict who was reduced to 1012. slavery under her.—_Cod. Dipl._ No. 721.

Ðæt is rest, ðæt ic geann ðæt man Firstly, I grant that they shall gefreoge ǽlcne wítefæstne man, ðe free every convict whom I got in ic on sprece áhte.—_Æðelstán suits.—_Cod. Dipl._ No. 722. Æðeling._

And beón heora mann frige æfter And let their serfs be free, after heora beira dæge.—_Ðurstan_, 1049. both their lives.—_Cod. Dipl._ No. 788.

Dimidiam vero partem hominum qui in memorata terra sub servitute degunt libertate donavimus.—_Cod. Dipl._ No. 919.

Geatfleda geaf freols for Godes Geatflæd freed, for God’s sake and lufa ⁊ for heora sáwla þearfe, ðæt for her soul’s need, namely Ecceard is Ecceard smið, ⁊ Ælstán ⁊ his the smith and Ælfstan and his wife wíf, ⁊ eall heora ofsprinc boren ⁊ and all their offspring born and unboren; ⁊ Arcil ⁊ Cole, ⁊ Ecgferð unborn; and Arcil and Cole and Eádhúnes dohter, ⁊ ealle ða men ða Ecgferð Eádhun’s daughter, and all heónon heora heáfod for hyra mete, the men who bent their heads for on ðám yflum dagum. Swá hwá swá ðis food in the evil days. Whoso shall áwende ⁊ hyre sáwla ðises bereáfie, set this aside and deprive her soul bereáfige hine God ælmihtig ðises of this, may Almighty God deprive lifes ⁊ heofona ríces: ⁊ sy he him both of this life and of the áwyrged deád ⁊ cwic aa on écnysse. kingdom of heaven; and be he And eác heó hafað gefreód ða men ðe accursed, quick or dead, for ever heó þingede æt Cwæspatrike, ðæt is and ever. And she hath also freed Ælfwald, ⁊ Colbrand, Ælsie, ⁊ Gamal the men for whom she interceded his sune, Eádred Tredewode ⁊ Uhtred with Cospatrick, namely Ælfwald, his steópsunu, Aculf ⁊ Ðurkyl ⁊ and Colbrand, Ælfsige and Gamal his Ælsige. Hwá ðe heom ðises bereáfie son, Eadred Tredewood and Uhtred God ælmihtig sie heom wráð ⁊ sancte his stepson, Aculf and Thurkill and Cúðberht.—_Geátflæd_; about 1060. Ælsige. Whoso depriveth them of this, may he have the wrath of Almighty God and Saint Cuthbert.—_Cod. Dipl._ No. 925.

And ic wille ðæt alle míne men bén And I will that all my serfs be fré on hirde and on túne for me and free, both in manor and farm for my for ðó ðe me bigeten.—_Leófgyfu._ sake and the sake of them that begot me.—_Cod. Dipl._ No. 931.

Her swutelað on ðisse Cristes béc Here witnesseth in this book of ðæt Leófenóð, Ægelnóðes sunu æt gospels, that Leofenoð, Æðelnoð's Heorstúne, hæfð geboht hine ⁊ his son of Harston, hath bought out ofspring út æt Ælfsige abbod ⁊ æt himself and his offspring, from eallon hirede on Baðon, mid fíf abbot Ælfsige and all the oran and mid xii heáfdon sceapa, on brotherhood at Bath, with five ores Leáfcildes gewitnesse portgeréfan, and twelve head of sheep, by and on ealre ðǽere burhware on witness of Leófcild the portreeve, Baðon. Crist hine áblende ðe ðis and all the commonalty of Bath. æfre áwende.—_Convent of Bath._ Christ blind him that ever setteth this aside!—_Cod. Dipl._ No. 933.

Her swutelað on ðisse Cristes béc Here witnesseth in this book of ðæt Ægelsige æt Lintúnne hæfð gospels, that Æðelsige of Linton geboht Wilsige his sunu út æt hath bought out Wilsige his son Ælfsige abbod on Baðon, and æt from Ælfsige abbot at Bath, and all eallon hirede tó écean the brotherhood to eternal freóte.—_Convent of Bath._ freedom.—_Cod. Dipl._ No. 934.

