In this poem, _ludes_ and _ledes_ are used indiscriminately, but most
frequently in the sense of men, people. Sir Frederick Madden has shown,
from the equivalent words in the French original of Robert of Brunne,
"that he always uses the word in the meaning of _possessions_, whether
consisting of tenements, rents, fees, &c.;" in short, _wealth_.

If, therefore, the word has this sense in old English, we might expect
to find it in Anglo-Saxon, and I think it is quite clear that we have it
at least in one instance. In the _Ancient Laws and Institutes of
England_, vol. i. p. 184., an oath is given, in which the following
passage occurs:

"Do spa to lane
beo þé he þinum
I leat me be minum
ne 3ypne le þines
ne laedes ne landes
ne sac ne socne
ne þu mines ne þeapst
ne mint ic þe nan þio3."

Mr. Thorpe has not translated the word, nor is it noticed in his
Glossary; but I think there can be no doubt that it should be rendered
by _goods_, _chattels_, or _wealth_, i.e., movable property.

This will be even more obvious from an extract given by Bishop
Nicholson, in the preface to Wilkin's _Leges Saxonicæ_ p. vii. It is
part of the oath of a Scotish baron of much later date, and the sense
here is unequivocal:--