VIII. 51 BOOK passage occurs in the Conqueror's laws. It has been ingeniously attempted to reconcile these contradictions, by supposing that the value of the shilling was that which varied, and that the pound contained sixty shillings of four pennies in a shilling, or forty-eight shillings of five pennies in a shilling. To which we may add, twenty shillings of twelve pence in a shilling. These different figures, respectively mulplied together, give the same amount of two hundred and forty pennies in a pound. Yet though this supposition is plausible, it cannot be true, if the shilling was only a nominal sum, like the pound, because such variations as these attach to coined money, and not the terms merely used in numeration. The styca, the helling, and the feorthling, are also mentioned. The styca and feorthling are mentioned in a passage in Mark. "The poor widow threw in two stycas, that is, "feorthling peninges, or the fourth part of a penny."" The hælfling occurs in Luke: "Are not two sparrows sold for a "helflinge?" " We cannot doubt that these were copper monies. The thrymsa is reckoned by Hickes to be the third part of a shilling, or fourpence." Yet the passage which makes the king's were thirty thousand sceatta, compared with the other, which reckons it as thirty thousand thrymsa," seems to express that the thrymsa and the scætta were the same. On this dark subject of the Anglo-Saxon coinage, we must however confess, that the clouds which have long surrounded it have not yet been removed. The passages in Alfred's and in the Conqueror's laws imply that there were two sorts of pennies, the mærra or bener pennies, and the smaller ones. We have many Anglo-Saxon silver coins of these species; but no others. 51 Clarke's preface to Wotton's Leges Wallicæ. 32 Mark, chap. xii. 42, 33 Luke, chap. xii. 6. 34 Hickes, Diss. Ep. p. 71. Wilkins, Leg. Anglo-Sax. p. 72. and XII. Some ecclesiastical persons, as well as the king, and several CHAP. places, had the privilege of coining. In the laws of Ethelstan, the places of the mints in his reign are thus enumerated : 66 "In Canterbury there are seven myneteras; four of the king's, two of the bishop's, and one of the abbot's. "In Rochester there are three; two of the king, and one "of the bishop. "In London eight, "In Winchester six, "In Lewes two, "In Hastings one, "Another in Chichester, "In Hampton two, "In Wareham two, "In Exeter two, "In Shaftesbury two, "Elsewhere one in the other burghs." 56 In Domesday-book we find these monetarii mentioned: Two at Dorchester, One at Bridport, Two at Wareham, Three at Shaftesbury. Each of these gave to the king twenty shillings and one matk of silver when money was coined. The monetarii at Lewes paid twenty shillings each. One Suetman is mentioned as a monetarius in Oxford. At Worcester, when money was coined, each gave to London fifteen shillings for cuneis to receive the money. At Hereford there were seven monetarii, of whom one was the bishop's. When money was renewed, each gave eighteen shillings, pro cuneis recipiendis; and for one month from the day in which they returned, each gave the king twenty shillings, and the bishop had the same of his man. When the king went into the city, the monetarii were to make as many 5 Wilkins, Leg. Anglo-Sax. p. 59. T VOL. II. VIII. BOOK pennies of his silver as he pleased. The seven in this city had their sac and soc. When the king's monetarius died, the king had his heriot; and if he died without dividing his estate, the king had all. Huntingdon had three monetarii, rendering thirty shillings between the king and comes. In Shrewsbury the king had three monetarii, who, after they had bought the cuneos monetæ, as other monetarii of the country, on the fifteenth day gave to the king twenty shillings each; and this was done when the money was coining. There was a monetarius at Colchester. At Chester there were seven monetarii, who gave to the king and comes seven pounds extra firmam, when money was turned." $7 For these, see Domesday-book, under the different places. СНАР. XIII. Their Chivalry. HERE is no evidence that the refined and enthusiastic THI spirit of gallantry, which accompanied chivalry in its perfect stage, prevailed among the Anglo-Saxons: but that chivalry, in a less polished form, and considered as a military investiture, conferred with religious ceremonies, by putting on the belt and sword, and giving the knight a peculiar dignity among his countrymen ;-that this kind of chivalry existed in England before the Norman conquest, the authorities adduced in this chapter will perhaps ascertain. In the reign of Edward the Confessor, Hereward, a noble Anglo-Saxon youth, distinguished himself by his daring valour and eccentricity. As his character is highly romantic, and affords a remarkable instance of the Anglo-Saxon chivalry, I will state the main incidents of his life, from the plain and temperate narration of his contemporary, who was the Conqueror's secretary. "His father was Leofric, lord of Brunne, in Lincolnshire, a nobleman who had become very illustrious for his warlike exploits. He was a relation of the great earl of Herford, who had married the king's sister. "Hereward was the son of this Leofric and his wife Ediva. He was tall and handsome, but too warlike, and of an immoderate fierceness of mind. In his juvenile plays and wrestlings, he was so ungovernable, that his hand was often raised against every one, and every one's hand against him. When the youths of his age went to wrestling and such other sports, unless he triumphed over all, and his playfellows conceded to him the laurel of victory, he very often extorted by his sword what he could not gain by his muscular strength. СНАР. BOOK "The youths of his neighbourhood complaining of this conduct, his father's anger was excited against him. Leofric stated to King Edward the many intolerable tricks that had been practised even upon himself, and his excessive violence towards others. Upon this representation, the Confessor ordered him into banishment. "Hereward, thus exiled, went fearlessly to Northumbria, thence to Cornwall, thence to Ireland, and afterwards to Flanders; and every where most bravely carrying himself, he soon obtained a glorious and magnificent reputation. "In every danger intrepidly pressing forward, and happily escaping; in every military conflict always throwing himself on the bravest, and boldly conquering; it was doubtful whether he was more fortunate or brave. His victories over all his enemies were complete, and he escaped harmless from the greatest battles. "Becoming so illustrious by his military successes, his valiant deeds became known in England, and were sung through the country. The dislike of his parent, relatives, and friends, was changed into the most ardent affection. "In Flanders he married a noble lady, Turfrida, and had by her a daughter, who lately married (I am transcribing Ingulf) an illustrious knight, a great friend to our monastery, and lord of Depyng and the paternal inheritance of Brunne and its appurtenances. "The mother of Turfrida coming to England with her husband, with his permission forsook all earthly pomp, and became a nun in our monastery of Croyland. “Hereward returning to his native soil with his wife, after great battles, and a thousand dangers frequently dared and bravely terminated, as well against the king of England, as the carls, barons, prefects, and presidents, which are yet sung in our streets (say's Ingulf), and having avenged his mother with his powerful right hand, at length, with the king's pardon, obtained his paternal inheritance, and ended his days |