The People in Country and Town 405 a hedge. Also beyond the middle gate is a good barn, and a stable for cows and another for oxen, these old and ruinous. Also beyond the outer gate is a pigsty. The position of the serf is further illustrated by the provisions necessary to make him a free man. To all the faithful of Christ to whom the present writing shall 160. Freeing come, Richard, by the divine permission abbot of Peterborough of a erf and of the Convent of the same place, eternal greeting in the Lord: Let all know that we have manumitted and liberated from all yoke of servitude William, the son of Richard of Wyth- ington, whom previously we have held as our born bond- man, with his whole progeny and all his chattels, so that neither we nor our successors shall be able to require or exact any right or claim in the said William, his progeny, or his chattels. But the same William, with his whole prog- eny and all his chattels, shall remain free and quit and without disturbance, exaction, or any claim on the part of us or our successors by reason of any servitude forever. We will, moreover, and concede that he and his heirs shall hold the messuages, land, rents, and meadows in Wythington which his ancestors held from us and our prede- cessors, by giving and performing the fine which is called merchet for giving his daughter in marriage, and tallage from year to year according to our will, that he shall have and hold these for the future from us and our successors freely, quietly, peacefully, and hereditarily, by paying to us and our successors yearly 405. sterling, at the four terms of the year, namely: at St. John the Baptist's day IDS., at Michaelmas i os., at Christmas ios., and at Easter IDS., for all service, exaction, custom, and secular demand ; saving to us, never- theless, attendance at our court of Castre every three weeks, wardship, and relief, and outside service of our lord the king, when they shall happen. And if it shall happen that the said William or his heirs shall die at any time without an heir, the said messuage,
