orevenCnut。106*ButdoesthismeanthattheactualprivilegesofthetenurewereextantinSaxontimes？Surelynot。Suchthingsasfreedomfromcommontaxation，exemptionfromtoll，separatejurisdiction，certainlyexistedinbehalfoftheking’sdemesnesbeforetheConquest，butthereisnointimationwhateverthattheking’stenantsenjoyedanypeculiarrightorprotectionastotheirholdingsandservices。The’littlewritofright’andthe’Monstraverunt’areasNorman，inawidesenseoftheword，asthefreedomfromservingonassizesorsendingrepresentativestoparliament。ButalthoughthereisnodoubtthatthistenuregrewupanddevelopedseveralofitspeculiaritiesaftertheConquest，ithadtofallbackonSaxontimesforitssubstance，107*whichmaybedescribedinfewwords-legalprotectionofthepeasantry。
　　TheinfluenceofNormanlawyerswasexercisedinshapingoutcertainactionablerights，theeffectofconquestwastonarrowtoaparticularclassaprotectionoriginallyconferredbroadly，andtheactionofSaxontraditionwastosupplyageneralstockoffreedomandindependentright，fromwhichtheprivilegedconditionofNormantimescoulddrawitsnourishment，ifImayputitinthatway。ItwouldbeidlenowtodiscussinwhatproportiontheSaxoninfluenceonthesideoffreedomhastobeexplainedbytheinfluxofmenwhohadbeenoriginallyownersoftheirlands，andwhatmaybeassignedtothecontractualcharacterofSaxontenant-right。ThissubjectmustbelefttillwecometoexaminetheevidencesuppliedbySaxonsourcesofinformation。MypresentpointisthattheancientdemesnetenureoftheConquestisaremnantoftheconditionofthingsbeforetheConquest。108*
　　ItmaywellbeaskedwhythedestructiveeffectsofNormanvictorywerearrestedonancientdemesnesoil？Wasnotthekingaslikelytoexercisehisdiscretioninrespectofthepeasantryasanyfeudallord，andisitlikelythathewouldhavelethimselfbefetteredbyconsiderationsandobligationswhichdidnotbindhissubjects？Inviewofsuchquestionsoneistemptedtotreattheprotectionofthetenantsontheancientdemesnemerelyasapeculiarboongrantedtothepeoplewhomthekinghadtogiveaway。Ineednotsaythatsuchaninterpretationwouldbeentirelywrong。IhopeIhavebeenabletomakeoutconvincinglythatlegalprotectiongivenagainstprivatelordsonmanorswhichhadbeenalienatedwasonlyanoutgrowthfromthatcertaintyofconditionwhichwasallowedontheking’sownlands。Iwilljustaddnowthatoneverystrikingfactoughttobenoticedinthisconnexion；certaintyoftenureandserviceislimitedtooneparticularclassinthemanor，althoughthatclassisthemostnumerousone。Ifthisprivilegecameintobeingmerelybythefixationofstatusatthetimewhenamanorpassedfromthecrown，thestateofthevillainpurewouldhavegotfixedinthesamewayasthatofthevillainsocman。Butitdidnot，andsoonecannotshirkthedifficultquestion，Whatgaverisetothepeculiarprotectionagainstthelordwhenthelordhappenedtobeking？
　　Ithinkthatthreeconsiderationsopenthewayoutofthedifficulty。Tobeginwith，thekingwasdecidedlyconsideredastheonegreatsafeguardofSaxontraditionandtheonedefenderagainstNormanencroachments。hehadconstantlytohearthecryabout’thelawsofEdwardtheConfessor，’andalthoughtheclaimmaybeconsideredasaveryvagueoneingeneralmatters，itbecamesubstantiatedinthiscaseoftenureandservicesbytheDomesdayrecord。Thenagain，theproportionoffreeownerswhohadlapsedintoterritorialdependencemusthavebeenmuchgreaterontheking’slandthananywhereelse；itwasquiteusualtodescribeanallodialownerfromthefeudalpointofviewasholdingunderthekinginaparticularway，andvillainsocagewasonlyoneofseveralkindsofsocageafterall。Last，butnotleast，theprotectionagainstexactionswasinrealitydirectednotagainstthekingpersonallybutagainsthisofficers，andthekingpersonallywasquitelikelytobenefitbyitalmostasmuchashismen。Itamountedafterallonlytoarecognitionofdefinitecustomsingeneral，toaspecialjudicialorganisationofthemanorwhichmadeitlessdependentuponthesteward，andtothefacilitiesaffordedforcomplaintandrevisionofjudgments。Astothislastitmustbenotedthattheking’smenwerenaturallyenoughinabetterpositionthantherestoftheEnglishpeasantry；thecurseofvillainagewasthatmanorialcourtswereindependentofsuperiororganisationasfarasthelowertenantswereconcerned。Butcourtsinroyalmanorsweretheking’scourtsafterall，andassuchtheycouldhardlybeseveredfromthehighertribunalsheldintheking’sname。
