The Saxons in England, Volume 1 (of 2) / A history of the English commonwealth till the period of the Norman conquest

by John Mitchell Kemble

[548]. Hence a free hide, hida libera, is properly called “án hiwisc ægefæles landes,” a hide of land that pays no gafol or tax. Cod. Dipl. No. 1070.

[549]. Land is sometimes called Bishop-land, which I imagine to be the legal designation of this particular estate.

[550]. This was the case with Peterborough, Ely and other ancient foundations restored in the time of Eádgar. He himself says of Ely: “Nú wæs se hálga stede yfele forlæten mid læssan þæówdóme ðonne ús gelícode nú on úrum tíman, and eác wæs gehwyrfed ðám cyninge tó handa, ic cweðe be me silfum.” Cod. Dip. No. 563.

[551]. Hist. Eccl. iii. 24.

[552]. Bed. Vit. Sci. Bened. § 1. (Op. Minor, ii. 140.)

[553]. Cod. Dipl. No. 46.

[554]. “Quam videlicet terram Alhmundus abbas, expeditionem subterfugiens, mihi reconciliationis gratia dabat.” Cod. Dipl. No. 161.

[555]. See hereafter the chapter which treats of the Witan and their powers. Book ii. ch. 6.

[556]. Cod. Dipl. No. 281.

[557]. Leg. Ælfr. § 41.