Her swutelað on ðisse Cristes béc Here witnesseth in this book of ðæt Ægelsige Byttices sunu hæfð gospels, that Æðelsige, Byttic’s geboht Hildesige his sunu út æt son, hath bought out Hildesige his Ælfsige abbod on Baðon, and æt son from Ælfsige, abbot at Bath, eallon hirede mid syxtigon penegon and all the brotherhood, with sixty tó écean freóte.—_Convent of Bath._ pence, that he may be free for ever.—_Cod. Dipl._ No. 935.

Her swutelað on ðisse Cristes béc Here witnesseth in this book of ðæt Godwig se bucca hæfð geboht gospels, that Godwig the buck hath Leófgife ða dágean æt Norðstoce ⁊ bought Leófgifu the doe at hyre ofspring mid healfan punde æt Northstock, and all her offspring, Ælfsige abbod tó écean freóte, on with half a pound from abbot ealles ðæs hiredes gewitnesse on Ælfsige, that she may be free for Baðon. Crist hine áblende ðe ðis ever, by witness of all the æfre áwende.—_Convent of Bath._ brotherhood in Bath. Christ blind him who ever setteth this aside.—_Cod. Dipl._ No. 936.

Her swutelað on ðisse Cristes béc Here witnesseth in this book of ðæt Ælfsige abbod hæfð gefreód gospels, that abbot Ælfsige hath Godwine bace æt Stántúne for hinc ⁊ freed Godwine Back of Stanton, for for ealne ðone hired on Baðan, on his own sake and that of all the Sémannes gewitnesse ⁊ Wulwiges æt brotherhood at Bath, by witness of Prisctúne ⁊ Ælfríces Séman and Wulfwig of Prisctún and cermes.—_Convent of Bath._ Ælfríc Cerm.—_Cod. Dipl._ No. 937.

An ic an míne landseðlen here And to my tenants I give their toftes tó ówen áihte ⁊ alle míne tofts to be their own property, and men fré.—_Sigeflæd._ all my serfs free.—_Cod. Dipl._ No. 947.

And ic an ðæt land æt Tit intó And I grant the land at Tit to the seynte Paules kirke ðen hewen tó brotherhood at St. Paul’s church bédlonde mid al ðæt ðéron stant, for the support of their table, búten ðe men ðe ðǽr áren fré men with all that is upon it, except alle for míne sóule.... And ic an the serfs there; let them ðæt land æt Súðereye mid alle ðe emancipate these for my soul’s fiscoðe ðo ðértó bireð ðen hewen sake.... And I grant the land in intó sancte Paules kirke, and frie Surrey with all the fishery men ðo men for ðe biscopes thereunto appertaining to the sóule.... And ic an ðæt lond æt brotherhood of St. Paul’s church, Luðinglond Offe míne sustres sune ⁊ and let the serfs be freed for the his bróðer, ⁊ fré men ðo men halue, bishop’s soul.... And I grant the and æt Mindhám alsó for ðe biscopes estate at Luðingland to Offe my sóule.... And lete mon stondon só sister’s son, and his brother, and mikel só ic ðéron fond, and fré men let half the serfs there be freed, ðo men alle for míne and so also at Mendham for the sóule....—_Bishop Ðeódred._ bishop’s soul.... And [at Hoxne] let them leave as much stock as I found there, and let all the serfs be freed for my soul.—_Cod. Dipl._ No. 957.

Erst for his sáule Palegráue intó First for his soul, Palgrave to St. Seynt Eádmund, ⁊ Witinghám half, ⁊ Edmund, and half Witingham, the half ðe bisscop: and alle míne men other half to the bishop: and all fré, and ilk hæbbe his toft ⁊ his my serfs free, and let each have metecú ⁊ his metecorn.—_Ðurcytel._ his toft, and his meatcow and his meatcorn.—_Cod. Dipl._ No. 959.

Her swutelað on ðisum gewrite ðæt This writing witnesseth that Ægelsi on Wuldehám hæfð geléned be Æðelsige of Wouldham hath borrowed Siwordes dæge biscopes his dóhter ⁊ for the life of Bishop Sigeward, heore dóhter út of Totteles cynne, his daughter and her daughter out ⁊ hæfð óðra mænn ðǽrin gedón, be of Tottle’s kin, and hath replaced ðǽre burhware gewitnesse on them by other serfs, by witness of Hroueceaster ⁊ be ealle ðæs all the commonalty of Rochester, biscopes geferan.—_Æðelsige._ and the bishop’s comrades.—_Cod. Dipl._ No. 975.

