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was paid for them to the Lord. The profits, ariſing from the Mills, muſt have been certain and conſiderable, as their rents, generally, appear to be, beyond all proportion, higher than the value of the other parts of the eſtate. Perhaps, the Tolls of the Mills, and the general neceſſity of bread, of which their could be no fear of a ſale, made the payment of money eaſy.
The Villani, who were the originals of our preſent Copyholders, held their lands by doing the ſervices of huſbandry on their Lord's demeſne, which were, in after times, commuted for what is now called a Quit rent. The word Villain being, at this time, always underſtood in an ill ſenſe, I ſhall, on that account, uſe in the tranſlation Villager, inſtead of it.
The Bordarii were alſo holders of land by particularſervices, though it is not preciſely known what thoſe ſervices were. The name, indeed, ſeems to indicate an obligation to ſupply the Lord with proviſions of ſome kind or other.
The Coliberti are ſuppoſed to be fiſhermen, and were, probably, obliged to provide fiſh for the Lord's table: and, I think, this land holder is never mentioned, but in thoſe manors wherein is a river.[1]
- ↑ I have found reaſon, ſince the printing part of the following sheets, to retract my opinion with reſpect to the interpretation of Coliberti;
