Note 313 — Chapter VII · THE NOBLE BY SERVICE.

Eádweard of Wessex in 904 transferred his royal rights in Taunton to the see of Winchester. He says: “Concessi ut episcopi homines, tam nobiles quam ignobiles (i. e. XII hynde and II hynde) in praefato rure degentes, hoc idem ius in omni haberent dignitate (hád), quo regis homines perfruuntur, regalibus fiscis commorantes: et omnium saecularium rerum iudicia ad usus praesulum exerceantur eodem modo quo regalium negotiorum discutiuntur iudicia. Praedictae etiam villae mercimonium quod Anglice ðæs túnes cýping appellatur, censusque omnis civilis, sanctae dei aecclesiae in Wintonia civitate sine retractationis obstaculo cum omnibus commodis aeternaliter deserviat.” Cod. Dipl. No. 1084. He had previously granted an immunity from regal and comitial interference; the result of which was to place all judicial and fiscal functions in the hands of the bishop’s reeve instead of the sheriff, or the king’s burgreeve. The document furnishes an admirable example of an Immunity, or, as it is technically called in the Anglosaxon law, a grant of Sacn and Sócn.