　　Imaybeallowedtosumuptheconclusionsofthischapterunderthefollowingheads：——
　　1。Thelawofancientdemesneisprimarilydevelopedinregardtothemanorsintheking’sownhand。
　　2。Thespecialprotectiongrantedtovillainsocmeninancientdemesneisaconsequenceofacertaintyofconditionasmuchrecognisedinmanorswhichthekingstillholdsasinthosewhichhehasalienated。
　　3。ThiscertaintyofconditionisderivedfromtheConquestastheconnectinglinkbetweentheNormanandtheSaxonperiods。
　　NOTES：
　　1。Bracton，209；cf7and200。Britton，ii。13。
　　2。Bracton，209：’Villenagiumprivilegiatum。teneturdeRegeaConquestuAngliae。’Cf。Blackstone，LawTracts，ii。128。
　　3。Madox，HistoryoftheExchequer，i。704：’Tallagiumdominiorumetescaetarumetcustodiarum。’
　　4。Bract。Note-book，1237thepriorofSt。Swithindeniesamanortobeancientdemesne：’。perccannosanteconquestumAnglie[terre]datefueruntpriorietconventuietabaliisquamregibus。’
　　5。Y。B。Trin。49Edw。III，pl。8Fitzherbert，Abr。Monstraver。
　　4：“。toutslesdemesnesquifuerentenlamaineSeintE。sontaunciensdemesne，mesqueilsfuerentaliensaestraungemainsquantleliverdeDomesdaysefist，comeilavientdelmanordeTotenhamquifutenautremaineatempsdeDomesdayfait，comeenleditliversfaitmencion，queilfuitadonquesalCountedeCestre。’
　　6。Verycuriouspleadingsoccurredin1323。Y。B。15Edw。II，p。
　　455：“BerwickIlsdientenl’Exchequerqueserracorr。terra
　　R。serraecritsurlemarginencasoucestanciendemeneenDomesday，mesceofustescriptsurledymefoilleapressuruntitleterraR。，mesinecorr。mesuneormesqe？R。fuitescriptsurlemargindechescunfoilleapres，etoutceolaestancienedemeneaceoquilnientcorr。dient，mesascunesgensentendentquelesterresquifurentlesdemenesleRoySt。Edwardsontaunciendemene，eautresdientforslesterresqueleConquerourconquist，quefurentenlaseissinSt。Edwardlejourquilmourustsontancienedemene。’Althoughadifferenceofopinionismentioneditisnotmaterial，forthisreason，thattheentryasTerraRegis，atleastT。R。E。，isabsolutelyrequiredtoproveamanorancientdemesne。IgivetheentryonthePleaRollinApp。
　　V。
　　7。IthinkonlydistresscanbeimpliedbytheremarkofBerefordJ。Y。B。30/31Edw。I，p。19：’Quantvousvendrezaloustel，fetesdevostrearchevileynceoqevousvodrez。’Thewordsarestrangeandpossiblycorrupt。
　　8。Blackstone，LawTracts，ii。153：’Theycannotalienatetenementsotherwisethanbysurrenderintothelord’shand。’
　　Bracton，209。
　　9。InamostcuriousdescriptionofthecustomsofvillainsokemenofStoneleigh，Warwick，intheRegisterofStoneleighAbbey，Ifindthefollowingentries：’ItemsokemannipredictifiliassuasnonpossuntmaritaresinelicenciadominiproutpatetannoviijRegisE。filiiRegisE。perrotulumcurieinquocontineturquodMatildisdeCanleinplenacuriafecitfinemcumdominoproijsol。quiamaritauitfiliamSuamThomedeHorwellesinelicenciadomini……ItemannoRegisH。lvjcontineturinrotulocuriequodWillelmusMichelfuitinmisericordiaquiamaritauitfiliamsuamsinelicenciadominietsimiliterdecenariifueruntinmisericordiaquiahocconcelauerunt。’AstotheStoneleighRegister，seeApp。VI。AnotherinstanceofmerchetinanancientdemesnemanorisaffordedbytheLedecumbeLetcombe
　　RegisCourtRollsof1272。ChapterHouse，CountyBags，Berks。No。
　　3，m。12：’JohannesleJeuneseredemitadmaritandumetfecitfinemxijsol……JohannesAtwelredemitfiliamsuamannopredicto’RecordOffice。
　　10。HenryII’schartertoStoneleighAbbey：’Quietadeschirisethundredis，etmurdroetdanegeldo，etplacitisetquerelis，etgeldisetauxiliis，etomniconsuetudineetexactione’Dugdale，Monasticon，v。447。
