Note 279 — Chapter VI · THE KING.
Reading edition
“De victu ex regis praediis.” “Ðis is ðonne seó lihtingc ðe ic wylle eallon folce gebeorgan ðe hig ǽr ðyson midgedrehte wǽron ealles tó swýðe. Dæt is ðonne ǽrost. ðæt ic bebeóde eallum mínan geréfan ðæt hi on mínan ágenan rihtlíce tilian ⁊ me mid ðám feormian. ⁊ ðæt him nán man ne þearf tó feormfultume nán þingc syllan bútan he sylf wille. And gif hwá æfter ðám wíte crafige beó he his weres scyldig wið ðone cyningc.” Cnut, § lxx. Thorpe, i. 412, 413. “I command all my reeves that they justly provide [for me] out of my own property, and maintain me therewith; and that no man need give me anything as farm-aid (feormfultum) unless he himself be willing.” We here witness the natural progress of oppression.