And alle ðo men fré for unker bóðer And all the serfs free, for both sóule.—_Wulfsige._ our souls.—_Cod. Dipl._ No. 979.

Ðurkil and Æbðlgit unnen Wigorhám Thurkill and Æðelgið grant Wigorham intó seynt Eádmunde só ful and só to St. Edmund, as full and as forth forð só wit it ówen, after unker as we two owned it, after both our bóðer day, ⁊ ðo men half fré, þeówe lives, and let them free half the ⁊ lísingas.—_Ðurcytel._ men, both þeóws and lísings.—_Cod. Dipl._ No. 980.

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The following manumissions from a religious book, formerly the property of St. Petroc’s, are selected from a much larger number found in the Codex Dipl. No. 981. The British names which occur in them are of great interest.

Ðes ys ðæs manes nama ðe Byrhsie This is the man’s name whom gefreáde et Petrocys stowe, Byhstán Byrhtsige freed at St. Petroc’s, háte Bluntan sunu, on Æðelhíde Byhstán he was called Blunta’s son, gewitnyse hys ágen wíf, and on by witness of Æðlhið his own wife, Byrhisiys mæsepreóstes, and on and Byrhtsige the mass priest, and Riol, and Myrmen, and Wunsie, Riol, Myrmen, Wynsige, Morhæððo and Morhæððo, and Cynsie, preóst. Cynsige the priest.

Wuenumon and hire teám, Móruið hire Wuenumon and her offspring, Moruið swuster and hire teám, and her sister and her offspring, and Wurgustel and his teám, warun Wurgustel and his offspring were gefreód hér on túne for Eádryde manumitted here in the town, for cynigc and for Æðel[geard] biscop Eadred the king and Æðelgeard the an ðas hirydes gewitnesse ðe hér on bishop, by witness of all the túne syndun. brotherhood here in the town.

Marh gefreóde Leðelt and ealle hire Marh freed Leðelt and all her teám for Eádwig cyningc on his ǽgen progeny for Eádwig the king, upon reliquias: and he hie hét lǽdan his own reliques: and he caused her hider tó mynstere, and hér to be led hither to the minster, gefreógian on Petrocys reliquias, and here to be freed on Petroc’s on ðæs hirydes gewitnesse. reliques, by witness of the brotherhood.

Hér kýð on ðissere béc ðæt Æilsig This book witnesseth that Ælfsige bohte ánne wífmann Ongyneðel hátte bought a woman named Ongyneðel and and hire sunu Gyðiccæl æt Ðurcilde her son Gyðiccæl from Ðurcild for mid healfe punde, æt ðǽre cirican half a pound, at the church-door in dura on Bodmine, and sealde Æilsige Bodmin, and gave Ælfsige, the portgeréua and Maccosse hundredes portreeve and Maccos the mann .IIII. pengas tó tolle; ðá hundred-man, four pence as toll; ferde Æilsig tó ðe ða men bohte, then went Ælfsige, who bought the and nam hig and freóde úpp an serfs, and freed them at Petroc’s Petrocys weofede, ǽfre sacles, on altar, ever _sacless_, by witness gewitnesse ðissa gódera manna: ðæt of the following good men: namely, wæs, Isaac messepreóst, and Bleðcuf Isaac the masspriest, Bleðcuf the messepreóst, and Wunning masspriest, Wunning the masspriest, messepreóst, and Wulfgér Wulfgér the masspriest, Grifiuð the messepreóst, and Grifiuð masspriest, Noe the masspriest, messepreóst, and Noe messepreóst, Wurðicið the masspriest, and and Wurðicið messepreóst, and Ælfsige the deacon, and Maccos, and Æilsig diacon, and Maccos, and Teðion Modred’s son, and Cynehelm, Teðion Modredis sunu, and Kynilm, Beórláf, Dirling, Gratcant and and Beórláf, and Dirling, and Talan. And whoso breaketh this Gratcant, and Talan. And gif hwá freedom, let him settle it with ðás freót ábrece, hebbe him wið Christ! Amen. Criste geméne. Amen.

