to be paid in money, and that money to be reckoned by real pounds of silver.  But we must observe, that, when sums of money are set down in old laws and records, the interpretation of those words, pounds and shillings, is for the most part oxen, sheep, corn, and provision.  When real coin money was to be paid, it was called white money, or argentum album, and was only in a certain stipulated proportion to what was rendered in kind, and that proportion generally very low.  This method of paying rent, though it entirely overturns the prodigious idea of that monarch’s pecuniary wealth, was far from being less conducive to his greatness.  It enabled him to feed a multitude of people,—­one of the surest and largest sources of influence, and which always outbuys money in the traffic of affections.  This revenue, which was the chief support of the dignity of our Saxon kings, was considerably increased by the revival of Danegelt, of the imposition of which we have already spoken, and which is supposed to have produced an annual income of 40,000_l._ of money, as then valued.

The nest branch of the king’s revenue were the feudal duties, by him first introduced into England,—­namely, ward, marriage, relief, and aids.  By the first, the heir of every tenant who held immediately from the crown, during his minority, was in ward for his body and his land to the king; so that he had the formation of his mind at that early and ductile age to mould to his own purposes, and the entire profits of his estate either to augment his demesne or to gratify his dependants:  and as we have already seen how many and how vast estates, or rather, princely possessions, were then held immediately of the crown, we may comprehend how important an article this must have been.

Though the heir had attained his age before the death of his ancestor, yet the king intruded between him and his inheritance, and obliged him to redeem, or, as the term then was, to relieve it.  The quantity of this relief was generally pretty much at the king’s discretion, and often amounted to a very great sum.

But the king’s demands on his rents in chief were not yet satisfied.  He had a right and interest in the marriage of heirs, both males and females, virgins and widows,—­and either bestowed them at pleasure on his favorites, or sold them to the best bidder.  The king received for the sale of one heiress the sum of 20,000_l._, or 60,000_l._ of our present money,—­and this at a period when the chief estates were much reduced.  And from hence was derived a great source of revenue, if this right were sold,—­of influence and attachment, if bestowed.

Under the same head of feudal duties were the casual aids to knight his eldest son and marry his eldest daughter.  These duties could be paid but once, and, though not considerable, eased him in these articles of expenses.