Note 10 — A DISCOURSE concerning the LAWS and GOVERNMENT of ENGLAND.
Reading edition
On the following record in the register of Ely, this notion seems to be founded. Abbas Wulfricus habuit fratrem, Guthmundum vocabulo; cui filiam præpotentis viri in matrimonium conjungi paraverat; sed quoniam ille XL. hidarum terræ dominium minus obtineret, licet nobilis esset, inter proceres tunc nuncupari non potuit. It is somewhat remarkable, that Mr Hume is among those, who, resting on this foundation, would make us conceive, that a person who had 40 hides of land, could, without being noble, give his voice in the Wittenagemot. Hist. of Eng. vol. I. p. 145. The passage, however, properly understood, serves to shew, that, in the course of time, the attendance of the Nobles in parliament, having been deemed an expensive service, a law was made to relieve those of them from it who were not possessed of 40 hides of land. The reader may consult hist. Eliens. c. 36. 40. ap. Gale, the authority appealed to by Mr Hume.