[1008]. Περὶ δὲ ἀποθέσεως καὶ τροφῆς τῶν γιγνομένων ἔστω νομος μηδὲν πεπηρωμένον τρέφειν, διὰ δὲ πλῆθος τέκνων, ἐὰν ἡ τάξις τῶν ἐθῶν κωλύῃ, μηδὲν ἀποτίθεσθαι τῶν γιγνομένων· ὥρισται γὰρ δὴ τῆς τεκνοποιΐας τὸ πλῆθος. Arist. Polit. vii. c. 14. See also Plato, Leg. bk. 5. Ed. Bekk. p. 739, 740, etc. Ed. Stalbaum, vol. vi. p. 131, etc. The tendency of Aristotle’s ideas on the subject may be gathered from his notion that the Cretans encouraged παιδεραστια, in order to check population. I am informed upon good authority, that in the Breisgau, and especially the See-Kreis of Baden, the younger children, or any supposed surplus, are permitted to die, of want of food, in order that the property (Bauerngut), amounting sometimes to 100 morgen or 66 acres of land, may remain undivided. It is also certain that in other parts of Europe, a woman who bears more than a certain settled number of children is looked upon with contempt.
[1009]. The Pœnitentials recommend abstinence every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday throughout the year: on all great fasts, high feasts and festivals: during all penances, general or special: seven months before and after parturition.
[1010]. “To shipmen it is commanded, like as it also is to husbandmen, that they should give unto God the tenth part of all the increase upon their stock, and moreover give alms from the nine parts that are their own. And so is it commanded to every man that from the same craft wherewith he provides for his body’s need, he provide for that of his soul also, which is better than the body.” Ecc. Institutes. Thorpe, ii. 432. “O homo, inde Dominus decimas expetit, unde vivis. De militia, de negotio, de artificio redde decimas.” St. Augustine, cited by Ecgb. Excerp. 102. Thorpe, ii. 112.
[1011]. Æðelred, ix. § 6. Thorpe, i. 342. This passage of Augustine is referred to in the collection commonly attributed to Ed. Conf. And a detailed enumeration is given of tithe: thus, the tenth sheaf of corn; from a herd of mares, the tenth foal; where there are only one or two mares, a penny per foal. Similarly of cows, the tenth calf or an obolus per calf. The tenth cheese, or the tenth day’s milk. The tenth lamb, fleece, measure of butter, and pig. Of bees according to the yearly yield: from groves and meadows, mills and waters, parks, stews, fisheries, brushwood, orchards; the produce of all business, and indeed of everything the Lord has given, the tenth part shall be rendered. Thorpe, i. 445.
[1012]. Cap. et Fragm. Theod. Thorpe, ii. 65.
[1013]. Ibid. Thorpe, ii. 80. These xenodochia were hospitals or almshouses.
[1014]. Excerp. Ecgb. Thorpe, ii. 98.
[1015]. Confes. Ecgb. Thorpe, ii. 132.
[1016]. Thorpe, ii. 256.
[1017]. Thorpe, ii. 352.