Page:William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (3rd ed, 1768, vol II).djvu/105

 Ch. 6. villeins, belonging principally to lords of manors, were either villeins regardant, that is, annexed to the manor or land; or ele they were in gros, or at large, that is, annexed to the peron of the lord, and transferrable by deed from one owner to another. They could not leave their lord without his permiion; but, if they ran away, or were purloined from him, might be claimed and recovered by action, like beats or other chattels. They held indeed mall portions of land by way of utaining themelves and families; but it was at the mere will of the lord, who might dipoes them whenever he pleaed; and it was upon villein ervices, that is, to carry out dung, to hedge and ditch the lord's demenes, and any other the meanet offices : and thee ervices were not only bae, but uncertain both as to their time and quantity. A villein, in hort, was in much the ame tate with us, as lord Moleworth decribes to be that of the boors in Denmark, and Stiernhook attributes alo to the traals or laves in Sweden; which confirms the probability of their being in ome degree monuments of the Danih tyranny. A villein could acquire no property either in lands or goods; but, if he purchaed either, the lord might enter upon them, out the villein, and eie them to his own ue, unles he contrived to dipoe of them again before the lord had eied them; for the lord had then lot his opportunity.

many places alo a fine was payable to the lord, if the villein preumed to marry his daughter to any one without leave from the lord : and, by the common law, the lord might alo bring an action againt the huband for damages in thus purloining his property. For the children of villeins were alo in the ame tate of bondage with their parents; whence they were Rh