Hér kýð on ðissere béc ðæt Ælfríc This book witnesseth that Ælfríc Ælfwines sunu wolde þeówian the son of Ælfwine wanted to Putraele him tó nýdþæówetlinge. Ðá enslave Putrael as a need-serf. cum Putrael tó Boia and bed his Then came Putrael to Boia and forespece tó Ælfríce his bréðere: begged his intercession with his ðá sette Boia ðes spece wið brother Ælfríc: and Boia made this Ælfríce; ðæt wæs ðæt Putrael sealde agreement with Ælfríc; namely that Ælfríce .VIII. oxa æt ðére cirican Putrael gave Ælfríc viii oxen at dura æt Bodmine, and gef Boia the church-door in Bodmin, and gave sixtig penga for ðére forspæce, and Boia sixty pence for the dide hine sylfne and his ofspreng intercession, and so made himself ǽfre freols and saccles fram ðám and his offspring ever free and dæge, wið Ælfríce and wið Boia and _sacless_ from that day forth, as wið ealle Ælfwines cyld and heora to Ælfríc, Boia, and all Ælfwine’s ofspreng, on ðissere gewittnisse: children and their offspring, by Isaac messepreóst, and Wunning this witness: Isaac the masspriest, presbyter, and Séwulf presbyter, Wunning the Presbyter, Séwulf the and Godríc diacon, and Cufure presbyter, Godríc the deacon, prauost, and Wincuf, and Wulfwerd, Ceufur the provost, Wincuf, and Gestin, ðes bisceopes stiwerd, Wulfwerd, Gestin the bishop’s and Artaca, and Kinilm, and Godríc steward, Artaca, Kinilm, Godríc map, and Wulfgér, and má gódra Map, Wulfgár and other good men. manna.

Hér cýð on ðyson béc ðæt Ælwold This book witnesseth that Ælfwold gefreóde Hwatu for hys sáwle a[t] freed Hwatu for his soul, at St. Petrocys stow á degye and æfter Petroc’s, both during life and degye. An[d] Ælgér ys gewytnesse, after life. And Ælfgár is a and Godríc, and Walloð, and witness, and Godríc, and Walloð, Gryfyið, and Bleyðcuf, and Salaman. and Griffið, and Bleyðcuf, and And hebbe he Gode curs and sanctes Salaman. And let him who breaketh Petrocus and æalle welkynes sanctas what is done have the curse of God ðe ðæt brece ðæt ydón ys. Amen. and St. Petroc and all the saints of heaven. Amen.

Ðes sint ðe menn ðe Wulfsige byscop These are the men whom Wulfsige the freóde for Eádgár cinig and for bishop freed for Eàdgàr the king hyne sáwle, æt Petrocys wefode: and for his own soul, at Petroc’s Leuhelec, Welet, ... nwalt, Beli, altar: Leuhelec, Welet ... nwalt, Iosep, Dengel, Proswite, Beli, Josep, Dengal, Proswite, Tancwuestel: an ðás gewitnese, Tancwuestel: by witness of Byrhsige Byrhsige mæssepróst, Mermen the masspriest, Mermen the massepróst, Mar, Catuuti, Wenwiu, masspriest, Mar, Catuuti, Wenwiu Puer, Meðwuistel, Iosep. Puer, Meðwuistel, Josep.

Ðys syndun ðára manna naman ðe These are the names of the men whom Wulfsige byscop gefreódet æt Wulfsige the bishop freed at Petrocys wefode for Eádgár and for Petroc’s altar for Eádgár and hine silfne, and Byrhsi ys himself, by witness of Byrhsi the gewitnese massepróst, and Mermen masspriest, Mermen the masspriest massepróst, and Morhi: Diuset and and Morhi: Diuset and all her ealle here teám. offspring.

Ðys sindum ðára manna naman ðe These are the names of the serfs Wunsie gefreóde at Petrocys stowe, whom Wunsige freed at St. Petroc’s, [for] Eádgár cinig, on ealle ðæs for king Eádgár, by witness of all hiredys gewitnesse: Conmonoc, the brotherhood: Conmonoc, Iarnwallon, and Wenwærðlon and Iarnwallon, Wenwærðlon and Mæiloc. Mæiloc.

