Withám, now Witham in Essex; a city and fortress. Chron. 913; Flor. Wig. 914.
Ðelweal, Thelwall in Cheshire, a fortress and garrison town. Chron. 923; Flor. Wig. 920.
Ðetford, now Thetford in Norfolk; a fortress and city. Chron. 952, 1004.
It is not to be imagined that this list nearly exhausts the number of fortresses, towns and cities extant in the Saxon times. It is only given as a specimen, and as an illustration of the averments in the text. The reader who wishes to pursue the subject, will find the most abundant materials in the Index Locorum appended to Vol. VI. of the “Codex Diplomaticus Aevi Saxonici;” and to this I must refer him for any ampler information.
APPENDIX D.
CYRICSCEAT.
I do not think it necessary to repeat here the arguments which I have used elsewhere[[1045]], to show that Cyricsceat has nothing whatever to do with our modern church-rates, or that these arose from papal usurpation very long after the Norman Conquest. I can indeed only express my surprise that any churchman should still be found willing to continue a system which exposes the dignity and peace of the church to be disturbed by any schismatic who may see in agitation a cheap step to popularity. But as the question has been put in that light, it may be convenient for the sake of reference to collect the principal passages in the laws and charters which refer to the impost. They are the following:—
“Be cyricsceattum. Cyricsceattas sýn ágifene be Seint Martines mæssan. Gif hwá ðæt ne gelǽste, sý he scyldig LX scill. and be twelffealdum ágyfe ðone cyricsceat.” Ine, § 4; Thorpe, i. 104.
“Be cyricsceattum. Cyricsceat mon sceal ágifan tó ðæm healme and to ðæm heorðe ðe se man on bið tó middum wintra.” Ine, § 61; Thorpe, i. 140.
“And ic wille eác ðæt míne geréfan gedón ðæt man ágyfe ða cyricsceattas and ða sáwlsceattas tó ðám stowum, ðe hit mid rihte tó gebyrige.” Æthelst. i.; Thorpe, i. 196.
“Be teoðungum and cyricsceattum. Teoðunge we bebeódað ǽlcum cristenum men be his cristendóme, and cyricsceat, and ælmesfeoh. Gif hit hwá dón nylle, sý he amansumod.” Eádm. i. § 2; Thorpe, i. 244.