maintaining the deer fence at the King's residence, alms giving,
and church dues. Since land was granted in return for service,
there were limitations on its heritability and often an heir had
to pay a heriot to the landlord to obtain the land.

An example of a grant of hides of land is:
"[God has endowed King Edred with England], wherefore he enriches
and honors men, both ecclesiastic and lay, who can justly deserve
it. The truth of this can be acknowledged by the thegn AElfsige
Hunlafing through his acquisition of the estate of 5 hides at
Alwalton for himself and his heirs, free from every burden except
the repair of fortifications, the building of bridges and
military service; a prudent landowner church dues, burial fees
and tithes. [This land] is to be held for all time and granted
along with the things both great and small belonging to it."

A Bishop gave land to a faithful attendant for his life and two
other lives as follows:
"In 904 A.D., I, Bishop Werfrith, with the permission and leave
of my honorable community in Worcester, grant to Wulfsige, my
reeve, for his loyal efficiency and humble obedience, one hide of
land at Aston as Herred held it, that is, surrounded by a dyke,
for three lives and then after three lives the estate shall be
given back without any controversy to Worcester."

There were several thousand thegns, rich and poor, who held land
directly of the King. Free farmers who had sought protection from
thegns in time of war now took them as their lords. A free man
could chose his lord, following him in war and working his land
in peace. In return, the lord would protect him against