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Ælfred by his will manumitted all his unfree dependents, and with great care provided for their enjoyment of this liberty: he says[859]:—

And ic bidde on godes naman and on And I pray in the name of God and his háligra, ðæt mínra maga nán né of his saints, that none of my yrfewearda ne geswence nán nǽnig kinsmen or heirs oppress any of my cyrelif ðára ðe ic foregeald, ⁊ me dependents for whom I paid, and Westseaxena witan tó rihte whom the witan of the Westsaxons gerehton, ðæt ic hí mót lætan swá legally adjudged to me, that I freo swá þeówe, swáðer ic wille; ac might leave them free or þeów, ic for Godes lufan and for mínre whichever I chose; but I for God’s sáwle þearfe, wylle ðæt hý sýn love and my own soul’s need, will heora freolses wyrðe, ⁊ hyre cyres; that they shall enjoy their freedom and ic on Godes lifiendes naman and their choice; and I command in beóde, ðæt hý nán man ne brocie, né the name of the living God, that no mid feos manunge né mid nǽningum one disquiet them, either by demand þíngum, ðæt híe ne mótan céosan of money, or in any other way, so swylcne mann swylce híe wyllan. that they may not choose whomsoever they please [as a protector].

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Footnote 859:

Cod. Dipl. No. 314.

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_Cyrelif_ is a person who has a right of choice, or who has exercised a choice: these must have been poor men, free or unfree, who had attached themselves personally to Ælfred, voluntarily or not. He provides that these as well as his serfs may have full liberty to select any other lord, without disquiet through demands of arrears or any other claims. This is confirmatory of the view taken in the text, that the manumitted serf was obliged to find himself a lord, and so did not become fully free.

And freoge man Wulfware, folgige And let Wulfwaru be free, and ðám ðe hyre leófo[st sý,] ... follow whom she best pleases, and ealswá, and freoge man Wulflǽde on also ... , and let Wulflǽd be freed ðæt gerád ðæt heó folgige Æðelflǽde on condition that she follow ⁊ Eádgyfe: and heó becwæð Eádgyfe Æðelflǽd and Edith: and she áne crencestran ⁊ áne sémestran, bequeathed to Edith one weaving óðer hátte Eádgyfu, óðer hátte woman and one sempstress, the one Æðelgyfu; ⁊ freoge man Gerburg ⁊ called Edith, the other Æðelgifu; Miscin, ⁊ his ... el, ⁊ Burhulfes and let them free Gerburg, and dóhtur æt Cinnuc, ⁊ Ælfsige ⁊ his Miscin, and his ... and Burhwulf’s wíf ⁊ his yldran dohter, ⁊ daughter at Cinnuc, and Ælfsige and Ceólstánes wíf; ⁊ æt Ceorlatúne his wife and elder daughter, and freoge man Pifus ⁊ Eádwine, ⁊ ... e Ceólstán’s wife; and at Charlton ... an wífe; ⁊ æt Faccancumbe let them free Pifus and Eádwyn, and freoge man Æðelm ⁊ Man ⁊ Iohannan, ... wife; and at Faccombe let them ⁊ Sprow ⁊ his wíf, ⁊ Ene fætte, ⁊ free Æðelm, and Man, and Johanna, Gersande ⁊ Suel; ⁊ æt Colleshylle and Sprow and his wife, and Ene the freoge man Æðelgýðe ⁊ Biccan wíf, ⁊ fat, and Gersand and Suel; and at Æffan ⁊ Bedan, ⁊ Gurhannes wíf, ⁊ Coleshill let them free Æðelgýð and freoge man Wulfware swystor Bicca’s wife, Æffe and Bede, and Bryhsiges wíf, ⁊ ... ðisne wyrhtan, Gurhan’s wife, and let them free ⁊ Wulfgýðe Ælfswýðe dóhtor: ⁊ gif Wulfware’s sister Byrhsiges wife ðǽr hwylc wíteþeówman sý búton and ... this wright, and Wulfgýð ðyson, ðe heó geþeówede, heó gelýfð Ælfswýð's daughter: and if there be tó hyre bearnon ðæt hí hine wyllon any other convicts besides these, lihtan for hyre sáulle.... whom she reduced to slavery, she trusts that her children will give them this alleviation for her soul’s sake.

