“Geald ðone gúðræs

Geáta dryhten ...

ofer máðmum sealde

heora gehwæðrum

hund þusenda

landes and locenra beága.”

Beów. l. 5977.

[525]. Bed. Epist. ad Ecgbirhtum Archiepiscopum, § 11. (Opera Min. ii. 216.)

[526]. We know that these grants were regulated by the rank and condition of the grantee. Beda, speaking of Benedict Biscop, a young Northumbrian nobleman, says, “Cum esset minister Oswii regis, et possessionem terrae suo gradui competentem, illo donante perciperet,” etc. Vit. Sci. Bened. § 1. (Op. Min. ii. 140.)

[527]. Epist. § 11. (Op. Min. ii. 217, 218.)