T A villein was an inhabitant of a villa, the ancient name of a farm, and in the earliest times was attached to it permanently. .\ud as many villas were included in a manor, it had often many villein's- These villeins gradually came to be allowed to hold parcels of land, on condition of manuring, or ploughing the lord's demesne lands, or on base or rustic services. Hence arose the tenure termed villein-socage.

* Elton's Law of Copyholds, 3, note b.

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THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE MANORS.

holder a freeman, because he, as well as the land, was entirely free from all exactions, and from all rents and services except those specified in his grant. So long as these last were paid or performed, no lord or other power could deprive him of his land, and he could devise it by will, and in case of his death, intestate, it could be divided among his sons equally.'

At a later period, after the Norman conquest, tliis latter quality of the tenure became changed by the introduction of the principle of primogeniture in all parts of England ; a principle of Teutonic origin, and one necessary to the maintenance of the feudal system as a military system. One of the parts of England which, at the time of its conquest, first submitted peaceably to William of Normandy, was the Saxon Kingdom of Kent, afterward, and now, the County of Kent, the southeastern extremity of England. In consequence of this action the Norman king confirmed its inhabitants in all their ancient laws and liberties. " Kent was firmly attached to the Conqueror by the treaty, which he never broke, that the law of Kent should not be changed.'-