Ðenne an hió ðán hiwum ðára gebúra Then she grants the convent the ðe on ðám gafollande sittað, ⁊ ðéra boors who sit on rent-paying land, þeówra manna hió an hyre syna and the serfs she gives to her déhter Eádgyfe ⁊ ðæs yrfes, bútan son’s daughter Edith, and also the ðám sáulsceatte ðe man tó Gifle chattels, except the soul-shot syllan sceal; ⁊ hió wylle ðæt man which they are to pay to Gifle. And læte on ðám lande standan vi oxan ⁊ it is her will that they shall iiii cý mid iiii cealfum; ⁊ of ðám leave on the land six oxen and four þeówan mannan æt Cinnuc heó becwið cows with four calves; and of the Eádwolde, Céolstán Eástánes sunu, ⁊ serfs at Cinnuc she bequeaths to Æffan sunu; ⁊ Burhwynne, Martin ⁊ Eádwold, Céolstán Eástán’s son, and his wíf; ⁊ hió becwið Eádgyfe ðǽr Æffe’s son; and to Burhwyn she angean Ælfsige ðene cóc ⁊ Tefl gives Martin and his wife; and she Wareburgan dóhtor, ⁊ Herestán ⁊ his bequeaths again, to Edith, Ælfsige wíf, ⁊ Ecelm ⁊ his wíf, ⁊ heora the cook, and Tefl, Wærburge’s cild, ⁊ Cynestán ⁊ Wynsige, ⁊ daughter, and Herestán and his Bryhtríces sunu, ⁊ Eádwynne, ⁊ wife, Eghelm and his wife and their Buneles sunu ⁊ Ælfweres dóhtor; and child, Cynestán and Wynsige and hió becwið Æðelflǽde Elhhelmes Brihtric’s son, and Eádwyn, and déhter ða geóngran.—_Wynflæd_, Bunel’s son, and Ælfweres daughter; about 995. and she bequeaths to Æðelflǽd Ealhhelms younger daughter.—_Cod. Dipl._ No. 1290.

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The next passage which I have to cite is unhappily very corrupt, but as the sense is obvious I have given such corrections as were required: the readings of the MS. may be seen in the copy printed Cod. Dipl. No. 1339.

And ic wille ðæt míne men beón And I will that my serfs shall all ealle freo.... And ic wille ðæt be free.... And I will that all the ealle ða men ða ic an freo, ðæt hí men to whom I grant freedom shall hæbben ealle þing ða hý under hande have everything which is under habbað, bútan ðæt lond æt their hand, except the land at Herelingum Stigande arcebisceope Harling which I give to archbishop mínum hláforde, swá hit stent, Stigand my lord, as it stands, only bútan ða men beón ealle that the serfs are all to be freo.—_Cytel_, about 1055. free.—_Cod. Dipl._ No. 1342.

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The following manumissions are recorded by the Convent in Bath. They will be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, No. 1351.

Hér swutelað on ðissere Cristes béc Here witnesseth on this book of ðæt Eádríc æt Fordan hæfð goboht Gospels that Eádríc at Ford hath Sægýfu his dóhtor æt Ælfsige abbod bought Sǽgyfu his daughter from and æt ðám hirede on Baðan tó écum Ælfsige the abbot and the convent freóte, and eall hire ofspring. at Bath, that she may be free for ever, and all her offspring.

Hér swutelað on ðisse Cristes béc Here witnesseth on this book of ðæt Ælfríc Scot and Ægelríc Scot gospels, that Ælfric the Scot and synd gefreód for Ælfsiges abbodes Æðelríc the Scot are made free, for sáwle tó écan freóte. Ðis is gedón the soul of Abbot Ælfsige, that on ealles hiredes gewitnesse. they may be free for ever. This is done by witness of all the convent.

Her swutelað on ðissere Cristes Here witnesseth on this book of béc, ðæt Ælfwig se réd hæfð geboht gospels, that Ælfwig the red hath hine selfne út æt Ælfsige abbot and bought himself out from Ælfsige the eallon hirede mid ánon punde. Ðár abbot and all the convent for one is tó gewitnes eall se hired on pound. To this is witness all the Baðan. Crist hine áblende ðe ðis convent in Bath. Christ blind him gewrit áwende. who setteth this writ aside!

Her swutelað in ðisre Cristes béc, Here witnesseth on this book of ðæt Iohann hæfð geboht Gunnilde, gospels, that John hath bought Þurkilles dóhter, æt Góde, Gunhild, Thurkill’s daughter, from Leofenáðes láfe, tó healfan punde, Góde Leofenáð's widow, for half a on ealles hiredes gewitnysse. Crist pound, by witness of all the hine áblende, ðe ðis gewrit áwende. convent. Christ blind him who And he hæfð hí betéht Criste ⁊ setteth this writ aside! And he sancte Petre for his móder sáwle. hath given her to Christ and St. Peter for his mother’s soul.