　　11。CloseRoll，12HenryIII，m。II，d：’MonstraueruntdominoRegihominesdeEsindeneetdeBeyford，quodoccasionemisericordiaec。librarum，inquamtotusComitatusHertfordieinciditcoramiusticiariisultimoitinerantibus。hidagiumquoddamasseditvicecomessupereosadauxiliumfaciendumceterisdecomitatuadmisericordiamillamacquietandametindeeosdistringit。QuiaveropredictihominesnecaliidedominicisdominiRegissectamfaciuntadcomitatumetearacionenontenenturadmisericordiamceterorumdecomitatuilloacquietandamauxiliumfacereautindeparticipesesse，mandatumestvicecomitiHertfordiequodhominespredictosinhidagioetdemandapacemhaberepermittat’RecordOffice。PlacitadeQuoWarranto，777，778：’NonquietidecommuniamerciamentonisitantuminStonle。’
　　12。Viner，Abr。v。Anc。Dem。C2，1；cfE，20。Madox，Hist。ofExch。，i。418，notel：’Quietideauxiliovicecomitisetbaillivorumsuorum。’
　　13。Cor。Rege，Mich。5E。II，m。77：’JuratoresdicuntquodhominesdeWycleinitinererespondentperquatuoretprepositumsicutceterevilledecorporecomitatus。’Thisagainsttheirclaimtoholdinancientdemesne。
　　14。Viner，Abr。Anc。Dem。B。I，4，6。
　　15。Madox，Exch。，i。412，698。
　　16。Stubbs，ii。566，567Libr。ed。；Madox，Exch。，i。751。
　　17。Cor。R。M。5E。II，m。77：’Quandocommunitascomitatustalliatur。predictihominestaxantursicutceterivillaniejusdemcomitatus’againsttheancientdemesneclaim。
　　18。Fitzherbert，Abr。Monstauerunt，6H。32E。III：’。quantleroitailelesburghsatauntcomeilspaiaatailepurtantilnouSdistreint。’Th。：’Entendqelesfeoffesleroyauronttaile？’quasidiceretnon，’carcestunregaltequiproprementattientalroyetanulauter。’Clam。：’Toutaurailtaililserraleueenduemanersilaurontbrevehorsdelchaunceriealviconte，sc。quodhaberefaciasracionabletaile。’ThemenofKing’sRipton，Hunts。，whowereconstantlywranglingabouttheirrightswiththeAbbotofRamsey，thelordofthemanor，maintainedthattheyhadneverbeentallagednisitantummodoadopusRegis，andtheirclaimwascorroboratedbyaninspectionoftheExchequerRollsMadox，Exch。，i。757，n。BeforegrantingawritoftallagetotheAbbotofStoneleighin1253，HenryIIIhadaninquisitionmadeastotheprecedents。Itwasfoundthat，NunquampredictummaneriumdeStonletalliatumfuitpostquamJohannesRexpredictummaneriumdeditpredictiAbbatietConventui，StoneleighReg。，f25。
　　19。TheLaw-bookssaysodistinctly。Britton，ii。13：’Etpurceoqeteussokemanssountnosgaynoursdenosterres，nevolomsmieqetelesgentzseintanulepartsomounsdetravailerenjurezneenenquestes，forqeenmanersaqueusilappendent。’CfF1eta，p。4。
　　20。NaturaBrevium，f。3bed。Pynson。
　　21。Y。B。H。49E。III，pl。12Fitzherbert，Abr。Aunc。Dem。42，quotespl。7insteadof12bymistake：Belknap，’Veriteestqeleterreestdemandableparlebriefededroitpatentenlecourtleseigniourapreslaconfirmacionsc。parchartreparceqelebriefdedroitserracommenceenlecourtleseignior，mesapreslaconfirmacionilneserrademandeenaunciendemesneparbriefdedroitclosesecundumconsuetudinem，’etc。
　　22。Bractonactuallycallsthepleaofancientdemesneanexceptionofvillainage，f200：’Siauteminsokagiovillano，sicutdedominicodominiRegis，licetservitiacertasunt，obstabiteiexceptiovillenagii，quiatalissokmannusliberumtenementumnonhabetquiatenetnominealieno。’CfFitzherbert，Abr。Aunc。Dem。32。
　　23。Bract。Note-book，pl。652：“Nondebentextramaneriumilludplacitarequianonpossunt[ponere]seinmagnamassisamnecdefenduntSeperduellum。’Onthecaseswhenanassizecouldbetakenastotenementsinancientdemesne，seetheopinionprintedinHorwood’slntroductiontoY。B。21/22Edw。I，p。xviii。
　　24StoneleighReg。，f。76sqq：’Iteminplacitoterrepossuntpartessivoluerintponerejusterresueinduellocampionumvelpermagnamassisam，proutpatetinrecordorotulideannoxlvRegisHenriciinterWalterumH。etJohannemdelHuletc。etinterGalfridumCrulefeldetWillelmumElisaundreannoxxRegisEdwardifiliiRegisHenrici，’etc。
　　25。Bract。Note-book，1973：’NotaquodsimaneriumquodsoletessededominicodominiRegisdatumfueritalicuietposteasemelcaptafueritassisanoueuelmortisdeconsuetudine，iterumcapianturassisepropterconsuetudinem。’
　　26。Britton，ii，142。
　　27。Ifthelordbringsanactionagainstthetenant，ancientdemesneisnoplea，Viner，Abr。，Anc。Dem。G。4。Thiswasnotquiteclearhowever，becauseancientdemesneisagoodpleawheneverrecoveryintheactionwouldmakethelandfrankfee。