Her swutelað on ðissere Cristes Here witnesseth on this book of béc, ðæt Sǽwi Hagg æt Wídecumbe gospels, that Sǽwig Hagg of Widcomb hæfð gedón út his twegen suna æt hath done out his two sons from Ælfsige abbude, on ealles hiredes Ælfsige the abbot, by witness of gewitnesse. all the convent.

Her swutelað on ðissere Cristes Here witnesseth on this book of béc, ðæt Ægylmǽr bohte Sǽðrýðe æt gospels, that Æðelmǽr bought Sǽðrýð Sǽwolde abbude, mid .III. maxan on from Sǽwold the abbot for two ealles hiredes gewitnysse; and ofer mancuses, by witness of all the his dæg and his wífes dæg beó se convent; and after his and his man freoh. Crist hine áblende, ðe wife’s life let the serf be free. ðis gewrit áwende. Christ blind him who setteth this writ aside!

Her swutelað on ðissere Cristes Here witnesseth on this book of béc, ðæt Wulfwine Háreberd bohte æt gospels, that Wulfwine Hoarbeard Ælfsige abbude, Ælfgýðe mid healfan bought Ælfgýð from abbot Ælfsige punde on ealles hiredes gewitnysse: for half a pound, by witness of all and Crist hine áblende ðe ðis the convent: and Christ blind him gewrit áwende. who setteth this writ aside!

Her swutelað on ðissere Cristes Here witnesseth on this book of béc, ðæt Ægylsige bohte Wynríc æt gospels, that Æðelsige bought Ælfsige abbude mid ánon yre goldes. Wynríc from abbot Ælfsige for an Ðysses ys tó gewitnysse Ælfryd ore of gold. The witnesses of this portgeréua and eal se hired on are Ælfred the portreeve and all Baðon. Crist hine ablende ðe ðis the convent at Bath. Christ blind gewrit awende. him who setteth this writ aside!

Her swutelað on ðissere Cristes Here witnesseth on this book of béc, ðæt Siwine Leófwies sunu æt gospels, that Sigewine Leófwige’s Lincumbe hafað geboht Sydeflǽde út son of Lincomb hath bought Sydeflǽd mid fíf scyllingam and ... penegam out with five shillings and ... æt Iohanne biscope and æt eallon pence from bishop John and all the ðám hirede on Baðon tó écum freóte: convent at Bath to be free for and her tó is gewitnesse Godríc ever: and witness thereof are Ladda and Sǽwold and his twegen Godríc Ladda, and Sǽwold and his sunan Scírewold and Brihtwold. two sons Scírewold and Brihtwold.

Her swutelað on ðisse Cristes béc, Here witnesseth on this book of ðæt Lifgíð æt Forda is gefreód, and gospels, that Lifgið at Ford is hire twá cild, for ðone biscop freed, with her two children, for Johanne and for ealne ðone hired on bishop John and all the convent at Baðon, on Ælfredes gewitnesse Bath, by witness of Ælfred Aspania. Aspania.

Her cyð on ðisse béc ðæt Here witnesseth in this book that H[un]fl[ǽd] gebohte Wulfgýðe æt Hunflǽd bought Wulfgýð from Ælfríc Ælfríce Æðelstánes su[na] the son of Æðelstán the son of Æðelminges, on Winemines gewitnisse Æðelm, by witness of Winemine the eald-portgeréfan, and on Godríces old portreeve, and of Godríc his his suna, and on Ælfwines Mannan son, and Ælfwine Manna’s son, and suna, and on Leófríces cildes æt Leófríc the child at Hymed, and Hymed, and on Ælfríces Ælfhelmes Ælfríc Ælfhelm’s son, the young: sunu geóngan: and Brún bydel nam and Brún the beadle took the toll ðæt toll on Ælfstánes gewitnisse by witness of Ælfstán the mæssepreóstes and on Leófríces masspriest, of Leófríc Winemine’s Winemines suna, and on má l[ǽweda ⁊ son and more persons both lay and gehádodra.] ordained.—_Cod. Dipl._ No. 1353.

These examples, so numerous and varied, supply a very clear view of the mode of emancipation, and its objects, in the Anglosaxon time. It is to be regretted that we have not more of them, and from other places: but still, as it is probable that the system adopted by the clergy prevailed throughout England, these may serve as a very satisfactory specimen of the usual course on these occasions,—both as to the form of manumission and the method of providing for the emancipated serf.